In MARG1N, a Resolute Return to Print Media That Dissects Southeast Asian Cinema
The joy of reading, for most of my life, had been primarily grounded in the joy of learning, feeling, and thinking through words, independent of medium. That is, until college, when I found myself repeatedly longing for Thursday mornings, when the week’s freshly printed student newspaper would arrive neatly folded and stacked, ready to be spread over the dining-hall table like wrapping paper. I came to realize then that the joy of reading was not simply about words; it was also about the tactile touch of paper and of the inexplicable satisfaction of flipping through pages bigger than my hands could reasonably manage.
By Preserving Tradition, Honoring Creativity and Showcasing Sustainability, Young Vietnamese Chefs Excel at Ngon Challenge by Marriott International
The glossy menus, sleek decor, and iconic logos of international hotel restaurants often obscure the human stories behind each dish. While catering to global guests, these restaurants often serve meals with origins in family kitchens and regional culinary traditions. Young, local chefs balance nostalgic associations with contemporary techniques and creative expression to create these menus. Returning for its second year this past September, Ngon Challenge continued to celebrate and nurture Vietnamese culinary talent across Marriott International’s hotels and resorts in Vietnam.
Review: ‘Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell’ Is a Soul-Searching Mission in the Lâm Đồng Mist
On the pastures of slow cinema where Andrei Tarkovsky, Tsai Ming-liang and Theo Angelopoulos reside, Phạm Thiên Ân's debut feature, Bên Trong Vỏ Kén Vàng (Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell), has made its mark as a notable entry for its distinctly Vietnamese vistas, tones and essence.
The Search for Vietnam's Largest Lacquer Artwork, Nguyễn Thế Khang’s 36 Old Streets of Hanoi
The story begins in 1996. Before leaving for a month-long journey to Vietnam with 30 other Norwegian teachers, I had searched through books and online sources for hidden stories and overlooked places, an interest born from my experiences teaching Vietnamese refugees in Norway in the late 1970s and 1980s. One name caught my attention: the artist Nguyễn Thế Khang, who had conceived an ambitious plan to recreate Hanoi’s 36 Old Streets in a monumental lacquer work. The day after I arrived in Hanoi, I was welcomed into his home at 47 Triệu Việt Vương.
Khôi Phạm in Music & Arts
Review: In Lope Dope's Debut Album, a Summery Fictional World Powered by City Pop
“Tình ca thành phố vịnh,” the first album by Hanoian indie group Lope Dope, might come out at the end of summer in August, but its wealth of city pop exuberance and tropical cheer is enough to power any listener through the dreary rainy season and upcoming winter.
Heartfelt, Queer and Wickedly Witty: How Poetry Collection 'Come Clean' Sparks Joy
Joshua Nguyen lists himself as many things on his Instagram bio — a writer, a PhD student, a boba snob. He received h...
On Searching for Rươi Vendor Street Calls, Hanoi's Harbinger of Autumn
Embedded in the street call of rươi vendors is the conjuring of autumn, when delectable cuisines from across the land of...
Group Exhibition 'Fiction, Fraction' Showcases 6 Artists in Diverse Visual Mediums
From August to October, art organizer Rare Sea brings a diverse group exhibition to Saigon, featuring artworks by six young artists: Lê Đ. Chung, Lê Nguyễn Minh Như, Nguyễn Thị Thanh Mai, Huyền Dương, Thanh Tùng (Ches) and Sophia Mai Brown.
Saigon Skill and the Rise of Alternative Art Projects
Saigon Skill’s first art group show was a vibrant and uplifting display of Saigon’s unheralded talents. Hopes are high that this new project will expose the untapped creatives in the city.
Hanoi Wunderkind Wins Major International Writing Contest
In case you need more convincing that Vietnamese students are among the highest-achieving in the world, here’s further proof: an 18-year-old Hanoi student recently won the coveted top prize of an...
[Podcast] Renovation Generation: Hanoi's Viral Cartoonist Xuan Lan
In the thirteenth installment of Hanoi-based English-language podcast Renovation Generation, narrator Maia Do sat down with one of Hanoi's most popular illustrators, Xuan Lan to discuss drawing cartoo...
#WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From Hanoi to Lang Co to Ho Chi Minh City, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
BHD vs CGV: The Drama Behind Vietnam’s Latest Blockbuster
Before the movie even hits theaters nationwide, Tam Cam: The Untold and its production team already find themselves at the center of a major controversy.
[Video] Japan Celebrates Summer Olympics With Badass Theme Song
When the Rio Olympics rolled around, Vietnam was slow to get into spirit of the games. Truth be told, the country didn’t really hop on board with the magic of this summer's international competition u...
[Photos] #WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From the effects of rainy season to renowned Cham poet Inrasara, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
[Photos] Vietnam’s Largest Wax Museum Opens in Ha Long
If you have a free afternoon next time you’re waiting to board a Ha Long Bay cruise, look no further than Vietnam’s largest wax museum for your entertainment.
Meet Inrasara, the Poet Keeping Cham Culture Alive
Born in the oldest Cham village in Vietnam, poet and literary critic Inrasara has been keeping Cham literature alive for over 30 years. From textbooks to poetry, literary criticism to publishing, the ...
[Photos] #WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From national monuments to one of Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lagoons, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
[Video] Local Orchestra Performs World’s Most Organized Flashmob in Hanoi
In a country where most parts of your day can feel like a flashmob, sometimes an organized performance is even more surprising.
[Video] Chilling South Korean Zombie Flick Hits Vietnamese Screens Next Week
While Vietnamese cinema is just starting to ramp up its production of horror flicks, South Korean filmmakers have long been fans of the genre, creating some truly spine-tingling movies.
[Podcast] Renovation Generation: The Incredible Talents of Mew Amazing
For their latest episode, the crew behind Hanoi-based The Renovation Generation made a trip down to Saigon for a coffee with Mew Amazing, the singer-songwriter behind Truc Nhan’s pop hit “That Ba...
[Photos] #WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From frenetic traffic to historic cathedrals, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
[Video] Áo Dài Takes Center Stage Among Asia's Most Beautiful Wedding Dresses
When Vietnam is mentioned around the world, the country often conjures up images of phở, bánh mì, streets of jam-packed traffic and áo dài.
[Video] TV Commercial Provides Graceful Glimpse of Saigon's Outer Districts
This stunning commercial for Coca-Cola’s energy drink Samurai is a love letter to Saigon’s strange mix of urban chaos and beauty.
[Video] Vietnam Gets Its Close-Up in Kong: Skull Island Trailer
The folks behind Kong: Skull Island, the Hollywood blockbuster filmed in Vietnam earlier this year, just released the film’s first trailer, and Vietnam plays a starring role in the action.
[Podcast] Renovation Generation: Foreign-Educated Academics Challenge Cultural Norms
In The Renovation Generation’s 11th episode, the Hanoi-based podcast introduces two ambitious academics, Trang Pham and Mai Thanh, both of whom are working to fight poverty and inequality in Vietnam.
[Photos] #WeAreSaigoneer: Instagram Shots of the Week
From epic storms to street corner motorbike repairs, this is what we saw through our lens this week.
[Video] Indonesian Teen Rapper Dons Fanny Pack, Spits Hot Fire
When a 16-year-old puts his homemade rap video on YouTube, you don’t really expect it to go viral.
