Paul Christiansen

in Loạt Soạt

'Longings' Brings 22 Stories by Vietnamese Female Writers to the World

Where are all the female writers?

in Film & TV

Monotonous Viet-Dubbed K-Dramas Were the Soundtrack of My Childhood

When I was growing up, my family owned a broken TV whose screen would unexpectedly go black while the audio continued to play. Turning it off and on again a couple of times would fix the problem, but it was such a hassle that sometimes we just let it be. It was stationed in our dining room, and my parents loved putting on Korean dramas when we were eating. So whenever I reminisce about my childhood, the sound of dubbed K-dramas always plays the background.

in Film & TV

On Returning to K-Drama, the Glue Bringing My Mom and Me Close Together

Before Squid Game became an international phenomenon and put K-dramas on the world map, audiences in Asian countries including Vietnam were enthralled by Boys Over Flowers, The Medical Brothers, Terms of Endearment, Dae Jang Geum — all of which are classics that we still look upon with nostalgic affection.

Khôi Phạm

in Rewind

For a Horror Film About an Ageless Portrait, 'Mười' Hasn't Aged Well

It’s undeniable that Mười: The Legend of a Portrait has left a lasting impression in the minds of a generation of Vietnamese, as the first collaboration between Vietnam and South Korea’s cinema industries. Watching this contemporary classic in 2024, however, made me realize that Mười has not aged well.

Paul Christiansen

in Culture

An Ode to Photo Booths, the Korean Trend Preserving Our Memories in Time

How can photo booths be a new trend if they’ve been around forever?

in Trích or Triết

The Life, Death and Legacy of 7 Pillars of Vietnam's Quốc Ngữ Literary Wealth

When I first started as a writer, I noticed that I couldn’t write in Vietnamese very well, despite the fact that I was born here. Most of my English vocabulary comes from books, so in order to improve my mother tongue, I began reading Vietnamese texts. The first one I chose was Hà Nội Băm Sáu Phố Phường, or The 36 Streets of Hanoi, by Thạch Lam. This book had been lying on my bookshelf for a long time, but that day was the first time I picked it up.

in Quãng 8

Thành Đồng's Music Is a Breath of Fresh Air in the Era of Overproduction

Inspired by life 's simple joys, Thành Đồng delivers a sense of familiarity, earnestness, and narrative richness with every song.

Back Arts & Culture

in Culture

[Photos] The Mekong’s Grandest Flower Village In Full Bloom

Last week, the oldest and largest flower village in the Mekong Delta, Tân Quy Đông, was in full bloom.

in Arts & Culture

Saigoneer Sunday Rewind

Saigoneer's staff highlights their favorite articles from the past week.

in Music & Arts

[Updated] Release Of “50 Shades Of Grey” Canceled In Vietnam

[Update Below] While CGV will soon introduce IMAX in Vietnam, it won’t be bringing local audiences one of the year’s most anticipated films as 50 Shades Of Grey has been pulled from Vietnamese th...

in Culture

[Videos] 20 Tết Dos And Don’ts

Unlike the Western New Year, Tet is a particularly superstitious occasion with plenty of dos and don’ts.

in Music & Arts

Event Rewind: Art Talk And Drawing Workshop With Rodney Dickson

Many local artists in Vietnam share a common ground for artistic inspiration – war – as it characterized a significant part of the country’s 20th century history. The global impacts of these conflicts...

in Music & Arts

Vietnam Set To Get Its First 2 IMAX Theaters

IMAX and a Korean company have agreed on a deal to open Vietnam’s first two super-sized screens.

in Music & Arts

Galerie Quynh and San Art Announce Relocation Plans

On January 31, Galerie Quynh permanently closed its original location in 65 De Tham, leaving the new downtown gallery on Dong Khoi as its sole exhibition space.

in Culture

[Photos] Vintage Vietnamese Matchboxes

The images on Vietnamese matchbox covers before 1975 varied from the traditional - drawings of zodiac animals - to the modern – brand advertising and popular singers of the day.

in Arts & Culture

Saigoneer Sunday Rewind

Saigoneer's staff highlights their favorite articles from the past week.

in Music & Arts

Art Talk: Drawing Workshop With Rodney Dickson

Irish-American painter, Rodney Dickson, developed his work based on the atmosphere of abandonment that characterized the post-war era in Cambodia and Vietnam.

in Film & TV

February Movies At Saigon’s Alternative Film Venues

Classic and witty comedy, the one of the greatest sci-fi epics in recent history, the biggest Oscar contender of the year and a special screening from Saigon-based film festival, Impressions are some ...

Brian Letwin

in Music & Arts

[Video] European Graffiti Artist Tags His Way Across Saigon

We recently caught up with Munich-based graffiti artist, Nasca Uno, who spend five weeks in Vietnam last year, painting beautiful pieces of art in Saigon and Phan Thiet.

in Arts & Culture

Saigoneer Sunday Rewind

Saigoneer's staff highlights their favorite articles from the past week.

in Music & Arts

[Video] Hanoi Hip Hop Group Mixes Beat Boxing, Rapping And Popping With Traditional Vietnamese Music

Hip hop’s roots delve deep into the crates of soul, funk, gospel and jazz. All of these stem from African forms of music and have created a rich fabric for the enduring art form.

in Culture

[Photos] The Coffee Shops, Train Track Photo Shoots And “Public Bathrooms” Of Hanoi’s Long Biên Bridge

Probably the most iconic and historic bridge in Vietnam, Long Biên Bridge has yet to receive much needed care for its current deteriorating condition (link). However, local residents don’t seem to min...

in Culture

[Photos] 15 Of The Most Ridiculous Signs You’ll Ever See In Vietnam

Whether it be Google translate fails, cultural misinterpretations or outright ridiculousness, these signs, sourced from Another Side of Vietnam, had us shaking our heads, laughing hysterically, and so...

in Culture

Ministry Of Justice Seeks To Punish Adulterers With Fines

A revised decree from the Ministry of Justice contains a proposal to fine members of a married couple that are found to be committing adultery.

in Music & Arts

[Video] "The Road Story Vietnam"

There’s no shortage of videos made by backpackers trekking through Vietnam which tap directly into our wanderlust. But few videos feature the high-level of production value found in "The Road Story Vi...

in Arts & Culture

Saigoneer Sunday Rewind

Saigoneer's staff highlights their favorite articles from the past week.

in Music & Arts

Saigoneer Presents: Photo Walk With Glen Riley

Saigoneer is happy to announce the first photo walk of the year! Join us on February 1 for a chat, a coffee and a stroll around “south Pham” with photographer Glen Riley.