Khôi Phạm in Culture
What Can Vietnamese License Plates Tell You About the Vehicles and Who Drives Them?
There was a game I used to play with my dad whenever we would stop at a traffic light. He would point to a random license plate in front of us and quiz me on where it came from.
Mũi Né Among Top 10 Trending Travel Destinations Globally in 2026, Booking Says
Travel site Booking.com dubbed Mũi Né “one of 2026’s trending travel spots,” reflective of the international attention and domestic emphasis the beach city is currently receiving.
Euphoria, Ruin, Nostalgia: Tracing Hanoi's Changing Skyline by Its Soundtrack
From loudspeakers broadcasting construction anthems during wartime to melancholic ballads mourning vanished street corners, Hanoi's soundtrack reveals a city that has never quite learned to live in its present tense.
Paul Christiansen in Rewind
In 'Cú Và Chim Se Sẻ,' a Director's Radical Empathy for Saigon's Less Fortunate
“They can do what they want. The city owns the zoo. They could sell all the animals here. They could turn it into a golf course. We’re just little people — you and me.”
In 'No Man River,' Dương Hướng Highlights the Raw Pain of Postwar Survival
Dương Hướng’s No Man River (Bến không chồng) was first published in 1991 and won the Vietnam Writers' Association Prize for Fiction. Translated into English by Quan Manh Ha and Charles Waugh, it captures the brutal reality of conflict in Vietnam from 1945 to 1979.
Nguyễn Đức Tín Weaves Spirituality, Faith, Everyday Life Altogether in His Paintings
Can a painting reflect who we are, even if we can’t see ourselves thoroughly? And how does faith guide us forward in life?
Liên Bỉnh Phát Makes History as 1st Vietnamese to Win Best Male Lead in Taiwan
Vietnamese actor Liên Bỉnh Phát recently made history at one of Taiwan’s most prestigious national award ceremonies.
An Ode to Vũng Tàu, Saigon's Unwavering Summer Crush
I recently took a trip to Vũng Tàu after a long summer of cultural research, which had me traveling up and down Vietnam. It had been seven years since I’d been back to the homeland, and 19 since I’d last seen the beaches of Vũng Tàu, when I was only 16. It felt like returning to a high school crush, and it made me think of the words of Trần Thiện Thanh, who once wrote, “Nhớ lúc xa xưa mười sáu trăng tròn…” I won’t say I wasn’t looking for something familiar, poetic, and possibly even as sappy.
Saigoneer’s Recent Art Picks
The haunting installation by a Saigon-born writer/artist; a visual diary of Vietnamese portraits; a visual map of Saigon’s urban changes and the opening of the first urban gallery in town are among ou...
8 Places Where You Can Pick Up A Saigon Artbook
Missed out on the Saigon Artbook Party at the 3A Alternative Art Area? Fret not, for they are available at five locations around the city!
[Photos] 12 Rare Images of Saigon From Above
Back in 2009-2010, famous Vietnamese photographer, Gian Thanh Son, boarded a military helicopter and flew over Saigon, capturing some beautiful areal photos of the city.
54% Of Vietnamese Are Unhappy With Their Salaries: Survey
A recent survey conducted by recruitment firm VietnamWorks found that up to 54% of Vietnamese workers are unsatisfied with their salaries.
Event Rewind: Saigon Artbook Edition 5
The first 2015 edition of Saigon Artbook was released last Thursday at the 3A Alternative Art Area, attracting a crowd of more than 800 people.
A Guide To The Secret Sign Language Of Vietnamese Drivers
Drivers in every country seem to have their own set of signals to communicate with one another.
[Video] People Try Thuốc Lào for the First Time
Youtubers Trong Trắng recently conducted a bit of a science experiment, giving a group of Vietnamese 20-somethings their first experience with a tobacco bong (điếu cày).
[Video] Bún Riêu Chợ Nổi: A Life Spent Selling Bún Riêu In Can Tho’s Floating Market
This short documentary centers on Co Be, who sells soup to the busy workers at the Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho.
[Photos] Saigon Mechanics Unveil The “Mammoth”
A homage to the aesthetics of a classic vehicles, this customized bike, dubbed the “Mammoth,” has been getting a lot of attention for its elephantine look.
Hanoi Declares War On Public "Profanity"
Hanoi’s Deputy Chairman, Le Hong Son, has ordered relevant ministries to crack down on public profanities on the streets of the capital.
[Photos] The Origins Of Caodaism, Vietnam’s Hybrid Religion
Here’s a look at the early days of Caodaism, based on the writings of a French educated Vietnamese during the colonial period. This is all that is known about the author who was deported from Indochin...
[Photos] Behold: The Vietnamese Avengers
25-year-old artist, Nguyen Quang Huy, has put a Vietnamese twist on some of Marvel’s most popular characters.
Behind The Cover: Saigon Artbook Edition 5
The next edition of Saigon Artbook is hot off the press and ready for the art-hungry masses. The book will be officially launched this Thursday evening at the 3A Alternative Art Area, but before you a...
[Map] Vietnamese Is One of the World’s Most Spoken Languages
While there are about 7,000 languages spoken on Earth, more than half of the world’s population speaks one of 23 languages. Where does Vietnamese rank amongst the world’s most spoken languages? Pretty...
Designer Spotlight: Linda Mai Phung
The last couple of months have been exciting for Saigon-based fashion designer, Linda Mai Phung. The young French-Vietnamese designer recently celebrated the 5th anniversary of her eponymous bran...
[Video] Hanoi Road Rage Leads To Epic Jump Kick
Driving can test the patience of even the most cool and collected individuals. For one Hanoi driver, the poor directional choices of a motorbiker led to an epic jump kick to the chest.
[Video] Sài Gòn...Sài Gòn...!
In a departure from Vietnam road trips and timelapse videos, Sài Gòn...Sài Gòn...! shows the city from the perspective of a group of young locals.
5 Totally Reasonable Explanations For The Broken AAG Cable
While officials have blamed everything from sabotage to poor quality materials for its inconsistency, we’ve come up with five completely reasonable, alternative explanations for why the Asia-America G...
[Video] Heartbreaking Film Shows The Hopes And Dreams Of The Mekong’s Boat Children
Last week, Mai Huyen Chi released “Down the Stream,” a short film that explores the lives of boat children in the Mekong Delta.
84% Of Vietnamese Students Admit To Plagiarism
At a conference on academic integrity in Vietnam held on May 29, a university official announced the results of a survey that found 84% of students have plagiarized significant portions of their writi...
