
Vietnamese American Lo-Fi R&B Star Keshi Adds HCMC Show to World Tour
As a pleasant post-Tết gift for fans in Vietnam, a stop in Saigon was announced as part of the Asian leg of keshi’s world tour.

Ly Mí Cường Takes the Sounds of Sáo H'Mông From Hà Giang to International Stages
Born in 2005, Ly Mí Cường has brought sáo Mèo to international music competitions twice in his life — and he managed to take home the first prize both times. Cường’s anchor is always H’Mông culture, the wellspring that has nurtured his soul ever since he first took up the flute of his people, sáo H’Mông.

Insights, Polished History Lessons Await in Hanoi's Massive, Brutalist Military Museum
When I pitched a review of Hanoi’s massive new Vietnam Military History Museum to the Saigoneer editorial staff, I expected to find the museum somewhat boring. After all, although I am a historian, I am not really that interested in military stuff, and I’d been to the original location on Điện Biên Phủ Street several times — how could this new museum improve on the old one? What could this new museum say that the old one didn’t? What could I learn here that I haven’t already learned at Saigon’s War Remnants Museum and Hồ Chí Minh Campaign Museum, at Điện Biên Phủ’s war museum, at Hải Phòng’s naval museum, and at the countless other shrines to Vietnamese martial prowess across the country? Quite a lot, it turns out.

'The Colors of April' Invites Numerous Generations of Vietnamese to Reflect on War
“If the rain could wash away everything, maybe we could all find peace. For the third generation after the war, what was left behind wasn’t anger or bitterness, but an enduring sorrow that echoed from the heart.”

In Vietnam, Joss Papers Link Life and Death, Modernity and Tradition
Joss papers and effigies consumed my experiences before I began to even question their meaning. On the anniversary of my grandfather’s death (giỗ), my grandmother routinely set up a large pot in our tiny front yard and burned a stack of replica paper money. It is quite a scene to watch — the fire turned the paper to smoke and ash, and within minutes it was as if the paper never existed.

Every Mùng Một, My Family Organizes Our Own Temple Run to Visit 10 Temples
According to Vietnamese traditions, the first, second, and third days of Tết are reserved for one’s paternal family, maternal family, and teacher’s family, respectively.

On Hội Xuân, the Harbinger of Tết for High School Students
When I was a high school student, Lunar New Year brought with it a lot of excitement. Not only did we get a week-long break, we also got plenty of fun school activities leading up to the holidays. For me, one of my most anticipated events during this period of time was the high school Tết concerts.

The Tết Board Games That Help Foster (and Destroy) Family Relations
There’s nothing quite as satisfying as beating all your siblings and cousins in a heated game of cờ cá ngựa.

[Video] Beware Of The Tobacco Bong (Điếu Cày)
The tobacco bong (điếu cày) is a popular companion for everyone from café-goers to parking attendants in Vietnam who are looking for a greater high than normal cigarettes provide, or simply a strong d...

[Video] This Is What Happens When Tourists Are Asked To Speak Vietnamese
A hard a time as expats in Vietnam have pronouncing the local language, after a while, most of us are able to learn the basics. But as we see in this video from Nguyen McHung, the language was not des...

[Video] “Enter Pyongyang” Hyperlapse Offers A Look At Life In North Korea’s Capital
You may remember the Rob Whitworth’s award-winning film, Traffic in Frenetic HCMC, Vietnam (2012), a culmination of 10,000 RAW images and multiple shots which perfectly captured the energy and spirit ...

CreativeDrinks #2 @ 3A Station
From the organizer: "Sure, everyone knows what a brand is. Coke, Pepsi, McDonald’s. But that buzzword is getting thrown around a whole lot in career and job search conversations these days, too. And y...

Photographer Spotlight: Dinh Q. Lê
Photography has been, over the past 180 years, one of the most misjudged artistic mediums. Some consider it a way to simply record the surface of reality, indiscriminately used by the masses. After al...

Event Rewind: Saigon Artbook Edition 4
After three successful releases of the Saigon Artbook, the team held a launch event at The Cube last Thursday to celebrate the 4th edition of the book that celebrates local artists.

Where to Find Disappearing Old Books in Saigon
There is a German proverb – "Alle guten dinge sind drei" – which refers to the joy gained from one’s efforts. Living in the digital age, we are blessed – or cursed, depending on your point o...

[Photos] Wealthy Yen Bai Man Builds Extravagant Mountain Tomb
Taking a page out of the book of the Egyptian Pharaohs, a Yen Bai man is constructing a massive, VND15 billion tomb on the side of a mountain.

[Video] Local Students Make Impressive 3D Film On Retro Saigon
This local indie film, “Balloon” is worth 4 minutes of your eyes, ears and mind.

Finger Food: Sushi Nail Art Is A Thing In Japan
Recently Nails have become a popular canvas for artistic expression, displaying everything from circuit boards to Grumpy Cat. But leave it Japan to take things to the next level.

[Video] A Day in the Life of a Saigon Street Masseur
You’ve no doubt heard ringing bottle caps, the calling card of Saigon’s street masseurs, outside your door in the evening hours. These men ride around the city till the morning light, hoping to put a ...

[Photos] Optimus Prime Appears In Saigon In Motorbike Form
On the morning of August 3 at a coffee shop on Trần Phú Street (District 5), pedestrians were shocked to find a transformer disguised as a Yamaha Exciter.

[Video] Help Fund A New Documentary On Hanoi’s Zone 9
You’re probably familiar with Zone 9, a group of former factory buildings that were converted into shops, bars and art spaces early last year. But just as the complex was hitting its stride, all of it...

Narrow The Gap: Increasing Access To Education In Vietnam
Founded to support local not-for-profit organizations, volunteers and donors to have an equal chance to contribute their time to improve ongoing social issues, Narrow the Gap Community Fund is LIN’s (...

[Video] Day Dreamers: A Day in the Life of a Saigon Hipster
As Vietnam becomes increasingly connected to global trends, the country’s 20-somethings have embraced everything from rap to graffiti art.

Startup Seeks To Change The Way You Experience Hanoi And Beyond
Soundwalk is a location-based audio tour: as you walk around the city, you hear sounds as you pass through the streets, presenting a fundamentally different urban experience.

[Video] "Memories Of Vietnam" Shows The Country Through A Poetic Lens
Earlier this yeah, Léo Bigiaoui and his friends traveled across Vietnam for a month, filming in Sapa, Hanoi, Cat Ba Island, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An and Phu Quoc.

5 Funky Illustrated Maps of Vietnam
They Draw & Travel is a website for artists to express that passion, and for readers to discover their creations by creating their own artistic maps.

[Photos] Saigon’s Rooftop Bonsai Gardens
Growing bonsai trees is becoming an increasingly popular business in Saigon. The Japanese plants, revered around the world, can fetch billions of đồng but take 2 to 3 years to grow.

Live Music - Jeremy Ginsburg @ deciBel
Jeremy is back to rock the house at Decibel for another performance.