Linh Phạm in Trích or Triết
In Xuân Diệu's Tender Poetry, a Reminder to Love Honestly and Courageously
“Tenderly, fondly, Xuân Diệu held on to my wrist, caressing it up and down. Our eyes locked in affection…Xuân Diệu loved me.”
Pete Walls in Travel
For the Freshest Fish of the Day, Head to Hội An's Coast Before Sunrise
The alarm goes off at 3am. By 3:30am, scooters laden with empty crates and baskets are already moving through the dark lanes and sandy passages towards Hội An's coast. Long before the old town wakes, the beaches along the shore are coming alive with engines, head torches, waves, and fishermen preparing to return to land. Thankfully, coffee is readily available almost anywhere.
From the Mind of 'Mekong Review' Comes ‘Yellow,’ a New Lit Mag Focused on SEA
“Cooped up in my apartment-cage in Tân Định, I created, with scissors and glue, dummy after dummy of a cosmopolitan rag positively pumping with scandals and half-truths. I was having a lot of fun dreaming of a magazine that I would never be able to do. And buried somewhere in that detritus on the floor—advertising cutouts and newspaper clippings—was Yellow … Once I knew I had the name, the magazine more or less made itself, as though the name determined the rest, ie, form and content,” writes Minh Bui of the birth of Yellow, his “what-do-I-do-after-Mekong Review magazine.”
In Saigon's Bửu Long Pagoda, a Meditative Escape and Pan-Southeast Asian Architecture
It all started with a sparkle on the horizon, a beam of solar brilliance bouncing off a garish metallic surface.
On Reading Ocean Vuong and Thinking About the Sniff Kisses of My Family
Having always been a little brother, I had to learn to be a big one when I was 10 years old. In the midst of the confusion of this new role, I found myself pressing my nose to this newborn’s head and inhaling as hard as I could. This “sniff kiss” was not an action I invented. Rather, it was an instinct forged through mimicry: I started noticing from this point that my father and grandmother both did the same thing to me.
Paul Christiansen in Music & Arts
Meet Th.ink Room, the Tattoo Collective Bringing New Life to Old Artworks and Onto Skin
Tattoo Therapist, dr.99hz, cd.cadao, goc.viet, Solarist and Baby Nepotism: listing the artists that call Th.ink Room home feels like shouting out the members of a rap clique. Indeed, tattoo artists, more than any other visual artists, are akin to rappers in their use of pseudonyms, so to employ a common hip-hop refrain, Saigoneer became interested in Th.ink Room because “game recognize game.”
Khôi Phạm in Film & TV
A (Literally) Brief History of Vietnamese Representation in 'Mean Girls' (2004)
Written by Saturday Night Live alum Tina Fey and premiered in 2004, Mean Girls is often heralded as a sharp, self-aware comedy that was ahead of its time, yet still holds up surprisingly well today. Alas, its depiction of Asians has aged a little more poorly, even though at the time of its release, the Asian representation was shockingly accurate for its time, despite some haphazard characterizations.
On Shooting an Entire Movie on 35mm Film: The Curious Case of 'Quán Kỳ Nam'
“Let’s go to Vietnam!” declared Sabrina Baracetti, president of the Far East Film Festival (FEFF) in Udine, Italy, as she wrapped up her introduction for Leon Lê's Quán Kỳ Nam (Kỳ Nam Inn). Sitting in the Teatro Nuovo, watching Quán Kỳ Nam unfold for the first time, I felt an overwhelming surge of pride.
[Photos] Floods Bring Seasonal Specialties To The Mekong Delta
While few Saigonese smile at the sight of flooded streets, their Mekong Delta brethren welcome high waters with open arms.
[Video] BMX: Saigon Style
The age of the fixie may have dawned on Saigon but another bicycle fad is becoming increasingly popular in the city – BMX.
[Video] A Vietnamese Critique Of Social Networking
The Phở Team, which brought us "What does the Phở Say?" and "Differences Between Hanoi vs Sai Gon" is back with a new video critiquing the social network experience.
Vietnamese Photographer Wins Award At International Competition
Vietnamese photographer, Ly Hoang Long, was selected as the top photographer from the Asia-Pacific region at the recent CBRE Urban Photographer of the Year competition.
Morning News Roundup: Vietnam To Resume Horse Racing On New Track
Vietnam to resume horse racing on new track [Thanh Nien] Company builds road without permission in Ha Long Bay’s peripheral areas [Tuoi Tre] Young man creates street library in Danang [DTI]
[Photos] Event Rewind: Saigoneer Photo Walk With Adam Robert Young
Last Sunday, Adam Robert Young led the October Saigoneer photo walk, taking a group of participants around a bustling local market in District 2.
Saigon Artbook 1 Year Anniversary Fundraiser
After 4 successful releases of the Saigon Artbook, the team is launching a special 1 year anniversary edition at an open fundraising event at 3A Station on Thursday, October 23 from 5pm – 11pm.
Wednesday Jameson Jam: Acoustic Open Mic @ Saigon Outcast
From the organizer: Candlelight, cool breeze, and acoustic music, the perfect way to ease into the weekend!
Epic Drone Video Shows Vietnam’s Beauty From Great Heights
If you ever needed proof that Vietnam and drones are a natural fit, look no further than this video made by Duong Dang Dop.
85-Year-Old Saigon Man Bootstraps His Way Across Vietnam
Nguyễn Văn Ngọc, an 91-year-old man from Ward 26 in Bình Thạnh District is known among his neighbors as a shoe repairman and part-time fortuneteller. Little do they know that at the ripe old age of 85...
American DJ Lil Jon To Headline The HCMC Prisma Run In November
Kelly Clarkson isn’t the only American star on their way to Vietnam later this year. American DJ, Lil Jon, will be headlining the November 22 Prisma Run in District 2, greeting runners at the finish l...
2 Year Anniversary Of Last Call Bar @ Last Call
From the organizer: Ladies and gentelmen's, early birds and sun chasers, cocktails lovers and just lovers, LAST CALL bar is going to be happy to see on this special day, day of 2 years since the ...
[Video] Saigon Artbook Anniversary Party Teaser
It’s been a year since the first edition of the Saigon Artbook was launched at La Brasserie. 12 artists and 4 editions later, the team has planned a special anniversary party at 3A Station on October ...
Kelly Clarkson To Play Miss Vietnam 2014 Finale
Kelly Clarkson, winner of American Idol 2002 and performer of formulaic pop ballads, will make her way to Vietnam in December to entertain crowds at this year’s Miss Vietnam pageant finale in Phu Quoc...
Saigoneer Presents: Photo Walk With Adam Robert Young
The Saigoneer Photo Walk is back!
[Video] Short Film “16:30” - A Day In The Life Of A Saigon’s Child Lottery Ticket Sellers
16:30 is a 17-minute short film by Vietnamese director Tran Dung Thanh Huy which made an appearence at the Cannes film festival in 2013. The film tells the story of a group of young Saigon boys who se...
[Photos] The White Prince Of Saigon
No one loves white more than this Saigon man.
[Photos] Vietnam Celebrates The 60th Anniversary Of Hanoi’s Liberation
On October 10, 1954, French troops folded up their flags and withdrew from their colonial capitol. As they left, Vietnamese communist forces entered the city, official ending 67 years of French occupa...
Optimist Club 100 - 2 Year Anniversary
Optimists! We made it to no.100 [and it's also our 2nd anniversary!
October Movies At Saigon’s Alternative Film Venues
With Halloween coming up soon, expect some horror and gothic films at Saigon’s alternative film venues this month. Alongside titles that pay homage to the much-loved remembrance of the dead, these pro...
