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 Presents: Photo Walk With Lee Starnes
Kick off your Sunday morning with some coffee and a friendly chat. Then take a slow walk through a local neighborhood and discover the beauty in the every-day details of local life.
Vietnamese Film Takes Top Spot At Venice Film Festival
Dap Canh Giua Khong Trung (Flapping in the Middle of Nowhere), the work of Vietnamese female director, Nguyen Hoang Diep, beat out 7 other foreign debut features to win “Best Film” at the 2014 Venice ...
X98: Hanoi’s Zone 9 Version 2.0?
When Zone 9 was closed late last year, it was a major loss for the complex’s patrons, shop owners, artists, and more generally, the city’s cultural scene. After months of mourning, it looks like Zone ...
'Licence 2 Draw': UuDam Tran Nguyen Brings Robotic Art to Vietnam
Software-based creations are increasingly populating the 21st century art scene, which sees smart phones, websites, digital moving images and software used to investigate and address the most varied t...
Brian Letwin in Culture
This Insane 12 Gigapixel Photo Of Hanoi Will Blow Your Mind
We love our timelapses and animations but this static, 12 gigapixel photo shot almost 270 meters above Hanoi is mighty impressive.
Saigon’s Non-War Museums
I remember that exciting day in my childhood when I was taken to a museum for the first time. It was the War Remnants Museum, and my excitement quickly gave way to horror for having seen its exhibits ...
Brian Letwin in Film & TV
[Video] Vintage Film Used to Capture Hanoi’s Bicycle Culture
It may not be quite as vintage as this old family home movie from the early 50s, but this 2 minute 32 second super 8 film, (no, not that Super 8 film) from illustrator, artist and cartoonist Oslo...
A Brief History Of The Áo Dài
Every country has its national attire. China’s has the cheongsam, Japan the kimono, Korea the hanbok, America denim and Vietnam has its áo dài. Like the country from which it originated, the áo dài ha...
[Photos] “Cemetery” For Tanks, Planes And Pretty Much Everything Else In Bac Ninh
In the village of Quan Do, Bac Ninh Province lies a massive cemetery of old military and civilian equipment.
Brian Letwin in Music & Arts
Ask For Permission, Not For Forgiveness: Saigon’s Graffiti Artists Learning From Seoul Counterparts
Graffiti art is becoming an increasingly popular art form in Asia, planting solid roots in many large cities in the region over the past few years. While at its core, graffiti art is anti-establishmen...
September Movies At Saigon’s Alternative Film Venues
This September, our local, alternative film-venues are sharing their love for the silver screen through their own selection of both new titles and films that you will not find in mainstream cinemas ar...
An Interview With 2 Vietnamese Dog Thieves
Dog theft has become a major issue over the years in Vietnam, especially as the country develops and people form deeper bonds with their pets. Any local dog owner lives with the knowledge that there a...
The Little-Known Hero’s Tomb Next To Bà Chiểu Market
Located at the intersection of two bustling streets in Bình Thạnh District – Phan Đình Phùng and Đinh Tiên Hoàng – and a few steps from the crowded Bà Chiểu market, is a temple dating back to the city...
Vietnamese Model To Hold International Fashion Show On Eiffel Tower
Vietnamese model, Jessica Minh Anh, has clearly found her niche - organizing fashion shows at some of the world’s most iconic locations.
An Ode To Saigon’s Rain Showers
Despite the inconveniences that unpredictable rain showers bring to Saigon, they are an essential part of the city’s character.
[Video] Viet Teens Use Mosquito Larva As Inspiration For Amazingly Awkward Dance
Well, not much to say about this video other than: prepare yourself for 4 minutes of wonderful, jaw-dropping awkwardness.
[Photos] Honda Chalys That Have Undergone Extreme Makeovers
Though they’re becoming increasingly rare on Vietnam’s roads, Honda Chalys remain a favorite for local mechanics who out their own spin on the diminutive motorbikes.
What’s So Special About Vietnamese Sơn Mài (Lacquer Painting)?
Sơn mài, or traditional Vietnamese lacquer painting, is not only unique in its fusion of local and French techniques, but also challenging due to the level of complexity and detail needed to create it...
Dan Nguyen and 3A: Organizing the Artifacts of Trauma
Vietnamese American artist and music composer, Dan Nguyen has left yet another mark on the South East Asian art scene; this time, at the rapidly growing 3A Alternative Art Area.
[Video] Saigon Hustlers
For many in Saigon, life is a hustle. From street vendors to motorbike ice delivery boys, everyone is trying to eek out a living. This video, made by Luke Penders, does a great job of capturing those ...
