Nguyễn Đổng Chi's Classic Retelling of Vietnam's Fairy Tales, Now in English
Folklorist and anthropologist Nguyễn Đổng Chi dedicated decades to weaving a significant portion of Vietnam’s folklore tapestry. He collected, researched, and rewrote over 200 Vietnamese folktales from all corners of the country. His work, initially scattered across five volumes published individually and consecutively over 25 years, appeared as a complete anthology in 1982. Guided by a comprehensive treatise of Vietnamese folktale, Chi’s Kho tàng truyện cổ tích Việt Nam (Treasury of Vietnamese Folk Tales) might be daunting for readers drawn to Vietnamese folklore but disenchanted by rigorous academic discourse.
Kit Humphrey in Travel
In Thổ Hà Village, Rice Paper Spills Onto the Streets and Wraps Around Daily Life
A few hours after sunrise in the small village of Thổ Hà, Bắc Giang Province, alleyways morph into picturesque tunnels of drying rice paper, while ladies toast crackers over fire in the streets.
Carol Kim Brings to Life Rare Performance of 'Tại Vắng Anh' Thanks to Saigon Jazz Revival
The rich, bluesy ‘Tại vắng anh,’ written by Tuấn Khanh, was performed by Carol Kim this past November at Saigon Jazz Revival's inaugural concert in New Orleans.
Cliché or Parody? Orientalist Readings of Nam Le’s ‘36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem’
One may be surprised to learn that Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer-winning novel The Sympathizer was rejected by 13 out of 14 publishers before its eventual publication. He describes in an interview why he believes his novel was rejected by all but one publisher he submitted to: “I knew in writing the novel that I was deliberately not doing what I was supposed to do as an Asian American writer, which is [...that] you have to end on a note of Americanization. You have to end on an embrace of the American dream, explicitly or implicitly. And the novel does not do that.” He comments elsewhere along similar lines, “I refuse[d] to subscribe to dominant American narratives and mythologies that allow someone like me a very narrow space to speak.”
Pete Walls in Travel
Watching the Sunset From Lai Châu's Fansipan, the Roof of Indochina
Conquering Mount Fansipan’s 3,147 meters was once a feat reserved for those willing to take on the potential multi-day hike from Sapa to the summit and back.
Vietnam Arrests 7 Suspects Behind Streaming Site HiAnime on Piracy Charges
As part of the current crackdown on intellectual property infringement, Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security recently took down a major network of websites providing illegal anime streaming.
Dropping the Disguise: The Evolution of Punk Band Cút Lộn Towards More Radicality
In recent years, CÚT LỘN has cemented themselves as one of the most recognizable hardcore punk bands to emerge from the Vietnamese underground scene.
From TikTok to Bars, a Group of Young Artists Brings Đờn Ca Tài Tử to Unexpected Venues
“If you happen to pass by Huỳnh Mẫn Đạt Street in Hồ Chí Minh City There’s a strange bar with a Mekong theme Where cải lươ...
Saigon Urban Legends: Haunted 727 Tran Hung Dao
Located at 727 Tran Hung Dao, this District 5 dwelling was once called the President Building and housed hundreds of American soldiers. Commissioned by millionaire Nguyen Tan Doi, this building, which...
New Art Initiative In Saigon: Sao La
Here is a new addition in town that art lovers will welcome with open arms. Sao La is a non-profit initiative by the well-established Gallery Quynh, located on the ground floor of the HCMC Fine Art Mu...
[Video] Tuồng: Vietnam’s Disappearing Traditional Face Painting
Tuồng is a type of traditional folk performance which is characterized in part by the use of abstract face-painting. Performers hide their real faces under a piece of art, which symbolize their charac...
Da Nang’s Dragon Bridge Gets International Praise For Lighting Design
Da Nang's world famous bridge is back in the proverbial spotlight. After winning an international engineering award back in May, the central city’s Dragon Bridge was recently honored at the Internatio...
[Photos] Local Artist Creates Beautiful Aluminum And Wood Bird Sculptures
Interweaving the arts of sculpture and installation, Thai Nhat minh’s solo exhibition last year, “The Birds” captured feelings of captivity and yearning for freedom through his wooden and aluminum bir...
A Guide To Honking In Vietnam
Saigoneer contributor, Eric van der Vorst, created this playful list to help us decipher the meaning behind the symphony of honks and beeps that echo through Vietnam's roads and cities.
22 Head-Spinning Vietnamese Tongue Twisters
Due to its six tones, Vietnamese is far from the easiest language to learn. In case you wanted to further confound yourself, here's a list of 22 Vietnamese tongue twisters that will have even some Vie...
10 Incredible Photos Of Life On Hanoi's Train Tracks
Traffic in Vietnam is crazy but the train tracks that skirt through Hanoi’s residential areas reach levels of insanity.
Brian Letwin in Culture
Vietnam’s Most Entertaining Facebook Group Hits Milestone
Part of the joy of living in Vietnam is finding humor and beauty in everyday life. Our favorite Facebook group, Another Side of Vietnam (ASOV), does just this. Its members post tongue-in-cheek ph...
Flea Market @ Khoi Thom
It's time for BIG SALES at Khoi Thom, come around to enjoy the best prices ever on amazing brands like: Harmony,La Fiancée du facteur, Nua, TuliMuli, La Petite épicerie,Nadège Simard and get ama...
Chitra Ganesh: Architectures Of Myth @ Hoa Sen University
This lecture will explore the power of key visual and storytelling devices central to mythological narrative and their particular ongoing legacy in contemporary visual and popular culture.I will begin...
Many of Vietnam's Historical Sites Are Becoming Ruins
Vietnam may be rich in history, but many of the country’s historical sites are disintegrating as local governments lack the funds to restore them.
TEDxYouth: The Transparency @ Âu Cơ Palace
Until now we have only perceived this world through our naked eyes...
[Photos] Dull Saigon Alley Gets A Graffiti Facelift
In bustling downtown Saigon, where it seems like development dictates aesthetics, alleyway 15B on Le Thanh Ton Street is among the few public places in the city where art is accessible to residents of...
Artist Paul Frank Wagner To Exhibit In Con Dao
Less than two weeks ago, I attended the opening of Sao La. While in the midst of the hustle and bustle typical of the opening of an art space, I found myself chatting away with artist Paul Frank Wagne...
4 of Vietnam’s Most Beautiful Schools
Well-known for both their elegant, classic architecture and the quality of education they provide, these 4 Vietnamese schools have stood the test of time.
Yersin Documentary To Premier In Hanoi, HCMC
To commemorate the 120-year anniversary of Alexandre Yersin’s discovery of the deadly Bacillus virus and a lifetime of devotion to science and humanity, the Swiss Embassy joined forces with filmmaker,...
[Video] 2 Girls Crash While Attempting To Recreate Titanic Scene
We’ve all been there – you’re driving down the street, enjoying the fumes from the bus in front of you. Then you notice someone doing something totally unsafe and think to yourself - “Wow. I really ho...
10 Incredible Churches in Nam Dinh
While they get the most attention, the Cathedrals in Saigon and Hanoi pale in comparison with Nam Dinh’s. Not only does the province boast this magnificent architectural specimen, but also a plethora ...
Brian Letwin in Culture
[Photos] An Afternoon In Saigon’s Largest Cemetery
Blogger, Adam Young, recently took a walk through Saigon’s Binh Hung Hoa cemetery, once known as a hotbed for crime. Instead of forgoing his exploration due to this reputation, he grabbed his camera a...
