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Reframing War Memories via the Western-Vietnamese Photographic Perspectives

War photographs, often viewed as windows into the past tragedies, are believed to offer an immediate representation of reality. But what lies beyond the frame? What purpose did these images serve, and who were they meant for?

Khôi Phạm

in Music & Arts

For the Love of Boney M: How a West German Disco Quartet Charmed Vietnam

“You’re gonna make me cry. That’s awesome,” Liz Mitchell exclaimed. Overwhelmed with disbelief, she covered her face and then clutched her black satin dress tightly. It was a rare moment of uplifting musical goodness when the past and the present of Vietnam’s music scene collided.

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In the Latest Issue of 'No One Magazine,' 15 Stories From Vietnam's Queer Communities

No One Magazine, a print publication about underground queer nightlife around the world, is focusing on Vietnam for its second issue with corresponding launch events in Hanoi and Saigon. 

in Music & Arts

Tranh Kiếng, Southern Vietnam's Glass Painting, Is at Risk of Disappearing

I’ve always loved marveling at the colorful tranh kiếng hung in our altar room whenever I get a chance to visit my mother’s hometown. Since I was little, the paintings have been an indispensable part of my grandparents’ homestead. Tranh kiếng is present everywhere in people’s houses in the town, but I’ve never thought to ask who created unique art pieces that perfectly encapsulate the soul of the southern community.

Paul Christiansen

in Loạt Soạt

Sao La, Self, Hmong Identity: The Many Layers of Poetry Collection 'Primordial'

A book of poetry all about sao la?

in Music & Arts

In Huế, ‘Allusive Panorama’ Exhibition Reveals a Tender Side of Hàm Nghi Through His Art

An exhibition offering a rare glimpse into the artistic life of Hàm Nghi, Vietnam's exiled emperor who dedicated his life to art, with brushstrokes and landscapes reflecting his deep longing towards a distant homeland that he could never return to.

in Music & Arts

Lý Trực Sơn Exhibition Invites Us to Marvel at Lacquer, Dó Paper, Earth's Material Beauty

Despite being three distinct elements with their own texture, depth, and presence, lacquer, paper, and earth are all rooted in nature. Rather than searching for hidden meanings, Lý Trực Sơn’s solo exhibition at Vin Gallery invites us to engage with the works instinctively and experience the interplay of pigments, natural elements, and form, shaped by the artist’s innovative process and the passage of time.

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in Music & Arts

Event Rewind: Steve Aoki

After successfully rocking Hanoi last December, Steve Aoki made his Saigon debut last night to the delight of hundreds of bouncing concertgoers. Things started off a bit precariously with a last minu...

in Culture

You'll Never Guess What These Boats are Made From

Unexploded bombs aren't the only thing the American military left behind in Vietnam after their failed interventions in SE Asia. According to The Aviationist, many American fighter-bombers such as th...

in Culture

Behold: Japanese Fart Scrolls

It's been a while since we've checked in with our Japanese neighbors. And what piqued our interest this time? Traditional, Edo period Japanese fart scrolls, of course! These scrolls are called he-gas...

in Music & Arts

The Saigon Players Present: Two

From the organizer: Still part of the Saigon Players’ 10th Season, we present English dramatist, Jim Cartwright’s award-winning, tour-de-force play, Two. The play is about a night in a pub ...

in Music & Arts

Exclusive Interview: Electronic DJ, Daedelus

Electronic DJ, Daedelus, will be headlining this month's The Beats Saigon party as the collective celebrates its 7th anniversary. We caught up with Daelelus and talked about his new album, creative pr...

in Culture

Trailer: Red Over the Rainbow - Vietpride 2013

As Vietnam becomes more accepting of their community (officially, at least), LGBT activists continue to publicize their struggle through the use of media. A forthcoming documentary from Hanoi-Based, F...

in Music & Arts

Behind the Cover: Saigon Artbook 2

The Saigon Artbook 2 party is coming up this Thursday at Zest Cafe. While tickets are currently sold out, Saigoneer will be giving a set of tickets away on our Facebook page later this afternoon. Here...

in Culture

Phởnny Business: 13 Vietnamese Restaurants That Use Puns

Some Vietnamese are taking advantange of the American love for puns to attract business to their phở restaurants. Buzzfeed recently published a set of photos showing how many California phở shops are ...

in Culture

Stand-up Saigon presents: The Best Comedy in Town

From the organizer: We’re a collection of aspiring comedians who are dedicated to making you piss yourself...figuratively speaking of course.So, the million Dong question is are you ready to laugh?

in Culture

Beer Paradise: Vietnamese Beer Ranked Cheapest in the World

Thrillist, using crowd-sourced data from cost of living site, Numbeo, just published a list of the countries with the world’s cheapest beer. Somewhat surprisingly, our fair Vietnam took the crown with...

in Music & Arts

New Year Gala Concert “Mozart and Tchaikovsky”

From the organizer: You are invited to the NEW YEAR GALA CONCERT with the participation of violinist Nguyen Huu Khoi Nam, who is considered the pride of Vietnam in France. The program is choreographe...

in Music & Arts

Laurent Judge: The Evolution of a Graffiti Artist

“It’s like a nightmare where everything is in slow motion, some lights will appear, then shadows and creature, which could be real but they are abstract.” This is how Parisian painter and graffiti art...

in Music & Arts

10 Awesome Traditional Vietnamese Songs

Petites Planètes compiled a wonderful sampling of traditional Vietnamese music, from funeral songs to those played in Hue's Imperial Citadel, and put the playlist online.

in Culture

Sci-Fi Cosplay Party @ Cargo

From the organizer: Are you ready for fun night of live music, dancing, drinking and dressing up as your favourite Sci-Fi characters? Join us for the biggest Sci-Fi party… ever in Vietnam! Project ...

in Culture

Proposed $1/Day ‘Tourism Fee’ Draws Severe Criticism

As Vietnam seeks to boost its tourism industry, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has proposed a plan that would charge tourists an additional $1 per day on top of the cost of thei...

in Music & Arts

Photography Courses with Quinn Ryan Mattingly

From the organizer: Do you have a great camera or editing software but not sure how to get the most from it? Saigon School of Imaging is here to help. With current courses in Lightroom, Photoshop and...

in Culture

New Years Eve Party @ The Observatory and Broma

From the organizer: People of Saigon! The time has nearly arrived for us to say bye bye to this bizarre year, and to start getting excited about meeting the next one because it's gonna arrive with a ...

in Culture

Video: Words of a Generation Vietnam

After centuries of social instability due to colonial occupation and war, Vietnam's younger generation (those born between 1975 and 1986) is finding its voice. But how does this group view themselves ...

in Music & Arts

The Observatory: Bringing Fresh Art and Music to Saigon's Masses

If you are thinking “another bar in town,” think again. Last month, The Observatory officially celebrated its opening, with the photographic exhibition of Mai Huyen Chi and an incredible lin...

in Culture

Video: Now This How to Count in Vietnamese

A bit rusty when it comes to Vietnamese numbers? No worries, this guy will show you how it's done.