Khôi Phạm in Film & TV
Review: Quán Kỳ Nam Is an Instant Classic of Contemporary Vietnamese Cinema
Quán Kỳ Nam is a cozy, languorous film that might elude some viewers who don’t have the patience to sit around sipping on tea while waiting for hoa quỳnh to blossom. Still, just like waiting for those petals to unfurl, if you manage to sit still until the end, the result is a tender beauty whose scent will linger on even after the flower is gone.
Paul Christiansen in Literature
Meet Dạ Ngân, the Author of the Most Important Vietnamese Novel You've Never Read
When the wind strafes Dạ Ngân’s window, seedpods shake and rattle like spent bullet casings in the tamarind tree that Americans planted decades ago. They also built the large apartment complex where she now lives. It’s an ironic place to call home, considering Dạ Ngân was a resistance fighter in the south during the American War.
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?
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...
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 ...
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 ...
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...
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.
Sunday Garage Sale @ Saigon Outcast
From the organizer: Remember the jumble sale and garage sale that Saigon outcast did last year? Where they collected a lot of toothbrushes and some other necessities for the orphanage in bien hoa?&nb...
Deaths and Abuse Reported at HCMC Daycare Centers
In a week hit by scandal of 2 nursery ‘baby-sitters’ abusing the children in their care, more light is being shed on illegally operating businesses that are left to care for the city’s children. And i...
How a Viral Video is Challenging Vietnam’s Traditional Gender Roles
It’s an age-old story – a couple breaks up and someone asks to be repaid for various expenditures made during the relationship. This scene was captured in 2 recent YouTube videos which quickly went vi...
A Closer Look at the Images on Vietnamese Banknotes
Vietnamese banknotes are characterized by beautiful colors and illustrations that capture some of Vietnam’s most famous locations (and Ho Chi Minh, of course). We've previously written about their his...
Canvas & Wine: Monet and The Impressionists
From the organizers: The Impressionist movement changed forever the concept of painting. The effect of light and color and the use of clear brush strokes played a main role in the paintings. With the...
Slideshow: Spectacular Color Photos of 1914 Hanoi
Over the next 2 weeks, Hanoi-based French Culture Centre (L’Espace), will be holding a “Hanoi Colour” exhibition, featuring 60 color images taken by French photographer, Leon Busy, between 1914 and 19...
Castaway (Lost Island) New Years Party Presented by Mc Sorley's, DeciBel Lounge and Saigon Outcast
From the organizers: Dear Saigon, It’s been an amazing year, and the only way to end it is with an even more amazing party. This year forget lines, forget dress codes. Forget everything you think you...
Christmas Eve Potluck Dinner + Secret Santa @ Saigon Outcast
From the organizer: Everyone is welcome to Christmas potluck dinner and secrete Santa at Saigon Outcast on Tuesday, December 24, 2013, for our special edition of eating-too-much and enjoying a a Xmas...
Video: Just Some Guys Doing the 'Chicken Dance' on a District 1 Rooftop
As you may be aware, the Vietnamese 'Chicken Dance' craze has been sweeping through the country over the past month. The dance which tells you to "Lên nóc nhà" (go to the top), instructions that were ...
Tastes Like Chicken Brings the Funk to Cargo
From the organizer: Tastes Like Chicken are the funkiest band in Saigon. This 8 piece line up of bad ass funksters will definitely get you dancing. Their Chicken stinks of funk and is served with l...
Fashion Meets Communication Event @ Plan B
From the organizer: This time, we are going to bring a fresh air to our regular event with a Fashion Show. This is to support young and talented fashion designers - a brand new inspiration for Commun...
Video: Motorbike Meditation? Vietnam Man Shows off his Impressively Dangerous Skill
We're kind of in awe by this video which shows a Da Nang man speeding down the highway while standing on his motorbike. This is not an endorsement to try it yourself (this position likely takes years ...
UK Man Releases Album in Vietnamese
For us many of us non-native Vietnamese speakers, learning the local, tonal language is a tall order. But while most of us are satisfied learning ‘get by’ vocabulary, there are those who take their st...
Exhibition Opening: Laurent Judge & Ayano Otani
From the organizer: Laurent Judge, a French artist painter and graffiti artist, has re-formatted his original paintings, and printed them on wood. Laurent will be pleased to present a limited series...
Traffic Time Lapse from Kumho Asiana Plaza
It might not have the high production value of previous time lapse videos we've posted but this video, captured from the top of Kumho Asiana Plaza, still provides a nifty view of one of the city's bus...
