Văn Tân in Culture
A Brief History of Ông Đồ, Vietnam’s Scholars Whose Calligraphy Is Highly Sought After
To say that Tết gathers together everything most beautiful in Vietnamese culture would not be an exaggeration. More than a threshold between the old year and the new, it is also a time when people feel they can return to, and relive, the traditional values that define them.
Paul Christiansen in Travel
From Dark to Dawn, an Early Morning at Hội An's Duy Hải Fish Market
At 3am, Hội An’s streets resemble dog-gnawed pork bones, licked clean of all scent and viscera. No light, no noise, no movement. But that’s the time you must venture out to witness the Duy Hải Fish Market in action.
Review: 'New Wave' Documentary Is a Surprisingly Personal Dissection of 1980s Nostalgia
Melodic synth-lines and steady electronic drums. Today, the signature sounds of new wave music feel perhaps a bit old and outdated. During its high point during the 1980s, however, new wave was hailed as music of the future.
On the Cusp of a Modern New Year, Reflections on a Simpler Tết Past
Every year, as the pages from my block calendar peel off, bringing me towards another Vietnamese New Year, my mind once again fills with nostalgia about an old Tết. Tết in my memory begins with my childhood in a small house nestled under a coconut grove on the outskirts of Bạc Liêu in the Mekong Delta. Those were days of hardship, yet my parents worked hard so that Tết could bloom magnificently for all of us.
A Damaged Masterpiece Reveals How Much We Take Our Cultural Heritage for Granted
A once-damaged national treasure remains on view as if nothing had happened, while other works are displayed with little context — what does this tell us about how art museums preserve Vietnam's cultural heritage and shape our art history narratives today?
In 'Đêm Giao Thừa' EP, a Đàn Tranh Artist Offers Novel Twists on Nostalgic Tết Sounds
Indie đàn tranh artist Brian Bùi has just released Đêm Giao Thừa, an EP containing energetic covers of three classic Tết songs and an original track that pays homage to styles from the 1960s and 1970s.
Khôi Phạm in Culture
Unraveling the Mystery Behind the 'Mùi Việt Kiều' of My Childhood
My favorite candy used to be Hershey’s Kisses. Wrapped in colorful, sparkling foil, these little nubs of decadence made me feel special as a child, not just because of their sugary sweetness, but also because, for much of Vietnam’s contemporary history, you could only enjoy them if you have relatives abroad.
When Lịch Bloc Is Gone, What Will Vietnam Use to Keep Discarded Fish Bones?
I have never bought a lịch bloc, or tear-off calendar, for personal use, because every new year, I'm bound to be gifted a brand-new one. In Vietnam, a calendar is often something one purchases as a present for others.
Saigoneer Podcast: Our Favorite Non-Pandemic Stories of 2020
It's our last episode of the year!
Crate-Digging for Audio Gold at the Second Hanoi Records Day
In September of this year, Quan Cam played host to VOC Record’s second Hanoi Records Day. Saigoneer met with the organizers and collectors to learn more about Vietnam’s growing culture of crate digger...
On Deep Reading the Poetic Works of Vietnamese Writer Nhã Thuyên
Reflections on Nhã Thuyên’s poem 'Traces of nothing' and other writings.
[Photos] Saigoneer's Best Original Photography of 2020
Is it possible to ruminate on the past 12 months without agonizing over the looming threat of COVID-19 and the grief it has inflicted on global communities? Perhaps not, but if there’s any place in th...
Saigoneer Podcast: Vietnamese Christmas Movies and Author Debby Nguyen
Our second-to-last episode of 2020 is here!
Wiz Khalifa Drops Visuals for New Song Featuring Vietnamese Farmer Sô Y Tiết
"Usually I make a w**d song. So here goes a w**d song."
Michael Tatarski in Film & TV
Review: 'Monsoon' Peruses the Chasm Between Past and Contemporary Vietnam
Monsoon is Vietnam-shot film directed by Hong Khaou that was released earlier this year. It is spoken by Lee (David Tran) to Kit (Henry Golding) as they have tea on a Saigon sidewalk and referenc...
“Tree Spirit” Plants Lim Khim Katy’s Soothing Landscapes in Saigon
“I just fly with my knife,” Lim Khim Katy explains of the process behind her striking landscapes.
Chí Tài, Beloved Comedian and Talented Musician, Passes Away at 62
One half of the iconic comic duo Chí Tài-Hoài Linh has left us today.
Mầm in Ton-sur-Ton
Tarp, but Make It Fashion: A Saigon Trio Upcycles Canopies Into Backpacks
With a love for the environment and ample creativity, Kiều Anh, Trang, and Tú Quân have built a unique fashion brand named Dòng Dòng Sài Gòn. The line of bags and other items created from recycled tar...
Saigoneer Podcast: Saigon's Covid-19 Cluster; Video Games in Vietnam
We're back!
Ngô Thanh Vân to Produce Movie Based on Historical Comic Series 'Long Thần Tướng'
One of the most prestigious Vietnamese comic projects is slated for a big-screen release.
Vlogger Brittanya Karma Passes Away at 29 Due to Covid-19
Vietnam’s vlogosphere has lost a tireless beacon of positivity this year.
Vietnam's Art Fondling Epidemic and the Online Vigilante Policing It
There are many clumsy shoe prints beyond the foot-high metal boundary, next to a small sign that screams out in all caps: "PLEASE, DON’T TOUCH THE ARTWORK."
Adrien Jean in Culture
[Photos] Get Set, Row: The Aquatic Exuberance of Soc Trang's Ooc Om Bok Festival
Also called the Moon Worship festival, Ooc Om Bok is one of the liveliest festivals in the Khmer calendar.
Citizen Earth Program Returns to Hanoi With Art, Culture, Science, and More
Citizen Earth is a Six Space project exploring art, culture, and education through a community lens. The year-long program brings together artists and researchers from various fields such as history, ...
Q&A: A History of Fading Colors — An Interview With Artist Quynh Lam
Nguyễn Đức Diễm Quỳnh (otherwise known as Quynh Lam) is a Vietnamese contemporary artist. She was trained early as a painter and was influenced by her family's traditional photography practices which ...
Saigon to Host Major Street Art Festival Next Year
Saigon is banking on the festival's success to draw international visitors back to the city after the COVID-10 pandemic subsides next year.
[Video] 'Lão Hạc' Movie Adaptation Releases Trailer, to Hit Theaters Next Year
The movie is among a handful of Vietnamese features that have a dog in a starring role.
Saigoneer Podcast: Street Art in Vietnam; Puppetry Artist Linh Valerie Pham
A new podcast episode is available now!
