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 Today, the signature sounds of new wave music feel perhaps a bit old and outdated.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.
Elise Luong in Film & TV
3 Vietnamese Films Selected for Locarno Film Festival
The Locarno Film Festival opens this month for the 72nd year running, this time as a new hybrid edition titled "For the Future of Films."
Paul Christiansen in Film & TV
How Famed Filmmaker Việt Linh Built a Family Around Art
“The lonely sound of a lute cannot cure your pain. You need Tơ’s singing to bring you serenity.”
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 25: Child's Play
Who builds Saigon's bridges?
[Video] In 'Ba Đình Đời,' a Study of Hanoi's Nocturnal Textures and Shapes
As Vietnam battles a fresh coronavirus outbreak, art from the country's initial battle and social distancing period is still being released.
Adrien Jean in Culture
[Photos] From Bamboo to Altar: The Life of an Incense Stick in Vietnam
Vietnamese see the process of burning incense as a sacred ritual said to provide a bridge between the visible life of human beings and the spiritual world of gods.
Nguyễn Đức Sơn, Eccentric Poet and Pillar of Southern Literature, Passes Away at 83
On the morning of June 11, poet Nguyễn Đức Sơn, pseudonym Sao Trên Rừng (Star Over The Forest), passed away at the age of 83.
[Video] The Homeless Saigon Man Who Built a Home for Rescue Dogs
In recent years, uproar over the consumption of dog meat has culminated in demands for a national ban on the controversial dish, which some consider a traditional delicacy while others claim it is une...
From Iconic Street Scene to Hybrid T-Shirt: The Journey of a Ginkgo Design
A street cart crammed with all the fresh ingredients and utensils needed for a scrumptious meal parked beside hungry guests enjoying their dishes on plastic tables beneath a bright red flag: i...
Saigoneer Podcast: Vietnam's Effort to Increase Fertility Rates; Visual Arts Curator Bill Nguyen
We're now 90 episodes old!
Hanoi International Film Festival Delayed Until 2022 Due to Pandemic
The effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic forced organizers to push the event back from its scheduled date of November 4–8.
Vũ Nhật Tân, Vietnam's Composer and Artist Extraordinaire, Passes Away at 50
Vũ Nhật Tân, Hanoi’s adept producer, musician, and artist, died recently due to illness.
Elise Luong in Music & Arts
In 'Xem Đêm, Càng Đêm,' a Night Rendezvous Between Architecture and Visual Art
‘"...In the distance the stars Nearby, fireflies..."—Phùng Cung
Japan Releases Adorable Pink Honda Cub Inspired by 'Weathering With You'
For a limited time, Honda is selling scooters based on the popular animated film Weathering With You.
Một Pair of Shoes You Need in Your Closet
What is the modern Vietnamese aesthetic?
For Vietnam's Filmmakers, the Pandemic Brings Business, Impetus to Adapt
Six months have passed since COVID-19 first reared its head, and still its impact reverberates chaotically across the planet.
Govi Snell in Music & Arts
How Music and Art Empower Vietnam's Efforts to Contain Covid-19
"Even if it's small, it is very cruel. Many have died because of it...We definitely got to stay alert."—'Ghen cô Vy' by ERIK and MIN.
Vietnam Is Publishing More Books, but Only a Fraction of Which Are Children's Literature
With a depleting number of children’s literature writers, it is becoming ever more difficult to meet the appetite of Vietnam’s youths hungry for a good Vietnamese book.
[Video] Rappers Hit Hanoi Streets in Fiery 'Thủ Đô Cypher' Collaboration
Four up-and-coming Hanoi rappers spit rapid-fire rhymes across the capital city.
K-Pop Talent Agency SM Entertainment Opens First Vietnam Store in Saigon
Saigon’s K-pop fans, rejoice!
France Awards Order of Arts and Letters to Two Vietnamese
The awards were conferred to Nguyen Ngoc Lan and Tran Vuong Thach.
