An Ode to Vũng Tàu, Saigon's Unwavering Summer Crush
I recently took a trip to Vũng Tàu after a long summer of cultural research, which had me traveling up and down Vietnam. It had been seven years since I’d been back to the homeland, and 19 since I’d last seen the beaches of Vũng Tàu, when I was only 16. It felt like returning to a high school crush, and it made me think of the words of Trần Thiện Thanh, who once wrote, “Nhớ lúc xa xưa mười sáu trăng tròn…” I won’t say I wasn’t looking for something familiar, poetic, and possibly even as sappy.
Paul Christiansen in Literature
5 Books by Vietnamese Authors Centered on Strong Female Protagonists
Literature, more than any other art form, allows people an intimate vantage point from which to witness the experiences, emotions, and thoughts of individuals drastically different from themselves. Books thus hold the unparalleled power to inspire, foster empathy, and expand one’s understanding of the human condition.
Women in Post-Đổi Mới Vietnamese Cinema: From Archetypal to Multifaceted
In Vietnamese cinema, the female figure has long been employed to deliver macro-level messages rather than just mundane narratives.
Khôi Phạm in Music & Arts
The Multiverse Behind the 1990s Classic 'Người Tình Mùa Đông' by Như Quỳnh
There is a certain timelessness to the song ‘Người Tình Mùa Đông’ by Như Quỳnh, especially in the visuals of its very first performance. For generations of Vietnamese listeners, ‘Người Tình Mùa Đông’ is an icon in the hall of fame of Vietnamese music, but as I have come to discover, the melody that Vietnamese know as ‘Người Tình Mùa Đông’ has lived a life much richer and more transcendent than it might appear.
Vietnamese Creators Teach Kids to Appreciate Rice in 'Con Ăn Hết Rồi' Book Project
If one day, the grains of rice that you frequently put in your mouth suddenly start to move, talk, and give you a rundown on how they were created on the field, would you believe it? This seemingly absurd scenario is exactly what happened to Minh, a little boy who's the main character of Con ăn hết rồi!, a children's book by author Đỗ Nguyệt Hà and illustrator Lê Phương Quỳnh, also known as Buffy.
Paul Christiansen in Music & Arts
In Hội An, Artist Nguyễn Quốc Dân Breathes New Life Into Scrap Materials
The several dozen family altars that formed a hodgepodge pile had each been abandoned in graveyards. For many, this would make them extremely inauspicious. But to artist Nguyễn Quốc Dân, they are perfect for making art.
Enlightening Misery Under French Rule Explored in 'Light Out and Modern Vietnamese Stories'
Light Out and Modern Vietnamese Stories, 1930–1954 offers the contemporary reader an honest glimpse of a period in Vietnam history characterized by corruption, exploitation, dehumanization, poverty, and starvation. The Vietnamese texts, both a novella and accompanying short stories, not only delineate the immediate influence of French colonization on the sociopolitical functions of Vietnam, an enterprise solely designed for its economic potential, but also expose the extending impact on the quotidian lives of proletarians, particularly the peasantry.
What Shipwrecks Can Teach Us About Vietnam's Centuries-Old Maritime History
Deep beneath the ocean surface, colorful ceramic fragments have been scattered and stacked upon one another for centuries. Some remain whole, others broken, many still covered with corals and ocean dust. Once precious commodities, these pieces have become time capsules, carried into the Vietnamese waters by ships that never reached their destinations. What stories might these centuries-old ceramic artifacts hold about Vietnam’s connection with surrounding kingdoms?
Michael Tatarski in Film & TV
[Video] A Day in the Life of an Ordinary Schoolgirl in Saigon
What might life be like for a public school student in Saigon who hails from a less well-off family?
Saigoneer Podcast: The Air Pollution Problem; the Bubble Tea Bubble Bursts
Episode 70 is out now!
3 Vietnamese Authors Honored With Southeast Asian Writers Awards
Nguyen The Quang, Tran Hung and Le Minh Khue were each honored for their work at the Southeast Asian Writers Awards in Bangkok.
Kit Humphrey in Postcards
Hanoi Postcard No. 10: Capital City Claustrophilia
Cramped alleyways thread through the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter like arteries, carrying not just people and goods, but also intrigue and fear.
Paul Christiansen in Loạt Soạt
Saigoneer Bookshelf: Americana Through a Vietnamese Lens in 'Butterfly Yellow'
“Read what you don’t know because if you can already imagine it, then you can already imagine it; but if you can’t, then open up something that reveals a world you can’t imagine and then suddenly you’...
Saigoneer Podcast: Alternative Medicine in the Modern World; Can Netflix Dethrone YouTube?
A new episode is out now!
Michael Tatarski in Music & Arts
How Saigon Brought Together Skeleton Goode, the City's Latest Psych Rock Band
While some may find it hard to explore Saigon's music scene given the dearth of live venues, record labels and media coverage, bands like Skeleton Goode ensure that Saigoneers can enjoy a wide range o...
Paul Christiansen in Music & Arts
A Young Violist's Take on Performing in Saigon's All-Vietnamese Orchestra
Notes leap and prance out of bamboo flute the way a cricket prances between stalks of grass.
'The Third Wife' Nominated for 3 Independent Spirit Awards
The controversial film got nods for Best Cinematography and Best Editing, while director Ash Mayfair was nominated as 'someone to watch.'
Kit Humphrey in Music & Arts
Rooftop Concerts: Limebócx – 'Yêu Nhau (Qua Cầu Gió Bay)
Rooftop Concerts, Saigoneer's live music video series, is finally back; this time featuring electronic duo Limebócx, one of the most promising new acts in the capital's underground music scene.
Khôi Phạm in Film & TV
Review: Despite Laughable Jump Scares, 'Bắc Kim Thang' Is Surprisingly Smart and Topical
With lush landscapes of the Mekong Delta as the background, Bắc Kim Thang is surprisingly wicked and intelligent, but most importantly, it provides feminist advocates a new way to topple the patriarch...
Inside Nhật Tảo Market, Saigon's Biggest Informal Recycling Center
The areas around Nhat Tao Market, spanning the border of District 10 and District 11, are well-known for their bustling economy of second-hand electronics and machines.
[Video] Saigon Studio Creates Endearing Tribute to Teachers in Animated Video
Today, at public schools across Vietnam, a festive mood fills the atmosphere as students and teachers take part in the national celebration of Vietnamese Teachers’ Day.
Michael Tatarski in Music & Arts
In November, Two Music Festivals Set to Rock Southern Vietnam
The next two weekends will be huge for live music in southern Vietnam.
Saigoneer Podcast: Our Nguyen Hue Upgrades; We're Loud Fest Organizer Peter Menchetti
A new Saigoneer Podcast episode is out now!
Cà Phê, Stork, Dragon: What Should Miss Universe Vietnam's National Costume Be This Year?
Can this year’s national costume top last year’s perfect bánh mì tribute?
How Hanoi’s Queer Film Week Bridges LGBTQ Communities With Wider Society
The third annual Hanoi International Queer Film Week (HIQFW) is all about love.
Japanese Anthology Film 'Angel Sign' Adapts 2 Comics by Vietnamese Manga Artists
A new cinematic anthology by Japanese author Tsukasa Hojo will feature storylines by two Vietnamese manga artists.
An Introduction to Hanoi's Flourishing Independent Music Scene
From fusion bands to pianists and close-knit young collectives, Hanoi’s independent music scene is blooming.
[Video] Nas Daily Is in Vietnam to Remind Us Why We're Happy
If you’re not content with your life right now, fret not, for travel video blogger Nas Daily is here in the flesh to remind you why Vietnam is a deliriously happy country.
