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 Today, the signature sounds of new wave music feel perhaps a bit old and outdated.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.
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.
HBO Film on Vietnamese Cuisine Pulled From Schedule Over Racy Sex Scenes
A Vietnam-themed HBO Original feature was recently pulled off air, shocking local fans who were looking forward to seeing local culinary creations in an international project.
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 19: Learning to Swim
Folk wisdom offers a unique way to achieve aquatic efficiency.
Khoi Pham in Music & Arts
With Debut Album 'Họa Âm Xưa,' Saigon Soul Revival Brings Back Old-School Cool
From covers of old songs from the 1960s and 70s, Saigon Soul Revival now presents their own original music in an exciting debut album, a continuation both in spirit and execution of the silvery vein o...
Saigoneer Podcast: Traditional Vietnamese Culture's Role in Pop Culture; Dessert Fight
The latest episode of the Saigoneer Podcast is out now!
Khoi Pham in Film & TV
6 Vietnamese TV Classics That Should Be on Netflix Instead of 'Hậu Duệ Mặt Trời'
Gone were the days of timing one’s bathroom dash exactly during commercial breaks and gathering around a neighbor’s old television set, the only one in the entire alley, to relish every minute of a ho...
[Illustrations] An Emptier Side of Tokyo in Naoki Tomita's Oil Paintings
One thing that can safely be said about Tokyo is that it is not under-represented visually.
In 'Ba Lan,' a Photographer Maps the Diverse Identities of Poland's Vietnamese Diaspora
Poland is a largely mono-ethnic country with a negative immigration rate and has one of the lowest rates of foreigners in the European Union. Even migration specialists are often shocked to hear about...
Saigoneer Podcast: The Lure of the 'Promised Land' and the Collapse of Mon Hue
We're back after a little break!
Michael Tatarski in Music & Arts
District 105 Leads Saigon's Metal Scene Into a Bright, Loud Future
"You don't listen to music like this usually, right?" Huynh Hoang Huy asks before he and his bandmates rip into another hard-driving song from their catalogue.
Vietnamme Project Explores How Vietnamese Culture Transformed Through the Eras
The Vietnamme Project aims to reinterpret ancient Vietnamese cultural traditions with a contemporary outlook, via artistic and visual practices. Ahead of our first major event on December 15, we'd lik...
Thi Nguyen in Music & Arts
Review: On Ngọt’s Newest Album, Urban Loneliness Lingers on Mellow Strings
Ngot’s latest album brilliantly captures the band’s most appealing quality: the ability to walk the fine line between playful brightness and bitter profundity.
How The Learning Hub Creates a Space for Positive Change
Hanoi, like most big cities in this age of shared spaces, boasts a growing collection of co-working spaces and work-friendly cafes. But few take their mission as a catalyst for positive social change ...
Thi Nguyen in Music & Arts
Review: In Ngọt’s Album '3,' Urban Loneliness Lingers on Mellow Strings
Ngot’s latest album brilliantly captures the band’s most appealing quality: the ability to walk the fine line between playful brightness and bitter profundity.
Matca's First Periodical Captures Vietnam's Only Photography Museum
Matca, a Hanoi-based photography exhibition space and an online journal, has just brought out its first physical publication, a bilingual periodical titled Có Một Làng Nghề Nhiếp Ảnh — A Vietname...
Re-Mixing DJ Gender Ratios: How Maggie Tra Gets Women on the Decks
In Hanoi’s male-dominated music industry, Maggie Tra offers an oasis for females.
Institute of Vietnamese Costumes Officially Opens in Saigon With Discussion on Áo Dài Lemur
Historical fashion enthusiasts might find the newly minted institute a choice destination to explore Vietnam’s past clothing trends.
