Nguyễn Bình Phương's Tale of Magical Realism Revels in Absurdity
“Clip-clop, clip-clop.” So goes the sound of the water buffalo hooves pulling a wagon through the highlands against the magenta sky of an unending sunset. The wagon is guided by a nameless driver, and onboard are three travelers: a veteran referred to as “the Man” and two other younger men.
I Grew up Among Ducks in the Mekong Delta. They Always Remind Me of Home.
On a recent ritual walk around my suburb, I was held up by the sight of a middle-aged man with his “fur kid.” I introduced myself and when he heard the word “Vietnam,” his eyes lit up and with a smile as he tumbled out the words: “The Mekong Delta. Ducks.”
In Hien's Debut Album, a Self-Discovery Journey Through Vietnam, Hungary and the US
After a decade writing and gathering materials, Hien recently published her debut album, “Trăng Qua.”
‘Echoes of Tonkin’ Exhibition Challenges Clichéd Narratives of 20th-Century Vietnamese Art
“Echoes of Tonkin: Vietnamese Modern Art” opens in Hong Kong to challenge reductive narratives and clichés about 20th-century Vietnamese art.
Paul Christiansen in Music & Arts
Art Project ‘The Lottery of Forgotten Dreams’ Is a Wild Alchemy of Vé Số and Photography
Vé số ticket number 984430 yields a magenta fish contorting atop a ghostly image of an apartment high-rise in Tân Phú in “The Lottery of Forgotten Dreams – Topographies of the Unseen,” an art project by photographer Christian Berg. The experimental project, available to view in full online, employs computer technology to combine photography, numerology, and mythology and playfully reimagine how one visualizes Saigon.
In MARG1N, a Resolute Return to Print Media That Dissects Southeast Asian Cinema
The joy of reading, for most of my life, had been primarily grounded in the joy of learning, feeling, and thinking through words, independent of medium. That is, until college, when I found myself repeatedly longing for Thursday mornings, when the week’s freshly printed student newspaper would arrive neatly folded and stacked, ready to be spread over the dining-hall table like wrapping paper. I came to realize then that the joy of reading was not simply about words; it was also about the tactile touch of paper and of the inexplicable satisfaction of flipping through pages bigger than my hands could reasonably manage.
By Preserving Tradition, Honoring Creativity and Showcasing Sustainability, Young Vietnamese Chefs Excel at Ngon Challenge by Marriott International
The glossy menus, sleek decor, and iconic logos of international hotel restaurants often obscure the human stories behind each dish. While catering to global guests, these restaurants often serve meals with origins in family kitchens and regional culinary traditions. Young, local chefs balance nostalgic associations with contemporary techniques and creative expression to create these menus. Returning for its second year this past September, Ngon Challenge continued to celebrate and nurture Vietnamese culinary talent across Marriott International’s hotels and resorts in Vietnam.
Review: ‘Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell’ Is a Soul-Searching Mission in the Lâm Đồng Mist
On the pastures of slow cinema where Andrei Tarkovsky, Tsai Ming-liang and Theo Angelopoulos reside, Phạm Thiên Ân's debut feature, Bên Trong Vỏ Kén Vàng (Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell), has made its mark as a notable entry for its distinctly Vietnamese vistas, tones and essence.
Thi Nguyễn in Culture
How Vietnam's Pop Culture Leaves Behind Past Stigmas to Embrace Queerness
The recent rise of music videos and pop culture products that feature androgynous idols and same-sex love has invited mixed responses and debates in the media, which open a window into Vietnam’s histo...
Khoi Pham in Music & Arts
A Young Hanoi Orchestra Brings Symphonic Disney Nights to Saigon
Growing up with the touching stories of Walt Disney Studios, many Saigoneers have formed a personal connection with the cheery tunes of songs like The Little Mermaid’s ‘Under the Sea’ or the icon...
Hanoi Students Win Prize at Asian International Children's Film Festival in Japan
The students won the Excellent Prize for their emotional film about friendship.
Film Adaptation of Comic Series 'Than Dong Dat Viet' to Hit Theaters Next Year
One of Vietnamese youth’s biggest childhood icons is coming to the big screen.
Adrien Jean in Culture
[Photos] The Evolution of Saigon Residents in an Ad, Ad, Ad World
Exploring Saigon’s streets through my lens has helped me to understand the city in a deeper way and to be a witness of its development.
Kit Humphrey in Culture
[Photos] The Naked Truth Behind Hanoi's 'Banana Island' Nudists
Hanoi is a conservative capital where young couples rarely kiss in public, yet along the banks of the Red River, a men's nudist club thrives.
Saigoneer Podcast: A SEA Games Deep Dive; Restaurateurs Phuong Ngo & Jerome Buzenet
Our latest episode is available now!
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 20: Ephemeral Holiday Feelings
Soft lights illuminate Saigon's dark alleys and streets the way holiday cheer brightens the lamentations for another year passing.
Đen, Mỹ Tâm, Vũ. Are the Most-Streamed Vietnamese Artists of 2019 on Spotify
As 2019 draws to a close, music streaming platform Spotify has released its year-end statistics.
Khoi Pham in Music & Arts
Year in Review: Saigoneer's 20 Picks for Best Vietnamese Music of 2019
In a nutshell, 2019 has been a year of milestones, blurring of genres and retrospection for Vietnamese music.
Saigon Independent Art Space San Art Launches Fundraising Exhibition This Month
Founded in 2007 by four artists including Dinh Q. Le, Tiffany Chung, Tuan Andrew Nguyen and Ha Thuc Phu Nam, the space is one of Saigon’s pioneer independent, non-profit and artist-initiated art platf...
Michael Tatarski in Music & Arts
What's Inside the Eclectic Sets of Coracle Music Festival's 2nd Edition?
Perfect weather, a beautiful setting and great acts — what more do you need from a music festival?
[Video] Loss and Sacrifice Permeate Every Minute of New MV for ‘Canh Chim Trang’
A profound sense of loss, longing and rueful self-awareness pervade every minute of a new music video for ‘Canh Chim Trang,’ sung by Pham Thuy Dung.
[Photos] Road Safety Campaign Pokes Fun at Vietnam's Traffic Offenses
Titled “Traffic in Wonderland,” a road safety campaign features a series of photos taken on Vietnam’s streets, with added cheeky drawings.
[Photos] China's Massive Film Studios Are a Full-Fledged Alternate Universe
“Across the country, entire towns have been constructed around making movies. Moreover, movie sets in China are not mere plywood facades, but monumental fortresses, maze-like palaces, and complete urb...
Singapore Biennale Features Works by Vietnamese Artists Ngoc Nau, Le Quang Ha
If you happen to be in Singapore in the next few months, check out the works of Ngoc Nau and Le Quang Ha as part of the Singapore Biennale 2019.
Thi Nguyen in Music & Arts
In 'Method,' Performers Explore Contemporary Dance's Universe of Movements
On the day of my visit, the dancers of ‘Method’ were practicing an exercise that involves many people crashing into each other before they all proceed to fall to the ground; their movements resemble v...
[Video] The Effortlessly Cool Longboarders Conquering Saigon Sidewalks in Áo Dài
Have you ever seen something so effortlessly kickass?
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!
