But What Even Is an Expat: Unpacking the Highly Contentious Term, in Vietnam and Abroad
“Expat is a racist as hell term” — this is the take of Misan Harriman on the popular internet show SubwayTakes. The ...
Adrien Jean in Travel
The Enigmatic Neon-Lit World in the Mist of Sapa
Is there a more atmospheric place in Vietnam than Sapa on a misty night?
Khôi Phạm in Music & Arts
Review: Pieces of Me | Nao Yoshioka (feat. Mỹ Anh)
Mỹ Anh has come a long way since becoming the runner-up of The Heroes in 2021. Five years later, now with a full-length album and a spectrum of singles and extended plays under her belt, the Hanoi-based artist has proven to be one of the most dynamic singer-songwriter-producer of her generation.
Art Exhibition ‘Limerence’ Explores Where Romantic Desire Distorts Into Obsession
Thom Nguyen utilizes portraiture and depictions of mushrooms and organic objects to explore the concept of limerence in a solo exhibition at Permanently Closed Gallery in Thảo Điền, beginning Friday, August 28.
How Vinahouse Fosters Sonic Belonging in Modern Saigon's Queer Collectives
If you spend a night wandering along Bùi Viện Walking Street and its dense concentration of bars and clubs, you will almost certainly hear the same sound spilling from multiple directions: fast, pounding basslines layered with Vietnamese pop melodies, punctuated by dramatic buildups and explosive drops. If you fall into the right algorithm on TikTok, you might encounter these same sounds circulating as background audio. This music is Vinahouse. Its ever-presence in both physical and digital spaces makes it one of the most recognizable yet least critically examined musical forms in contemporary Vietnam.
Xuân Phương in Culture
Inside Tế Tiêu, Home to Vietnam's Rare 'Land Puppet' Performances
Bidding goodbye to central Hanoi, I took the National Road 21B to reach Tế Tiêu Neighborhood, a small community in Đại Nghĩa Township of Hanoi’s Mỹ Đức District. This fertile patch of land by the Đáy River is the cradle of a unique form of traditional folk art: Tế Tiêu puppetry.
How Quy Nhơn's Old Cemetery Slowly Expands up Vũng Chua Mountain
You might miss it if you were driving past, but once you walk down a small hẻm off Quy Nhơn’s main Tây Sơn Street, the massive cemetery sprawls in all directions.
All Aboard the Languorous 35-Hour Train From Hanoi to Saigon
The train connecting Vietnam’s largest cities takes 35 hours. Yet even after the first time I finished the trip, I was already coming up with excuses for why I needed to do it again. For me, the journey is much more than a chance for great views and time to reflect. It’s an exploration of life itself.
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.
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.
