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 Today, the signature sounds of new wave music feel perhaps a bit old and outdated.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.
A 'Lao Hac' Adaptation Will Be Vietnam's First Film Starring a Dog
Film adaptations of literary works have been among the most well-received cinematic features in Vietnam in recent years, so it’s natural that ‘Lao Hac’ is coming to the big screen soon.
Saigoneer Podcast: 'The Tale of Kieu,' New Social Networks and Music Writer Thuc Dang
The jam-packed latest episode is online now!
[Video] The Classic Tale of Mid-Autumn Retold Through Dazzling Visuals
The short animated animated short shimmers with millennial style and subversive salesmanship.
Bac Ninh Art Residency Opens Call for Artists
In a country with relatively few artist-in-residence programs, live.make.share represents a rare opportunity for cultural symbiosis and artistic development by giving international artists the ch...
Khoi Pham in Arts & Culture
[Illustrations] An Illustrated Alphabet of Vietnam's Tropical Fruits
Varying climate patterns and geographical topography have bestowed Vietnam with an impressive biodiversity. From temperate fare hailing from the Central Highlands like avocados, coffee and strawberrie...
Saigoneer Podcast: Historical What-Ifs and a Street Food Update
We've hit episode 60!
Coracle Music Festival Returns to Ho Tram for Second Edition
After a successful first edition last year, the music festival will be held on the beach in Ho Tram for the second time November 29–30.
Kit Humphrey in Postcards
Hanoi Postcard No. 9: The Turtle God of Hồ Gươm
Hanoi's lakes, including Hồ Gươm, are brimming with fish, debris and memories of historical lore.
Saigoneer Podcast: The Evolution of Pets in Vietnam; the Significance of 'Ghost Month'
We're back with a new episode!
[Short Story] 'Deviate' by Tran Thi NgH
The interplay between lust and creativity, origins of capricious desires and the relationship between art and artist: 'Deviate,' by Vietnamese-writer Tran Thi NgH explores a multitude of themes a...
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 18: The Legend of Turtle Lake
The name "Turtle Lake" has more mythic origins than merely suggesting the presence of aquatic reptiles.
'Deviate' by Tran Thi NgH
The interplay between lust and creativity, origins of capricious desires and the relationship between art and artist: 'Deviate,' by Vietnamese-writer Tran Thi NgH explores a multitude of themes a...
Kit Humphrey in Music & Arts
[Photos] Sixty Square, Hanoi's Beloved Art Quarter, Reopens After Closure Earlier This Year
Upon opening at the beginning of 2018, Sixty Square thrilled Hanoi's young creative crowd. When it suddenly closed earlier this year, it left hearts broken. Now, they're back once again.
This Set of Rare 20th-Century Đông Hồ Paintings Depicts a Society in Flux
The well-known woodcut folk paintings have always offered unique insights into the times during which they were produced.
Tiny Giant on New EP ‘Flying Mouse’ and Bringing Light Into Hanoi’s Greyness
The Hanoi duo’s debut release is so strong you’ll want to shout their name from the rooftops.
Saigoneer Podcast: Deciding Where to Study Abroad; a Ride-Hailing App Update
The latest Saigoneer Podcast episode is out now!
Kit Humphrey in Music & Arts
LAKES’ Debut EP Is an Ambient Homage to Life in Hanoi
LAKES’ debut album draws inspiration as much from American electronic composer Tycho as it does from instrumental post-rock outfits, yet remains, thematically at least, firmly rooted in the Vietnamese...
Michael Tatarski in Arts & Culture
'Reinvent Saigon' Asks Visitors to Reimagine the City and Themselves
Through tomorrow, the week-long Reinvent Saigon festival is taking place at five locations across the city.
To Bring Nature Into the Spotlight, an Architecture and Urbanism Festival Looks to Binh Quoi
Across Asia, urban landscapes are booming. The space they claim spreads further than ever, avidly consuming new land to cope with the influx of inhabitants and enterprises they must house.
Kit Humphrey in Postcards
Hanoi Postcard No. 8: The Golden Hooves That Formed Ho Tay
Do you know how Hanoi’s greatest lake was formed?
