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.
Despite Drama at Home, Vietnamese Film 'Rom' Wins Important Award at Busan Film Fest
Despite legal issues at home, Vietnamese feature film Rom was awarded the top prize in the New Currents category at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) last week.
Vietnam Removes ‘Abominable’ From Cinemas Over Scene Showing East Sea Map
Vietnamese culture officials have pulled the DreamWorks animated film Abominable from cinemas after viewers discovered a scene showing China’s ‘nine-dash line’ in the East Sea.
Saigoneer Podcast: Instagram's Impact on Tourism; the Power of 'Made in Vietnam'
A new Saigoneer Podcast episode is available now!
Tran Kim Ngoc, a Pioneer of Experimental Music and Mixed-Media Art in Vietnam
Experimental music composer, mixed media artist, multi-instrumental performer, pianist and singer, theater-music composer, improvisational sound artist: describing the work of a key figure of the Viet...
Thi Nguyen in Music & Arts
Groundbreaking Saigon Art Project Unites History, Coffee and Rice
Without notice, a gust of July rain swept through the museum of animals and plants' foyer, knocking down several paintings, strewing paper coffee cups and shattering the monitor that had been pla...
Kit Humphrey in Music & Arts
[Photos] QUA, a New Exhibition Space and Art Center, Opens Within HRC
Following the opening of Manzi’s new exhibition space, another new cultural space, ‘QUA,’ opened its doors last weekend within Hanoi Rock City.
A Look Inside Manzi's New Contemporary Art Exhibition Space
Manzi, one of Hanoi’s most well-known artistic hubs and a draw for creative crowds, is expanding.
Photographer Hon Hoang on Returning to His 'Foreign Hometown' After 11 Years
Saigon is changing so quickly that people who were born here can feel as if they are returning to a foreign land after years away.
Khoi Pham in Film & TV
Review: When Indie Music Meets Indie Cinema on a Grab in Saigon
In today’s aggressive stream of Marvel blockbusters, doll- and shark-themed horror flicks, and gratuitous comedies, Troi Sang Roi, Ta Ngu Di Thoi (Good Morning and Good Night) is like a stubborn wild ...
Saigoneer Podcast: Victim-Blaming in 2019; the Rising Indie Music Scene
The latest Saigoneer Podcast is available now!
Thi Nguyen in Music & Arts
Through Vietnam's Stories of Coffee and Rice, a Trio Finds Where Art and History Meet
Without notice, a gust of July rain swept through the museum of animals and plants' foyer, knocking down several paintings, strewing paper coffee cups and shattering the monitor that had been pla...
[Illustrations] Vibrant Woodcut Prints Highlight Hoi An's Colorful Aesthetic
Attitudes towards Hoi An differ wildly, yet whether one considers the town a Disneyfied playground or a genuine haven harking back to a bygone era, its aesthetic appeal is undeniable.
This Saturday, 'Citizen Earth' Event Aims to Address Environment Issues
Citizen Earth, a new project run by Six Space, is set to kick off in Hanoi this weekend.
How Real Clothes Expanded from a Small Family Business to a Major Clothing Company
The whir of a sewing machine accompanied Thao’s childhood mornings.
[Video] Le Cat Trong Ly's New Music Video, a Career First, Is a Love Letter to Africa
For an artist of Le Cat Trong Ly’s caliber, it’s remarkable that the recently premiered music video for ‘Tám Chữ Có’ (There Were) is the first-ever of her career. But then again, Ly is more special th...
Tran Huu Trang Theater Stages Free Shows to Draw Audience to Cải Lương
Like many traditional forms of theatrical arts in Vietnam, cải lương faces dwindling viewership in today’s society, a problem that theater owners are trying to rectify by offering free shows.
[Photos] The Vietnamese Origami Master Turning Paper Into Lively Artwork
For the average Joe, a paper crane is perhaps the most advanced foray they could undertake into the intricate art of origami. Artist Nguyen Hung Cuong, however, has managed to transcend the limits of ...
London Symphony Orchestra to Play at Ly Thai To Park on October 5
The famed London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is coming to Hanoi for their third performance in the city.
Saigoneer Podcast: Convenience Stores Take Over Saigon; Social Media Literacy
The latest Saigoneer Podcast episode is available now!
“Made in Vietnam” Reinvisioned via Pretty Simple’s Sustainable Vegan Leather Bags
The term “Made in Vietnam” adorns clothing and accessories enjoyed by millions of people around the world, as Vietnam’s textile industry generates a whopping US$40 billion a year, constituting...
