Thi Nguyễn in Music & Arts
The Facetious Gender Politics of Gỗ Lim, Hanoi's Feminist Post-Punk Quintet
In an example of cruel irony, October 20 is when we celebrate annual Vietnam Women's Day, and also the anniversary of the passing of Mai Nga (commonly known as Nga Nhí), the lead singer of Gỗ Lim — a Hanoi-based female post-punk band that, albeit short-lived, struck a blow for women’s representation in rock and metal music in Vietnam in 2011 and 2012.
Paul Christiansen in Travel
'Chuyện Của Pao' Turned a Historic H'Mông Home in Hà Giang Into a Tourist Attraction
The photos don’t do it justice. That’s what you’ll often hear from people who visit Hà Giang to cruise its famed highway loop.
How Vietnam's Muslims Celebrate Ramadan, Eid Al-Fitr in Mekong Delta's Châu Đốc
Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world, yet Vietnamese Muslims represent as little as 0.1% of the country’s population. Most are ethnic Chăm, while a few are foreigners and a few converts. After traveling to Châu Đốc in An Giang Province, where the majority are located, I was mesmerized by the unique cultural mix this community represents.
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 Today, the signature sounds of new wave music feel perhaps a bit old and outdated.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?
Paul Christiansen in Music & Arts
[Photos] The Ghostliness That Inspired the Fine Arts Museum's Haunting Rumors
Do humans invent ghost stories to compensate for our inability to come to terms with the brutal, capricious nature of death, or do we spend significant energy suppressing the truth of the supernatural...
[Video] Hoang Thuy Linh's 'Vo Chong A Phu' Video Is a Popping Literature Party
From one of Vietnam’s classic literature works to internet meme to a full-fledged music video: Mi from ‘Vo Chong A Phu’ is truly a cultural icon.
Saigoneer Podcast: One Thing We Would Change About Saigon & Preserving Architectural Heritage
The latest Saigoneer Podcast episode is out now!
Khoi Pham in Culture
The Discomforting Poetry of Vietnamese Cursed Image
The page description of Vietnamese Cursed Image (VCI) has a single line: “how did you get here?” — a question I find myself asking often.
Capturing the Real Saigon
The rooster’s iridescent red feathers caught the morning sunlight, momentarily making them appear to be on fire as his owner held it up for a photo.
[Video] Hong Kong Ballet Dancers Take Over the City in This Surreal Short
Who said ballet has to be stuffy?
Saigoneer Podcast: The War on Plastic and Our Vietnam Superpowers
The latest Saigoneer Podcast episode is out now!
Local Filmmaker Thang Soi Launches Vietnam-Centric Stock Footage Service
Thang Soi is well-known for majestic flycam projects such as Vietnam - Dream of Unity (Non Song Mot Dai) and Vietnam From Above. Thang also does commercial work for flag carrier Vietnam Airlines ...
From Obscurity to Mainstream: 15 Years of Dance Music at Lush Saigon
You might love it, hate or have never actually been, but if you live in Saigon, you’ve probably at least heard of Lush Saigon.
Art Experts Call for 'Rescue' of Colonial Era Murals Blocked by Buildings
The murals are the brainchild of the first and second class of students and teachers of the École des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine (Indochina College of Fine Arts), a French-established school that is no...
[Illustrations] A Calendar Created Specifically for Saigon's Wet and Dry Seasons
Saigon is in the midst of a full-on rainy season whose watery mood swings almost make us miss the heat of the dry season.
A Historic Venue Allows for an Exploration of Saigon’s Sizzling Music, Art and Fashion Scenes
“Just experiment with your eyes and your ears,” Headless clothing brand founder Quang Minh answered when asked to describe Saigon’s art scenes while standing in front of the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of...
Immersive Documentary Storytelling Workshop to Be Held in Hanoi
The School of Slow Media is hosting REMIX Hanoi, an intensive media lab, from June 14 to 16.
Michael Tatarski in Music & Arts
On Connecting With a City Through Urban Sketching
Louis Barnard, who is originally from South Africa and has lived in Seoul, Hanoi and now Saigon, uses art as a way to connect with the cities he calls home.
Another Crossing: Seeking Solace in a Sea of Black Oil Paint
For five days and four nights, Saigon-based artist Bao Vuong will be in sole confinement with nothing but a pen and paper. He will have no food or water throughout this period, except for any rainwate...
Khoi Pham in Film & TV
Review: 'The Third Wife' Champions Silenced Women, Then Falls Victim to Silencing
Rarely has there been a Vietnamese film that ignited such impassioned, polarizing responses from the public. During its four days in theaters, The Third Wife awed, inspired, saddened, charmed, fluster...
[Video] Watch the Impressive Trailer of Nguyen Dynasty Historical Drama 'Phuong Khau'
Phuong Khau is an original series set during the Nguyen dynasty, chronicling the life of Empress Dowager Tu Du, the mother of Emperor Tu Duc.
5 International Artists of Vietnamese Descent to Add to Your Playlist Now
Although both V-pop and Vietnam's independent scene are on the rise, leading to many interesting conversations about where Vietnamese music is heading, on this playlist we want to instead focus on som...
Saigoneer Podcast: 'The Third Wife' Controversy and Vietnam's Protein Consumption
The latest Saigoneer Podcast episode is available now!
Filmmaker Nong Nhat Quang on His New Docuseries 'Queer Asia: Vietnam'
For 22-year-old filmmaker Nong Nhat Quang, growing up gay in Lao Cai Province, a conservative region of many ethnic groups, was tough. Being noticeably camp meant bullying and abuse were commonplace, ...
