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.
[Illustrations] Whimsical Vignettes of Everyday Hanoian Street Scenes
The menacing, irritating presence of a black SUV in a narrow alleyway, rain-soaked commuters, bird-like characters riding motorbikes in the capital; Olivier Blanchin's vision of Hanoi is quotidian and...
Saigoneer Podcast: Mooncakes and 'Rubber and the Making of Vietnam' Author Michitake Aso
The podcast is back after a two-week break!
Khôi Phạm in Culture
A Brief Primer of Asia's Mid-Autumn Mythology in 3 Folk Tales
There’s something for everyone during Tet Trung Thu season, as the arrival of mid-autumn comes with a wide variety of customs and traditional fare.
[Video] Louis Vuitton Seeks Vietnam's Help to Sell Bags in New Campaign
Each year, Louis Vuitton’s "Spirit of Travel" advertising campaign picks a new location for its crew to travel to and film.
Hanoi Pride 2019 to Kick Off Next Week
Hanoi Pride 2019 will take place throughout next week, with numerous events planned as the celebration enters its eighth year.
Nguyen Van Thong, Who Captured Thich Quang Duc’s Self-Immolation, Dies at 94
Although American photojournalist Malcolm Browne is famous for his photos capturing the historical moment in 1963, Browne wasn’t the only one at the scene with a camera.
[Illustrations] Masashi Shimakawa Draws Snippets of Everyday Japanese Life
Each artwork acts as a point through which viewers are transported to a different dimension of reality.
Michael Tatarski in Arts & Culture
Street Photographer Group to Host Saigon Photo Exhibition
The first edition of the Saigon Photo Walk (SPW) exhibition features eight photographers, showing eight different points of view and eight ways of looking at the same city.
[Photos] An Artist's 'Transparent' Paintings Juxtapose Cultural Loss With Modern Freedoms
Should a nation hold on to its cultural traditions, or cast them off and embrace new liberal attitudes?
[Illustrations] Masashi Shimakawa Draws Snippets of Everyday Japanese Life In Colorful Complexion
Each artwork acts as a point through which viewers are transported to a different dimension of reality.
Hanoi to Redo Mosaic Mural Along Nghi Tam Street
A section of Hanoi’s mosaic mural, which entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s longest mural in 2010, is set to be redone.
The Wholesome Encounter Between Kacey Musgraves and a Vietnamese-Run Vintage Photo Lab
A small mom-and-pop operation in Los Angeles got a massive publicity boost thanks to a happenstance visit from country music superstar Kacey Musgraves.
Vietnam's First-Ever Series on Netflix Is a South Korean Remake
The Korean-made original series released in 2016 was a hit in South Korea and many other countries, including Vietnam.
[Photos] Tinker Tailor Painter Bike: The Quiet Life of Saigon's Older Residents
In this series of film photos taken by Saigon resident and coffee genius Hoang Trung Hieu, citizens of varying stripes are captured in spontaneous action. Some are working at restaurants, 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!
