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.
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?
Limebócx: The Hanoi Duo Combining Hip-Hop, Beatboxing and Traditional Đàn Tranh
The music of Hanoi based duo Limebócx can be quite difficult to define. By taking elements of modern musical genres such as drum & bass, hip-hop, beatboxing and dub and combining them with t...
[Illustrations] The Retro, Neon Japan of Kyoko Nakamura
These eye-catching illustrations articulate Japan's hyper dualities.
Saigoneer Podcast: The Food Authenticity Debate
The latest podcast episode is available now, and we've got a new recording sound!
Vietnamese Version of Michelle Obama’s Memoir Released in Vietnam
On July 16, First News - Tri Viet officially released the Vietnamese version of Michelle Obama’s memoir, Becoming.
[Illustrations] The Illusory, Colorful Retro Japan of Kyoko Nakamura
These eye-catching illustrations articulate Japan's hyper dualities.
Turn Over a New Page in Hanoi's Hidden Libraries
I focused my attention on an amplifier lying on the shelf behind Hieu, the founder of Go West Library. He left his seat to retrieve a cable, and after returning he plugged his phone into the machine, ...
