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.
[Video] Watch the Cheeky Anti-Plastic PSA That's Taking Vietnam's Cybersphere by Storm
A plastic bag’s life is five times that of an average human.
New Exhibition Aims to Expose the Environmental Harm of Consumerism
Let’s reduce waste! opened yesterday, is free to enter, and will run until August 31 at L’Espace.
[Video] Sidewalk Barbers: The Very Saigon Comfort of Getting a Haircut on the Street
Sidewalk barbershops are a symbol of old Saigon. In the face of globalization and its demands for westernization, the sight of a simple chair placed beneath an awning where one can get an affordable t...
Saigoneer Podcast: Nhậu Roundtable Special & Laiday Refill Station Co-Founder Quyen Nguyen
The new Saigoneer Podcast episode is available now!
[Illustrations] The Beauty of Saigon Street Carts Through the Eye of Its Beholder
It’s easy to take Saigon street cart culture for granted, but it only takes the discerning eyes of an artist to remind us once again why these carts are the cornerstone of our urban tapestry.
Saigoneer Podcast: Domestic Tourism's Rise & the Son Tung-Snoop Dogg Music Video
The latest Saigoneer Podcast episode is available now!
Inside 'Summer Rolls,' the First British-Vietnamese Play in the UK
Summer Rolls is currently being staged at the Park Theater in London until July 13.
[Video] Disney Releases Adorable Short Set in Thailand's Floating Markets
It's fried rice versus pineapple when Micky and Minnie Mouse battle in this Walt Disney short that has spawned a variety of memes.
[Illustrations] A Calendar Features Famous Phantoms in Vietnamese Folklore
Demon henchmen, a vampire and even a hero get their own month alongside the year's lunar animal in this colorful calendar.
Paul Christiansen in Postcards
Saigon Postcard No. 17: Our Love and Hate for the Rainy Season
The monsoon season's heavy clouds carry a chaos of conflictions.
[Video] Worlds Collide in New Son Tung M-TP Single Featuring Snoop Dogg
You heard that right.
[Photos] The 1970s Girl Gangs That Inspired Japanese Pop Culture and Fashion Rebels
With razor blades hidden under modified school uniforms, sukeban represented both terror and solidarity.
[Photos] A Glossy Design Project Seeks to Make History an Intriguing Subject
Lasting from 1225 to 1400, the Tran Dynasty was a prosperous era in Vietnamese history filled with heralded art, music and culture, in between three victories over Mongol forces.
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!
