Saigoneer
A podcast that delves into the culture, history, and current events of Vietnam, with a particular focus on Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). It features interviews with locals and expats, covering topics from food and travel to business and lifestyle. The show aims to provide a deeper understanding of Vietnam beyond the typical tourist experiences.
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Eat & Drink | What Cooking Bún Chả for My Birthday Abroad Taught Me About Vietnameseness
“Three pillars uphold what I consider the quintessential Vietnamese birthday experience: Heineken or Tiger beer cans on the floor; the sweet smoky smell of bún chả and nem enlaced with the rainy air of a darkening Saigon sky; and my friends and family under the LED-lit roof of an iCool karaoke room.Versions of this birthday routine punctuated my summers until July 2024, when I left Vietnam for Can
Natural Selection | Crickets Are More Than Just Chirpy Reminders of Our Childhood
Cricket song. You read the words and immediately hear the chirping. That thrilling trill of strummed air. Humans have been hearing the quivering echo of tiếng dế since we first came into existence. And over time, we’ve attached a variety of meanings to it and the creature that makes it.___Written by Paul Christiansen.Read the full article here: https://saigoneer.com/natural-selection/26694-cricket
Vignette | Xe Trái Cây: If You Can't Find Lovingly Sliced Fruit at Home, Cart-Bought Is Fine
“Asian parents are notorious for their struggle to express love using words, but one only needs to look at their actions to feel that tangible tenderness. A plate of neatly peeled and sliced mango is just as effective as a whispered ‘I love you’ at the end of a call. In Saigon, where enunciated ‘I love you’ are scarce and fruit is abundant, if you don’t have access to lovingly home-cut fruits, I t
Arts & Culture | An Homage to the Sounds of Saigon Past That Are Going Extinct
For Vietnamese millennials, our existence on Earth somewhat overlaps that bizarre timeline spanning the two extremes from “what is the inter-web?” to “every minutia of life is online,” so, of the multitudes of sounds from our formative years, many have been lost forever or now can only be found in random videos on YouTube.___Written by Khôi Phạm.Read the full article here: https://saigoneer.com/sa
Vignette | Are We Living in the Final Days of Cô Mía?
The iconic image of cô Mía, whose real identity remains a mystery, was once on virtually every nước mía cart in Saigon. In the past year, however, generic, mass-produced design has taken over local sugarcane juice shops in place of the hand-painted smirk of cô Mía. Is it time yet to add cô Mía to the growing list of endangered species of Vietnam?___Written by Paul Christiansen.Read the full articl
Vignette | The Hunt for Vietnam's Dinosaurs Has Found Nothing Yet, but There Is Hope
In a handful of Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, scientists have discovered fossilized remains of various species of dinosaurs, but not Vietnam — not for lack of trying. Are we just really unlucky diggers or were our prehistoric plains and jungles so inhospitable that dinosaurs said “bo xì bo”?___Written by Paul Christiansen and Khôi Nguyễn.Read
In Plain Sight | I Grew up With Print Newspapers and Magazines. Now, They're Disappearing.
“To a child of a provincial town, newspapers and magazines were the most valuable source of information I could get my hands on. They were my windows to the big wild world out there, unveiling the events happening beyond my tiny town, things that at times I couldn’t quite fully understand, but have helped me learn about the interesting complexities of our society. Those papers nurtured my soul, an
Hẻm Gems | A Humble Bún Riêu That Reminds a Child of the Mekong of Home
“District 7 is both foreign and familiar to me after five years studying and working here, but stopping by a sidewalk to have a southwestern bowl of bún riêu is not the only thing that makes me miss home.Here and there, I can sense fragments of my hometown in the accent of the servers, in the way they call out orders, in how they banter with regulars, how they joke around during downtime, the stai
Vignette | Charting the Flow of the Nhiêu Lộc Canal From Start to Historical Start
To explore Nhiêu Lộc Canal, there are two directions curious Saigoneers can take: you can choose to delve into the history behind its founding, as a waterway established in the 19th century to connect with the Mekong Delta, for travel, trade and help control floods; or you can take a short drive upstream to Út Tịch Street in Tân Bình, where the water begins. We chose the second option.___Written b
Vignette | An Argument for Why Võng Should Be a Staple Amenity in Every Home
In the past, võng was a mark of prestige reserved for court mandarins and rich nobles who could afford to be carried around by servants. In today’s Vietnam, however, it’s often associated with cheap rest stops and countryside homes, which is a shame because the hammock, our writer argues, is one of the most comfortable places to take a nap out there.___Written by Paul Christiansen.Read the full ar
Vignette | Pristine Blue Sky and Memorial Park: Ruminating on What the Covid-19 Pandemic Left Us
“Piercing through the teardrop monument is a heart-shaped hole. It exists because we are all incomplete alone, incomplete without the care and labor of and for one another, a reciprocity so often unfulfilled. Standing before the droplet, I observe what it reflects. I’m there, tiny amidst it all. And above me, the bright blue sky, still looming large, still looming high.”___Listen to the full artic
Vignette | Unraveling the Mystery Behind the 'Mùi Việt Kiều' of My Childhood
If you have relatives who live abroad, it's likely that you've noticed this aroma, which perfumes their luggage whenever they make a visit. Amongst the Hershey's Kisses, Irish Spring soaps, and multivitamins, there's a distinctive scent that's often referred to as "mùi Việt Kiều." As lunar new year is coming close and so is reunion season, our writer takes a walk down memory lane to reflect on the
Vignette | On Grappling With Our Complicated Bond With Single-Use Raincoats
"Love them or resent them, these raincoats are an inevitable artifact of our species’ optimism and hubris. We always think we will not forget, until we do. And when that moment arrives, the choreography is oddly uniform, open the under-seat compartment, find the raincoats, lift them, and know they will not survive another storm. We pull over and buy more."___Written by Uyên Đỗ.Read the f
Vignette | How Saigon's Free Water Coolers Quench Thirst and Spread Kindness
Much like mushrooms sprouting after the rain, grassroots water sources have appeared during dry spells in every corner of the city. Bearing friendly messages like “Free drinking water” or “Cool water for travelers,” stainless steel containers and insulated buckets dot the sidewalks to serve as mobile wellsprings for those in need of hydration.___Listen to the full article at:YouTube: https://youtu
Vignette | How Soy Milk Symbolizes an Imagined Vietnam of My Childhood in France
“I still remember vividly the anticipation running through my veins, when I saw a waiter bringing me a glass of sữa đậu nành, every time my family took me to one of the many Vietnamese restaurants of the 13th arrondissement of Paris, the city’s renowned Chinatown. For me, this glass represented the quintessence of typical Vietnamese drinks during a good meal: one of the rare glimpses into the dail
Vignette | How Saigon's Free Water Coolers Quench Thirst and Spread Kindness
Much like mushrooms sprouting after the rain, grassroots water sources have appeared during dry spells in every corner of the city. Bearing friendly messages like “Free drinking water” or “Cool water for travelers,” stainless steel containers and insulated buckets dot the sidewalks to serve as mobile wellsprings for those in need of hydration.___Written by Uyên Đỗ.Read the full article here: https
Vignette | Pristine Blue Sky and Memorial Park: Ruminating on What the Covid-19 Pandemic Left Us
“Piercing through the teardrop monument is a heart-shaped hole. It exists because we are all incomplete alone, incomplete without the care and labor of and for one another, a reciprocity so often unfulfilled. Standing before the droplet, I observe what it reflects. I’m there, tiny amidst it all. And above me, the bright blue sky, still looming large, still looming high.”___Written by San Kwon.Read
Vignette | Welcome to the New Age of Mass-Produced, Enshittified Plastic Bánh Giò
From banana leaves to a plastic mold, one food producer's decision to change the design of its bánh giò is sparking debates online. What does it say about the shifting tastes and economic health of today?___Written by Khôi Phạm.Read the full article here: https://saigoneer.com/saigon-food-culture/28768-welcome-to-the-new-age-of-mass-produced,-enshittified-plastic-bánh-giò.
Vignette | Unraveling the Mystery Behind the 'Mùi Việt Kiều' of My Childhood
If you have relatives who live abroad, it's likely that you've noticed this aroma, which perfumes their luggage whenever they make a visit. Amongst the Hershey's Kisses, Irish Spring soaps, and multivitamins, there's a distinctive scent that's often referred to as "mùi Việt Kiều." As lunar new year is coming close and so is reunion season, our writer takes a walk down
Vignette | On Finding Packaged Existential Relief at Saigon's Convenience Stores
“When running away from life’s many grievances, I often find myself at the convenience store. I’ve crossed every stratum of society in those murky hours. I’ve shared space with fratty kids fresh from the club, arms full of beer and noise. I’ve stood beside quiet students hunched over textbooks and aging calculators. I’ve seen the same kind of existential blues that I carry myself in strangers.I
Vignette | My Mom’s Care Packages Remind Me That Home Can Fit Inside a Box of Food
“My sister and I live 600 kilometers away from home, in a placid town amongst green hills. Every month without fail, our mother always sends us a box of food to help out. When we were little, it was our family ritual to gather around the hearty meals she cooked for us. Now that we’ve left home, through her bountiful care packages, it’s like she’s still by our side in a quiet but affectionate way.
Vignette | On Moving Posters and Saigon, the City of Constant Movements and Migration
“I have witnessed the arrival of generations of people here, ready and hopeful for changes, for chances to develop and make a living. A few of them might stay and become movers to help other newcomers settle down. Old tattered moving posters will be replaced by new ones, like a physical embodiment of the vicious circle of urban life. It’s precisely that constant rhythm that fuels Saigon’s passiona
Vignette | Loneliness Too Waits for the Bus
“The bus stop is not a place to talk with strangers. We are so close, and yet so far apart.”___Written by Paul Christiansen.Read the full article here: https://saigoneer.com/saigon-news/28684-loneliness-too-waits-for-the-bus-saigon.
Heritage | A Brief History of Cung Văn Hóa Lao Động and Saigon's First Swimming Pool
To take a dip in the pool, Saigoneers today have a plethora of decent choices, from private to public. For much of the 20th century, however, swimming in a pool in Saigon was a privilege that only an exclusive few could access and afford.___Written by Tim Doling.Read the full article here: https://saigoneer.com/saigon-heritage/2311-old-saigon-building-of-the-week-the-former-cercle-sportif-saigonna
Vignette | In the Era of AI Slop, I've Learned to Embrace Saigon's Ugly Urban Clutters
“Nostalgia is an ever-churning cycle. In the 2000s and 2010s, I yearned for the hand-painted goodness of the 1970s. Today, in the 2020s, I find myself strangely drawn to the kitschy clutter of the 2000s. It is increasingly exhausting to exist as a creature with eyes in the 2020s, when AI slop is cluttering every corner of our world. It is soul-draining to have to be on alert 24/7, to scrutinize ev
Hẻm Gems | In Huế, Cơm Hến Bé Liêm Is Breakfast With a Side of Warm Hospitality
Every Vietnamese dish has a story behind it. Even right in Huế, nem công chả phượng is a living remnant of the grandiose court cuisine past emperors enjoyed. Cơm hến, however, hails from much humbler origins on the submerged low-tide stretches along the Hương River. Leftover rice, hến caught right from the water, and unripe fruits from the backyard are the simple ingredients that have allowed cơm
Vignette | No Family Trip Is Complete Without Banter, Bolero and Bánh Mì Chả Lụa
"It took me a while to realize that it was bánh mì chả lụa’s simplicity that made it the perfect travel companion. Just a few quick slices of pork chả, evenly cut cucumber, and a dash of salt and pepper could provide enough starch, protein, and fiber to stand in for a proper home-cooked meal.Sure, butter, pâté, xíu mại, grilled pork — those are culinary treasures in their own right. But in th
Vignette | Did You Know That There's a Mummy on Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm Boulevard?
Within a climate-controlled glass display in the Vietnam History Museum in Saigon lies the permanent resting place of Nguyễn Thị Hiệu, who was believed to be a relative of Emperor Gia Long. Urban legends refer to her by the rather crude moniker xác ướp Xóm Cải, after the District 5 neighborhood where her mummified corpse was first discovered in 1994.___Written by Paul Christiansen.Read the full ar
Hẻm Gems | Cô Chi Creates a World of Northern Noodles Right in Her Living Room
From rustic classics like bún bung and bún thang, to more modern creations like bún cá hồi and bún tomyum, the universe of bún in cô Chi's living-dining room is a gift that keeps on giving.___Written by Khang Nguyễn.Read the full article here: https://saigoneer.com/saigon-street-food-restaurants/27979-hẻm-gems-cô-chi-creates-a-world-of-northern-noodles-right-in-her-living-room.
Society | Searching for the World's Largest Woodpecker Species in Yok Đôn National Park
Gõ kiến xám, or great slaty woodpecker, is believed to be the largest remaining woodpecker species in the world, only because its larger counterparts in North America, the ivory-billed and imperial woodpeckers, are almost certainly extinct. Vietnam's Yok Đôn National Park is fortunately where this majestic gray giant calls its home.___Written by Alexander Yates.Read the full article here: http
Vignette | How to Spot a Traveling Vietnamese at the Airport? Boxes With Sharpied Names.
Anyone who has stood beside a luggage carousel with Vietnamese passengers has seen the cardboard and styrofoam boxes with large names. Ultimately, the boxes are visual proof of Vietnamese generosity and the importance of family as well as the preferred method of expressing emotions. One might not hear “I’ve missed you so much” when picking up a relative arriving from Vietnam, but you’ll feel it in
Vignette | When Lịch Bloc Is Gone, What Will Vietnam Use to Keep Discarded Fish Bones?
Lịch bloc, with its often gaudy design and random quotes from famous historical figures, might be going the way of the dodo in younger households. But even when there are many other much more convenient ways to keep time, our writer argues, tear-off calendar will remain in our homes forever, as a trustworthy provider of emergency paper for doodles, phone numbers, and fish bones.___Written by Khang
Vignette | On Delving Into Vietnam's Eras of Tết Firecrackers via My Family History
“On August 8, 1994, then Prime Minister Võ Văn Kiệt signed the regulation to cease the use and sale of firecrackers across Vietnam. The ban came into effect on the first day of 1995, so for a few years, the existence of firecrackers and me overlapped. Vietnam’s brush with firecrackers somewhat dovetailed with my own family history: my mother used to be in charge of “selling” firecrackers at the co
Vignette | It's Tết: The Liberating Magic of Using Tết as an Excuse for Everything
The Lunar New Year is used to justify all sorts of professional and personal shortcomings. Payments not made on time? Emails not responded to? Construction left unfinished? Irresponsible spending at the mall? Drunk at 10am? “It’s Tết” (or “It’s almost Tết” or even, “Tết just ended.”) The phrase is powerfully close to a ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card in the real world.___Written by Paul Christiansen.R
