Big Sky Vietnam

She walks around all day with her head in the clouds Walking along the thronging streets of Saigon we are always assaulted by the myriad of sights, sounds and smells of street life. The social gatherings spilling out of cafes, wonderstruck tourists grouped to check maps or take photos, food vendors, shoppers, office workers, traffic police, shoe repairers and lottery ticket touts. As you … Read more

Wherefore Art Thou?

‘Art promoter’ Alex McMillan wants to propel the art movement to the forefront with his latest project Alex, tell us about yourself. AM: Since I was 12 I was interested in audio production. I used to have a Tascam 4-Track in my bedroom on which I would record tracks of me howling and playing my guitar. I made music up … Read more

Grand Old Ladies

A duty to preserve the beauty of the past for future generations You don’t have to look very hard to find evidence of the part France played in Vietnam’s history. Many of the key buildings of state were erected by the French. But, it wasn’t until a recent visit to Phnom Penh that I became aware that there is some concern about … Read more

For the Love of Boats

Tripping along the river I am passionate about boats. I love to draw them and back home in England I even lived on one for 10 years. I can sit and watch boats bob about in a harbor for hours. Just listening to the slap of ropes on masts and watching fishermen mend nets and wind ropes fill me with delight. One … Read more

A Thousand Paper Cranes

Hanoi artist Nguyen Hung Cuong puts a new twist on a millenia-old art Ancient Japanese legend has it that anyone with the devotion and patience needed to fold 1,000 paper cranes will please the gods thereby earning one wish. If that’s true, Nguyen Hung Cuong has a few wishes coming his way for his unique 21st century take on the … Read more

State of the Art

The second half of our two part series where Oi features local galleries and the homegrown artists they are helping to nurture Images by Quinn Ryan Mattingly Galerie Quynh 65 De Tham, D1; Level 2, 151/3 Dong Khoi, D1; www.galeriequynh.com Quynh Pham, Director I’ve noticed that the industry is dominated by mostly men, why is … Read more

No, Not Chrysanthemums!

At the wet market, Bridget stumbles into a comedy of errors Having been in Vietnam only a matter of weeks and still filled with enthusiasm and girlish bravado, I decided to cook a Vietnamese feast for some friends. Surely such a simple endeavor couldn’t be too difficult. Armed with an illustrated English cook book by … Read more

The Eternal Debate: Hanoi or Saigon?

Through simple yet poignant images, graphic artist Le Duy Nhat revisits the rivalry between Vietnam’s two great cities Star Trek or Star Wars ? Creation or evolution? Spider Man or Batman? iOS or Android? Thanks to budding graphic artist, Le Duy Nhat, 25, there’s now buzz around the greatest local eternal debate: Hanoi or Saigon? … Read more