Saigoneer Audio Archive

On this week's show we begin (1:17) with a conversation on beauty pageants and their place in Vietnam. Why do these often-obscure contests get so much media coverage? What do these events say about beauty standards in the country? We also dig into what it means that a Vietnamese contestant won a pageant for transgender women earlier this year, while a woman from one of Vietnam's ethnic minority groups won another contest around the same time.

Then (15:06) we discuss a few recent cases of Vietnamese behaving badly overseas. Could these incidents have an impact on the perception of Vietnamese people internationally? What does it say about us that we are even worried about this?

As always, we end with Banh Mi Banter (27:07).

On this week's show, we begin (1:07) with a discussion on the Klara, the first electric motorbike model launched by VinFast, the automotive arm of Vingroup. Will Vietnamese consumers buy into electric bikes?

Then (11:00), we dive into our latest food-related segment by looking at foreign dishes such as pizza and sushi that have been adapted to Vietnamese palates. Turns out we've all been eating sushi the wrong way.

As always, we close with Banh Mi Banter (20:07).

This week we begin (1:14) with our take on the recently concluded first season of 'The Bachelor Vietnam.' Did the show manage to escape the misogynistic shadow of its American cousin? What do we make of how the unexpected lesbian love storyline was portrayed?

Then (11:15) we take a look at western holidays such as Halloween and Christmas that are celebrated by growing numbers of Vietnamese every year. What does it mean when these days are celebrated without much of their traditional context?

Our interview guest (21:49) is Mimi Vu, Director of Advocacy and Partnerships at the Pacific Links Foundation, an American NGO which provides financial and organizational support for individuals and groups working to combat human trafficking in Vietnam. We discuss some of the harrowing realities of trafficking victims, as well as a few success stories of women who have been rescued from this illegal trade.

As always, we end with Banh Mi Banter (43:22).

We begin this week (1:18) with a discussion on drunk driving in Vietnam in the wake of a horrific accident which occurred in Saigon early last week. What can be done to combat this perennial social issue?

Then (14:46), we look at the acclaimed documentary 'Finding Phong' and its intimate depiction of a transgender Vietnamese woman.

As always, we close with Banh Mi Banter (29:30).

On this week's show, we begin with a look at the spread of co-working spaces in Saigon (1:08). What do these spaces say about work in the digital age, and do we want to use them?

Then (10:45) we look at Vietnam's four sacred mythological creatures, the dragon, kỳ lân, tortoise and phoenix, and their place in the country's culture.

As always, we end with Banh Mi Banter (22:35).

On this week's show, we begin (1:24) with a look at nhậu culture in Vietnam. What does this age-old drinking tradition tell us about masculinity and gender in the country?

Then (13:00), we provide one of our periodic updates on recent street food and cafe finds, including an unexpected Greek spot on Hoang Sa Street and a roti cart near Ben Thanh Market.

Our interview guest (21:47) is Hang Tran, who goes by Sam. She's a Hanoi native now living in Saigon and working on pursuing a PhD in anthropology. She runs the Vietnamese Culture Space Facebook page and hosts Radio 18+, an in-depth interview series. We talked about why she likes having in-depth conversations with people, as well as her efforts to create her own radio program.

As always, we end with Banh Mi Banter (43:32). This one includes a special dispatch from 'the field' by Paul.

On this week's show, we begin (1:36) with a look at two major plans related to traffic in Saigon: the complete repaving of Nguyen Huu Canh Street, and a proposal to create a network of minibuses to reach people who live in the city's narrow hẻm.

Then (10:23) we preview next week's Mid-Autumn Festival: how could mooncakes be improved, and what's the deal with the story of the healing banyan tree and urination?

Our interview guest (22:50) is Tam Le, a Vietnamese-American woman who runs Saigonita, a monthly closed-door restaurant featuring a creative fusion of Mexican and Vietnamese food. We discuss the dishes she comes up with, as well as authenticity in food.

As always, we end with Banh Mi Banter (38:29).

This week we begin (1:18) with a look at fast fashion in Vietnam in the wake of UNIQLO's announcement that it will expand to the country next fall. What does the arrival of brands like H&M, Zara and UNIQLO mean for local consumers?

Then (12:14), we revive a game we played on one of our first episodes: Bubble Tea Shop, or Porno? Also, the bubble tea craze which swept into Vietnam last year has shown no signs of abating, but could this be a good thing for certain areas?

Our interview guest (21:19) is Nicolas Plesse, the founder of Urban Tales Cholon. We talked about the logistics of running such a unique company, as well as his plans for regional expansion and what that could mean for tourism.

As always, we end with Banh Mi Banter (34:00).

On this week's show, we begin (1:20) with a conversation about the just-concluded Asian Olympics and what they mean for Vietnam, especially in terms of football and the incredible reaction to the success of the mean's team.

Then (14:07), we cover Saigon's collection of museums and their generally poor quality. Why aren't their better museums in the city, and which locations would we recommend?

Our interview guest (22:55) is Stuart McDonald, a co-founder of the independent travel website Travelfish. We call Stuart at his home in Indonesia to talk about travel in Southeast Asia. Check out the website here: https://www.travelfish.org/

As always, we end with Banh Mi Banter (41:43).

We're back! On this week's show, we begin (2:04) with an extended discussion on gender roles in Vietnam. From drinking sessions to driving and the kitchen, how are the roles of men and women perceived in Vietnamese society?

Then (21:38), we look at public indecency in the country following recent viral stories involving couples having public sex inside a CGV cinema and at a bubble tea shop.

Our interview segment (31:40) features Dr. Michael Waibel from the Department of Human Geography at the University of Hamburg. We discussed his extensive experience in Vietnam, including the series of large photo books he has created on the growth of Saigon, Hanoi and Da Nang.

As always, we end with Banh Mi Banter (45:01).