Saigoneer Audio Archive

This week, we begin (1:07) with a debate over our favorite types of seafood, a conversation which turns rather philosophical in the end.

Then (12:45), we discuss traditional Vietnamese medicine, which is quite different from the more famous traditional Chinese medicine. Are various aspects of it hokum, or scientifically legitimate?

Our interview guests (25:14) are Jérémy Marcillaud and Nicolas Plesse of L'Arrange Rhum. We chatted about their decision to begin making hand-distilled rum in Saigon, and where they hope to take their craft in the future. Check out their Facebook page for more: https://www.facebook.com/larrangesaigon/

As always, we end with Banh Mi Banter (37:44).

We're off next week, but will return to your feed on the 27th.

This week we begin (1:06)with a conversation about exercise in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh championed exercise as a form of patriotism, but how have views on this subject evolved in the modern age?

Then (11:45), we revive Saigoneer's Street Cred series, though in audio form. Nearly every street in the country is named after a famous person or place, and we take turns sharing the stories behind the names of four streets.

Our guest interview (27:44) features Yen Nguyen and Ed Weinberg of the Hanoi Zine Library. They share the background of the project, and their hopes for its future. Find them in Hanoi at Ga Phe or Heritage Space, or on Facebook at Hanoi Zine Library.

As always, we end with Banh Mi Banter (45:43).

On this week's show, we begin (1:14) by salivating over our favorite Vietnamese dishes when we're in the mood for something greasy, dirty or downright sinful.

Then (13:35) we discuss marriage and weddings in contemporary Vietnam. What do younger generations think of this social tradition, and have weddings here changed over the years?

There is no interview guest this week, but as always we close with Banh Mi Banter (26:23).

On this week's show, we begin (1:17) with a discussion on some of the micro-level differences between Hanoi and Saigon. Our co-hosts Paul and Thi recently spent nearly a week in the capital, so we dug into the character of the place.

Then (13:51) we revisited February's U23 football madness through the lens of the World Cup. Why was Vietnam's celebration so peaceful compared to that of France? What would it be like if Vietnam qualified for the tournament?

Our interview guest is Howard Limbert (25:46), former head of the British Caving Association and one of the leading experts on Vietnam's cave systems. He is based near Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, home to Son Doong, the world's largest cave, which he helped map. We talked about his extensive experience in the country, as well as why tourism in Phong Nha has thus far been an environmental success story, unlike areas such as Phu Quoc and Sa Pa.

As always, we end with Banh Mi Banter (39:07).

On this week's show, we celebrate our 21st birthday by drinking a few alcohol-infused Japanese drinks and discussing vital matters such as:

- Which is the best district in Saigon?

- If you could remove three animals from Vietnam's Zodiac calendar, which animals would you replace them with? (Hint: we're big fans of the pangolin.)

- What do we expect people to try and bring onto Saigon's metro trains when the service opens?

- Street sushi?

And more!

There is no guest interview or Banh Mi Banter this week, so enjoy an episode full of nothing but banter! We'll return to our regular format next week.

On this week's show, our 20th, we begin(1:17)with a semi-civil discussion about transportation in Saigon. Is walking all it's cracked up to be? Can we go beyond the car/motorbike binary? What about using the river?

Then (14:17) we look at Vietnamese women in tech, which there aren't enough of, but that doesn't mean there aren't inspirational stories out there. We fawn over Le Duy Loan, the first female Texas Instruments Senior Fellow; and Do Viet Nga, one of the architects of the VT80, Vietnam's first home-grown computer, which debuted in 1977.

Our interview segment (23:23) features Mervin Lee, a Singaporean photographer, foodie and (self-proclaimed) coffee snob. We talked about his work and his strategy for finding delicious hidden restaurants.

As always, we close with Banh Mi Banter (33:51).

On this week's show, we begin (1:34) with a look at some traditions of past eras that have largely fallen by the wayside in this modern age, such as teeth blackening and cricket fights.

We also honor a few habits that have survived, such as kite flying and the many rituals of Tet.

Then (12:47) we look at our beloved Vietnamese cuisine and ponder some ways in which it could be even healthier and more well-balanced than it already is. This segment includes a brief fight over mayo.

Our interview segment (22:40) features Mai Nguyen, who has worked in everything from robotics and maker spaces to dyes and social entrepreneurship. Find out more about her wide-ranging projects on her website: https://www.curiousmeye.com/

As always, we end with Banh Mi Banter (36:56).

On this week's show, in honor of Pride Month, we begin (1:20) with a discussion on queer representation in Vietnamese pop culture. Vietnam's literature has a long history of queer characters, while modern portrayals can be problematic at times. What does this say about the country's perception of its queer community?

Then (14:41), we dig into our latest round of street food recommendations, including a light soup from Phu Yen Province and a collection of ice cream spots.

Our interview segment (23:37) features Sam Maruta, a co-founder of Marou Chocolate. We talked about the company's spontaneous beginning, as well as their efforts to become an environmentally sustainable producer.

As always, we end with Banh Mi Banter (39:49).

On episode 17 of the Saigoneer Podcast we begin (1:28) with a discussion of some of the challenges involved in writing in Vietnam, both overall and when writing in a second language such as English.

Then (15:09), we wander into Saigon's unofficial Japan Town, at the start of District 1's Le Thanh Ton Street. We talk about the area's unique history, and share some recommendations of our favorite restaurants in the area.

Our interview segment (23:09) features French-Canadian artist Jacqueline Hoang Nguyen. She shares her story, as well as her process when it comes to creating her multi-faceted work. Find out more about her projects at http://www.jacquelinehoangnguyen.com/.

As always, we end with Banh Mi Banter (37:04).

This week we begin (1:20) with a game based on news euphemisms created by local officials - for example, 'water accumulation' instead of flooding and 'not-on-time service' instead of a delayed flight. We came up with a few fake headlines featuring our own made-up euphemisms and tried to guess what they meant.

Then (9:16), we debate our favorite and least-favorite types of vegetables, a companion segment to our fruit argument from a few months ago.

Our interview segment (20:52)features Vu Minh Tu, a hilarious stand-up comedian from Hanoi who has been performing in Saigon for the last nine months. She got real about the reasons why she got into stand-up, as well as how the scene has evolved here.

Follow the Saigon Funny People Facebook page to find out when she's performing next: https://www.facebook.com/saigonfunnypeople/

As always, we close with Banh Mi Banter (32:45).