Saigoneer Audio Archive

We’re back! This week we made up for lost time over our month-long break with an episode featuring two longer, in-depth conversations. Unlike in previous shows, this episode features just one staff discussion: a deep dive into contemporary Vietnamese literature, including poetry, fiction and graphic non-fiction, by both native and overseas writers.

Our extended interview segment features a fun, wide-ranging talk on LGBTQ issues in Vietnam with Anh-Thu Nguyen, a lead organizer for Les Come Out, Saigon’s first queer women and trans-inclusive party series; as well as Ricardo Glencasa, Trinh Bang Ky Nu and Eddie Culbeaux from Full Disclosure, a group which hosts some of the largest LGBTQ-friendly events and parties in town.

Our final segment, Banh Mi Banter, closes out the show as always.

We're one month old! On this episode, our last before the Tet holiday, we discuss the staggering national outpouring of support during the U-23 football team's run to the final of the recent AFC championship. Then, we look at Saigon's ongoing bubble tea craze and play a few rounds of 'Bubble tea shop, or porn company?'

Our interview segment features a conversation with Harry Hodge, who has covered sports in Saigon for years. We sat down to talk about the Saigon Heat basketball team and the city's expensive bid to host the 2021 Southeast Asia Games.

As always, we close with Banh Mi Banter (hint: we all had thoughts on VietJet's recent behavior.) We will return in early March - chủc mừng năm mởi, everybody!

This week we discuss how Grab and Uber have revolutionized the way Saigoneers get around, in addition to the regulatory challenges these disruptive companies pose. Then, we fawn over Vietnam's up-and-coming indie bands, including Cả Hồi Hoang, Ngọt, Những Đứa Trẻ and Gảc Mải. (Soundcloud links listed below.)

Mel Schenck, a co-founder of the excellent Vietnamese Modernist Architecture Facebook group and architect with years of experience in Vietnam, joins us to talk about why this style became so ingrained in southern Vietnam during the 20th century.

He also discusses a few of his favorite modernist buildings around Saigon so that listeners can check them out, including 12 Vo Van Kiet, 9 Nguyen Cong Tru and 89 Ly Tu Trong in District 1; Thong Nhat Hospital in Tan Binh District; 31 Ngo Thoi Nghiem in District 3; and 140 Nguyen Van Troi in Phu Nhuan District.

Then, we close with Banh Mi Banter.

https://soundcloud.com/cahoihoang

https://soundcloud.com/ngot

https://soundcloud.com/nhungduatre

https://soundcloud.com/gacmai

This week we discuss the biggest changes and stories in Saigon from 2017, as well as last year's record-breaking international tourism figures and the impact this industry is having on Vietnam's environment.

Our interview segment features a conversation with Dao Duy Bang Thanh, a co-founder of Vietnam Coffee Republic. We discussed their brand, Saigon's growing cafe market and the impact climate change is having on coffee production in the country.

Finally, we close with Banh Mi Banter.

In our debut episode we discuss street food vendors in Southeast Asia receiving international awards, as well as Vietnamese representation on the big screen in recent movies such as Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Downsizing.

Our interview segment features a conversation on Saigon's sidewalk-clearing campaign with Annette Kim, an associate professor of public policy and director of the Spatial Analysis Lab at the University of Southern California. Kim wrote the 2015 book Sidewalk City: Remapping Public Space in Ho Chi Minh City.

Finally, we close with Banh Mi Banter.

Welcome to the Saigoneer Podcast! Debuting in January, this weekly podcast will allow listeners to take our reporting, insight and banter anywhere. This preview episode will give you an idea of what to expect - give it a listen, and we look forward to seeing you again in January!