Some cities once experienced a so-called golden age. Their legends originate either from their rich history or from something uniquely special that sets them apart from others. Cholon, founded in the late 18th century, was never part of Saigon—the city now known as Ho Chi Minh City. Its name means “big market,” reflecting its role as a vibrant Chinese trading community and serving as the commercial and cultural hub for Chinese immigrants settling in Saigon.
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Skyscrapers in Hong Kong are among the most iconic and impressive in the world, reflecting the city’s status as a major global financial hub and urban marvel. Hong Kong boasts one of the highest concentrations of skyscrapers globally, with over 7,000 buildings exceeding 100 meters in height.
To shape its iconic skyline with a more distinctive style, several renowned architects such as I.M. Pei for the Bank of China, N. Foster for the International Commerce Centre (ICC),
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The exhibition “Seas of Silk” by research-based artist Quang deLam at Lotus Gallery features a rich and multi-layered scenography. Complementing deLam’s paintings is a curated series of statues from the Óc Eo civilization.
These statues are drawn from photographs taken during a special August 2025 exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City dedicated to Vietnamese National Treasures.
This unique combination of contemporary paintings and and black and white photography provides essential contextual perspective,
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The Evolution of the “Far East” Through Travel and Art
The article traces the evolution of the concept of the “Far East” from a romanticized travel destination to a complex, multicultural identity. It begins with a personal reflection on how a vintage photo album of a French tea producer’s journey to Vietnam sparked a feeling of authentic travel, a sensation lost in modern, routine air travel. This sentiment is contrasted with the early travelogue of Goethe’s “Italian Journey,”
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(updated with new postcards)
Trần Hưng Đạo Street in Cholon is a bustling commercial hub, known for its vibrant street markets, diverse shops, and numerous eateries. It stands as the longest entrance road and the primary thoroughfare of Ho Chi Minh City, traversing numerous neighborhoods and extending for approximately 6 kilometers. Its history is deeply intertwined with the city’s own evolution.
Originally, Saigon and Cholon existed as separate entities. In 1865,
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Travel Journal: From Hue to the DMZ by photographer Quang Lam
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the end of the war, I decided to venture to the DMZ, located approximately 100 km from the former imperial city of Huế. It wasn’t my first time in this region, but a psychological barrier had certainly been holding back my curiosity to take this road heading north, without really encountering more cultural or seaside tourist spots.
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Gardens hold a significant place in various mythologies around the world, often symbolizing paradise, creation, and the divine. More then now then ever gardens provide a direct connection to nature, offering a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
In Japanese mythology and Zen Buddhism, gardens are seen as places of meditation and reflection. They often symbolize the natural world in its most essential and abstract form. Early gardens were influenced by Chinese garden philosophy,
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“I’m contemplating the mountains crossed by the stripes in geometric pattern similar to the locals clothing fabrics. These people have found refuge here, among the heights that scare both Hans and Kinh people from the lowlands. To grow rice, they patiently engraved the land into embroideries of laces that are stretched as far my eyes can see. These strata are marks of time like the concentric circles of a tree.
After this stop, my guide Nam and I get back on our bike to reach Dong Van before nightfall.
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This series intricately depicts selected nodes of the different threads woven throughout the last century of Vietnamese history, employing narrative elements reminiscent of a compelling tale.
According to ancient Vietnamese mythology, the people of Vietnam are believed to be descendants of a dragon and an Immortal. The prominent myth of the origins of the Vietnamese people involves Lạc Long Quân, a dragon lord, and Âu Cơ, a fairy, who had 100 children from 100 eggs.
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Photographer Quang Lam delves into the profound context behind his latest series.
“It all began with my exploration of my family’s ancestral tombs in Bac Lieu. According to family records, our ancestral vault is situated in the tranquil village of Hoa Binh, in the sub-prefecture of Vinh Loi, Bac Lieu province. My father was born in this village, which is home to around 2,000 residents and lies just 5 kilometers from the coast.
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