Trái Thị: The Fruit of Heavenly Smell and Infernal Taste
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- Published on 29 May 2024
- Written by Khôi Phạm.
If you had to pick a national smell that represents Vietnam, what would it be? There are a host of strong contenders: durian, lotus-scented green tea, fragrant pandan sticky rice, that enticing aroma of shallots crisping up in hot oil. It’s hard to say no to tasty things, but for me, that honor unequivocally belongs to trái thị, the golden apple of Vietnam.
The Quiet Calm of Hiding From the Heat Under Phan Rang's Grapevines
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- Published on 27 May 2024
- Written by Brian Letwin. Photos by Brian Letwin.
The punishing mid-day sun dictates the pace of life in the corridor between Phan Rang and Cam Ranh, where locals escape to their living rooms or hammocks, and tourists seek the cooling breeze of the beach, seafood restaurants or resort pools. Perhaps one of the most underrated ways to take refuge from the heat is to duck into one of the nearby grape vineyards where winding vines create a natural oasis.
A Tale of Two Fruits: The Colonial History of Durian and Mangosteen
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- Published on 27 May 2024
- Written by Thi Nguyễn.
Although both durian and mangosteen are native to Southeast Asia, their reputation — especially from a western point of view — leads two very contrasting fates: the latter is considered a luscious delicacy while the former usually finds itself at the center of many insult-throwing contests.
The Curious Case of Quy Hoà Leprosy Colony's Park of Busts
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- Published on 26 May 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
A delightfully bizarre place, Quy Nhơn’s Quy Hoà leprosy colony deserves exploration in full, but clustered in a grove of trees on its outskirts in Nhân Ái Park stands a particularly peculiar assemblage of more than 50 cement busts atop podiums. Who are they? One must walk closer to find out.
A Visit to Vụn Art, Where Disabled Artisans Turn Fabric Scraps Into Artworks
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- Published on 24 May 2024
- Written by Xuân Phương. Photos by Xuân Phương.
Fabric scraps, often considered industrial waste, are “revived” by members of Vụn Art cooperative by turning them into intricate silk artworks.
Hẻm Gems: At Sakaba Sasuke Izakaya, Happiness Is Wrapped in Pork Belly and Grilled
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- Published on 20 May 2024
- Written by Rhianna Morris. Photos by Alberto Prieto and Pete Walls.
It took a few visits before I noticed that the music at Sakaba Sasuke was always the same.
From Won to Đồng, Bánh Đồng Xu Offers a Slice of Nostalgia in the Digital Age
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- Published on 18 May 2024
- Written by Uyên Đỗ. Top image by Trương Dĩ.
There was a time when I substituted meals with bánh đồng xu.
How the 1st Quốc Ngữ Newspaper Shaped the Foundation of Vietnam's Modern Journalism
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- Published on 15 May 2024
- Written by Tuyết Nhi. Top image by Tiên Ngô.
Stopping at the intersection of Saigon’s Trần Hưng Đạo and Trần Bình Trọng streets, the tranquil mausoleum of scholar Trương Vĩnh Ký remains hidden amid the daily commotion. Few realize that the visionary resting here, along with his associates and their contributions, laid the foundation for Vietnam's modern journalism with the launch of Gia Định Báo (Gia Định Newspaper).
A Brief Primer Into the History of K-Pop Chế in Vietnam
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- Published on 13 May 2024
- Written by Uyên Đỗ. Top image: Dĩ Lê.
My middle school memories are often peppered with the honking voices of adolescents chanting some silly chorus about household cleaning.
'Longings' Brings 22 Stories by Vietnamese Female Writers to the World
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- Published on 11 May 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen.
Where are all the female writers?
Monotonous Viet-Dubbed K-Dramas Were the Soundtrack of My Childhood
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- Published on 09 May 2024
- Written by Khang Nguyễn. Graphic by Tiên Ngô.
When I was growing up, my family owned a broken TV whose screen would unexpectedly go black while the audio continued to play. Turning it off and on again a couple of times would fix the problem, but it was such a hassle that sometimes we just let it be. It was stationed in our dining room, and my parents loved putting on Korean dramas when we were eating. So whenever I reminisce about my childhood, the sound of dubbed K-dramas always plays the background.
On Returning to K-Drama, the Glue Bringing My Mom and Me Close Together
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- Published on 06 May 2024
- Written by Ngọc Hân. Top graphic by Tiên Ngô.
Before Squid Game became an international phenomenon and put K-dramas on the world map, audiences in Asian countries including Vietnam were enthralled by Boys Over Flowers, The Medical Brothers, Terms of Endearment, Dae Jang Geum — all of which are classics that we still look upon with nostalgic affection.
Hẻm Gems: Sip on Mugwort Lattes, Make Ceramics, and Unwind at Haru Cottage
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- Published on 03 May 2024
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Photos by Cao Nhân.
“I’m basically Demi Moore from Ghost,” this intrusive thought plagued my mind occasionally during our visit to Haru Cottage to participate in the cafe’s ceramic class.
What to See, Taste, and Do on a Late-Afternoon Walk in Phú Mỹ Hưng
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- Published on 03 May 2024
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Photos by Cao Nhân. Top graphic by Trường Dĩ.
There are probably Saigoneers who will grow old without ever setting foot in Phú Mỹ Hưng, just like how several of my relatives living in District 8 have never visited Nguyễn Huệ Walking Street. Having grown up in the southern district too, I’ve gone three decades without visiting Cần Giờ or District 12, though our proximity with District 7 means I’ve gotten a few chances to get to know Phú Mỹ Hưng.
Ngõ Nooks: Bingsu, Folk Crafts, and Hanboks at Hanoi's Hayoon Cafe
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- Published on 02 May 2024
- Written by Oliver Newman. Photos by Oliver Newman.
“What inspired you to open a Korean cafe?” I ask Giang, the manager of Hayoon Cafe in Nam Từ Liêm, a popular Korean district in Hanoi.
For a Horror Film About an Ageless Portrait, 'Mười' Hasn't Aged Well
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- Published on 28 April 2024
- Written by Khôi Phạm.
It’s undeniable that Mười: The Legend of a Portrait has left a lasting impression in the minds of a generation of Vietnamese, as the first collaboration between Vietnam and South Korea’s cinema industries. Watching this contemporary classic in 2024, however, made me realize that Mười has not aged well.
Hẻm Gems: At D7's Tía Tô, Home-Cooked Korean Comfort Food for the World-Weary
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- Published on 25 April 2024
- Written by Jae Shin. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
Growing up in South Korea's extremely competitive and high-stress education system, combined with strict Asian parenting, my relationship with my parents has never been easy.
Hẻm Gems: Tokyo Moon Cafe Introduces Homey Korean Flavors to Japan Town
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- Published on 24 April 2024
- Written by Khang Nguyễn. Photos by Cao Nhân.
Stepping into Tokyo Moon is like venturing into a world of wonders, neatly packed within a mere 35-square-meter space.
An Ode to Photo Booths, the Korean Trend Preserving Our Memories in Time
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- Published on 24 April 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Cao Nhân.
How can photo booths be a new trend if they’ve been around forever?
Hidden in the Heart of D5, an Architectural Vestige of 1970s Vietnam-Korea History
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- Published on 22 April 2024
- Written by Leo. Photos by Lê Thái Hoàng Nguyên. Graphics by Hannah Hoàng and Phan Nhi.
For years now, the verdant pine green pavilion in the heart of Hòa Bình Park in District 5 has been a familiar landmark for denizens of Chợ Lớn.