A Look Inside

Lụa and Loan, Two Asylum Seekers Rejected by Australia

Lụa and Loan, Two Asylum Seekers Rejected by Australia

Reporter Kathy Triệu is back with another modern refugee story -- one that chronicles the journey of two strong-willed Vietnamese mothers, Trần Thị Lụa and Trần Thị Thanh Loan. They recount fhow several attempts to flee Việt Nam for Australia led them instead to a detention center in Indonesia.

Phở: Việt Nam’s ‘Democratic’ Dish

Phở: Việt Nam’s ‘Democratic’ Dish

Walk down any street in Việt Nam or step into any Vietnamese restaurant in the world and you can’t miss the aroma of phở filled with ginger, star anise, and of course that hint of nước mắm - fish sauce. The go-to dish for everything from heartache to hangover, phở is more than just a noodle soup -- it represents the heart and soul of Vietnamese cooking. Loa’s Jenny Lý and Lilly Nguyễn chat about all things phở.

Hoops and Dreams: A Look Inside Basketball in Việt Nam

Hoops and Dreams: A Look Inside Basketball in Việt Nam

A popular sport on the international scene, but just a seedling in Việt Nam, basketball has picked up momentum in the past few years. With a new, loyal, and energized fanbase, and experience from international players and management, basketball may soon rival soccer as Việt Nam’s number one sport.


In this week’s episode, Brian Lâm takes a look inside the rise of basketball in Việt Nam.

Not Fleeing War, But Persecution: One Man’s Tale of Escape from Today’s Việt Nam

Not Fleeing War, But Persecution: One Man’s Tale of Escape from Today’s Việt Nam

“Vietnamese refugees"...the term brings to mind, boats drifting at sea and helicopters lifting people out of a war-torn country. But it’s now more than 40 years later, and Vietnamese people still seek refuge in other countries. No longer fleeing war, these modern refugees are fleeing violence and oppression. In this week’s episode, Kathy Triệu gives us A Look Inside the story of Thủy Nguyễn--one of Việt Nam’s modern refugees--and his journey from Hà Nội to Houston.

From Field to Cup: Việt Nam Rides Coffee's Third Wave

From Field to Cup: Việt Nam Rides Coffee's Third Wave

Việt Nam as a country is very well known for what is called commodity coffee: beans exported in large batches to other countries for use in instant coffee brands and lower quality brews. In the last two years or so, a very small group of people are trying to change that image and usher in the reign of higher quality beans in Việt Nam. Loa’s Chí-Linh Đinh and Brian Lâm got together over a cup of Joe and talk about the third wave coffee movement happening in Việt Nam today.

A Fortune Teller Tells Her Secrets

A Fortune Teller Tells Her Secrets

From assessing the compatibility of a couple using the zodiac calendar, to the way furniture is arranged in your living room, to visiting fortune tellers to determine the most suitable date for a wedding, Vietnamese people attach great importance to a practice that other people regard with skepticism.

What is it that makes receiving advice from a fortune teller a widely accepted custom in Vietnamese culture? Chris Lê explores this idea in this week’s A Look Inside.

The Dark Past of Fulbright University Việt Nam’s New Chairman

The Dark Past of Fulbright University Việt Nam’s New Chairman

During his visit to Việt Nam a few weeks ago, US President Barack Obama announced the opening of Fulbright University in Sài Gòn as part of the U.S. and Việt Nam’s continued partnership in education. The country’s first non-profit and independent university is set to usher in its first class this fall. But it’s already off to a rocky start with the appointment of Robert Kerrey as chairman of the school’s board. The former Việt Nam veteran’s controversial war record has ignited a heated debate. On this week’s A Look Inside, Loa’s Jenny Lý delves into the conflicting views surrounding Kerrey’s appointment and what it could represent for Việt Nam’s future.

Sài Gòn's Lost Rock 'n' Roll

Sài Gòn's Lost Rock 'n' Roll

Rock n’ roll came alive in Việt Nam in the midst of war.  Vietnamese musicians took inspiration from the beats and guitar riffs of Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin and made it their own. The music that was created during this time is arguably some of the best rock music available, a unique sound that could only have existed in the contexts of which it was born. Loa's Stella Trần walks us through a collection of this groundbreaking music.

Beyond the Oscars: A Look Inside ‘Chau, Beyond the Lines’

Beyond the Oscars: A Look Inside ‘Chau, Beyond the Lines’

The glitz and glam of the 88th Academy Awards are just around the corner and one nominee captured our attention: the documentary, Chau, Beyond the Lines. Amid the #OscarsSoWhite controversy, our reporter has a review of the film’s narrative and the on-going issues of documentary's subject: the victims of Agent Orange in Việt Nam.

Christmas in Việt Nam

Christmas in Việt Nam

Although Việt Nam is predominantly non-Christian, Christmas (Lễ Giáng Sinh) is considered a major holiday, celebrated by both Christians and non-Christians alike. Holiday decorations, bright lights and nativity scenes with a distinctly Vietnamese motif fill food stalls and tiny shops throughout city streets and villages. Loa’s Jenny Lý is in Sài Gòn with "A Look Inside" how Christmas is celebrated here this time of the year.