Loa’s newest reporter Thúy Vi Cao explores the meaning of “black” in Black April and examines all that colors our understanding of victory, tragedy, and trauma.
The Secrets of Jade
Jade has been used for more than 7000 years already and it has a special meaning throughout Asia. Not only is it an artistic expression, it is also a recurring symbol in religion, philosophy and literature. We explore the significance of the jade bracelet in Việt Nam and explains how to choose the perfect one for you.
Mythbusting MSG
Lefties Get Left Out...But Why?
Picture yourself holding a pen. Put that pen up to an imaginary piece of paper on an imaginary desk and pretend to start writing. Which hand did you use? The hand that you picked to write is your dominant hand, and the choice you make is called handedness.
Most likely, you put up your right hand. A small percentage of you would have put up your left. If you are in an Asian country, let’s say Việt Nam, it would be an even smaller percentage.
So why is this? Loa’s Chí-Linh Đinh was wondering the same thing, so she tries get to the bottom of handedness in Việt Nam.
Flirty Flirty Time With Loa
Valentine's Day just passed and Việt Nam is one of the countries that embrace this day as a celebration of couples. While it is not as large as, say, Women’s day (which we covered in episode 43), the western holiday has started to get more popular in the country. There is lots of flirting, flowers, and lovin’ for the couples in Việt Nam. In this week's episode Chí-Linh Đinh covers the in's and out's of flirting in the Vietnamese language, especially how to do it in the modern age.
What the Vietnamese Zodiac Can Tell You About Yourself
Holding On to Chữ Nôm, Việt Nam’s Lost Script
Ghost in the Sea: A Tale of Escape
Many believe that countries torn by conflict are inhabited by the spirits of those whose lives were lost. In the case of Việt Nam, the war spread beyond land and into the sea, as hundreds of thousands of people fled the country by boat after the war. For our next story, we hear an eerie tale of loss during an attempt to vượt biên -- escape the country by boat. Chris Lê has more.
Bring on the Funk: Dipping Fish Sauce
In Vietnamese cuisine, plenty of dishes are superstars in their own right. Phở aside, there’s the fresh and colorful vermicelli noodle salad, light and airy gỏi cuốn or summer rolls, and the fried Vietnamese crepe – bánh xèo. But all these dishes are incomplete without Việt Nam’s number one sidekick: nước mắm chấm. The sauce is splashed all over, ladled on, dipped in–you can even slurp it! Loa’s Kathy Triều brings us up close and personal with the essential nước chấm.
Battles of Bắc Ninh - Folk Music Edition
Imagine a rap battle, between two competing, freestyling artists. But instead of rappers, you've got Vietnamese villagers. And instead of rhyming lyrics, you’ve got folk music infused with poetry and lullabies. Now set it all in 13th-century northern Việt Nam. That’s what you get with quan họ, traditional call and response folk music. Loa’s Jenny Lý gives us a sample of this singing style.
In the Market for Love
Of Kings, Dragons, and Fairies
Every year on the 10th day of the 3rd month of the lunar calendar, the Vietnamese people commemorate Hùng Vương who is known as the first king of Việt Nam.
Legend has it that he is the son of a fairy, Aư Cơ, and a dragon Lạc Long Quan. This year the holiday fell on April 16th, and as Vietnamese people everywhere honored King Hùng Vương, Loa’s Kathy Triệu helps us to understand why.
Who Run the World? Vietnamese Women Do (At Least on March 8)
March 8th is International Women’s Day, or Ngày Quốc tế Phụ Nữ as it’s known in Việt Nam. It's a day to celebrate women’s contributions to society, but also a reminder that the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements happened despite a lack of parity. In this week’s Vietnamism, Loa’s Chí-Linh Đinh explores how it all started and how it is celebrated today.
Vovinam: The Sky Blue Flying Kick Masters
Why You Shouldn’t Stick Your Chopsticks In Your Rice Bowl
People can be pretty superstitious...don’t walk under a ladder, avoid the number 13. If you’re Vietnamese, you’ve probably heard your share of Vietnamese old wives’ tales from your parents or grandparents. And though most of us are skeptical about their veracity, it costs nothing to follow along. We don’t want any bad luck! So little by little these superstitions become a part of our lives and our culture.In this week’s Vietnamism, Vinh Trần decodes some of these popular Vietnamese superstitions.
The Importance of Being Vietnamese
Sriracha, that Cocky Rooster Sauce
From celebrity chefs to the guy who just wants a little something extra on his hot dog, Sriracha is rapidly becoming a staple condiment. Although the sauce is often thought to have originated in Thailand, the truth is much more complicated. Loa’s Chí-Linh Đinh dishes up that famous cocky hot sauce that’s equal parts cross-cultural appropriation, hometown pride, and expat love.
Ma's Got a Lullaby For You, Baby
What Makes Vietnamese Coffee So Strong?
Việt Nam's jolting cup of joe is taking over the world by storm. Even Starbucks is getting in on the action, introducing their single-origin Đà Lạt beans earlier this year. So what's so exciting about the Vietnamese way of making coffee? Loa's Chí-Linh Đinh gets to the bottom of this addictive drink.
