10 Species of Lesser-Known Fruits to Get to Know Vietnam's Biodiversity
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- Published on 11 June 2024
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Top graphic by Trường Dĩ.
In the Vietnamese language, the suffix “cỏ” — meaning “grass” in the literal sense — is often used to signify that something is locally grown, no frills, and charmingly rustic; grassroots, if you will. Chó cỏ is the general term for the adorable mutts, usually mixes between Vietnam’s native dog species, born without the prestige of named breeds, while gym cỏ and net cỏ denote the casual gyms and internet cafes in one’s neighborhood. In the same vein of logic, may I put forth a new name for a special genre of Vietnamese fruits: trái cỏ?
Gỏi Đu Đủ Reflects the Mekong Region's Culinary and Cultural Wisdoms
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- Published on 10 June 2024
- Written by Văn Tân. Graphic by Tiên Ngô.
As the cicadas begin to sing in the tamarind canopies along Pasteur Street after the first monsoon rain, vivid scenes from my formative years flash by in my mind. My cheeks became flushed and my eyes teary, but not from the harsh sun and wind, nor the frustration of losing multiple marble games; it was the sight, or rather, the scent of a papaya salad enveloped in Cô Ri pungent anchovy sauce.
Hẻm Gems: In D5, a Family Durian Xôi Xiêm Recipe Inspired by Cambodia
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- Published on 08 June 2024
- Written by Khang Nguyễn. Photos by Cao Nhân.
At first glance, xôi xiêm sầu riêng — or sticky rice with egg custard and durian — may appear plain-looking, but apart from being a tasty sweet treat, this simple dish also holds stories of life during Vietnam’s post-war period.
A Pilgrimage to Sơn La, Vietnam's National Mận Capital, as a Devoted Fan
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- Published on 07 June 2024
- Written by Xuân Phương. Photos by Xuân Phương.
There’s a kind of sweet, sour, and slightly tannic fruit that never fails to make our mouths water every summer.
These 5 Vietnamese Poems Pay Homage to the Complexities of Local Fruits
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- Published on 06 June 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Top image by Mai Khanh. Motion graphic by Nhã Lê.
Fruit and poetry: the two things I love most.
Xe Trái Cây: If You Can't Find Lovingly Sliced Fruit at Home, Cart-Bought Is Fine
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- Published on 03 June 2024
- Written by Khôi Phạm. Photos by Cao Nhân.
Nature has numerous ways to make itself known: male peacocks fan out their glorious tail made up of iridescent eye-patterned feathers to attract peafowls; blue-ringed octopuses don’t need to invent any dance, just their menacing aquamarine coat is enough to warn predators about a poisonous death should they dare to take a bite; on the chaotic streets of Saigon, xe trái cây flaunt their colorful mosaics of freshly peeled tropical fruits, as plump and juicy as the divine offerings of Zeus’s banquet, to entice heat-stricken riders to stop by for a refreshing respite.
Banana Is a Paragon of Neutrality. I Propose Using It as a Metric to Rank All Fruits.
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- Published on 03 June 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen.
Line up all the world’s fruits, best to worst, taking into account every rateable aspect imaginable including taste, appearance, price, reliability and seasonality — the banana rests at the exact middle. So I've personally used it as the ideal threshold to rank every fruit I've ever eaten.
An Ode to Dried Fruit, Vietnam's Parent-Approved Way for Children to Sugar Load
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- Published on 03 June 2024
- Written by Khang Nguyễn. Photos by Cao Nhân.
I first knew dried fruit as a category of munchy snacks that had my parents’ approval.
We Should Offer Gỏi Măng Cụt a Full-Time Position in Saigon's Food Scene
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- Published on 30 May 2024
- Written by Paul Christiansen. Photos by Alberto Prieto.
The mangosteen salad trend hit TikTok in 2023, creating a demand that led locals to quit their jobs and take on more lucrative full-time fruit-peeling duties.
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.
