Amid Hội An’s treat-filled culinary landscape, cao lầu emerges as something that’s both simple and one-of-a-kind. A bowl of cao lầu encapsulates a range of flavors including sour, hot, bitter, tannic and sweet; the savoriness of char siu; and the fragrance of Trà Quế herbs. Cao lầu strands are yellowish in color, with a bite…
Category: Culture
Phan Thiết’s Vibrant Whale Worship Festival Reflects Vietnam’s Rich Animist Traditions
Whale worship started from a folk belief harbored by fishermen seeking help from the gods to endure the arduous days spent at sea, but over time, it grew to become one of the most prominent spiritual practices of Vietnam’s fishing communities, especially in Phan Thiết. This reverence of whales reflects the people’s fervent passion for…
The Northern Delta culture in the Keo Hanh Thien Pagoda Festival.
Every mid-September in the lunar calendar, the village of Hanh Thien (Nam Dinh) celebrates the Keo Pagoda Festival. This tradition holds significant importance in the community’s life, deeply ingrained in the consciousness of every resident of Hanh Thien. With deep-rooted cultural customs reflecting the agricultural lifestyle of rice cultivation, the Keo Hanh Thien Pagoda Festival…
“Tằng Cẩu” – the sacred hair bun of black Thai ethnic women
In the worldview of the Black Thai people (Tay Dam), human beings are formed by “van/khoan” (soul/spirit) and exist in the connection between Muong Pha (Heavenly Realm) and Muong Din (Earthly Realm). This belief system forms the spiritual and religious foundation of the community, giving rise to a rich network of rituals and worship practices….
Ly Mí Cường takes the sounds of Sáo H’Mông From Hà Giang to international stages
Born in 2005, Ly Mí Cường has brought sáo Mèo to international music competitions twice in his life — and he managed to take home the first prize both times. Cường’s anchor is always H’Mông culture, the wellspring that has nurtured his soul ever since he first took up the flute of his people, sáo…
This Trung Thu, learn how to make lion heads from Huế’s artisans
Often seen as the heart of Central Vietnam, Huế is the birthing ground for many traditional crafts. Artisan products from the ancient city often exude its inhabitants’ elegance and rustic quality. Among them, the handmade lion’s heads from Huế carry distinctive slivers of beauty within them. Continue reading the article on Saigoneer in English or…
In suburban Hanoi, with summer comes the red-purple cascade of mulberries
In suburban Hanoi, this is the season when mulberry branches heavy with bright red fruits dangle in the summer wind. The sunshine of April arrived with blasts of sweltering heat, dispelling the waterlogged curtain of March’s humidity. It was officially summer in Hanoi, a time for countless types of fresh fruits to showcase their vivid…
The century-old salt-making craft in the sunlit and windy land of Ninh Thuan
Vietnam’s coastline, stretching over 3,000 kilometers, not only provides bountiful boats filled with fish and shrimp but also produces pristine, flavorful grains of white salt. Hundreds of years ago, coastal residents began utilizing seawater to produce salt. Along Vietnam’s S-shaped stretch, salt-making exists in 19 provinces across the three regions. Among them, Ninh Thuận, blessed…
The artisan who keeps the Thang Long’s art of dragon dancing alive
The dragon is a mythical creature that has long been sanctified and holds a special place in Vietnamese culture and spiritual life. As the leader of the Four Sacred Beasts (Dragon, Qilin, Turtle, and Phoenix), the dragon symbolizes power, strength, prosperity, and good fortune. Therefore, it is traditionally believed that the Year of the Dragon…
In Tây Hồ, an Artisan Community Holds Fast to Their Lotus Tea Traditions
Every sip of lotus tea encapsulates all the essences of the natural landscapes of Tây Hồ. The arrival of lotus season in Quảng An Ward, Tây Hồ every year ushers in a flurry of activities for local tea dryers. Venerated by many as “the best tea of the ancient eras,” Tây Hồ’s lotus tea is…
The fish-catching festival of the Dao Cham people in Quan Ba, Ha Giang
Every year, during the Thanh Minh festival (Day of the dead), the Dao Cham people in Nam Dam, Quan Ba, hold a fishing festival. The fish caught are evenly distributed among households in the village to prepare meals offered to ancestors and deities as a gesture of gratitude. This act also seeks blessings for a…
The Hanoi Village Where Making Folding Fans Involves Every Family
Located around 25 kilometers from central Hanoi, Chàng Sơn still retains distinctly northern traits like an ancient village entrance, banyan trees, and raucous street markets. Tiny lanes run along walls of worn-down bricks in between the shadows of tall heritage trees. The gentle lilac flowers of bằng lăng trees stand out amongst the many shades…
XUAN PHUONG 