Episode 32 - November News Review; Sriracha

From the rising tension in the South China Sea, to a social media app that’s falling out of favor with Vietnamese authorities, Loa contributor Lương Văn Thiền is here with all the important news and stories happening in Vietnam today with this week's "Things to Know."

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.

Music Used in Episode:
Bit Rio - Poddington Bear. CC BY-NC 3.0

Episode 31 - Startups; Hà Nội's Facebook Page

Investors see Việt Nam as the next tech hub of the 21st century and entrepreneurs are seizing the opportunity to jump start the next big enterprise. Brian Lâm takes “A Look Inside” the emergence and challenges for Việt Nam’s startup ecosystem.

Việt Nam's government has had a pretty contentious relationship with social media. Hà Nội made an attempt at blocking Facebook in 2009 and 2010 that mostly failed. Six years later, the government is now reversing course by setting up its own Facebook page. Loa’s Gia Linh Vũ checks up on Việt Nam's latest foray into social media in this "Things to Know" segment.

Episode 30 - Teachers' Day; Land Rights

Remember when you were in primary school and you idolized your teacher? Teaching is one of the professions that holds the highest regard in Vietnamese culture. There is even a special day dedicated to them. But as Việt Nam’s society changes, so has the meaning behind the day. Loa’s Nguyễn Linh Chi explores how students and their families are celebrating this day in Việt Nam, then and now.

In the Socialist Republic of Việt Nam, the land used by farmers is considered the “people’s property” and can be reclaimed by the government at any given time. We revisit the farmers who have suffered because of this

Photo credit: Ellen M. Banner/The Seattle Times

Episode 29 - Misguided Media

Typically, each of our weekly podcast features two segments. This week, we’re bringing you a special episode and an in-depth interview with a prominent voice in the Vietnamese community, Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker Đức Nguyễn, who’s speaking up about the controversy surrounding last week’s broadcast of “Terror in Little Saigon.”

Episode 28 - Paris Audio Tour; Lullabies

The French Quarter in Hà Nội is a remnant of colonialism but the Asian Quarter in Paris is a portrait of the diaspora. This week, we take a stroll through the streets of Quận 13, or Paris’s 13th district, with our guide Sơn Trần and Loa’s Vinh Trần.

Lullabies are not unique to Vietnamese culture, but Vietnamese lullabies are unique in that they can still be lovable and charming while speaking to the hardships of life. Giang Nguyễn gives us a little musical lesson on lullabies in this week’s "Vietnamism."