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Lan Tran

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Stories by Lan Tran

27 stories

Food Culture

Happy Meals: An Afternoon At Saigon’s VND2,000 Restaurant

"What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity." - Joseph Addison

Dang BuiOct 2, 2014

Saigon

[Photos] An Inside Look At 3 Of Saigon’s Most Intriguing Tombs

Saigon is home to plenty of old structures, some which house the living, and others the dead. Many of the former are tombs of important scholars who profoundly shaped the country’s culture, language and history. Freelance photographer and Saigoneer contributor, Giang Pham , recently took to the streets to capture photos of these unique locations.

Lan Tran

Sep 11, 2014

Culture

A Brief History Of The Áo Dài

Every country has its national attire. China’s has the cheongsam, Japan the kimono, Korea the hanbok, America denim and Vietnam has its áo dài. Like the country from which it originated, the áo dài has undergone many transformations that have resulted in its current form.

Lan TranSep 4, 2014

Culture

The Little-Known Hero’s Tomb Next To Bà Chiểu Market

Located at the intersection of two bustling streets in Bình Thạnh District – Phan Đình Phùng and Đinh Tiên Hoàng – and a few steps from the crowded Bà Chiểu market, is a temple dating back to the city’s early history.

Lan TranAug 29, 2014

Food Culture

5 Unique Spins On Phở That Can Be Found In Saigon

Phở is a known commodity. One of Vietnam’s most famous dishes and perhaps one of the world’s most famous soups , there are few mysteries (perhaps other than its origin ) when it comes to the delicious broth and noodles. But in Saigon, there are 5 different spins put on phở, with some cooked in wine and others served dry:

Lan TranAug 29, 2014

Culture

An Ode To Saigon’s Rain Showers

Despite the inconveniences that unpredictable rain showers bring to Saigon, they are an essential part of the city’s character.

Lan TranAug 28, 2014

Culture

3 Thrilling Vietnamese Games To Play During The Month Of Ghosts

Small trays of colorful cakes are popular offerings for superstitious Buddhists during the Month of Ghosts. But Vietnamese children have a number of other ways to make contact with spirits, including games.

Lan TranAug 21, 2014

Saigon

The Story Of Saigon’s "Graveyard Of Traitors"

Under a windy dusk towards Mả Ngụy. Clouds and clouds of souls reign on. These words are from an old poem that depicts the ghostly atmosphere of a graveyard which was located in the area of present day Lê Hồng Phong, Điện Biên Phủ, Cách Mạng Tháng Tám and Ba Tháng Hai Streets in Districts 3 and 10.

Lan TranAug 20, 2014

Music & Arts

The Differences Between Girls In Saigon And Hanoi

These illustrations, created by blogger Mèo Lười show her view of the differences between girls in Sài Gòn and Hà Nội. From reactions to breakups to eating habits, one can view them as astute observations, or as one-sided conclusions. As a Sài Gòn girl, I tend to prefer “kem ốc quế” and have friends in Hà Nội who cry rivers during their breakups so these characterizations are far from scientific.

Lan TranAug 15, 2014

Food Culture

A Look at Vietnam's 'Paper' Food

Vietnamese food not only features a wide range of ingredients, but also takes many different forms, from steaming bowls of phở to crispy bánh xèo. One of the more unique forms of Vietnamese cuisine is that of the flat variety, with everything from milk to mangos being compressed into "paper" sheets.

Lan TranAug 8, 2014

Saigon

45 Photos Of 1961 Saigon From LIFE Magazine

Over the past 53 years, Saigon has undergone tremendous growth. With the addition of gleaming skyscrapers and dense packs of residential buildings, the city has lost much of its colonial luster and is no longer considered “Pearl of the Orient.”

Lan TranAug 8, 2014

Tech

7 Vietnamese Tech Products That Have Become International Hits

TechinAsia recently posted a list of 7 remarkable Vietnamese technologies that have become international standouts. From robots to iOS apps, Vietnam is slowly but surely reaching impressive technological milestones.

Lan TranJul 31, 2014

Food Culture

[Photos] The Honey Hunters Of Phú Yên

July is the time for the honey hunters of Phú Yên Province’s forests. The honey season, which starts in February, is centered in Xuân Phước forest, located in Đồng Xuân District (Phú Yên).

Lan TranJul 22, 2014

Vietnam

18 Stunning Photos Of Vietnam In 1989

Vietnam’s economy began to open up in 1986 with the adoption of Đổi Mới , starting a meteoric rise in quality of life compared to the preceding years of rationing and an inefficient planning. While these reforms set the stage for huge growth in the 90s and 2000s, the late 80s were still a time of economic hardship.

Lan TranJul 21, 2014

Vietnam

17 Photos Of Royal Life During The Nguyễn Dynasty

It’s been more than two centuries since Gia Long unified Vietnam and became the first emperor of the Nguyễn Dynasty. Lasting 143 years, Vietnam’s last dynasty ended in 1945 when Bảo Đại abdicated the throne.

Lan TranJul 17, 2014

Saigon

5 of Saigon’s Oldest Buildings

As the French began to heavily influence Vietnam, first indirectly with missionaries and later with full-scale colonization, large public buildings began to pop up in the country’s cities, no more so than in Saigon. Even as the city undergoes rapid development, some of these 18th and 19th century gems have survived.

Lan TranJul 15, 2014

Food Culture

5 Unique Markets In The Mekong Delta

While the cities of Vietnam become hooked into the global supply chain, their culinary tastes are becoming more homogenous. From pizza to shopping in supermarkets, our diets are slowly moving in line with the rest of the world. But this is not the case in the Mekong Delta where residents still rely on local sources for food and is home to markets that offer everything from scorpions to rats.

Lan TranJul 14, 2014

Development

[Video] How Poverty Is Stopping Vietnamese Girls From Obtaining An Education

From doing chores around the house, running a ferry service to harvesting crops, for many young girls in Vietnam, bringing in income for the family trumps education. This video captures the reality of life for these girls who face many barriers in their quest to go to school.

Lan TranJul 11, 2014

Food Culture

In Bánh Mì We Trust

Though bánh mì is often labeled as one of the world’s best sandwiches, something to hold, behold and consume, Saigonese don’t eat them solely because they are delicious.

Lan TranJul 9, 2014

Music & Arts

Vietnamese Artists Highlighted At New York Origami Exhibit

Pioneering origami exhibition, “ Surface to Structure ,” held a showcase, “Folded Form,” at New York’s Cooper Union earlier this month, featuring the works of international artists including 5 Vietnamese.

Lan TranJul 7, 2014

Food Culture

YouTuber Racks up 18m Views Teaching the World How to Cook Vietnamese Food

YouTube sensation, Le Ha Huyen (aka Helen), has been making awesome Vietnamese cooking tutorials for the past 3 years. Over that time, she’s attracted over 130,000 subscribers to her channel ( Helen’s Recipes ) and generated 18 million views of her videos.

Lan TranJul 2, 2014

Food Culture

A Guide To Ordering Phở In Vietnamese

Due to popular demand, we’ve created this guide to help those who haven’t mastered Vietnamese order a bowl of phở exactly the way they want it.

Lan TranJul 1, 2014

Culture

Saigon Urban Legends: Haunted 727 Tran Hung Dao

Located at 727 Tran Hung Dao, this District 5 dwelling was once called the President Building and housed hundreds of American soldiers. Commissioned by millionaire Nguyen Tan Doi, this building, which once teemed with life, now stands nearly vacant. While many of the living souls have left, there are many stories of supernatural activities within its walls.

Lan TranJun 25, 2014

Music & Arts

[Video] Tuồng: Vietnam’s Disappearing Traditional Face Painting

Tuồng is a type of traditional folk performance which is characterized in part by the use of abstract face-painting. Performers hide their real faces under a piece of art, which symbolize their character in the play. And like all good art, it takes time to make.

Lan TranJun 24, 2014