The Watershed Moment in The Vietnamese 20th Century Posted by Kandle Dart on Nov 1, 2021
More than half a century has passed since the deaths of tổng thống (president) Ngô Đình Diệm (Diệm) of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), and John F. Kennedy (JFK), of the USA. Each November, on the anniversary of their deaths, discussions resume about “what if”, “the conspiracies”, “the unknown”, “the untold,” etc. Both these…
Does Vietnam Celebrate Halloween? Posted by Kandle Dart on Oct 25, 2021
Influenced by văn hóa Tây phương (Western culture), the Vietnamese are starting to get more familiar with major western “commercial” holidays, including Halloween. Thus, in recent years, the lễ hội (festival) Halloween has become more popular in major metropolitan and tourist areas, especially among young people. People pour onto certain designated streets or entertainment venues…
Popular Vietnamese Autumn Songs Posted by Kandle Dart on Oct 18, 2021
Listening to music and looking out a window, I saw a yellow storm in front of my eyes. A strong wind caused all the leaves that had changed their colors to detach from their branches, ascend into the air, and with gravity, descend to the ground. It was a breath-taking scene. There is something about…
Welcome Fall! Posted by Kandle Dart on Oct 11, 2021
Chào thu (Welcome fall)! Mùa thu (Autumn/Fall season) is a beautiful season. Its beauty has inspired many artists and writers to create many masterworks depicting this season. Common conversation topics in mùa thu are completely different than other seasons. These are the things you often hear and discussed at least once in this season. Sự…
Names of Vietnam Throughout the History Posted by Kandle Dart on Oct 4, 2021
Many quốc gia (country) have their quốc hiệu (name) changed throughout their courses of history due to various reasons. Vietnam is not an exception. Indeed, officially and unofficially, she has been known by more than a dozen names in its history. Each triều đại (dynasty) may want to change its quốc hiệu. Do I know…
Happy Cat Month Posted by Kandle Dart on Sep 27, 2021
September is the Happy Cat Month, designated by the CATalyst Council to raise awareness of cat welfare. Although cats have recently been embraced by many families in Vietnam, whether as a pet or a mouser cat, the brutal treatment of cats through the illicit meat trade by trafficker in recent years has continued to rise…
Mid-Autumn Festival Posted by Kandle Dart on Sep 20, 2021
It’s the full moon again. Step outside this evening to view the round and bright moon. Better yet, set a table in a yard and sip some tea while munching on moon cakes and watching the moon with your loved ones. Yes, it’s a special time of the year, especially for children in Vietnam. It’s…