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The origin of Vu Dai’s village braised fish is unknown, but the dish has gained notoriety over the decades and is a staple of many Hanoi families’ Tet meals. Somehow, the delectable cuisine of the countryside makes people go back to their roots. A few weeks before Lunar New Year is the busiest time for fish stew cooks in Vu Dai, also known as Dai Hoang Village, in the northern province of Ha Nam. Thousands of clay pots filled with braised fish are ready to be delivered to gourmets at home and abroad. It is believed that there are many places in the country where stewed fish is prepared, but the one that cooks it best is Vu Dai Village. Nguyen Ba Toan’s household in Dai Hoang Village usually prepares hundreds of pots of braised fish every day during the Tet holiday. According to the cook, Vu Dai braised fish is made with countless ingredients, including fresh Amur fish, galangal, ginger, pork belly, shallots, chili peppers, lime juice, fish sauce, pepper, and molasses. “The best-brai...

The painting Khmer Festival in Ca Mau has won the Excellence Award of the first Vietnamese Cultural Heritage through a Painting Contest which attracted 839 works from 494 artists nationwide. The award ceremony was held in Hanoi on January 16. The contest is organized by the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association. The jury selected 100 works for the final round and awarded prizes to the 30 best. The watercolor painting Khmer Festival in Ca Mau is by Lai Lam Tung, an artist from the southernmost province of Ca Mau. One hundred outstanding entries showcased at an exhibition. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times Speaking to The Hanoi Times , Tung said he is not a professional artist but an oil and gas worker with a long-standing passion for fine art. Tung planned to paint this painting 10 years ago, but due to his busy work schedule, he only had time to do it now. The painting took eight months to complete after a long process of collecting and researching the cultural tradi...

Recently, French researcher Charlotte Aguttes-Reynier (President of the Asian Artists Association in Paris) presented the book Modern Art in Indochina (L’Art Moderne En Indochine) to the Vietnamese public, shedding light on the darkness that obscures the richness and importance of Indochinese art, an important part of international art history. On this occasion, Charlotte Aguttes-Reynier talks to The Hanoi Times about her experiences after 10 years of research into Vietnam’s Golden Age of Art. How did you come to research Indochinese art? Since I was a child, I followed my father, the owner of the Aguttes auction house, to museums and collectors. In 1995, my family moved to Paris, where the art market was vibrant. I became interested in painting in general, oriental painting, and impressionism. Gradually, I have specialized in modern art. Since 2013, I have been studying Indochinese art and artists from Asia. Since then, I have supervised and auctioned about 1,000 paintings, incl...

According to Travel2next, a website that provides inspiration and information about world travel, Vietnam offers plenty of unique sites for expats to visit and explore. The lifestyle in Vietnam is also quite affordable, which is why many expats choose to stay there. Some popular sites for expats residing in Vietnam include Bui Vien Walking Street in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi’s Old Quarter and Ba Dinh district, and My An Beach and Bach Dang District in Da Nang. The cost of living in Vietnam is another attractive factor for expats. In Hanoi, for instance, rent can be as low as $300 per month or up to $1,000 per month depending on one’s needs. The food budget can start at around $150 per month. Da Nang offers a lower cost of living compared to Hanoi, with rent at $200 per month. Food options in Da Nang are also plentiful, with both local and international cuisine available, ranging from $100 to $200 per month. Ho Chi Minh City has the highest rental prices, starting at around $400 and g...