Cultural Rendezvous

As in Vietnam, Spring Festival or Lunar New Year is the grandest festival and longest public holiday in China. During this period China is dominated by red lanterns, loud fireworks, massive banquets, and parades. In this week’s “Cultural Rendezvous”, Qing Duo, a young correspondent for China Radio International, will tell us how China’s Spring Festival celebration has changed in recent years with the development of China and the advent of the Internet.

Having breakfast together with 7 different kinds of vegetables on the first day of the lunar New Year is one of many traditions kept alive for many generations in Meidyana Rayana’s family, who are of Chinese descendants living in Indonesia. In today’s show, Meidyana Rayana from Jarkata, Indonesia, will share with us how Chinese Indonesian celebrate the lunar New Year, known locally as Imlek.

China’s Suzhou is one of the oldest cities in the Yangtze Basin dating back more than 2,500 years. As the Chinese saying states, "In heaven there is paradise; on earth are Suzhou and Hangzhou," Suzhou has become popular among Chinese people and foreigners alike from this perspective. In ancient times, Suzhou was a center of economic prosperity and cultural abundance. Let’s join Jason Liu, a blogger from Suzhou, to explore the city’s unique offerings for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

January 25 this year marks the Jewish holiday of Tu Bishvat – New Year for the trees – when early bloomers wake up from winter and nature lovers celebrate the season by planting tiny shoots at sites all over Israel. What better time than this, for stories about Tu Bishvat, the day that trees come of age, according to Jewish law. In today’s edition of Cultural Rendezvous, we’ll have Nguyen Thanh Dung, a Ph.D. candidate at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, share with us some information about Tu Bishvat.

It’s said that some foods are so amazing that after trying them once, you know you’re hooked for life. Iberian ham is one of those foods. Irene Reguilón, a native of Spain and a lecturer at Vietnam National University in Hanoi, will explain why we should be eating this heavenly treat!

Spain is famous for lots of things including the sexy, wild dancing called flamenco. If you want to learn more about this traditional folk dance of Spain, stick around as we talk to Paco Aibar Barraso, a Barcelona native.

2021 has arrived and in the very first edition of Cultural Rendezvous for the New Year, we’ll meet with Do Thu Thuy, who is now living in the Netherlands with her family, to share with us about things the Dutch people often do on New Year’s Day, as well as some interesting New Year’s traditions of the Dutch.

Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated across India with great enthusiasm as it symbolises the victory of good over evil. Marking the return of Lord Rama to Ayodha after 14 years of exile, Diwali has been celebrated since time immemorial. How the festival has changed over time, Dr Manasvini Yogi, an officer on Special Duty at the Delhi School of Journalism under the University of Delhi, will tell us.

How will Covid-19 affect Christmas this year? From Santa bubbles to drive-through decorations, the socially distanced year will give us a masked Christmas like no other. In today’s program, we’ll talk with Thuy Nguyen living in San Jose, California, and Andrew Larson living in Des Moines, Iowa, about the local Christmas atmosphere and how their families have prepared for Christmas.

“Eid al-Adha,” the "Sacrifice Feast," is the second Muslim holiday celebrated in Oman each year. The festival marks the end of the traditional pilgrimage season to Mecca. A large number of animals are slaughtered during the festival. No alcohol is served on the day of the festival or on the day before. In this week’s Cultural Rendezvous, Dr. Khalfan Hamed Alharrasi, an Assistant Professor at the University of Nizwa, will be with us to introduce “Eid al-Adha”, one of Oman’s most beautiful celebrations.

In many western countries, including Germany, the time from December 1st to December 24th is called Advent, which means before Christmas Eve. Parents give their children calendars counting down the days. Each day in December they open one of the doors and receive a small chocolate in the shape of a star, tree, or a little toy. These calendars make the wait to Christmas Eve a little easier. In today’s program, we’ll have Quynh Le Becker of Wiesbaden, Germany, tell us more about this special tradition.

Pakistani weddings epitomise the richness of the culture. A single wedding contains many elements of local traditions. Pakistani weddings are explosions of colour, beautifully embroidered flowing fabrics in silks and chiffon, tantalizing food, traditionally decorated stages, and a lot of music and dancing. In this week’s “Cultural Rendezvous”, Najam Ul Hassan, a reporter with the Associated Press of Pakistan, will tell us all about Pakistani weddings.

Many Vietnamese people know Oman only as the home of mythical characters whose stories continue to be told around the globe. But the Sultanate of Oman is a veritable kaleidoscope of history, culture, heritage, modernisation, and progress. In this week’s “Cultural Rendezvous”, Dr. Khalfan Hamed Alharrasi, an Assistant Professor at the University of Nizwa, will give us an overview of Oman and its culture.

Bhutan is a country unlike any other, a land where monks still meditate for years in the sacred caves to the East. A country ruled by a monarch who freely gave up his absolute power to usher in democracy. A place where progress is officially measured by happiness, rather than Gross National Product, using the government’s pioneering Gross National Happiness system. The first carbon-negative country in the world, Bhutan has preserved its mountains, forests and people on its journey to modernise, a feat that is totally unique in the history of this world. Needrup Zangpo, Executive Director of the Bhutan Media Foundation shares more interesting Bhutan’s facts.

Bhutan is not just a country, but a concept that has been fascinating to many. The Kingdom of Bhutan is caught between China and India, in the Eastern Himalayas. It has a population of roughly 750,000 people, and Thimphu, the capital, sits in the west. Never colonized, and isolated due to its geography, Bhutan developed a strong national identity and culture. In today’s program, we’ll have Needrup Zangpo, Executive Director of Bhutan Media Foundation, to share with us some interesting facts about the country.

Poya is the name given to the lunar monthly Buddhist holiday of Uposatha in Sri Lanka. Full moon day is normally considered as the poya day in every month. In this week’s Cultural Rendezvous, Vajira Perera, a reporter of the ITN Sri Lanka, a Sri Lankan state governed television and radio broadcaster, will tell us about the special event.

Halloween has officially arrived, and there’s so much to look forward to, from brainstorming dark, spooky costumes to trying out pumpkin carving ideas with the kids and, of course, eating huge amounts of Halloween treats, candy, and chocolate and indulging in everything pumpkin spice flavoured. No matter how old you are, the holiday simply never gets old. But in the midst of the Halloween party games and sugar rushes, have you ever stopped to wonder about the origin and history of Halloween? In today’s program, we’ll have the Larson’s from Des Moines, Iowa, USA, to tell us more about this special holiday.

Germany’s long, rich history contains many strange cultural anomalies. One of them is Closed Sundays. In this week’s Cultural Rendezvous, Christian Oster, a former German journalist, will tell us about this custom.

Far too much rubbish is produced all over the world. Every German produces around 450 kilograms of garbage per year. Germans are known for being particularly careful in separating and recycling their waste. Is that really true? Today we’ll talk to Hoai Vu Bender, a freelance photographer, who has been living in Burgschwalbach, Germany, for the past decade, to find out more.

While Thanksgiving Day is usually celebrated in November in the US, some Caribbean islands, and Liberia, it takes place on the second Monday of October in Canada. Why is there a difference and how is the holiday observed in Canada? Amanda Butler, a Canadian native from the province of Ontario, will tell us today what we should know about Canadian Thanksgiving.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, known as Chuseok, is one of the biggest and most important festivals in Korea. It celebrates the autumn harvest and honors elderly family members, and is considered by many the Korean Thanksgiving Day. Today we have a Korean-Irish couple YoungHwi Cho and Emilee Jennings who will share with us some facts about this meaningful festival.

Nestled in the Caucasus Mountains and surrounded by neighbours Georgia, Iran, Turkey, and Azerbaijan, Armenia is famous for wine production. Ani Mouradian, a wine expert from Armenia, shares with VOV some key facts about Armenian wine.

Armenia is an underrated destination in the Caucasus. With a rich history that dates back to the ancient trade route, Armenia is a unique destination that needs to be on your bucket list. In today’s show, we’ll have Adrineh Der-Boghossian, an Armenian-Canadian freelance editor, share with us some quirky and fun facts about Armenia that you probably didn’t know.

A bowler hat is a must-have accessory for vintage fashionistas. The image of comedian Charles Chaplin in a vintage suit, a baton in hand, and a bowler hat, has been considered a typical image for an English man for a long time. Today we will talk with Aaron Meija, an English gentleman, to learn more about bowler hats.

In addition to its Mediterranean climate, golden beaches, mountainous landscapes, and interesting history, Albania also boasts delicious local cuisine, friendly people, and has much more to offer. On today’s Cultural Rendezvous, Linda Boletini, a German psychologist born in Albania, will share some interesting facts with us about this beautiful country.

Though usually celebrated in conjunction with Indonesia’s Independence Day, the Bidar (canoe) Race deserves a special mention! It’s among the most popular festivals in the Palembang region of south Sumatra. Meidyana Rayana of Indonesia will tell us all about this festival.

Welcome to another edition of VOV247’s Culture Rendezvous. We’re having Antoine Brochet, who is back to share with us more about French wine, including how to read a French wine label, order wine in a French restaurant, make a toast in French, as well as some French wine etiquette.

Like baguette and cheese, wine is a major part of both French culture and of the image France has around the world. When you picture a French person in your mind, it’s probable that they’re either holding a glass or bottle of wine or have one on the café table in front of them. But unlike cheese and bread, wine carries a certain cachet that can make it seem intimidating. In today’s show, we’ll have Antoine Brochet sharing with us everything about French wine.

If you ever visited the Buckingham Palace, the residence of the most important family in the UK, you couldn’t have missed the Queen’s Guards, the soldiers who are always standing still with straight faces. Today we will talk with Calum Bacon, an English young man who is working in Vietnam, to learn more about Foot Guards, the stoic soldiers that guard Her Majesty.

As any Romanian will eagerly explain, there’s much more to know about Romania than the legend of Dracula. Constantly featured among Europe’s best travel destinations, Romania has plenty to surprise those looking for an exciting, off-the-beaten-track destination. In today’s show, we’ll have Gabriela Drobota from Romania to share with us some facts about Romania, its culture, people, and lifestyle.

Teaching online an inevitable path for teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam as well as many countries around the world. But teaching online is proving difficult for many teachers who hadn’t done online teaching before, so let’s talk to Joe Fitzsimmons, who has been teaching English online for many years to learn more about teaching online.

The Sunday Roast is a traditional British main meal that is typically served on Sunday, consisting of roasted meat, roasted or mashed potatoes, and accompaniments such as Yorkshire Pudding, stuffing, gravy, and mint sauce. Its prominence in British culture is such that in a UK poll it was ranked second in the list of things people love most about Britain. The meal is often compared to a less grand version of a traditional Christmas dinner. In today’s show, Andrew Jackson of Lancaster, England, will tell us a bit about Sunday Roast, a classic national dish of the UK.

From banned happy hours to not having any snakes in their country, Ireland is definitely a country that will surprise you. Today we’ll learn about life in Ireland and food and drink from Francis Moran, an English teacher from Ireland.

Located 80 kilometers north of Lagos in Oyo state, Nigeria, the town of Igbo Ora is well known for a remarkably large number of twin births. Today we’ll have a talk with Laykay Adepoju, a Nigerian who is working in Hanoi, to know more about Ogbo Ora, which is nicknamed “The twin capital of the world”.

Kuchipudi is an Indian classical dance form counted among the ten leading classical dance forms of India. A dance-drama performance art that originated in a village in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, India, Kuchipudi evolved from the Hindu Sanskrit text ‘Natya Shastra’ and is connected traditionally with temples, spiritual faith, and travelling bards. In today’s Cultural Rendezvous, Kiranmai Bonala, a Kuchipudi dance teacher from India, will tell us a little about this dance.

The annual candlelit Lucia procession on December 13 is one of the more exotic Swedish customs, with girls and boys clad in white full-length gowns singing songs together. When the 400-year-old tradition of St. Lucia is celebrated, you will see thousands of young girls emerge from the darkness of a Swedish winter’s day and gently silence the crowds with a procession of light. How exactly is Lucia Day celebrated in Sweden? Johan Alvin, the Swedish Embassy's second secretary and his wife Marika Alvin will give you the answer.

In the Philippines, as in other Southeast Asian countries, paying respect to older people is a tradition passed from generation to generation. In today’s program, we’ll talk to Emmanuel Abalos about “mano” or “pagmamano”, an "honoring gesture" performed in Filipino culture as a sign of respect for an elder and a way of requesting a blessing from the elder.

The Han river (or Hangang) is the major river flowing through the heart of Seoul, South Korea. This river is an iconic symbol of the capital not just because of its beautiful scenery but also its historical value. Indeed, spending a whole day exploring the Han river is one of the most amazing things to do in Seoul. If you find yourself enjoying a trip in South Korea, it would be a shame if you miss this place. I had a chance to explore this tourist attraction with Jeon Hyong Jun, a Seoul local.

In London, the UK, popular movie channel Film 4 hosts an open air cinema every summer where Britons from all over the UK come and enjoy different genres of film together. With cinema being a huge part of British culture, I decided to visit Sanny Hoskins, a movie fan from London.

Cricket is a beautiful bat-and-ball game. And with an estimated 2.5 billion fans worldwide, it is the second-most popular sport in the world behind soccer. In England, Cricket has a mass number of followers, around 65% of the population. Today we will talk to Callum Bacon, a young English gentleman to know more about the sport.

In our previous show, we explored some beautiful cultural traditions and culture of Ireland known across the world. In today’s Culture Rendezvous, our guest MH, a former student of Cork Institute of Technology in Cork City, Ireland, is back to share with us more about another Irish cultural highlight landmark - Hurling.

Every year, during Spring, the South West England Gloucester region hosts the annual cheese-rolling event where people from far and wide travel to watch competitors launch themselves down a hill in pursuit of a round of cheese. This is a historical event that originated hundreds of years ago and reflexes an indispensable part of England’s culture. Today, we will talk to Callum Bacon, an English young man who is working in Hanoi, to know more about the festival.

Though best known as a poet, Rabindranath Tagore was a man of many talents. The first Indian to win a Nobel Prize for literature, he wrote and composed a wide array of songs, including India’s national anthem. He was a pedagogue who established a university that challenged the conventional form of education, and also a painter, whose style played an important role in modernising Bengali art. Dr. G.B. Harisha, Director of the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre will tell us more about Tagore, his global impact, as well as his trip to Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) back in 1929.

The Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, also known as the Tweede Nuwe Jaar, or Second New Year, is a colorful parade in Cape Town, South Africa. It is as rich in history as in culture. Today we will talk to Ray Smit, a South African who is living in Hanoi to know more about the festival.

The traditions and culture of Ireland are known across the world and whilst millions celebrate and enjoy Irish traditions such as the Saint Patrick’s Day, Pub Culture, and Sports, many are not aware of their origins. In today’s Culture Rendezvous, we will talk with Van Minh Hien, a former student of Cork Institute of Technology in Cork City, Ireland, who will share her experiences in Cork City, which was the European Capital of Culture for 2005, and was included in the Lonely Planet's top 10 "Best in Travel 2010". Hien will also tell us about the Irish pub culture.

Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, is well-known for its numerous tribes and ethnic groups. Yoruba people, one of Nigeria’s biggest ethnic community, have developed a variety of different handicraft products including pottery, weaving, beadwork, metalwork, and mask making. Today we will talk to Laykay Adepoju, a Nigerian who is working in Hanoi, to know more about Yoruba’s traditional attire.

A baby shower is a way to celebrate the expected or delivered birth of a child by presenting gifts to the mother at a party. The term shower is often assumed to mean that the expectant mother is "showered" with gifts. The baby shower is typically arranged and hosted by a close friend rather than a member of the family. In the United States, baby shower is a common tradition. Marry Janny from the US, who has thrown many baby shower parties for her friends talks about planning a baby shower party.

Celebrating your birthday is a big thing. For every decade and milestone, you have to celebrate it with all of your family and friends. Every birthday is a highlight in your life but your 18th birthday is the most important one. The celebration may vary between countries. Today, we’ll talk to Josi, a 21-year-old German student, to find out how Germans mark their 18th birthday.

How much should I tip? Is 15% a standard rate that applies across the board? Do residents of different countries view tipping differently? What about those coin jars placed near cash registers? Lauren Brown from the US, who has been working in restaurants for years, will talk about tipping in the US.

In many cultures all over the world, wedding ceremonies go hand in hand with special traditions and superstitions. Today we’ll talk to Josephine Struckmeier, a German student working in Hanoi to find out some interesting customs in a German wedding.

Germany is a beer country, and that’s a fact. Thousands of brands of German beer have been created using just 4 ingredients: hops, barley, yeast, and water. That number continues to grow and no other European country produces more beer than Germany. Let’s talk to Josi, a German student, to find out more about German beer culture and how to drink like a German.

Although ice hockey is not the Finnish national sport, it is by far the most popular sport when measured by attendances and by national television coverage. Despite the country’s tiny population, the Finns punch far above their weight on the international scene, and their national men’ team are one of the best. Today we will talk to Amir Degheidy, a Finnish who is enjoying his vacation in Vietnam to know more about ice hockey.

Hanoi’s rich history, culture, and architecture have inspired a great number of Vietnamese and foreign artists. Marcus Lacey, a professional photographer from England is one. He has lived and took photographs of England, New Zealand, Africa, Holland, and many other countries. He has stayed in Hanoi for 2 years and recently published a photo book capturing the beauty of Hanoi’s people and landscapes. Let’s find out about why Marcus loves Hanoi so much on today’s “Culture Rendezvous”.

Iyengar is the most famous and celebrated modern yogi, esteemed both in India and around the world. He is a realized master of yoga theory and practice. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Iyengar’s birthday, VOV interviewed Dr. G.B. Harisha, Director of the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center, about Iyengar’s contributions to bringing Indian yoga to the world.

Unquestionably that Finland has one of the best education systems in the world. According to a Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) study, Finnish school children are among the best in group problem-solving. In today’s Culture Rendezvous, we will hear the story of Amir Degheidy, a Finnish construction engineer who is visiting Vietnam, to learn more about Finland’s education system.

For millions of people around the globe, there’s nothing better than French cuisine. In France, eating is seen as a pleasure rather than simply fueling the body to get through the day. Let’s talk to JulienTrambouze, a French journalist and traveler who is visiting Vietnam, to find out more about French food and French eating habits.

Skateboarding is a well-known action sport that originated in America. It’s also a recreational activity, a performance art, and a mode of transportation. But you might not know about longboarding, a more recent trend in the US. Today we’ll talk to Andrew, a US longboarder, to find out what longboarding is and how it differs from skateboarding.

Sauna, a small room used as a hot-air or steam bath for cleaning and refreshing the body, is now popular all over the world. Have you ever thought that sauna is a Finnish word and it originates from Finland? Many Finns may think you can not grasp Finland or its culture without bathing in a sauna. Today we will talk to Amir Degheidy, a Finnish builder who is visiting Vietnam for a vacation, to know more about this kind of bath.

Have you done any community service? Do you think that community service should be compulsory especially for students? Whether you agree or disagree, let’s listen to Preston Simmons, an English teacher from West Virginia talking about Community service in the US.

Taking afternoon tea is a quintessential British pastime and has been part of the UK’s culture for centuries. Scones with lashings of jam and butter, cucumber sandwiches, and lots of tea is truly heaven for a Brit. In this week’s “Culture Rendezvous”, we’ll talk to Abby Chitty, a UK student, about why the British love afternoon tea, the best places to enjoy it, and useful tips on tea etiquette.

Obesity, a major health issue in the US, leads to numerous diseases. While many industrialized countries are in a similar situation, obesity rates in the US are the highest in the world. In this week’s “Culture Rendezvous”, we’ll talk to Andrew Diatroptoff of California about American fad diets and why Americans gain so much weight.

Belgium, which has more comic strip artists per square kilometer than anywhere else in the world, is the birthplace of the famous comic book series “The Smurfs” and “The Adventures of Tintin”. This year Belgium is celebrating the 60th birthday of the Smurfs. In this week’s edition of “Culture Rendezvous”, we’ll talk to Anke Van Lacker, Deputy Head of Mission at the Belgian Embassy in Vietnam, to find out more about the famous blue-skinned creatures.

Like many other European countries, Belgium is famous for numerous festivals that take place all year round, some of which are the biggest in the world. Aside from Majorette, stilt walking is one of popular activities in Belgian festivals. VOV interviewed Anke Van Lacker, Deputy Head of Mission at the Belgian Embassy in Vietnam, to find out more.

“A touch of Belgium” cultural event took place on Saturday afternoon at Ly Thai To Garden, Hanoi, to celebrate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Belgium and Vietnam. 11 members of the Brussels-based Majoretteketet performed some of their best parade routines around Hoan Kiem Lake. Today, VOV24/7’s Culture Rendezvous will talk to Anke Van Lancker, Deputy Head of Mission at the Belgian Embassy in Vietnam, to learn more about her country’s baton twirling performance.

If you found yourself completely lost in a Sydney bar yarn, looking like a stunned mullet when invited to a cuppa in the arvo, or simply, just wondering what on earth do my last 24 words meant, it’s time to fill up your vocabulary with Straya’s iconic slang culture. For foreign backpackers, sometimes they’re survival languages. Zachary Fitzpatrick will accompany us on VOV 24/7’s Cultural Rendesvous today to lead us through the dazing world of Australian English.

Sometimes people don’t fall in love with a country until they discover its fantastic culinary culture. If fish and chips are among the must-tries when visiting the British Isles, and American cuisine is defined by the worldwide success of KFC and MacDonald’s, then it is cheese and beer that brings the Netherlands closer to foreigners. Peter de Fretes is back with us on VOV24/7’s Cultural Rendezvous today to rustle up some uniquely Dutch cuisines.

Scotland is well-known for bagpipe, kilt, whitsky, golf, and the Loch Ness Monster. The legend of Loch Ness has inspired many film makers and is important to the region’s tourism industry. In this week’s Culture Rendezvous edition, Raymond McRobbie of Scotland will tell us some facts that you may not know about the Loch Ness mystery.

A school bus is used to transport students to and from school or school-related activities. Around the world, various configurations of buses are used; the most iconic examples are the yellow school buses seen in the United States. What else should we know about these bright and colorful American icons? Let’s talk to Joe Fitzsimmons, an English language teacher and photographer to learn more about this vehicle.

A sense of humour has always played an important role in human life. As the world developed, man’s sense of humour developed itself in different ways in different culture. Australia certainly has developed its own way of provoking smiles. Today we’ll talk to Taylor Harper, an Australian student about Australian humor.

"Trick or treat?", “Hello!”, “Anybody home?” Don’t be surprised if children knock at your door asking for candy. It’s Halloween. Halloween, celebrated on the night of October 31st, is most popular in the United States and Canada but is now celebrated in many other countries, including Vietnam. Joe Fitzsimmons, an English language teacher, photographer, and big fan of Halloween, is here with us today on our weekly Culture Rendezvous to talk about Halloween in the US.

In the US, working parents rely heavily on experienced nannies or babysitters for their children. With an in-home care giver, your child stays at home, in a comfortable, familiar environment, and enjoys one-on-one interaction and care. What else should we know about nannies and babysitters in the US? Let’s talk to Joe Fitzsimmons, an English language teacher and photographer who is experienced in babysitting his own niece and nephew when his brother and sister can’t find a nanny or babysitter.

Moving soon? If so, it’s time to ditch some of that dead weight. After all, the more stuff you have to move, the more your move is going to cost. And the more you have to pack, the longer the packing will take. A garage sale, consignment auction, or donation pile? Which is best? Here’s Greg Nelson, an American who has been living and working in Vietnam for 9 years, talking about what he did with all his stuff when he decided to move to Vietnam.

When we think about moving house, we picture the search for a new house or apartment, packing belongings, and moving furniture. But on today’s Culture Rendezvous, we will look at an unusual house-moving tradition in the Philippines. We’ll talk to Jovan Tacatani, who works at the Alfred Nobel School in Hanoi, Vietnam, to learn about Bayanihan and the great message it carries.

Ramadan - the ninth month of the Islamic calendar is considered as one of the most important annual event of Muslims all over the world. While fasting from dawn until sunset during the Ramadan month, Muslims refrain from consuming food, drinking liquids and smoking. They are also instructed to refrain from sinful behavior that may negate the reward of fasting, such as false speech and fighting except in self-defense. The month lasts 29–30 days based on the visual sightings of the crescent moon, according to numerous biographical accounts compiled in the hadiths. Fasting is obligatory for adult Muslims, except those who are suffering from an illness, traveling, elderly, pregnant, or breastfeeding. Today, we will have a talk with Mr. Andi Dirgahayu, Minister Counsellor of the Indonesian Embassy in Vietnam to explore more about the Ramadan month.

Food, as delectable as it is to some, can be unappetizing to others, depending on cultural differences and personal preference. In this week’s “Culture Rendezvous”, we’ll have a conversation with Jack Henton, an English teacher from the UK, about bizarre dishes in the UK and Vietnam.

Humor, comedy, and wit … and American satire. Study after study in the past decade has indicated that Americans under the age of 35 get their news primarily from satirical TV comedy shows. In this week’s edition of “Culture Rendezvous”, we’ll talk to American Scott Matt again to find out what American satire is all about.

If you have watched any American movies centered on college life, you probably have seen some crazy parties thrown by American students unsupervised by teachers or parents. Today, on VOV24/7’s Culture Rendezvous, we’ll talk to Scott Matt, an American living in Hanoi, about American college parties and drinking culture.