The Joys of Yesteryear-Recollections of a 90's kid

This is a short post that is sort of a break from the Vietnam posts and a chance for me to talk about some other things that I'm sure other people growing up in the nineties can recall as well.

Floppy Discs-When I was in elementary school, we were instructed to treat floppy discs with care because they were fragile, could store so much information, and we would need to know how to use them to guarantee ourselves a successful job. Except, floppy discs hated me and refused to save any of my information. Their only redeeming quality was that they came in nice colors.

Dial up-This was the bane of my existence. I remember having to deliberate about whether to click on a website or not because more often than not it would take my computer fifteen minutes to load a single page. If the page included pictures then it would be thirty minutes and if that page contained graphics then I would go watch a tv show and then come back to my computer.

Furbies-I got mine near the end of the craze so it only set me back $5. At first, I was so thrilled to be getting such a wonderful toy for so cheap but my enthusiasm for my furry new toy died pretty quickly. My Furby would not wake up during the day but seemed to enjoy squawking out meaningless gibberish at two in the morning. I screamed at it to please be quiet. It screamed back I love you. As you can probably guess, when the batteries on my Furby ran out I didn't feel a great need to replace them.

I leave you with a completely unrelated picture of my favorite Vietnamese drink/dessert. Isn't it lovely?

*Furbies and Floppy Discs image from Wikipedia

True or False?-Cracking Vietnamese Stereotypes

***Update: I haven't posted in this blog for quite some time, but in the meantime I've noticed that the most popular post on here seems to be about Vietnamese stereotypes. This doesn't strike me as particularly odd since some of these stereotypes cover topics that people wold like to discuss with a Vietnamese person but don't because of the potential awkwardness of bringing said topic up. So to encourage more open discussion I've decided to answer a question a week that you might have on Vietnamese culture and life. So start asking away and please submit your questions by commenting on this post or the post on Vietnamese stereotypes. I hope to see everyone's questions!

I came across a list of Vietnamese stereotypes on a website the other day which made me laugh; some of them were scarily accurate while others were way off.

1. Your parents use the "Eagle" brand oil for every type of sickness.-I certainly don't use this for every sickness but it is very good for muscle aches. I know alot of older people rely on it alot so maybe my answer to this will change when I get older. This might not be related but I believe many Vietnamese people use Tiger balm and "Eagle" brand oil almost interchangeable so you technically Tiger balm could fit in this stereotype.
2.  At least one of your parents are in a self owned business like a laundromat, nail salon, or apartment building.-I've never heard of any Vietnamese person who owns a apartment building or a laundromat. Maybe this was true a couple decades ago? It is indeed true that many Vietnamese people work in the nail industry but Vietnamese people are also teachers, doctors, lawyers, and a variety of other professions.
3. There's Chinese in your family line somewhere.-Well, this one is true for me since I'm 1/16th Chinese. Unfortunately, I don't speak Chinese though since it would be cool to know another language.
4. You don't own an American car.-True, I honestly don't think Vietnamese people really put alot of weight on what country a car was manufactured in when they go to buy a car. I think it's more important how many mpg their car can get and if the car is safe.
5. You played the piano once in your life.-Semi false, I played the violin but you might as well substitute violin with piano in this stereotype and you'd get around the same thing.
6. You take 2 or more showers a day.-What is this? I don't even know what they are trying to say. I guess they could be suggesting we're clean freaks?
7. Your parents always boast about you to all the other Vietnamese parents, or your parents totally dogg on how stupid you are to other Vietnamese parents.-False, my parents don't do this. My parents are always trying to tell others about their garden and their love of gardening.
8. No matter what you are, people think your Chinese or Korean.-True, people have said I'm Chinese. Perhaps, because Vietnam is a somewhat small country it gets forgotten?
9. In your house, there's always multiple pictures of your family and you when you were small, side by side in every room.-Semi true, there are family photos in each room but I seriously think this would be true for any family.
10. You have the last name or are related to someone who has the last name: Nguyen.-Semi true, I know alot of people with the last name Nguyen.
11. Your parents always remind you to greet every older person in Vietnamese if they're Vietnamese.-Semi false, my parents don't remind me because it's pretty much ingrained in me by now. It's a part of Vietnamese culture to address older people with different titles and it's considered extremely rude if you don't do so.
12. Your parents hate pets except for harmless, CHEAP goldfishes.-False, We have two adorable dogs and we used to have two parakeets.
13. Your parents know how to make Pho.-True, it's a Vietnamese staple that almost every household has their own slightly different version of.
14. You put Soy Sauce or nuoc mam on every food.-True, nuoc mam is used on many Vietnamese dishes and gives them their distinctive flavor.
15. You know where all of the Vietnamese restaurants in town are.-True, it's really not that hard for my town though since there's only one here.
16. Your family own a copy of "Paris By Night".-True, I grew up on this show. I think every Vietnamese kid remembers growing up with these too.

I would like.....-7 Different Vietnamese Meals besides Pho to try

When people think of Vietnamese cuisine, they usually think of pho. While this soup is delicious, it's always good to broaden your horizans and try out these other yummy Vietnamese dishes that don't get mentioned quite as often. Unfortunately, ordering at a Vietnamese restaurant can sometimes be difficult with menus offering a bewildering array of choices with scanty descriptions of the food. Here's a short list of some Vietnamese foods that I hope will offer you some aid the next time you find yourself having to order a Vietnamese meal.

1.Banh Xeo (Vietnamese pancake)

This dish contains shrimp, pork, beansprouts, and sometimes other types of vegetables. It is eaten with a sauce that is made from fish sauce, water, and sugar.

2.Bun rieu

This dish which contains tomatoes, tofu, and a special broth made with crabs is very flavorful and may taste a little strange when you first try it but it very quickly grows on you and is delicious.

3.Gỏi Cuốn (Summer rolls)

This dish contains shrimp, Vietnamese sausage, chives, white noodles, and lettuce. It is very refreshing, healthy, and is eaten with a peanut based dipping sauce.


4.Bun bo Hue (Beef Noodle Soup)

This noodle dish is very flavorful and made by simmering beef, bay leaves, and a whole bunch of other aromatic spices for a long time.

5.Bánh bột lọc 

This dish consists of a chewy clear dumpling filled with shrimp. It is eaten with fish sauce.

6.Bánh cuốn 

This dish contains shrimp, pork, and sometimes mushrooms that are rolled into a long white flour packet. They are eaten with Vietnamese sausage and fish sauce.

7.Bánh chưng 

This dish is usually made for Vietnamese special occasions since it is a very time consuming process to prepare and cook them. They contain fatty pork so are a little bit of an indulgent treat.

 *All pictures except for 5 are from Wikipedia.

 

Some Ao Dai of mine

This is just mostly an images post of some of the ao dai I have. I haven't worn any of these except for the blue one. As you can tell even from this limited number of pictures, ao dai truly come in many different styles. Note that I have not photographed the pants that go along with the ao dai since they are usually a solid color and not highly patterned.

I want candy!-4 Vietnamese sweet treats

1.Chè (Hot and Cold Dessert Soup)

There are many varieties of chè and you can often find them sold in plastic cups at Vietnamese stores and restaurants. While there are many different types of chè, they all have a liquid base and are sweet. Some popular ingredients that are used to make chè include beans, jellies, and tropical fruits. Coconut milk is used to give chè added richness and makes the dessert extra creamy and delicious. 


List of popular chè
-chè đậu trắng
-chè xôi nước (I highly recommend this one)
-chè bắp
-chè bánh xếp
-chè thưng
-chè Thái

2.Sương Sa (Seaweed Gelatin)

Sương Sa is a popular dessert that is made from agar or seaweed. Food coloring is used to give it many vibrant hues and then it can be set in molds to create many lovely patterns and shapes. Fruit is also sometimes added to give more color and to add in more flavor. It is a good summertime treat since it is very refreshing and cooling. Compared to jello, it is firmer and usually less sweet.

3. Banh Da Lon (Sticky Chewy Cake)

Banh Da Lon is another dessert that can be easily found in many Vietnamese shops and restaurants. It is very easy to spot because of its distinctive green and yellow patterning. It is slightly sweet and very chewy.

4. Trái Cây (Fruit)

Fruit is always a popular after dinner item. Instead of the usual apples, oranges, and bananas, Vietnamese people consume a variety of tropical fruits. Some popular choices include mango, jack-fruit, dragon-fruit, papaya, and starfruit. You will probably be able to easily find mangoes in any supermarket and if you haven't tried them you should pick one up today. The others will be slightly harder to find although many Asian supermarkets stock canned jack-fruit.

*Pictures in 1. and 4. are from Wikipedia
** Info from Wikipedia used to write 1.

You eat what?!-3 Weird Vietnamese Foods

1. Hot Vit Lon (young fertilized duck egg)

This is also referred to as Balut in some countries. It's basically a fertilized duck egg which you crack open and eat ofter you cook it for a while. I remember seeing trays stacked full of these eggs the last time I went to a major Asian supermarket. Do these taste good? Well, if you can get past what is basically a fully formed baby duck (minus feathers) staring up at you then it tastes surprisingly decent. The egg contains alot of water which many people sip because it's supposed to be highly flavored. Just remember to throw away the waxy white eraser like lump you find at the bottom since it's pretty inedible.

2. sầu riêng (Durian)

Durian is a polarizing fruit; some people love it and can't get enough of it and some people can't stomach the stuff. Durian are notoriously difficult to grow and take alot of time to mature which contributes to the hefty price of the fruit. Another aspect that contributes to people's wariness of durian is the difficulty in opening it. Durian are covered with tough prickly spines which protect soft pale yellowish fruit. The fruit is extremely pungent and some have compared its smell to farts. For this reason, many Asian hotels ban durian on their premises. If you would like to try durian but do not want to deal with the complicated task of opening it, then you can probably find tubes of frozen durian at an Asian supermarket. The taste doesn't quite compare to fresh durian but it's an easier and less messy alternative.

3.Kho Qua (Bitter melo)

Meat stuffed bitter melon is a comfort food for many Vietnamese people but it's definitely an acquired taste. Even young Vietnamese people have trouble eating this dish but alot of elderly Vietnamese people enjoy this dish immensely. Bitter melon is as its name suggest incredibly bitter. It's bitterness is so overpowering that it manages to surround  your whole mouth. Reportedly, bitter melon has cooling properties which makes it very healthy for you.

*I have eaten everything on this list numerous times except number 3.

** All pictures are from Wikipedia except the bitter melon picture.

3 Artists to get you into Vpop

Even as an avid listener of Vietnamese music, I have to admit it’s a little hard to get into Vpop these days. It doesn’t really help that the music videos are sort of cheesy and the songs are liberally sprinkled with questionable Engrish rapping. There are some exceptions though and here are some artists that I believe will have you taking a closer listen to this often overlooked music genre.

1. My Tam

 

 

 

My Tam is the reigning "Queen of Vpop" and one of my favorite singers. She is a wonderful technically trained singer and a great dancer as well. She's been on the music scene for almost a decade and she's still as popular as ever. In fact, she is such a good singer that she was chosen to represent Vietnam in 2004 at Asia Song Fest. I can't even begin to start to list all of her music because she's released so much material and all while touring the country and having sold at concerts almost every night.

Recommended Listening

"Uoc gi" is really her breakout song that started her career.

Here is "Chuyen Nhu Chua Bat Dau", one of her newer songs.

3. Hồ Ngọc Hà

 

 
I am somewhat divided over Hồ Ngọc Hà. On one hand, she is a good performer, dancer, and her music is very accessible. On the other hand, she has a tolerable recorded voice which translates into her sounding not so good live. She was originally famous as a model having first made her mark by winning several beauty pageants. Some of you might know her already since in 2009 she represented Vietnam at Asia Song Festival.


Recommended Listening 
"Xin Hay Thu Tha" is probalby one of her most famous and popular songs. It was so popular that the year it came out literally everybody was performing as their audition song on Vietnam Idol.

"Lang Tham Mot Tinh Yeu" is a duet she sang with Thanh Bui, a contestant on an Australian singing contest.

"Hãy Nói Với Em" is one of her newer songs. I really like the storyline and the music video is just stunning.

4. Noo Phước Thịnh

 

Probably one of the younger singers on this list, he was initially discovered because of his good looks but he soon proved to be a talented singer as well. I like the emotion he brings to his songs plus his willingness to experiment with his music. He hasn't been on the music scene that long so there's not as much of his stuff to listen to but the stuff that is out there is really good.

Recommended Listening
Check out his ballad version of "Nỗi Nhớ Đầy Vơi".

If you have time listen to the duet version of this song where he's a featured singer with Hồ Ngọc Hà. 

Some other good songs include "Lặng Thầm" which contains a somewhat strange interpretive dance and a little too much eyeliner but is quite enjoyable if you can look past that and enjoy the music.

His musical direction has changed with the release of his second album with the songs having a smoother  and more elegant feel. I sort of miss the raw emotion in the old songs but in exchange the production budgets for the music videos seems to have gone up. The music video for "Lạc Bước Trong Đêm" definitely benefited from the extra money except for the fact that I still can't quite understand who thought that dying his hair blond was a good idea.