Library

The Works

Everything, newest first.

Search the archive

Việt Nam News Champions again, again? The FIFA ASEAN Cup for confused 'expats' It's almost as though I dreamt watching Thailand's keeper buffering as the ball bounced in off his heel.

Việt Nam News The gondolas of Hưng Yên A lion atop a column, or god forbid a gondola, is a corporate mood-board concept to draw in the nouveau riche.

Việt Nam News A Korean night out I will actually remember Hotpot, army stew and rediscovering a long lost weekend in South Korea at Tây Hồ’s newest Korean opening.

Việt Nam News Naturalised, or parachuted? The trouble with calling it a shortcut is that it is a remarkably slow one.

Việt Nam News First they came for the tourists It's absolutely fine to be a tourist, just don't be a bad one.

Việt Nam News The Chacha Cure: finding phở in Tbilisi Did you also know that Georgia's national spirit, chacha, is an experiment in inebriation by way of sadomasochism?

Việt Nam News Skip the plastic: the next generation of Việt Nam’s hotspots Somewhere, surely, there is a Vietnamese Lentas: remote, unbothered, still itself.

Việt Nam News Two homes, and the miles between them Keep your accent, if you’re lucky enough to have one. It’s a thread back to where you started, and a reason for a stranger to ask where that is.

Việt Nam News A long way from Lisbon: welcome to Casinha The famous pork roll arrived warm, heavy on the garlic, soaked in something that had likely been simmering all afternoon. I ate it in four bites and asked for another.

Việt Nam News A road worth not building: when migrant misconduct becomes clickbait As someone from a country where the conduct of migrants has been heavily weaponised by the media, I am concerned.

Việt Nam News A birthday worth celebrating I did not expect to find it again here, in the pages of a national, printed daily newspaper. But I did.

Việt Nam News Is the age of the agent ending? We’ve all been there, haven’t we? Confused and bemused in equal measure at how seemingly complex the administrative side of life here can be.

Việt Nam News Une bonne adresse: it’s Les Oubliés Stepping outside briefly to take a snap of the quaint little alley in which Les Oubliés resides, a small boy cycled past and greeted me with an enthusiastic bonjour.

Việt Nam News Does clearing Hà Nội’s pavements change the soul of the city? The pavement, long the ungoverned republic of Vietnamese street life, is being brought to heel.

Việt Nam News A change of scenery, part one: J-Town You will be greeted in Japanese, and for a couple of hours you could plausibly be adrift in a Tokyo backstreet.

Việt Nam News nomnom by name, nomnom by nature On a light spring evening, the dining room glows, and the chatter has that contented hum of people who have found a place that fits them.

Việt Nam News Making peace with progress I wonder about my future here, reading the complaints online, breathing thick air, lamenting my landlord.

Việt Nam News A swing and a hit: it’s Miss Hà Nội From the design of the space to the names of the dishes, from the music to the storytelling elements, it’s layered. It’s intentional.

Việt Nam News Where are all the fans? I don’t expect the intensity of the British game or the numbers we see in Germany, but surely we can expect more than the largely muted atmosphere of the V.League.

Việt Nam News The arrogance of the ‘expat’ An Englishman, an Irishman and a Scotsman are chatting at the bar. Unfortunately, that’s where the joke ends.

Việt Nam News Horsing around in 2026 If you’re hoping for a celestial guarantee that everything will suddenly click into place, I’m sorry to report the Horse is not a miracle worker.

Việt Nam News Go faster or get out of the way Why are you chuntering along the road ahead of me, blocking my path as we get overtaken by cyclists?

Việt Nam News Motorbike madness, registration rage If the person on your blue card is alive and traceable, they can expect fines in the post for your indiscretions.

Việt Nam News Armo-House: bread, barbecue, belonging It’s a little slice of Armenia, Hà Nội’s first, and only Armenian restaurant.

Việt Nam News Hanoi wrapped: your 2025 in the capital You said xin chào with verve and shouted em ơi with conviction.

Việt Nam News Are these Hà Nội’s best spicy noodles? Naturally this brought me to thinking, where are all the amazing spicy Chinese-style noodles in Hà Nội?

Việt Nam News Festive perspective: Christmas in Việt Nam Christmas in Việt Nam, far from home, has meant different things at different times since I moved here.

Việt Nam News Festive festival frenzy: Hà Nội's December 25 They provide opportunities to enrich ourselves culturally and act as the magnet that draws scattered friend groups together.

Việt Nam News Food meets friendship at Mediterraneo It is a laid-back atmosphere and guests mingle and make polite introductions. There is laughter and a sense of anticipation only impending antipasti can provide.

Việt Nam News Teaching in Việt Nam: an open letter I could never have known, when I moved here with the intention to teach English for a year or two, that I could fall so deeply and spectacularly in love with a place that it would change the course of my life.

Việt Nam News Missing the big gigs I know neither HCM City nor Hà Nội will be on the next Oasis tour, and I'm not expecting the Arctic Monkeys to jet in anytime soon.

VnExpress Saigon cocktail festival is more than just mixing booze up I am in a ballroom and I have a small plastic cup of ramen noodles in one hand and a larger one filled with kimchi tomato juice infused with gochujang in the other.

Drinks International Rich McDonough: from horoscopes to highballs Charting the journey of The Mood Therapist from ad man to Asia's 50 Best Bars. AF Reeves meets Rich McDonough, the man behind Workshop14.

Việt Nam News West African comfort reaches Hà Nội At Makeni, the broth, deep and very peppery, sends warmth through you with each mouthful. This will get us through the impending northern winter.

Việt Nam News Two women's days, one message For anyone who has spent more than a hot minute in this country, it is easy to see why there would be multiple days to celebrate its women.

Việt Nam News United in the floods Wading uncles offering make-shift water-taxis. Complete strangers pushing bikes together. Machete-wielding party men clearing fallen trees. Hà Nội unites.

Việt Nam News Join The Union? Don't mind if I do It's a homage to British food, a knowing scoff towards the TikTok generation that would file away British food as but a beige meme.

Việt Nam News Take a load off, Alex Put down your work, your boss will understand. And if they don't, send them this article and blame it on me. Cheers.

Việt Nam News Saigon Taco Festival 2025 in review Ahead of my arrival, the event card promised some of the country's best vendors for a one-day contest of mole, masa, and bragging rights.

Việt Nam News Flying high or laying low? Việt Nam, in contrast, has somewhat converted me, showing off a very different kind of patriotism.

Việt Nam News Moving out? A not-so-serious guide to renting in Hà Nội Make nice with your landlord. You'll need them when your neighbour invests in a cockerel, and that bloke downstairs with the karaoke obsession isn't going to listen to you.

Việt Nam News Making friends with salad: a night at Ưu Đàm Chay So, if the aim here is to showcase what can be achieved with high-quality ingredients and no meat, then I, for one, am convinced.

Việt Nam News Critique or complaint? Should migrants have a voice? Personally, rather than sitting on the fence, I'm going to say yes, migrants do have the right to share their grievances.

Việt Nam News Do we really have to blame the bikes? Admittedly, I'm biased. I ride. I collect. My love for these machines and the freedom they've given me knows no bounds.

Việt Nam News Experiencing Phở Chào's renowned 'Phở-Tine' Knowing how much phở means here, who is out there straddling the line between bravery and madness with the nation's most beloved dish?

Việt Nam News The Tây Hồ times are a-changin' The area as you currently know it will cease to exist, and many of the 'expat' favourites will go along with it.

Việt Nam News No rhyme or recourse The more disillusioned the person at home, the more critical they seem to become of anyone who's packed up and left.

Việt Nam News Coraggio: big pasta in Little Tokyo This is homely, affordable Japanese-style Italian food. Think Japanese interpretations of Italian fare, mozzarella meets mentaiko.

Việt Nam News Skip the franchise, go local I wanted to live in a place Anthony Bourdain had shown me on screen, where an entrepreneurial class was thriving.

Việt Nam News Trial by timeline Cue Hà Nội's online kangaroo court convening to dish out punishment. Boycott required; no trial necessary.

Việt Nam News Some broken things don't need fixing: a 'cơm tấm' revelation This isn't a restaurant that whispers. It sizzles, it smokes, it yells, you can hear it down the street, and you'd better listen.

Việt Nam News In defence of the 'expat': not everyone's a freeloader We become Schrödinger's migrants: simultaneously accused of appropriating and disrupting culture, somehow neocolonial and yet aimless.

Việt Nam News Cruising from chaos: the lost art of the road trip I cannot overstate how much of an affordable therapy it is to travel this country by motorcycle.

Việt Nam News Hà Nội's Holi Fest: colour in the capital Dancing is strongly encouraged and hard to resist with a carefully curated soundtrack of Bollywood beats.

Việt Nam News Saigon Sandwich Wars I am not ashamed to admit that I have crossed borders in pursuit of sandwiches.

Việt Nam News Rugby revolution? Starting here with Hanoi 10s A staple of sporting life back home, rugby is one of the truly global sports that hasn't quite gained traction here, just yet.

Việt Nam News Let's hear it: a chat with Noise Hanoi To catch myself, and hopefully a few of our readers up, I got in touch with Oisin, a founding member of Noise Hanoi.

Việt Nam News New Year, new Été: bistro in the heart of Ba Đình This isn't an attempt to reinvent the wheel or an avant-garde pitch, but rather a reinvigoration of a neighbourhood classic with an atmosphere to match.

Việt Nam News Vapes, vehicles and visas: new year, new rules The snake, embodying transformation and strategic decision making should hopefully bring with it a year of good governance.

Việt Nam News From expat to icon: Nguyễn Xuân Son Raffaelson as he was previously known, has now transcended us mere mortals, entering into a truly exclusive group of people deemed worthy of full Vietnamese citizenship.

Việt Nam News Winter is here: a word with Hà Nội's Weatherdude I'm no meteorologist, so I thought I'd seek out an expert opinion for our readers in the musings of the man himself, 'Hà Nội's Weatherdude'.

Việt Nam News Yuletide on the Red River: Hà Nội embraces Christmas Driven by the fondness that absence grows from in the 'expat' community, we have our own festivities and, dare I say, traditions to look forward to.

Việt Nam News 'A Taste of Lanka': The Bottle Shop's backyard secret This collaboration between The Bottle Shop and Chef Kumar in bringing his beloved food to Hà Nội is a delight.

Việt Nam News An expat's guide to wedding season For the uninitiated or freshly landed 'expats' who've yet to receive their baptism by firewater, here's a primer on the choreographed chaos you've been witnessing.

Việt Nam News The house that cider built: five years of Hanoi Cider House This is the house that cider built and a place where the only thing coming home to roost is flavour.

Việt Nam News Neighbourhood beats: Hà Nội's block parties These block parties are more than just social events; they are the pulsating heart of community spirit, challenging the norms of competitive enterprise.

Việt Nam News Spilling the Boston tea: yesterday's result on a plastic stool 'Trà đá vỉa hè' (sidewalk iced tea) is a culture all of itself, existing not merely for its thirst-quenching qualities but as a social lubricant.

Việt Nam News Don't look back in hunger: Burger Fest 2024 Put your burger where your mouth is? Sliders at dawn? For our sins we got the latest edition of the Hà Nội Events team's contributions to the culinary calendar.

Việt Nam News Reclaiming breakfast: noodles at dawn Bánh Cuốn is a morning revelation, Bún Chả asserts its dominance before 10am, and the best Phở spots run dry by nine.

Việt Nam News Pride and patriotism: the 'expat' view Patriotism is not about saying my country is better than yours, it's about saying "I love my country" and when your country is Vietnam, there's a lot to love.

Việt Nam News On the Bourdain trail: highlighting Huế The weekend belonged to me and for the weekend, my tastebuds belonged to Huế.

Việt Nam News A case for two wheels Venturing beyond the city on my bike has deepened my connection with Việt Nam. From the winding mountain paths in the north to the sun-kissed southern coasts.

Việt Nam News As the Red River rises, so will Hà Nội The worst of the weather can bring out the best in the people. Every cloud, as they say.

Việt Nam News Flooded streets and viral feats The virality of content here surpasses anything I've experienced elsewhere. The grapevine is endless, the rumour mill perpetually churning.

Việt Nam News School's in: the kids are back again Students are returning for a new academic year and between 6.30am and 8.00am, almost every urban journey will have a few hundred extra smaller humans that need to get somewhere.

Việt Nam News Nén: where storytelling meets the plate Keeping with the narrative theme, each course is introduced by chapter, taking the diner on whichever journey Chef Summer and co wish to charter.

Việt Nam News Hanoi Histories: whatever happened to The Durian? There's only so many times we can talk about the traffic, the weather or Anthony Bourdain.

Việt Nam News Hanoi Hotspots: beyond the backpackers The world is changing and while this may sound like a big statement to kick off such a short article, give me a chance to explain myself.

Việt Nam News All Mexican, no stand-off Tacos at dawn. There's an abundance of great Mexican food available in Hà Nội, with no shots fired, unless you count the mezcal.

Việt Nam News I love football. Thankfully, so does Việt Nam So how is the experience of being a football fanatic in Việt Nam, through the eyes of a migrant? To sum it up in one word; accessible.

Việt Nam News Won't somebody please think of the buffets Consider it a civic duty to keep your local spots in business or be doomed to a future of dystopian food-halls and shiny woks clean of char in permanency.

Việt Nam News NGON NGON: London's No.1 Vietnamese restaurant? Ngon Ngon is worth a visit. It offers an interesting perspective on Vietnamese cuisine adapted for the palates of likely clientele.

Việt Nam News The age of the influencer The things they share often come from a place of passion, something far more noble and honest than gatekeeping or taking smug pleasure from being 'in the know'.

Việt Nam News Apocalypse, now? No, it's just summer A combination that complements about as well as a mosquito-filled squat toilet and the dawning realisation that you forgot to check for toilet paper.

Việt Nam News Welcome to Hà Nội: an 'expat' starter pack The sudden affordability of smashed avocado on toast without the side of working-class guilt has been a little too tempting recently.

Việt Nam News Culture of convenience Observe the contrast of working solitude and youthful companionship on display together as two different chapters of life in the city.

Việt Nam News Hà Nội: tradition and the age of AI Hà Nội, in its essence, is a testament to tradition's resilience in the face of relentless modernisation. It's a city where old ways aren't merely preserved; they're celebrated.

Việt Nam News Parting with Pyongyang North Korean restaurants were a visceral simulator for territory that the vast majority of world foodies will never chart.

Việt Nam News All quiet on the eastern front This is no endorsement of anything, only an observation on the lack of division that can spill down from the sweat glands of government and into the pores of the masses.

Việt Nam News The only Tây in the village Convenience, though, is such a mighty force in our modern existence, I can't help but wonder if it stifles such love affairs as the one I have with Hà Nội.

Việt Nam News War of the worlds: thoughts from home Aside from the hearth of the local pub or the embrace of family, there's only one winner here and I can't wait to be back next week.

Việt Nam News Sampling Sa Đéc: my local dish of the year For over three decades, this family-owned gem has been serving up the city's distinctive flavours, offering a taste of the Mekong Delta in the heart of southern Việt Nam.

Việt Nam News Culture clash: adopted Hanoian faces the homeland I've become more Hanoian than British, and the subtle nuances of daily life here that once seemed at best charming, are now intricately woven into the fabric of my existence.

Việt Nam News Goodtime Burger: the name says it all Good customer testimonies, and I'm intrigued. A flurry of messages and a short wait later, I'm tucking in, and I'm hooked.

Việt Nam News Grab it while you can There's even a 'Grab Translations' Facebook group dedicated to our 'heroes in green' which I implore anybody to spend an hour reading through.

Việt Nam News Traversing Tây Hồ: Little Thai goes big There is much peace and satisfaction to be found when a little Thai wisdom meets a big appetite.

Việt Nam News Two wheels, two choices Good governance has improved a number of situations and I have no doubt that in time, this is an area which will be addressed.

Việt Nam News Cross the bridge: Italy meets France at Quinza An emergent and notably French culinary movement is afoot, with the banks of the Red River proving fertile ground for such scenic ventures.

Việt Nam News Suits you sir: a tailor made solution You invest in the artisanal talent and hard work of local people, you avoid the ethical dilemmas associated with fast fashion and you look good doing so.

Việt Nam News Fad or forever? Trend or timeless? The innate human balance of purism and ingenuity ensures the age of choice continues to grow while our holiest methods are retained.

Việt Nam News Mỳ Bò Đài Loan: a taste of Taiwan near the heart of Hà Nội The star of the show here is, of course, the broth. Dark as the night, it's a rich, almost black potion that oozes character and depth with a captivating sweetness and slight kick.

Việt Nam News Eat, eat, drink, drink: exploring ÂnÂn Vietnam's best restaurant 2023. Asia's Top 50 Best Restaurants. A charismatic head chef. Michelin Series: 3/4.

Việt Nam News Sichuan in the city: welcome to flavour town The best kept secret in Hanoi: a succulent Chinese meal by the side of the road. Bring your appetite.

Việt Nam News GIA: fine dining through the seasons I took a visit to the fine dining selection from the Michelin Guide's first ever Vietnamese awardees, and it did not disappoint. Michelin Series: 2/4.

Việt Nam News Bourdain Day: remembering a true friend of Việt Nam On the 5th anniversary of 'Bourdain Day' I tried to express the thoughts and feelings of many, especially those sharing his connection to Vietnam.

Việt Nam News Consistency is key with Tầm Vị (and Michelin agrees) Tầm Vị was one of the first Vietnamese restaurants to ever be awarded a coveted Michelin star. I went along to find out why. Michelin Series: 1/4.

Việt Nam News Hà Nội's little slice of Tuscany Lots of truffle, serious beef steak. Old school Italian hospitality in a modern setting. Get down.

Việt Nam News Phở Thìn-ternational: a tale of two cities Phở Thìn Tokyo is an excellent homage to one of the best bowls of noodles on the wider continent. We're fortunate to have the original on our doorstep.

Việt Nam News A tale of two wizards: Messi v Modric To those of us with a love for it, football is more than just a game. It's the game; the beautiful game.

Việt Nam News Tears for heroes dressed in yellow Will Brazil bring an end to the nation's longest ever World Cup drought?

Việt Nam News The World Cup Warriors As Qatar 2022 kicks off, I make my predictions alongside a selection of other local pundits.

Việt Nam News Best wishes for a Lunar New Year My earliest contribution to Việt Nam News, recounting fond memories of Tết holiday.