‘Tis the season of hosting, visiting and making merry — with the COVID caveat that we keep our social groupings small. With that in mind, I thought it would be interesting to learn more about customs and etiquette in Vietnam. So if your small holiday gathering includes someone who is from Vietnam, or if you are planning a trip to this beautiful nation (COVID willing) in the future, here are a few…

As an alumna of the University of Alberta, one of my most valued undergraduate experiences was my time as a resident at Lister Hall [🎵 3 Henday, 3 Henday, 3 Hendaaaaaaay 🎶]. Amongst the many benefits of living in a large communal environment, I was blessed with the greatest floor mates in history. These folks are valued friends to this day, and they taught this introverted, pseudo-rural bumpkin much about life outside…

Today we shine the spotlight on authors of Vietnamese ancestry. In the aftermath of the Vietnam War (also known as the American War) and the fall of Saigon in 1975 there was a great exodus and many refugees eventually found their way to Canada. By 1982 more than 120,000 had been resettled in Canada (Canadian Red Cross) – considered our largest humanitarian undertaking to that point.  Many of these families made their…

This December we’re turning our attention towards the Southeast Asian country of Vietnam and some of the wonderful aspects of Vietnamese culture. Vietnam and China have been entwined throughout their histories due to the Chinese Empire’s expansion into Southeast Asia in 3rd Century BC. As a result, Vietnamese culture demonstrates a Chinese influence. Despite this, and the influence of 19th and early 20th century French colonial powers, Vietnam retains a distinctive flavour.…