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Send us Fan Mail We learn about the tragic romance of one the Chinese's greatest heroes and how the Vietnamese put their own spin on the festival that celebrates the coming of Mid-Autumn.

Send us Fan Mail Imagine a world where streaming companies are forced to give a skip button after 5 seconds, regardless of ad length. In Vietnam, they don't have to imagine, they live it. No one wants ads to interrupt a karaoke session.

Send us Fan Mail Vietnam is only the latest and youngest name of the land of the southern Viets. The nation has been called many things, but we only focus on what Viets and the Chinese called the state across the ages.  We also look into the history, the significance and the renewal of Vietnamese tattoos.

Send us Fan Mail This is no anime, this is Việt history. A royal son, begotten from a palace maid, passed over by his father for the throne (along with his cross dressing older brother, confusingly named Lê Tuân), Lê Tuấn wrested what he believed was rightfully his, after his younger brother died, 6 months into his rule. Then began a reign of terror of years, with revenge killings, surveillance and imprisonment of relatives, leading to the Ming Ambassadors naming him the Demon King. Yet, one reaps what one sows, and despite him and his followers savagely fighting to hold on against his one princely brother who escaped his clutches, his star fell, his crown taken and his brother took his place. Lê Tuấn's story does have an explosive ending.

Send us Fan Mail Why are there so many red bean desserts? Why are western desserts better?  Dennis and Jon explore what should be a culinary treasure trove and find mostly sadness in Eastern desserts.

Send us Fan Mail In the 850s CE, An Nam (Vietnam's provincial name under the Tang Dynasty) came under attack by the Nanzhao kingdom, located in modern day southwestern China. Failures by successive military governors led to the appointment of Gao Pian, a proven general and Taoist. Using his skills and support from his loyal officers, Gao Pian drove out the Nanzhao invaders, retaining An Nam for the Tang. Some local Vietnamese, initially siding with the invaders to overthrow the Tang, quickly changed their minds when the Nanzhao turned their blades on them. Gao Pian then enacted a number of major civil works, including using sorcery to blow open a safer, faster water passage way to China, which improved trade for Annam. Listen for more details of how chicken stirfry saved An Nam and as Jon attempts to soft-pedal Gao Pian's later cult behaviour and war crimes. This is a pre-cursor to the time period where the Vietnamese began to regain their autonomy under local native jiedushi (military governors) and eventually full autonomy under the victor of the first Battle of Bạch Dằng, Ngô Quyền.

Send us Fan Mail A unique art, a unifying cultural experience that both North and South Vietnam can agree to, water puppetry was born in the north in the flooded rice fields. Come with us as we delve into the chest deep waters these shows take place in and learn about what Dennis calls Vietnam's greatest cultural achievement.

Send us Fan Mail Why are Viets always late? Why are there so many red bean desserts? Why are western desserts better?  Dennis and Jon explore what should be a culinary treasure trove and find mostly sadness in Eastern desserts.

Send us Fan Mail Big Head and Dennis carry on their journey to healthiness (kind of?) and down the coastline of Vietnam. I will also never run out of excuses - for being unhealthy and not telling Big Head and Dennis about Vietnamese stuff.

Send us Fan Mail Dennis definitely found a better way of saying Fire Horse. Welcome to Outside Viet and our annual tradition of breaking in the Lunar (Chinese) New Year. We check in folks in the past, we talk random Viet related things in the present and Jon fails to make any predictions about the future.

Send us Fan Mail This is not a paid promotion - Dennis discovered this challenge and signed himself and Big Head for it. Be aware, there is a cost to this challenge ($39 or $70 USD and you get merch with free shipping). Dennis and Big Head have signed up for the Vietnam Coast Virtual Challenge (website: https://www.theconqueror.events/vietnamcoast/). Per the website, it is a an interesting fitness challenge, matching your workout (run/walk or cycle) and linking it to features along the Vietnamese coast. This includes discussions of Local Spots, National Sites, UNESCO sites, historical and cultural information.  This is the first of their updates on this journey across 2026. I am still looking to see if I am up for this. PS: Jon is a sphere and this is the best episode yet. An episode on Hanoi is coming.

Send us Fan Mail This is a rough methodology Vietnamese use to figure which pronouns to use to speak with one another. This does not include work place, LGTBQ+, imperial era or any other scenarios beyond contemporary ones. A summary of considerations are: 1. Which part of Vietnam everyone is from (North vs. South). 2. Are you speaking with family or with a stranger. 3. For families, are you talking about your mother or father's family. 4. When speaking about someone, they become a reference point to decide which set of pronouns to use. 5. Who you are addressing. Realistically, the best solution for Vietnamese who are confused (especially overseas Viets who were not suffused in Viet culture), is to ask an older family member for clarity. Most people will politely correct you, only a few will get mad (they're big jerks). Or follow Dennis' recommendations. PS: Nice little guide for immediate family - https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ4TDkCie5p/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Send us Fan Mail What makes bar food (foods to have while drinking) great? Which country has the best? Canada/US, the UK, Vietnam, China? Why do half of Vietnamese bar foods seem like they were made up by drunks?  Note: we didn't include the European ones like tapas or German varietals, because we never had them before. We try to stay factual. Whatever your favourite foods that go with drinks are, we hope you enjoy them this holiday season. Stay safe, stay warm and stay inebriated. Merry Christmas and Happy (western) New Year!

Send us Fan Mail Vinfast is Vietnam's only current domestic car manufacturer and part of the larger Vingroup of companies. Dennis and I go for a spin and cruise through the available information about the company.

Send us Fan Mail Stories of the Forest People (người rùng) were abound during the Vietnam (or American, depending on your perspective) War. Stories about these tall, powerful and hairy people stretched back to French colonial times. We hope Rolando Bautista found what he was looking for.