This collection of photos of Vietnam in 1992 was taken by famed French photographer Raymond Depardon.

https://saigoneer.com/old-saigon/old-saigon-categories/11188-photos-raymond-depardon-s-1992-vietnam-the-many-faces-of-hanoi

Here are all the words & phrases you need to talk about birthdays in Vietnamese:

Birthday:  Sinh nhật

Today is my birthday: Hôm nay là sinh nhật của tôi

Happy birthday:  chúc mừng sinh nhật

Born: sinh ra

Where were you born? Bạn sinh ra ở đâu

I was born in Australia: tôi sinh ra ở Úc

When is your birthday?  Bạn sinh ngày nào?

How old are you? : Bạn bao nhiêu tuổi?

I am thirty years old: Tôi ba mươi tuổi

We think you’ll fall in love with these illustrations of Hanoi bicycles & motorbikes by Eisen Bernard Bernardo

With the Mid-Autumn festival coming up fast, here’s the top 4 gifts you should never give a Vietnamese person:

1. Incense – by giving a Vietnamese person some incense sticks, it’s a sign that you want them to die!
2. Knife – you only gift a person with a knife if you want them to know you think they’re 100% evil – it’s a massive insult.
3. Scissors – same as above.
4. Hoa huệ  – this lily is used for funerals, so never give your Vietnamese friends a bunch of these.

So what should you give your Vietnamese friends during the Mid-Autumn Festival? Moon cakes – pure and simple. No need to supplement the gift with flowers or wine – just moon cakes is the norm.

Trời mưa:  It’s raining

Trời gió: It’s windy

Hôm nay trời ấm: It’s warm today

Hôm nay trời lanh: It’s cold today

Mùa xuân: spring

Mùa hẹ: summer

Mùa thu: autumn/fall

Mùa đông: winter

Mùa hẹ rất là nắng: It’s really sunny during summer

Tôi thích ở trong nhà vào mùa đông: During winter, I like to stay at home

Thỉnh thoảng Hà Nôi có bốn mùa trong một ngày: Sometimes Hanoi has 4 seasons in one day

Hôm nay thời tiết thế nào? :What’s the weather like today?

This Sunday 20th August, come visit the Tay Ho Artisan Bites Food Market  at Emporium, featuring locally-made, organic (or close to organic) products!

The market’s mission is to provide a platform to support existing, up-and-coming businesses as they sell their homemade, or handmade foods within the local community.

It’s all all about community and we want to invite you to sample new products, give direct feedback and purchase your favorite artisan bites to enjoy at home.

Join us for the inaugural market on August 20th from 9am to 3pm in front of the Emporium at 172 Xuan Dieu Street.