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A dying Vietnamese tradition, one marked with ochre, misogyny and a tragic love story. We talk about how the Vietnamese came use betel leaf and how it may have been a key to the Vietnamese's 3 victories over the Mongols.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.