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Hanoi Ngõ Nooks
Hợp Tác Xã Thịt Xiên is more than just a bánh mì eatery, it’s a place to rekindle your childhood nostalgia and take in the ambiance of the street.
Film & TV
For 22-year-old filmmaker Nong Nhat Quang, growing up gay in Lao Cai Province, a conservative region of many ethnic groups, was tough. Being noticeably camp meant bullying and abuse were commonplace, as was the paranoia of being “outed.” He used Grindr to meet strangers or tourists 20 kilometers away in Sapa, but with high expectations from his parents, he kept his true identity secret to avoid rejection. The idea that he would go on to direct LGBTQ documentaries for an international audience was, at that time, impossible to conceive.
Hanoi Ngõ Nooks
Thanks to being born and bred in Hanoi, I definitely have a love-hate relationship with the city. That said, there are more “loves” than “hates” on my list, and street food in Hanoi plays a huge part in the former category. Moreover, as a food lover, I’ve been feasting in the capital since the moment I learned how to cycle around and find the finest vendors. One snack, in particular, remains one of my all-time-favorites: bánh gối (fried pillows).
Hanoi Ngõ Nooks
If you live in Vietnam, then you’ll already know how vital rice is here, and the role it plays in almost every meal we eat.
Hanoi Ngõ Nooks
If you’re a food lover, there is one dirt-cheap, aromatic Hanoi snack that you must try: bún đậu mắm tôm.
Culture
“Oh my god! You look beautiful! You belong on the runway, why aren’t you on the runway?” said Tamah Lake, the organizer of last year’s RuPaul’s Drag Race viewing party events in Hanoi. She came up to me during the show and said that to my face, which was completely outrageous. And oh boy, was I ready for that? Not in a million years.