The performance felt inauthentic. The dancers moved in mesmerising synchronicity beneath psychedelic red and green spotlights while the audience watched with phones raised. The dancers wore white traditional clothes and headdresses. The over-produced pre-recorded music clipped occasionally as it blared from the speakers. It was a well-polished cultural show. I felt that something was off… Read more

The drill rig was put-putting in a field of sweet potatoes when Kevin picked up a cylinder of rock and handed it to me. It was surprisingly light, full of little air bubbles from the volcanic rock. A hired team were drilling for water deep below the surface. This July, I had wanted to escape… Read more

Exploring the Ancient People and Geography of Tây Nguyên Six years ago this month, I first arrived in Pleiku during the summer break, fell in love with the city and quickly moved there. Now that I’ve moved away, I have summer holidays again, giving me an excuse to return. Having taught near Chu Đăng Ya,… Read more

Recently while surfing the web, I came across an ad for the “Saigon Model Show” and so I picked up my DSLR and went along. It was a great few hours looking at scale models made by locals and one guy from New Zealand. Mostly there were model kits of the Vietnam war which rekindled… Read more

You haven’t seen a bad school run until you’ve seen it in Tân Phú, Ho Chi Minh City. Each morning at seven the alleys clog with motorbikes pressing through like sheep herded through a narrow lane. I plan my commute to work to be very early to avoid this rush. Then I wait for school… Read more