Like baguette and cheese, wine is a major part of both French culture and of the image France has around the world. When you picture a French person in your mind, it’s probable that they’re either holding a glass or bottle of wine or have one on the café table in front of them. But unlike cheese and bread, wine carries a certain cachet that can make it seem intimidating. In today’s show, we’ll have Antoine Brochet sharing with us everything about French wine.  Photo: laubergechezfrancois.com

If you ever visited the Buckingham Palace, the residence of the most important family in the UK, you couldn’t have missed the Queen’s Guards, the soldiers who are always standing still with straight faces. Today we will talk with Calum Bacon, an English young man who is working in Vietnam, to learn more about Foot Guards, the stoic soldiers that guard Her Majesty.  The hat is made from real bearskin (Photo: Pinterest)

As any Romanian will eagerly explain, there’s much more to know about Romania than the legend of Dracula. Constantly featured among Europe’s best travel destinations, Romania has plenty to surprise those looking for an exciting, off-the-beaten-track destination. In today’s show, we’ll have Gabriela Drobota from Romania to share with us some facts about Romania, its culture, people, and lifestyle.

An egg decorated with traditional Romanian motifs. (Photo: Rolandia.eu)

From banned happy hours to not having any snakes in their country, Ireland is definitely a country that will surprise you. Today we’ll learn about life in Ireland and food and drink from Francis Moran, an English teacher from Ireland.

Located 80 kilometers north of Lagos in Oyo state, Nigeria, the town of Igbo Ora is well known for a remarkably large number of twin births. Today we’ll have a talk with Laykay Adepoju, a Nigerian who is working in Hanoi, to know more about Ogbo Ora, which is nicknamed “The twin capital of the world”.  Ibeji (Photo: barnebys.se)

 Kuchipudi is an Indian classical dance form counted among the ten leading classical dance forms of India. A dance-drama performance art that originated in a village in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, India, Kuchipudi evolved from the Hindu Sanskrit text ‘Natya Shastra’ and is connected traditionally with temples, spiritual faith, and travelling bards. In today’s Cultural Rendezvous, Kiranmai Bonala, a Kuchipudi dance teacher from India, will tell us a little about this dance. Picture: Kuchipudi dance teacher Kiranmai Bonala

The annual candlelit Lucia procession on  December 13 is one of the more exotic Swedish customs, with girls and boys clad in white full-length gowns singing songs together. When the 400-year-old tradition of St. Lucia is celebrated, you will see thousands of young girls emerge from the darkness of a Swedish winter’s day and gently silence the crowds with a procession of light. How exactly is Lucia Day celebrated in Sweden? Johan Alvin, the Swedish Embassy's second secretary and his wife Marika Alvin will give you the answer. Picture: The Lucia choir in Hanoi.

 In the Philippines, as in other Southeast Asian countries, paying respect to older people is a tradition passed from generation to generation. In today’s program, we’ll talk to Emmanuel Abalos about “mano” or “pagmamano”, an "honoring gesture" performed in Filipino culture as a sign of respect for an elder and a way of requesting a blessing from the elder. Mano - a beautiful tradition of the Philippines. 

The Han river (or Hangang) is the major river flowing through the heart of Seoul, South Korea. This river is an iconic symbol of the capital not just because of its beautiful scenery but also its historical value. Indeed, spending a whole day exploring the Han river is one of the most amazing things to do in Seoul. If you find yourself enjoying a trip in South Korea, it would be a shame if you miss this place. I had a chance to explore this tourist attraction with Jeon Hyong Jun, a Seoul local.  Tent city on Han River Park. (Photo: reddit.com)

Cricket is a beautiful bat-and-ball game. And with an estimated 2.5 billion fans worldwide, it is the second-most popular sport in the world behind soccer. In England, Cricket has a mass number of followers, around 65% of the population. Today we will talk to Callum Bacon, a young English gentleman to know more about the sport.

Tung: What is the origin of cricket?

Callum: It was centuries ago, I think. Cricket probably began sometime around the thirteenth century, but no one is sure. It originated in south-east England, became more and more popular, became England’s national sport in the 18th century. It is said that the game was generally a children's game for many generations before it was taken up by adults around the beginning of the 17th century. And now, as you can see, it has developed globally. The first international game was between the US and Canada in 1844, in New York as I remember.

Tung: How is the game played?

Callum: The aim of cricket is simple - score more than the opposition. Two teams, both with 11 players, will take turns to bat and bowl. When one team is batting, they try and score as many runs as they can by hitting the ball around an oval field. The other team must get them out by bowling the ball overarm at the stumps, which are at either end of a 22-yard area called a wicket.The bowling team can get the batsmen out by hitting the stumps or catching the ball. Of course it’s more than that, but basically that’s all. 

Tung: Sounds a bit like baseball right? What are the difference?

Callum: Well of course there are a lot, but I can name some very obvious features. The pitch for baseball is a diamond-shaped, while that of a cricket game is oval. And, well…..the baseball bat is Round like a baton with a tapered handle ending at a knob, and a cricket bat is has round handle on top with a flat wooden bottom. Well….there are more, but it’s quite complicated. I really hope that someday, I can take you to a cricket game so it can be easier to explain. For me, cricket is easier to play than baseball. 

Tung: What was the first cricket team in England?

Callum: The first and most influential cricket club in the land was formed at Hambledon, Hampshire, in the 1760's. The club was sponsored by wealthy patrons, but the players were local tradesmen and farmers. The club laid some really big foundation for the game. It established techniques of batting and bowling which still hold today, and Hambledon claims a page in history books as the "Birthplace of Cricket". The spot soon shifted to London with the establishment of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). In 1835 the MCC gave cricket its first formal laws, which still stand largely intact today. A major boost for the sport of cricket was provided by public schools such as Eton, Harrow, and Winchester. The sport proved so popular among the well-to-do students that an annual match called "Gentlemen vs. Players" took place at Lord's from 1806-1963.

Tung: I can see that you are indeed a big fan of cricket. Please tell me why you love that game so much?

Callum: Maybe you won’t believe it, but I love it because cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties. So many things can affect the outcome of the players’ performances. The game can be stopped by the sun, yes, sun stopped a play between India and New Zealand. It could only happen in cricket. A car drove onto the middle of the field during a cricket game a while ago – a Wagon R, if I remember correctly – and play has also been stopped by pig, snake and hedgehog. This is nuts, and for me, it’s merely exciting. Plus, the weather will certainly affect the performances. The pitch matters, the nip in the air matters, even the speed with which the ball rushes through the outfield matters. This is special, and makes me, as a cricket fan, feel excited.

Thanks a lot Callum for your talk. We wish you good luck and hope to see you again soon. 

In our previous show, we explored some beautiful cultural traditions and culture of Ireland known across the world. In today’s Culture Rendezvous, our guest MH, a former student of Cork Institute of Technology in Cork City, Ireland, is back to share with us more about another Irish cultural highlight landmark - Hurling.

Welcome back, MH. We loved your story about Cork City and The Irish Pub in the other show and today we’d love to hear more from you about Irish sports, especially Hurling, one of the oldest field games in the world with the first literary reference dating back to 1272 BC.

MH: Hello everybody. It’s great to be back on today’sthe show. Talking about sports in Ireland, it would not be complete if we don’t mention Hurling, a very uniquely Irish gamesport. Hurling is one of the world’s oldest few sports and has been played in some forms in Ireland for more than 800 years. I think some people often compare hurling to hockey. But other than the fact both games involve a stick and a ball, there’s no similarities. Some other people have called hurling  a mixture ofbetween hockey and war.

So what are there in the uniquely Irish gamewhat’s involved in Hurling? Can you tell us more about the game?

MH: The curved wooden stick with a flat end is known as a hurl or hurley, and is made from a single piece of wood, traditionally Ash. The lower end, or blade, is flat on both sides. Mmetal bands are often used around the blades, as on the left, to stop the wood from splitting. The ball, or sliothar [say: shlit-her] is about the size of a tennis ball and is made of leather, covered with raised ridges where the leather is stitched. Hurling is an amateur game and is played only by men (or boys). A similar game, Camogie, is played only by women.

So how Hurling is played?

MH: Games are played by two opposing teams of 15 players each. The object is to get the sliothar intopast the opponent’s goalpost. The goalpost is H shaped, with a net under the cross post. If the sliothar goes over the post, a point is scored, if it goes under the post and into the net a goal, which is worth, three points, is are scored.

Players are allowed to strike the ball in the air, even above head height, as well as on the ground. When the ball is on the ground it cannot be handled but it can be lifted from the ground using the hurley, to be either caught in the hand or struck.

Once caught in the hand a player can carry the ball for no more than three paces, but is allowed to balance it on the blade of the hurley while running. As well as striking the ball with the hurley, players can kick the ball or strike it with their hand. An impressive hurling skill is the ability to bounce or balance the ball on the hurl while running at full speed before finally flipping it high into the air and whacking it over or under the cross bar.

Is it possible for players to tackle in Hurling?

MH: Tackling is allowed and although it is not permitted to hit another player with the hurley it can happen in the heat of play and protective helmets are now commonly worn.

Every year, during Spring, the South West England Gloucester region hosts the annual cheese-rolling event where people from far and wide travel to watch competitors launch themselves down a hill in pursuit of a round of cheese. This is a historical event that originated hundreds of years ago and reflexes an indispensable part of England’s culture. Today, we will talk to Callum Bacon, an English young man who is working in Hanoi, to know more about the festival.

 Though best known as a poet, Rabindranath Tagore was a man of many talents. The first Indian to win a Nobel Prize for literature, he wrote and composed a wide array of songs, including India’s national anthem. He was a pedagogue who established a university that challenged the conventional form of education, and also a painter, whose style played an important role in modernising Bengali art. Dr. G.B. Harisha, Director of the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre will tell us more about Tagore, his global impact, as well as his trip to Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) back in 1929.  Tagore with his students at Shantiniketan. (Photo: internet)

The Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, also known as the Tweede Nuwe Jaar, or Second New Year, is a colorful parade in Cape Town, South Africa. It is as rich in history as in culture. Today we will talk to Ray Smit, a South African who is living in Hanoi to know more about the festival. (Photo: Cape Town Travel)

The traditions and culture of Ireland are known across the world and whilst millions celebrate and enjoy Irish traditions such as the Saint Patrick’s Day, Pub Culture, and Sports, many are not aware of their origins. In today’s Culture Rendezvous, we will talk with Van Minh Hien, a former student of Cork Institute of Technology in Cork City, Ireland, who will share her experiences in Cork City, which was the European Capital of Culture for 2005, and was included in the Lonely Planet's top 10 "Best in Travel 2010". Hien will also tell us about the Irish pub culture. Kinsale, Cork, Ireland. (Photo: Minh Hien)

Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, is well-known for its numerous tribes and ethnic groups. Yoruba people, one of Nigeria’s biggest ethnic community, have developed a variety of different handicraft products including pottery, weaving, beadwork, metalwork, and mask making. Today we will talk to Laykay Adepoju, a Nigerian who is working in Hanoi, to know more about Yoruba’s traditional attire. Yoruba man outfit consists four-piece attire, the Sokoto ( a pair of loosely fitted trousers), the Buba, the Agbada ( a massive wide sleeved, wide shouldered flowing robe), and his Fila ( hat). (Photo: Pinterest)

A baby shower is a way to celebrate the expected or delivered birth of a child by presenting gifts to the mother at a party. The term shower is often assumed to mean that the expectant mother is "showered" with gifts. The baby shower is typically arranged and hosted by a close friend rather than a member of the family. In the United States, baby shower is a common tradition. Marry Janny from the US, who has thrown many baby shower parties for her friends talks about planning a baby shower party.

How much should I tip? Is 15% a standard rate that applies across the board? Do residents of different countries view tipping differently? What about those coin jars placed near cash registers? Lauren Brown from the US, who has been working in restaurants for years, will talk about tipping in the US.  

Celebrating your birthday is a big thing. For every decade and milestone, you have to celebrate it with all of your family and friends. Every birthday is a highlight in your life but your 18th birthday is the most important one. The celebration may vary between countries. Today, we’ll talk to Josi, a 21-year-old German student, to find out how Germans mark their 18th birthday.  An 18th birthday in Germany is full of beer, special gifts, Kartoffel salad, and Schlager (Photo: cosmopolitan.com)

In many cultures all over the world, wedding ceremonies go hand in hand with special traditions and superstitions. Today we’ll talk to Josephine Struckmeier, a German student working in Hanoi to find out some interesting customs in a German wedding.  A Hochzeitslader, the man who deliver wedding invitation (Photo: Pinterest)