Walk through Hội An after dark and you’ll probably notice the lanterns first. But somewhere between the glowing streets and evening crowds, you might hear something unexpected: singing, laughter, and people sitting inside small bamboo huts holding cards. They’re playing Bài Chòi, a traditional Vietnamese game where winning isn’t just about watching the cards. You […]
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Every August, something unusual appears above Kyoto after dark. Huge symbols made from fire begin glowing across the mountains surrounding the city. The most famous is a giant 大, the Japanese character meaning “large” or “great.” This is Gozan Okuribi, one of Kyoto’s most striking summer traditions. But the fires aren’t simply there to create […]
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Once a year, one of autumn’s brightest full moons rises over Asia. But what happens underneath it depends entirely on where you are. In China, families reunite for Zhōngqiū Jié. Vietnam’s Tết Trung Thu fills the streets with children and lanterns. Japan slows down for Tsukimi, while South Korea celebrates Chuseok, one of the country’s […]
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Christmas starts surprisingly early in the Philippines. As September ushers in the “Ber months,” Christmas songs and decorations begin appearing, building gradually toward December. But the early start isn’t the only difference. There are glowing stars, church services before sunrise, special food afterward, and families staying up together to welcome Christmas Day. Christmas Comes With […]
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A white screen stands against the darkness. Music begins, firelight flickers behind it, and suddenly an enormous figure appears in shadow. It isn’t an actor, and it certainly isn’t an ordinary puppet. This is Sbek Thom, Cambodia’s ancient large shadow-puppet theatre, where intricately carved leather figures, dancers, musicians and storytellers bring sacred stories to life. By […]
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Hoi An is famous for its lights. Every evening, lanterns glow above the Ancient Town and reflections shimmer across the Thu Bon River. But just off the coast, around the Cù Lao Chàm (Cham Islands), another kind of light appears after dark. Fishing boats head onto the water and switch on bright lamps, creating small […]
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