I’m back in NYC!!!
After a week of trying to fight off the jet lag, I finally feel ready to get back to the swing of things. I started cooking, did some plant chores, vacuumed, and cleaned every corner and surface of my apartment, and it felt so good. But I have some sad news to deliver, though… My biggest cactus that I got from Tucson, AZ, got root rot, and it died while I was away (the rot went pretty far, so I had to behead it and saved what I could (only a few inches at the top. The hope it would grow new roots is slim!). It truly feels like I’ve just lost a pet…
On a lighter note, happy to announce that An’s List is now finally back to the regular schedule. This week, I’ve received some cool products in PR and signed contracts for some new brand projects. I couldn’t wait to share more.
A month-long Vietnam trip was everything I had expected, and more.
I became a Godmom to my brother’s daughter, named Tú Anh aka Dâu. My parents are now grandparents, and watching my little brother becoming the best dad he can be is honestly the most precious thing. Dâu would be walking and running around the next time I see her, and I just cannot imagine… Ahh, I need to make Vietnam a yearly trip then. I really wish!
After 15 years, it was such a good feeling that I finally got to spend a proper Lunar New Year/Tết with my family in Vietnam. The week leading up to it was my favorite because of all of the shopping. I felt incredibly grateful that I was able to take my family on a long vacation to Đà Nẵng and Hội An that involved flying - 5 days in Da Nang and Hoi An. My sister was so excited as she couldn’t stop peeking her head over the plane’s window the entire time (her first time flying). She and I did a lot of girly things together, and it felt like the old times. I left Vietnam when she was 3. We celebrated my birthday (2/16), my brother’s (2/22) and dad’s birthday (2/24). I also went to Đà Lạt for a couple of days with my brothers.
In Vietnam, food is the love language. My mom cooked a lot and made sure the snack pile was stocked, almost every day. My siblings, cousins, and friends took turn taking me and my partner around, making sure we experienced everything and got everything we wanted. This time, I didn’t really care what we did as long was I did it with everyone. I somehow feel like I just wanted to makeup for lost times. Honestly, I never wished any of those moments to end.
Everything I got from Vietnam
I live in Ho Nai/Bien Hoa, Dong Nai, so I do most of the shopping in the area. Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon is an hour away, but a daytrip there feels 5x harder (as compared to going somewhere an hour away in the US). I wish I got to explore more of the ‘fashion scene’ — the brands, the shops, and the in-store offerings in Saigon (and Ha Noi) since they’re much bigger cities.
1. Áo dài
Áo dài is a Vietnamese national garment that consists of a long top with side splits worn over a pair of flowy pants. Áo bà ba is a traditional southern Vietnamese garment, often come as a matching set. Yếm or áo yếm refers to a halter-neck styled top, used to be worn by Vietnamese women as an undergarment. All of the mentioned traditional garments are still worn by Vietnamese women in modern days.
Note: The Áo dài and pajama sets I bought from local markets were pre-made and not very expensive. A more common approach is made-to-measure, and you can get it done locally anywhere in Vietnam. It tends to cost more, but as compared to how much you’d have to pay overseas, it’s still cheaper to get things made-to-measure in Vietnam. And that’s why a lot of people do the made-to-measure route when they’re in Vietnam. It can take a couple of days or weeks, depending on where and what you need to be done.
2. Food - Snacks and Dry Goods
Now this part is tricky to get exact brands since I get mine from all over the place. Some were gifted for our family members in the US, and some I bought from travels. I’ll state where everything is from and link them if they’re available online. Again, it’s always so much cheaper if you buy them locally in-person and pay in VND.
Vietnamese coffee mix: Cà phê bột Minh Bảo Ngọc - Minh Bao Ngoc coffee mix brand that my parents actually use and make at home. Ingredients include 90% coffee (lol not sure what kind or what this means!), soy beans, bơ (direct translation can mean avocado or butter, and I cannot be sure!), rum (wine), and salt. You’d need a phin (a Vietnamese coffee filter), Longevity sweetened condensed milk, and hot water to make it. I like mine served with lots of crushed ice. In Vietnam, people often serve it with a cup of iced tea, and the tea is what I always look forward to.
Rice cracker snacks: Bánh Đa Luyến Sung - Luyen Sung dried rice crackers. To enjoy, simply heat these in the microwave for about 30+ seconds.
Cashew snacks: Hạt Điều Bà Tám Bình Dương - Ba Tam roasted cashew with salt, from Binh Duong province. To enjoy, peel off the shell.
Red pepper flakes: Bột Ớt Khô Xay Bảo Đức - Bao Duc dry red pepper flakes. This is my partner’s relative’s family-owned business.
Japanese chocolate: Royce’ Nama Chocolate "Matcha" & "Au Lait" - bought at Haneda airport in Japan for $5 each! It would have been $20 at a Royce’s store in NYC.
Vietnamese instant ramens: Đệ Nhất Mì Gia, OMACHI Hot & Sour Shrimp, and Vina Acecook Mi Lau Thai Instant Noodles - These are literally so good and addicting, and my mom just got a few for me to try for fun. I regret not getting more!
A random assortment of snacks: Bánh dừa nướng Quảng Nam Đà Nẵng - grilled coconut crackers from Da Nang, Kopiko Coffee Candy, Kinh Đô Snack Vị Cua - Kinh Do crab-flavored snacks, Oishi, and Lay’s snacks with Vietnamese flavors.
Da Lat food gifts I bought at Lata’s Dalat and Da Lat Market. You cannot miss the fresh ad freeze-dried strawberries when in Da Lat because they’ve got such unique taste. Da Lat is known for having cooler weather as compared the south of Vietnam, and it’s the perfect and ideal weather to grow all kinds of veggies and fruits. I loved browsing the market for fruits and food snacks, to enjoy there and to bring home.
3. Fun Stationery, Ceramic & Kitchen Supply
The kitchen supply store where I got the pot above is called Duy Tan, located across from Nhà Sách Đồng Nai or Dong Nai bookstore near Chợ Sặt or sat Market in Dong Nai. The store looks messy and unassuming, but they literally are stocked with all sorts of home items and kitchen supply. Everything is so well-priced, and I’d highly recommend a visit if you’re in Ho Nai - Bien Hoa.
Where to buy Áo dài in Vietnam
Áo dài was the clothing trend for Tết this year, so it was pretty fun spotting the girls in their colorful Áo dàis out and about in the city, taking pictures and being cute next to each other. It got us inspired to do our own photoshoot and then got me inspired to scour the internet for what people are loving in Vietnam, Áo dài-wise. And I found some pretty cool brands.
Xéo Xọ @xeoxo - buy here | ĐINH (men’s Áo dài) @dinhbyxeoxo - 43 Đ. Đặng Thị Nhu
DADA @dada.ww - order via IG DM
Áo dài suông 1996 @aodaisuong1996 - buy on Facebook
Maison LONG @maisonlong.vn - buy on Facebook
LAYE.VN - buy on Facebook
Áo Dài Hà Cúc @aodaihacuc - buy on Facebook via DM
Onetone @onetone.vn - buy here
Tiệm Áo Dài Nắng @aodainang.vn - buy on Shoppee
H E R Z I G @herzigroom
TRỊNH FASHION @trinhfashion - buy here
Lep' Design House @lepdesignhouse - buy here
Whiteplan - buy here
LE NGOC LAM SHOWROOM @lengoclamofficial
Loélia @loelia.vn - buy on Shoppee
ELPIS CLOTHING @elpisclothing - shop here
If you live in Minnesota, my aunt’s tailoring ladies do made-to-measure Áo dài and know a few other ladies. She’s at Tom's Tailor on Grand in St. Paul, and she can refer you to them. Just tell her I send you! Many of the shops I mentioed above ship nationally and internationally, and other than that, I see there are a lot of options popping up on Etsy these days!
DADA is an example of a new brand that is doing something cool and different. When I was in Vietnam, I DMed them on Instagram for the above Bà ba set, and they quoted me 3,700,000 VND and a week turn-around time minus the shipping. I didn’t go for it because the timeline didn’t work out for me plus they didn’t have the color I wanted at the time (color: bã trầu/reddish-orange color). It’s definitely more expensive end for a set like this, and I know I can find someone who can do it for less than half of that price. However, I’m a big fan of the brand, their designs and approach in materials, so that’s worth it to me.
Trust me on this because I’ve seen a lot of cheap polyester poorly-made ill-fitting Vietnamese traditional clothes being made, sold, and worn on people! So seeing DADA, Xéo Xọ, and many of these new and up-coming brands putting their own twists in traditional Vietnamese clothing really warms my heart.
PRO TIPS WHEN GETTING YOUR AO DAI MADE-TO-MEASURE — KNOW YOUR MEASUREMENTS
Get yourself a measuring tape and record measurements in centimeter (cm)
Know your height in meter & weight in kg - This is not always required, but sometimes the tailor/Áo dài maker likes to know this just so they can gage who they’re making the clothes for. *In Vietnam, it’s totally normal to ask for people’s weight (and age or the year that they’re born!).
Chest in cm - wear your favorite bra when measuring your chest. For Áo dài, people like to wear push-up bras just so it shows the ‘curvatures’ or gives a result of a traditional Áo dài look.
Waist in cm - the smallest part of your waist, usually it’s slightly above or right at your belly button where the waist band of the pants is.
Butt/hip in cm - measure the circumference or around largest part of your butt or hip bones. Pants that go with the Áo dài tend to be loose and relaxed, but you can also request to make them more straight or less flowy.
Length of pant in cm - measure from the waistband of your favorite pants (normally pants that fit right around your belly button).
All-white Áo dài used to be my high school uniform, and other than that, you’d only see me in an Áo dài at Tết (or any types of traditional clothing). Many women still choose to wear Áo dài, in modern days, because it’s the easiest thing to get made to their ever-changing bodies. You can pick your own fabric and customize everything however you like as there’s really no limit on budget and possibilities.
I wish made-to-order clothes get to be back to its old days, affordable, convenient, and accessible.
Newly discovered Vietnamese brands (based in Vietnam, designed in Vietnam, & made in Vietnam)
LIBÉ - 52 Đ. Nguyễn Trãi, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
waa. studios - bags, shoes, & accessories - 38 Đ. Đặng Thị Nhu, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam - Dang Thi Nhu Street, D1, HCMC
HOBB Saigon - suits - 24 Đ. Đặng Thị Nhu
DATT - clothing - 34 Đ. Đặng Thị Nhu
DMD Studios - clothing & accessories - 9 Đ. Đặng Thị Nhu
Leave a comment if you’d like to add any Vietnamese brands to this list.
Plan for March
For March, I’ll have to do some plant shopping and a few other apartment-related things in hopes that I’ll get my apartment and the back patio back in shape again. I’d love to host more dinners and parties at my place this coming summer and fall. Stay tuned for the rest of my Vietnam travel content, and I’ll share what I’m eyeing for spring, fashion-wise, in the next couple of weeks. There are also a lot of new shops popping up all over NYC, and I’m excited to check out and share them with you. So excited for spring weather!
An :x