(VOVWORLD) - The fanous lantern has been a symbol of Ramadan for hundreds of years. For Muslims, it represents the light guiding the way. In Egypt, during the holy month of Ramadan, streets are illuminated at night by colorful fanous lanterns. Some say the tradition began with the Pharaohs. Others believe Coptic Christians originated it. In any case, fanous have become a widespread Ramadan tradition.

(VOVWORLD) - Like the Hungry Ghosts Festival or ''Mua Vu Lan'', known as Mother’s Day in Vietnam, Pchum Ben Day is Cambodia’s festival for the ancestors. It is a public holiday in Cambodia and has been kept with great devotion by the Khmer people for longer than anyone can remember. In this week’s Cultural Rendezvous, Uch Leang, a researcher of the Faculty of Asian and African Studies at the Royal Academy of Cambodia's International Relations Institute, will tell us about the festival.

(VOVWORLD) - Franz Schubert's song cycle "Winterreise” (Winter Journey) has recently been translated into Vietnamese and premiered in Vienna.

(VOVWORLD) -Wales, a small beautiful country is famous for its rugged coastline, mountainous National Parks and the Celtic Welsh language. It’s a pretty cool country to live in or to visit. Not only does it have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, but the Welsh people are known as one of the friendliest. What else about Wales should we know? Let’s learn more about its cuisine and climate in today’s Culture Rendezvous with Elaine Moore, an English teacher from Wales.

(VOVWORLD) - Jjimjilbang or traditional Korean sauna is an essential part of contemporary Korean culture. It is a place where people not only come to relax and unwind but also for dates or social outings. In this week’s Cultural Rendezvous, MinhwaYeong, a Korean local, will share some interesting things about Jjimjilbang.

(VOVWORLD) - Austria is famous for the Alps, cities like Vienna and Salzburg, and classical music. It’s also known for skiing, being the home of Red Bull energy drinks, and famous dishes like Wiener Schnitzel and Sachertorte. These and many other things impressed Chu Thu Phuong, First Secretary of the Vietnamese Embassy in Austria and translator of "Winterreise” (Winter Journey), Franz Schubert's challenging song cycle, into Vietnamese. Winterreise in Vietnamese recently premiered at the Opera in der Krypta in Vienna.

(VOVWORLD) - Greece is a country with rich ancient culture and natural beauty. Its attraction comes from impressive tourist sites full of mythology and fine cuisine, especially traditional desserts. Bougatsa phyllo pastry, for example, is dubbed the soul of the Greek cuisine and enjoyed all around Greece, particularly for breakfast.

(VOVWORLD) - Israel’s cuisine is classified as the cuisine of immigrants, and there is a variety of Israeli food available in this country, said Professor Nir Avieli, a cultural anthropologist at Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Israel. Falafel is one of Israel’s popular dishes. Every Israeli has an opinion about falafel, the ultimate Israeli food, which is most often served stuffed into pita bread. This week, Professor Nir Avieli was back on VOV’s Cultural Rendezvous to tell us about Israeli falafel.

(VOVWORLD) - The crunchy fortune cookies are often served at the end of a Chinese meal in the US. When you see them, it's not the cookie you're craving, it's the fortune. I mean, there are plenty of baked desserts, but how many of them can reveal your future? Some of these fortune cookie messages, however, are very surprising and often catch people completely off-guard.Joe Fitzsimmons from the States is here with us today for our weekly Culture Rendezvous to talk about fortune cookies.

(VOVWORLD) - Due to its geographical position, Israel’s cuisine is a blend of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines strongly influenced by cuisine of Asia, Africa, and Europe. Thanks to all these influences, Israeli food is some of the most delicious food in the world and some of the healthiest. Professor Nir Avieli, a cultural anthropologist, at Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, will tell us more about Israeli cuisine.