The script of podcast 'Tea on street'.

Native (Host):

You’re listening to Tea on street

(music)

Native:

Hi everyone, welcome back to our daily podcast. My name is Minh Hieu and in today’s episode we’re going to look look into a drink that is really familiar to every single person in Hanoi, you can find it anywhere, at any time.

Are you curious?

Before we go any further, let’s go and meet our special Brazilian guest today

Let get started

(music)

Native:

Oh hi, welcome to Tea on street. Can you introduce yourself?

Foreigner:

Hello, my name is Liu Moii, thank you for having me on the show.

Native:

Ok Liu Moii, so have you ever heard of a drink called “Cha Da”?

Foreigner:

I’ve heard some people in Vietnam talk about it when I first came here, but I’ve never tried it before.

Native:

- Well that is exactly why I’ve invited you to this place

- You see people sitting on the sidewalk across the street? That is where we’re going to enjoy our drink.

Foreigner:

Wait what, I thought we were headed to some kind of coffee shop?

Native:

- Nah, just follow me.

- U ơi, cho con 2 trà đá.

Foreigner:

So, does this drink have an amazing taste or… something? And why do we sit outside on the sidewalk?

Native:

- Actually, it has nothing to do with its flavor. What makes it so special is its staple of Vietnam culture and sitting outside like this, we’re more likely to make new friends, unlike sitting in a quiet and formal coffee shop.

- Besides, it’s super convenient right? If u feel thirsty while wandering down the street, u can always find an iced tea stand nearby.

Shopkeeper:

*Bring Tra da*

Oh, thằng bạn Tây của mày đẹp trai thế?!!!

Native:

She said you were handsome

Foreigner:

Oh thanks. Do you know her?

Native:

Yeah, she’s a shopkeeper, she can tell you some interesting things about Tra Da, she is pretty good at English

Shopkeeper:

- Yeah, I first started at the old quarter, and there were many tourists like you visited here…

- Ohhhh, and there are many things like peach tea, lemonade and soft drinks here. Do you wanna try some?

Foreigner:

Ah…no thanks, I’ll try this iced tea first.

*Drink*

Native:

How is it?

Foreigner:

Umm, this taste is so cool

Native:

Sure, it is so refreshing, right?

Foreigner:

- Yeah man

- Um...There are actually a lot of people who come to drink this huh?

Shopkeeper:

Yeah, it’s good for many different kinds of people such as taxi drivers, officers or even students.

Native:

And you know, it ONLY costs a couple pennies for a cup.

Foreigner:

Oh really, so this job must be relaxing and fun right, u can meet and talk to many people?

Shopkeeper:

- No not really, sometimes the weather affects my work, like on some rainy days I have to close my shop and take a day off.

- And...I have watched out for the police sometimes. It's really exhausting, ya know

Foreigner

That sound rough.

Stranger:

Cô ơi, cho con một trà đá

Shopkeeper:

- Ừ!!! Đợi cô tí

- Well, I have to go now, so if you have time, just drop by.

Foreigner + Native:

Okay bye

Foreigner:

Wow, I never imagined that something as simple as a cup of tea could be so complex.

Native:

- I know right, there are so many things I wanna tell you about Tra Da but it would be too much for one episode.

- Well thank you for joining us, I hope we can work together in the future.

Foreigner:

Of course!

Native:

Thank you for listening to our podcast. Oh! Don’t forget, we have an amazing and interesting magazine about Cha da not just about the drink but also about the culture, the people in Hanoi. Stay safe and we’ll see you in next week’s episode. Peace!

(music)

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