Vietnamese cuisine is known for its wide variety of dishes, and in the past several years eating habits have become even more diverse as local people embrace food from abroad.

This month's issue of our news magazine Outlook offers a feast for our readers by celebrating the country's culinary traditions while also chewing over new trends in the kitchen.

Our cover stories explore the nation's myriad of rice dishes and also take a look at how rice has played an important part in the country's development. We report on what some see as the growing threat that junk food poses to traditional Vietnamese food while our report on the increasing popularity of processed foods finds that many Vietnamese women who juggle work and family duties are looking for more short cuts in the kitchen. Finally, our guide to some of the best street food dishes available will help readers taste the best of local cuisine at places that are regarded by local diners.

Elsewhere in this issue, we visit the wood-carving village of Dong Thuong, sample some of the ethnic Mong people's traditional wine and join Irish families who have adopted Vietnamese children in celebrating the new Year of the Dragon.

Readers can also catch up on what's hot in the country's culinary, sports and arts scenes – and check out listings for everything from bars to embassies.

Outlook retails for VND15,000 at news-stands, major hotels and restaurants and can be purchased at the head office of the Viet Nam News at 11 Tran Hung Dao Street, Ha Noi, or at our HCM City office at 120 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, District 1. — VNS