Anthony Bourdain in Vietnam: All 8 Episodes Reviewed

A Wife And Mother Version 0210 Part 2 Better -

A Wife And Mother Version 0210 Part 2 Better -

The "0210" designation reminds us of a date or a specific milestone. It marks the moment we stop reacting and start leading. A "better" mother in Part 2 focuses on emotional regulation. We learn that our children don’t need a perfect mother; they need a resilient one who can navigate her own emotions.

In Version 1.0, many mothers wear burnout as a badge of honor. In Part 2, we realize that a crashed system helps no one. The "better" version of a mother isn't the one who does the most; it’s the one who is the most present. a wife and mother version 0210 part 2 better

Rediscovering the woman who existed before the "0210" era began. Whether it’s returning to a career, picking up a forgotten instrument, or traveling with friends, the "better" version of you is the one who is whole. The Verdict: Why Part 2 is Better The "0210" designation reminds us of a date

Move away from "transactional" talk (who is picking up the kids?) and back toward "relational" talk. Part 2 involves active listening and expressing needs before they turn into resentments. It’s about being a team rather than two people working parallel shifts. 3. Efficiency Over Effort We learn that our children don’t need a

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  1. Giang says:
    June 10, 2025 at 10:10 AM

    “There are still so many places for Bourdain to visit in Vietnam, so many more dishes for him to try, so many more episodes for him to make.”

    That is the same thought and reason why I haven’t gone back to any episode or short clips of him, which appear in my YT feeds every now and then.

    1. a wife and mother version 0210 part 2 better
      Tom says:
      June 11, 2025 at 2:46 AM

      Hi Giang,

      Yes, I know what you mean, and I know many other Bourdain fans who feel the same.

      Best,

      Tom

  2. S Holmes says:
    June 5, 2023 at 3:28 AM

    I sometimes wonder why people often acknowledge people’s death day (religious reasons aside)? Generally speaking that’s the worst day of a persons life and the saddest day for their loved ones and admirers.

    With that in mind Anthony’s birthday is coming up on June 25 (1956), the day this intrepid traveller and lover of people was born!

    1. a wife and mother version 0210 part 2 better
      Tom says:
      June 5, 2023 at 6:31 AM

      Hi S Holmes,

      Yes, it’s because in Vietnam ‘death days’ are commonly celebrated. Hence, I’ve chosen to remember Bourdain on his ‘death day’ in the context of his love of Vietnam.

      Best,

      Tom

  3. Paul Brooke says:
    June 4, 2023 at 11:26 AM

    Many Americans of a certain age only saw Vietnam in context with the American War. That view persisted in American culture and continued into the next generation. Bourdain was the first to see Vietnam as a unique country. I don’t think he ever mentioned the war in his programs.

    1. a wife and mother version 0210 part 2 better
      Tom says:
      June 5, 2023 at 6:29 AM

      Hi Paul,

      Yes, I know what you mean, and in many ways (most ways, in fact), I agree that Bourdain painted Vietnam in a different context to what many Americans were most familiar with – that being war. However, he could never let the war go from his Vietnam episodes: Bourdain references the war – either directly or through cultural references, such as movies – in most of his Vietnam shows. This is totally understandable, but I personally looked forward to an episode that left the war out completely, thus focusing only on present-day Vietnam.

      Best,

      Tom

      1. Paul Brooke says:
        June 6, 2023 at 1:05 PM

        I’ll have to re-watch some of the episodes. I guess it was just my first impression that Bourdain dealt with Vietnam on its own merits as a young country with an ancient past and complex culture.

  4. jeff says:
    May 1, 2023 at 3:33 AM

    Thank you for your close and heartfelt reading of Bourdain’s odysseys to Vietnam.

    I have watched the “Hanoi” episode 5 times with deepening appreciation and sentiment; it is my favorite of what I’ve seen of his work.

    The episode is an apostrophe to gain — Vietnam’s as it heals from its history and ascends the world stage toward its future — and a eulogy to the Obama and Bourdain era, where sincerity and civility, for a short time, were given a stage.

    “Is it going to be all right?”

    While Obama and Bourdain were tour guides, we could believe it would.

    1. a wife and mother version 0210 part 2 better
      Tom says:
      May 2, 2023 at 1:54 PM

      Hi Jeff,

      Yes, I agree, it’s a very poignant episode – it was at the time, but even more so now, with the knowledge of what was about to happen: to Bourdain, to American politics, to the World.

      Best,

      Tom

  5. TH says:
    April 20, 2022 at 5:01 AM

    This is amazing Tom, just found ur blog after following you quite sometime in twitter. Anthony is one of my idol esp for Vietnam. Keep up the good work as always and thanks.

    1. a wife and mother version 0210 part 2 better
      Tom says:
      April 20, 2022 at 5:06 AM

      Thank you for the kind words!

      Great to hear you admire Bourdain too. I hope you enjoy watching/re-watching these episodes.

      Best,

      Tom

  6. Bao Tran says:
    April 9, 2021 at 8:25 AM

    Thank you for a great article as always!
    It made me miss my hometown even more.

    1. a wife and mother version 0210 part 2 better
      Tom says:
      April 9, 2021 at 8:47 AM

      Thank you, Bao Tran 🙂

  7. John Pearce says:
    April 7, 2021 at 3:33 AM

    Thanks, Tom, for a moving and informative article that has me regretting that I didn’t enjoy Bourdain’s work when he was with us. He was a one-off for sure and we are all poorer for his absence.

    1. a wife and mother version 0210 part 2 better
      Tom says:
      April 7, 2021 at 4:26 AM

      Thanks, John.

  8. Vicki Berger says:
    April 5, 2021 at 9:09 AM

    This is wonderful, Tom.
    A great tribute to Bourdain and Vietnamese food.
    I never saw his programmes but have read some of his books which i greatly enjoyed.
    Thanks
    Vicki

    1. a wife and mother version 0210 part 2 better
      Tom says:
      April 5, 2021 at 9:29 AM

      Thanks, Vicki.

      Yes, I enjoy his writing style too. I hope you get a chance to watch some of his TV shows sometime too.

      Tom

  9. Ben says:
    April 5, 2021 at 4:26 AM

    If you have a Google account with a US credit card you can buy episodes of No Reservations and Parts Unknown a la carte for $2 or $3 (SD or HD respectively) on Google Play. Here’s a link:

    No Reservations:
    https://play.google.com/store/tv/show/Anthony_Bourdain_No_Reservations?id=cI-ABS8T6RA&hl=en_US&gl=US

    Parts Unknown:
    https://play.google.com/store/tv/show/Anthony_Bourdain_Parts_Unknown?id=qZqWbgwkJcc&hl=en_US&gl=US

    1. a wife and mother version 0210 part 2 better
      Tom says:
      April 5, 2021 at 9:05 AM

      Thanks, Ben.

  10. Javier says:
    April 4, 2021 at 7:26 AM

    Man, great review.
    I didn’t know Tony because I’m Spanish and I was not interested about him. I think I first know about him when I came to Vietnam.
    I have the feeling that Vietnam is changing very fast, but mostly I don’t see it as an inconvenient but something good. We will see how things evolve in the future.
    I agree with Obama, eventually everything will be fine. The virus will be over and we will continue eating food with family and friends, and be able to travel!

    I miss Spain and Thailand!

    1. a wife and mother version 0210 part 2 better
      Tom says:
      April 4, 2021 at 7:32 AM

      Thanks, Javier.

      Yes, I hope so too.

      Best,

      Tom