Chỉ Bàn Lộn 2 is a striking red tome. As the book’s subtitle puts it, it is “a lexicon of queerness and sexuality in Vietnam”. Inside are definitions for words ranging from ‘áo mưa’ (raincoat, a euphemism for condoms) to ‘xúc xích’ (sausage, the meaning of which should be fairly self-explanatory).

It’s far more than just a dictionary. There are essays too: on kinks, gender identity and a whole host of other things related to the LGBTQ+ community in Vietnam. There are paintings made by a host of artists illustrating some of the words in the dictionary. The language can be explicit—and some examples come up in this interview—but provide invaluable insight into a diverse community. It is a treasure trove of knowledge and art.

Chỉ Bàn Lộn 2 is the culmination of years of work and collaboration undertaken by Đinh Nhung. It’s her second project with the title Chỉ Bàn Lộn, but the scope of the first was much narrower, mainly focusing on the lexicon of the queer community of Ho Chi Minh City born in the 1980s.

• Tags: Brendan Ryan, Đinh Nhung, Issue 31, Vietnam