Do you remember the world of wizardry in <Harry Potter> films, as detailed and realistic as any? And ‘Harry Potter New York’ recaptures that great world of fantasy.

Hanoi has long seen large markets pop up around its fortress. With active trades between handicraft artisans and trade merchants, craft villages began to take shape in the suburbs. On a sweltering summer day, we toured bamboo craft villages near Hanoi.

What would it be like to spend a day in the world’s most awesome town? You can find a clue to the answer in this month’s LOCAL TOUR featuring fashion houses lining up the streets between Itaewon Station and Hangangjin Station and unique shops standing in the alleys between Hangangjin Station and Hannam Station.

For a while, it seems as though gat, or the Korean traditional headwear, would remain forever stuck in history. It enjoyed an unexpected resurgence and gained international fame as ‘Korean Hat’ in the Netflix series <Kingdom>. Unfortunately, there aren’t many artisans left who specialize in gat. The presence of Jung Choon-mo, the No. 4 National Intangible Cultural Heritage as ganniljang (master gat maker), is that much more precious.

The living brand Seoul Bund is “where the East Asian treasures bond.” It’s home to the most contemporary and ideal living products of Korea and Asia that you can think of.

Korea’s National Treasure No. 1 Sungnyemun Gate, Culture Station Seoul 284 symbolizing the modern history of Korea, and the N Seoul Tower in the heart of Seoul literally pop out of a book.

A flower bloomed inside a bar of soap. David Hockney’s swimming pool and Irworobongdo folding screen of Gyeongbokgung Palace are also found in soap. At a time when personal hygiene is of the utmost importance, we are fortunate to have Hanahzo who turns washing hands into an act of art.

Having traveled to Lapland, Finland, where everything is covered in snow, photographer Melmel Chung wrote an email that starts with a sentence “Snow can be any color.” As a result, a postcard book titled < Lappi > was born. Lappi in Finnish means Lapland.

The best kind of gifts are the ones that you don’t have to have in your life, but would still enrich and embellish your day if you do. So I headed to ‘KioskKiosk’ to find a present for myself. For your information, being pretty doesn’t mean being useless.

“Tea cup is the beginning of the story.” - Vietnamese proverb

You’ve seen an art exhibition at a museum. You’ve had enough artistic inspirations. Then your next course of action is shopping. We’ve handpicked must-shop items from art shops at five museums and galleries in Seoul.

Has hanji paper always been this beautiful? A visit to the Hanji Culture and Industry Center gave us a fresh perspective on the traditional Korean handmade paper.

Vietnamese pottery is famous across the world. Its birthplace, surprisingly, is a small village named Bat Trang in the vicinity of Hanoi.

A single egg can show you the ultimate jewelry craftsmanship. So how did the Easter tradition lead to the world’s most beautiful eggs?

Summer has arrived. Let’s try on ‘galot,’ a traditional garment of Jeju Island. Now is the right time to dress up in this special seasonal clothing made of fabric dyed in summer.

Samcheong-dong in Seoul is home to Seoul Sticker Shop. The store sells stickers that promote the South Korean capital city.

Soban, traditional portable dining tables made of wood, are now craft items symbolizing the sedentary lifestyle and Confucian table culture of the past in Korea. Wood craftsman and soban artisan Yang Byeong-yong is known for creating modern soban that still carry the simple, yet sophisticated charm of their traditional counterparts, by upcycling centuries-old techniques.

She's a translator, an essayist and a gallerist. And she's also a New Yorker. These are places in New York that are close to the heart of Mimi Park.

Oh Sunhee is the founder of fashion consulting studio Edit and creative director of goods brand By Edit. She is skilled at planning and editing things by her own standards. She says the most important purpose of editing is “providing a familiar subject with a fresh perspective and helping people realize it.” We’ve asked her to edit Busan, the city she’s especially fond of.

At Warmgrey Tail, animals and plants are portrayed per the interpretation of the illustrator and finally transformed into objects that can be placed at home.

Does sesame oil only go with Korean dishes? Queens Bucket’s sesame oil is taking a stride toward globalization, dreaming to be the next olive oil.

Over the past dozen years, violist Richard Yongjae O'Neill has spent one season in Seoul. Born in the state of Washington and based in New York, O'Neill has been visiting Seoul every June since 2007 as a member of his ensemble, DITTO. We asked him his favorite places in the city.

If you’re looking for a souvenir that embodies both the beauty and culture of Korea, head over to Havebeenseoul.

Galerie Quynh is located in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, the heart of the town. Quynh Pham, founder and director of the gallery, has unearthed many experimental-minded artists and contributed to the progress of Vietnamese contemporary art. She has witnessed, first-hand, the dynamic development of the city, and we asked her some of the city's hidden charms. She takes us to places that tourists may otherwise miss out.

In the heart of downtown Seoul, near the City Hall, Myeongdong and Namdaemun, printmaker Choi Kyung-joo’s studio and her printing label’s showroom are located on the third floor of a building in a busy street. To purchase her work, we pressed the passcode to the secretive showroom of Artist Proof.

Members of NewJeans have walked on this street. They’ve been to a hot dessert place and a café, and bought souvenirs at a shop there. Welcome to ‘Jeonpo Gonggu-gil,’ one of the hottest spots in Busan today.

Matryoshka is a must-buy souvenir or gift item if you’re visiting Russia. Known as Russia’s national doll, when was this handicraft made for the first time?

Vladivostok is on the rise. It's geographically close from Korea but it's quite exotic. You can also grab a ton of quality food at affordable prices. And the city offers you a wide range of options on souvenirs to take back home.