Buzz
Vietnam's street food is gaining increasing fame and asserting its allure in the eyes of international tourists.
The diverse selection of dishes with different flavors and ways of enjoyment has led CNNgo, a prestigious American news site, to applaud Vietnam as a “culinary paradise.” Meanwhile, the renowned global travel magazine – Lonely Planet also lists Vietnam among the top 10 most experiential culinary travel destinations in the world.
Recently, major international media outlets such as National Geographic and Amusing Planet have showcased images of street vendors selling bread, food stalls, or fruits in Vietnam, introducing to the world a small but attractive country for experiencing street food.
Not only attractive but Vietnamese cuisine is also quite affordable, surprising many foreign tourists. Each city, region, or village has its own unique specialties. And it is these countryside dishes that contribute to the fascination of those travelers who enjoy exploring charming destinations in Vietnam. Many articles in major newspapers or impressive shares on personal blogs of Western visitors about Vietnamese cuisine can be found. Apparently, the image of people sitting on plastic chairs along the sidewalks to savor their favorite dishes is no longer unfamiliar to them.
Mike Tatarski, a traveler who has spent 2 years in Vietnam and enjoyed street food here, shared that savoring street food is so simple that you just need to walk in, choose a seat on a plastic chair, and enjoy. But it's truly worth experiencing. He added: “Perhaps the image of street vendors is unique to Vietnam. The way they chant their sales has become a distinctive feature in the image of tourism in Vietnam. Those rhythms when rising sound like someone singing.”
One of the most interesting things when savoring Vietnamese food at a small roadside eatery is that you can observe the local people's life: a group of men sitting around a table drinking beer and talking about football or work, while in another corner, children are playing and the waiter is joking while waiting for customers to order more dishes. Complete strangers can easily choose their own dishes after seeing what the locals are enjoying. Perhaps that's why language barriers or cultural differences are no longer an issue when everyone is in the 'culinary paradise' with delicious and creative dishes.
Lonely Planet has advised their readers to join a walking tour in Hanoi with a guide to enjoy the local specialties here, mentioning famous dishes like Pho Bo, Banh Xeo, and Banh Cuon.
The image of foreign tourists sitting on the sidewalk enjoying Vietnamese dishes is no longer unfamiliar. Some food experts have commented that Vietnamese food attracts tourists with the fresh taste of vegetables and fruits. It is not as greasy as Chinese food and less spicy than Thai cuisine. CNNgo emphasizes that Americans also have mobile eateries, but Vietnam is truly the 'culinary paradise.' Nowhere else possesses such a diverse culinary scene as Vietnam.
According to Dân Trí
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Reference: Mytour Travel Handbook
MytourJune 13, 2014
