Western Travelers Uncover Ultimate Food Hacks in Vietnam

In Hanoi, many eateries are tucked away behind someone's home, where the host serves you meals right in their family living room.

Western Travelers Unveil Culinary Secrets During Vietnam Visit

The adventurous duo, Chris and Danika from San Francisco, USA, became known for quitting their jobs and selling everything to travel the world. Their journey took them to Vietnam for three weeks, traveling from North to South through major cities like Hanoi, Ha Long, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, and the Mekong Delta region, not just sightseeing but also embarking on a food tour to savor the distinctive tastes of each locale.

Here are Chris and Danika's insider tips for eating and drinking in Vietnam:

I absolutely love Vietnamese cuisine for its brilliantly inventive blend of sweet, sour, and spicy flavors. No matter where we went, we always ordered familiar dishes like pho and bun cha, but it was the regional variations and unique spices that truly fascinated us. Having three weeks to 'eat Vietnamese rice and sleep in Vietnamese homes' allowed us to deeply appreciate the cuisine's subtlety and uniqueness.

A bowl of pho in the North is vastly different from one in Saigon. The dining culture varies greatly; in Hanoi, popular spots are often roadside stalls, small and independent. In the Central region, food markets are more common. Saigon, the bustling city, offers an array of dishes all along a single food street.

We quickly realized dining in traditional Vietnamese restaurants offers a unique experience unlike Western establishments.

Embrace Adventure

Many restaurants in Vietnam, especially in Hanoi, defy the conventional look of a restaurant. Occasionally, you'll find them hidden behind someone's house, serving meals in their living room. Street food stalls encircle a cart with a grill on the sidewalk. We've often found ourselves following locals seated on plastic chairs along the curb, ordering what they're having, and enjoying a truly fantastic meal.

Learn from the Locals

A golden rule almost universally applicable, especially in Vietnam, is to avoid eateries filled solely with tourists like oneself. Such places are often cleaner but pricier, and the quality doesn't always match up. Dare to follow the locals to a crowded native joint. Don't worry if there's no English menu; look for the most appealing dish or what many are ordering, and use body language to communicate with the vendor. These spots are where you'll find delicious, authentic flavors at a fraction of the tourist restaurant prices.

Forget the Menu

Most sidewalk eateries in Vietnam specialize in a single dish, be it pho, bun, etc. Often, you've barely grabbed a seat when someone is already bringing a dish to your table, perhaps pho, bun cha, or skewers.

Drink Beer

Vietnam's heat makes a cold beer instantly refreshing. In the summer, beer is ubiquitous. We bought ours from an elderly lady in front of her house, sitting on plastic chairs, watching the world go by. Beer is not only cheap in Vietnam but deliciously satisfying.

But don't just stick to bottled beer, try 'bia hoi', a local draft beer that's incredibly affordable. 'Bia hoi' translates to 'fresh beer', served straight from the tap, brewed in the morning and sold out by day's end, often enjoyed over ice. Drinking 'bia hoi' is a delightful escape from the heat and humidity.

* Favorite dishes of the couple:

- Hanoi: Bun Cha, Pho, Nom, Banh Mi, Che Thap Cam.

- Hoi An: Cao Lau, Banh Bao Banh Vac, Com Ga.

- Hue: Banh Bot Loc, Banh Beo, Banh Khoai.

- Ho Chi Minh City: Bun Thit Nuong Cha Gio, Pho, Iced Coffee.

Source: VnExpress

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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide