Vietnam

Where to start with this one. Vietnam is a culinary delight and without doubt, my favourite place that we visited in South East Asia. Our journey here started in Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) where we were lucky enough to stay with my friend from University who lives there. Exploring as a backpacker is a great way to discover a place, but if you're shown around by a resident, it opens up whole new doors. 

International cuisine 

Ho Chi Minh has a lot of expats and so international cuisine is everywhere. In fact, some of the best international cuisine that I've ever eaten is in Ho Chi Minh. There were 2 knock out places which blew the budget, but, we saved on accommodation and were assured that we wouldn't want to miss out. The first is an Italian called 4P´s.The wood-fired oven pizzas are delicious and taken to a whole new level when you add a huge blob of homemade, burrata cheese to the centre. This is lovingly spread across each slice by your waiter, leaving your mouth watering as you watch and anticípate taking a bite.(see full image)

The next place holds with it a rather huge claim... I ate the best burger of my life there. Granted, it was at 10am following a 12 hour karaoke stint, but, just to be sure we went back for a second time and were just as astounded. If you look past the retro decor of Mogambo, you won't be disappointed. The owner´s are a wonderful, eccentric couple who are happy to advise on the best dishes and take great pride in their food. Even so, my advice would be: don´t even bother looking at the menu. Just order a Coronary Bypass Burger and prepare to be blown away. (see full image)

Hoi An

Hoi An is a beautiful, historic town(see full image). By night it grows even more stunning, as the central canal glitters with floating lanterns, bobbing along under the colourful Japanese bridge. This was the setting for a rather special meal on board a canal boat at The Pink Flamingo floating restaurant. The food here is prepared in the open kitchen which is entertainment enough, but we were also lucky enough to be serenaded by an acoustic guitar as we watched the chef work at record speed. We only had a couple of beers with our meal which was probably a sensible move, considering that you have to walk a plank to enter and exit.(see full image)

 

Vietnamese food

So that's pizza and burgers covered, now onto Vietnamese cuisine itself. If I were to describe it in three words they would be fresh, fragrant and flavoursome. I really could talk about it all day, so instead I´ll summarise some of our favourites below:

 

Banh Mi

Bahn Mi is a Vietnamese term for all kinds of bread, but is most commonly associated with baguettes which were introduced here in French colonial times. Street carts selling delicious sandwiches are ten a penny, particularly at night when you find hoards of tourists chowing down on a pate and pork filled roll in the early hours of the morning. My favourite Banh Mi (and believe me, we tried A LOT) was in Hanói, in a small shop located a few doors down from the Downtown Vietnam Backpackers Hostel. But... if you´re nursing a hangover (highly likely if you stay here!) and that seems like too far to walk, the beef chilli nachos there are awesome.

Sizzling skillets

I don´t know the Vietnamese name for this dish and I don´t know the name of the restaurant that we ate it in, but I do know that this meal was delicious. It´s served as a red hot, sizzling platter of luncheon meat, sardines, egg and laughing cow cheese, with a side of bread, french fries (optional) and tender steak served in a flaming bowl of butter. Without trying it, I would contest that this strange combination would never work but believe me it does and for around £1 per person, it can´t be beaten for value. (see full image)

 

Phở

Pronounced ¨far¨, this herb enriched, fragrant soup is delicious and probaby the most famous Vietnamese dish. It also happens to be one member of the hungry backpackers favourite meal... he couldn´t get enough of the stuff. Personally, I prefer the slightly richer, stew versión, Phở Bo Kho,(see full image) but which ever you choose, be sure to customise it to your taste with the addition of basil, mint, chilli and sugar. It´s the perfect light lunch.

 Vietnamese spring rolls

Differing from their Chinese cousins, Vietnamese spring rolls aren´t deep fried. In fact they aren´t cooked at all and consist of rice paper stuffed with lettuce, herbs and veg or prawns. I would have really enjoyed them if they weren´t  full of corriander, but I´ll certainly be making my own version at home as they´re packed with goodness and would make a great packed lunch (see full image).
 

To wash all off this amazing grub down, what better than a glass of fresh beer.  Many restaurants and bars brew their own, selling it for as little as £0.06 a pint. Just be careful if you stop by for a beer on your push bike as it's easy to get carried away on these unregulated brews. 

On a final note, don't be misled that every street cart will be selling delicious treats. It took me almost 3 weeks to notice the flashing lights on some of the carts saying 'Chien'. For those of you who aren't familiar with French, that means dog and for sale are some rather innocent looking kebabs of mans best friend. We weren't brave enough to try them but they were selling like hot cakes (see full image).