10 Things You Didn’t Know About Vietnam

Immerse yourself in the Vietnamese culture when you visit and you’ll be amply rewarded with a very warm welcome. Learn a little bit of the history and language and brush up on the local laws and etiquette tips, with our handy guide;

Tips on etiquette when visiting Vietnam

In Vietnam, hierarchy structures are very strict and always adhered to. The hierarchy is ranked on their age and status and can be seen in circumstances where a large group or family is welcomed in order of age and importance. The oldest one is always greeted first, having a door opened for them first and served their meal first. The oldest and head of the family is one that has to approve any marriage proposals and decisions that are to be made. Vietnam tours
Etiquette plays a very important role in society in Vietnam. If you are out in public areas, public displays of affection with a partner are best avoided, including kissing, holding and touching hands. And when you give something to another person, always use both hands. You should not point with your finger, nor put your hands on their hips or cross your chest with your arms.
Shorts and beachwear (including skimpy bikinis and swimsuits) are best kept for the beach, as this kind of dress is really frowned upon in the towns and cities. Just think ‘modest dress’ at all times and you’ll be on the right track. Paradise Cruise

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Vietnam

If you are invited to someone’s home for a meal, you should take gift such as fruit, flowers, or perfumed incense. Flowers that are bad luck and should not be given are chrysanthemums.
You are not allowed to give handkerchiefs as a gift in someone’s home.
Meals in Vietnam are family oriented. The eldest person is always the first to be seated at the table and the dishes are to be passed around using both hands at all times. It is expected that you finish eating all the food that was put on your plate and when the meal is complete, they put the chopsticks on the rice bowl in front of them.
For more tips, advice and details, we have produced a useful resource for all travel in Vietnam.
Vietnam culture and history tips AMALOTUS CRUISE

In Hanoi there is an intriguing museum called the Ho Chi Minh Museum which features many informative displays about the Vietnam War, the great leader himself and America’s involvement. This is a great place to learn about the conflict and there is even an exhibit of a cave that Ho Chi Minh himself hid in during the war.

One of the most gorgeous beaches in Vietnam is Da Nang beach with miles of stunning soft sand and crystal clear waters. During the Vietnam War, this was the rest and relaxation location for the Americans servicemen. Soldiers stayed at Danang beach to recuperate and sought the peace and solace that the area still offers today.

Explore the Vinh Moc tunnels in Quang Tri in northern Vietnam near Hue, the former imperial capital city, and listen to the stories told by the local guides, which are a real revelation. The sheer ingenuity of the Viet Cong during the war illustrate why the Americans lost the war. This tunnel is situated on the old north and south Vietnam border and is one of the most ingenious tunnels that was so well planned out and intricately dug out by hand. Around 60 Vietnamese families lived here duing the conflict to keep their community safe from the war going on all around them. Visiting the site is a sobering and insightful experience.

Take a trip to the small town of Quang Ngai on the south central coast, which features a museum that recreates the My Lai Massacre of March 1968. It was a massacre led by American soldiers and the museum showcases the period in intricate detail. All the homes are left as they were then, burned down, but one has been remodelled to show you what the home were like back when it happened.

Best Food in Can Tho

Best Food in Can Tho
Located in South West of Vietnam, people here at Can Tho Province are friendly, gentle & generous. Mother Nature has been very kind when providing such prosperity to the land; therefore, many famous recipes are on the list of Best Vietnamese Food.

Southern Vietnam with extension to Cambodia 10 days

Rice Cake with Pork Belly, Mung Bean with Magenta Leaves Recipe (Bánh tét lá cẩm):

In Can Tho, the best Rice Cake with Pork Belly and Mung Bean (Bánh tét) belongs to Huỳnh’s family who live in Bình Thủy. They made their signature with the Magneta leaves by cooking these leaves to take the water from it then stir fry sticky rice with coconut milk, meat & salted duck egg are used for the fillings. Pelican Cruise Halong Bay

Wanna have a delicious cake, you must select the most qualified sticky rice, soak with magneta leaves so that the cake would have a beautiful, natural purple colour. The Magneta leaves need to be fresh, otherwise, the colour would fade. The meat for fillings must be fresh and marinated carefully. Then, add the stir-fried sticky rice with coconut milk inside before wrapping. The cake will be cooked from 4 to 5 hours. When you cut the cake, you will see the silky purple colour of the sticky rice, meat inside, egg yolk from the salted duck egg, fat and mung bean combine together & create a symphony of food. JAHAN CRUISE

Other Rice Cakes with Pork Belly and Mung Bean (Bánh tét) are from Chín Cẩm or Tư Đẹp stores. The tourists are usually go to Xuân Khánh market, An Thới, Mít Nài, etc. to purchase the cakes by themselves.

Cái Răng’s Grilled Pork Roll (Nem nướng Cái Răng)

Back in the old time, there was a woman named Tư Khem who is believed to be the creator of Cái Răng’s Grilled Pork Roll (Nem nướng Cái Răng). Until now, many food lovers are still coming to this land to enjoy it.

Best Food in Can Tho

 The best Cái Răng’s Grilled Pork Roll (Nem nướng Cái Răng) is made from minced fresh pork, sweep it then knead it into round meat balls, next you grill it on a hot coal stove. Each balls are skewed in thin bamboo stick and are best served with Phong Điền’s Rice vermicelli (Bánh hỏi Phong Điền).

 Like other dishes, Southern people like using herbs with rice paper, Cái Răng’s Grilled Pork Roll (Nem nướng Cái Răng) need herbs, green banana, cucumber, pineapple, starfruit, etc.. Holding half of a rice paper on your hand, add some vegetables named above then put a Grilled Pork Roll on, roll it and eat with special sauce. If you don’t like soya sauce or hoisin, you can substitute with fish sauce with lemon, minced garlic and chillies. Here is also the second best Vietnamese food in Can Tho Province which you should not miss when you have a chance to visit here.

Grilled Banana wrapped in Sticky Rice (Chuối nếp nướng)

Banana is wrapped in sticky rice, bring to grill together will create an amazing flavor when eating. tourists will totally fall in love its flavor from the first time of tasting.

Grilled Snails with Pepper Recipe (Ốc nướng tiêu)

The snails is boiled quickly then put on the coal stove to grill. When it is cooked, you can take the snails out, put on plate which has laksa leaves below. You can taste the spicy, sweet, salty and crunchy-ness all in one recipe.

 Vietnamese Cong Cakes (Bánh cóng)

It usually uses with Vietnamese Steamed Rice Pancake Rolls (Banh Cuon). But, with gourmets, they always want to eat only Cong Cakes. It will create a stunning flavor in their mouth. Using with vegetable and dipping fish sauce in rainy days is never better.

Rice Spaghetti with Pork skin (Bánh tằm bì)

This recipe is very famous in the South of Vietnam. Its taste is special: the rice spaghetti is steamed and served with clear fish sauce, coconut milk, vegetables, bean sprouts & pickled vegetable. If you like, a little bit of Stir fried spring onions with fat (Mỡ hành) would be enchanted.

Phong Điền’s Rice vermicelli with roasted pork (Bánh hỏi - heo quay Phong Điền)

Rice vermicelli is used as side dish when eating roasted pork and served with herbs, fish sauce and sweet & sour soya sauce. It depends on the region that the local people may have a touch on the recipe to adjust the taste.

Apple Mangrove Hot Pot in Phù Sa (Lẩu bần Phù Sa)

This dish can be served at any seasons even though its season has not arrived yet because the local restaurants there know how to extract the juice from the Apple Mangrove. If you want to have a delicious hot pot, the fish should be carefully selected also but depends on the season, you can be flexible to substitute the fish with many kinds such as: shark catfish, eel tail catfish, Taiwan tilapia, etc.

Top 5 Things to do in Da Nang Vietnam

Da Nang is comfortably nestled between Hoi An and Hue on Vietnam’s east coast, but unlike the neighbouring towns travellers only stay here for 2 days on average, which is a real shame as there is so much so see and do in Danang! This is the fourth largest city in Vietnam so benefits from fantastic restaurants, shops and tree lined boulevards. There are also beautiful beaches, fascinating culture and archaeological wonders; after all this is the capital of the Champa Kingdom! Danang – Hoi an 3 days

Explore the Museum of Cham Sculpture

Located: 1 D Trung Nuvuon Street
Admission: 30,000 Vietnamese Dong (Less than 2 US dollars)
The Cham Museum showcases the sculptures from the Champa or Cham people who inhabited and ruled Central Vietnam from 192 AD to 1835. The museum was built by the French with heavy Cham influence showcased in the architectural design. Sculptures and adornment were brought in from temples and towers from all over the region. Sculptures rage in age from the 6th to 17th century. These artifacts and works of art and deal with Buddhist and Hindu influenced materials. Gods, sacred animals, and legends were carved as altars, statues and other temple adornments. Almost 300 different works are on display inside and outside of the main building. LA MARGUERITE

Archaeologists have recently unearthed an ancient Cham tower in Phong Le Village in Danang which is thought to be 1,000 years old. The tower has four gates and four towers and measures 16m by 16m. The site is rich in artefacts as many have been unearthed so far, providing further insight into the ancient Champa kingdom.

Tackle the mighty Marble Mountains

Located: South of Danang
Admission: Only one of the mountains is open to be scaled by visitors
The five limestone mountains located southwest of Danang are named after the five elements by an emperor of Vietnam’s past. These mountains once held temples and even pagodas carved deep into the mountains. The French, Viet Cong, and Americans all left their mark on the mountains as lookouts and hiding places. Exploring caves, temples, tunnels and even climbing up the only open mountain offer something different and beautiful to view.

For other things you didn’t know about Vietnam, check out our 10 things you didn’t know about Vietnam. For example did you know that Vietnam is the fastest growing tourist destination? Jasmine Cruise – Halong Bay

Top 5 Things to do in Da Nang Vietnam

Relax on the beautiful beaches of Da Nang

One of the more famous beaches is My Khe, or China Beach. This beach was once an R&R location for American troops during the Vietnam War. Today it is still used for relaxing, and enjoying the sun and sand. Beautiful accommodations are available for visitors today, along with clean beaches and a reduced amount of beggars compared to other beaches.

Clear water, white sand and green forests surround the Non Nuoc beach. In 2005 this beach was hailed as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world by Forbes magazine. Visitors enjoy surfing on its gentle waves and its proximity to other destinations such as the Marble Mountains.
Discover Danang Cathedral aka Rooster Church

Located: Tran Phu, City Centre
This candycane pink church was built in 1923 for the French Catholics who inhabited Vietnam at the time. Locals have long called the church Con Ga, or the Rooster Church, because of its copper rooster weathervane. Today Danang Cathedral serves 4,000 parishioners and offers services in different languages. If you wish to attend services, observe the Vietnamese etiquette and come early to avoid having to stand in the back or even in the street with cyclists for services led by the local priest. Papers are printed out to help parishioners follow along with the service.

Marvel at the decorative Buddhist Pagodas

Some of the most striking architecture, culture and history present in Danang is located in its many buildings, especially its pagodas. Pagodas in Vietnam are traditional tiered places of Buddhist worship that hold special sacred articles. Worshippers come to pray and meditate within the confines of the pagoda and its surrounding areas.

Cách làm mặt nạ trị mụn từ tinh bột nghệ vàng

Nghệ có tác dụng rất tốt cho da: tẩy tế bào chết; trị mụn; hạn chế các vết chàm (eczema) trên da nhờ tác dụng sát khuẩn đặc biệt; giảm và chống sẹo, thu nhỏ lỗ chân lông, chống nhờn, chống lại những tác hại của ánh nắng.. Nhiều nghiên cứu khẳng định tác dụng đáng kể của nghệ đối với các vết thương nhỏ và vết thương do mụn để lại.
Chăm sóc da bằng mặt nạ tinh bột nghệ vàng hay nghệ tươi thì chị em nào cũng phải công nhận làn da sẽ đẹp hơn, trắng hơn và mịn màng hơn. Nhưng hầu hết mọi người đều lo ngại, sau khi đắp mặt nạ nghệ xong, làm thế nào để thổi bay những tàn dư vàng vàng của nghệ còn sót lại trên da?
Một giải pháp hữu hiệu cho các chị em phụ nữa đó là sử dụng tinh bột nghệ vàng.da sẽ hấp thụ tốt hơn mà không phải sợ da bị vàng.
1/ LÀM MẶT NẠ TỪ HỖN HỢP TINH BỘT NGHỆ +SỮA CHUA+MẬT ONG

Loại mặt nạ này thích hợp cho mọi loại da.có tác dụng trị nám da,giúp tái tạo da,cho làm da mịn màng hết mụn
Chuẩn bị :
- 1 hộp sữa chua không đường ( để sữa chua trong ngăn mát dạng sệt sệt)
- 2 thìa canh nhỏ mật ong
- 2 thìa lớn Tinh Bột Nghệ vàng (dùng loại này da hấp thụ tốt hơn và làm cho da không bị vàng sau khi đắp mặt nạ )
- 1 miếng bọt biển (miếng bông thương dùng để trang điểm )
Cách làm:
Trộn Tinh Bột nghệ với 1 thìa nhỏ cafe mật ong.

Cách làm mặt nạ trị mụn từ tinh bột nghệ vàng

- Cho từ từ sữa chua không đường vào hỗn hợp,tới khí được hỗn hợp sền sệt thì dừng lại(không cho hết hũ sữa chua nhé)
- Trộn đều được hỗn hợp mịn-nhuyễn.
- cho hỗn hợp vào hũ -để trong ngăn mát tủ lạnh để dùng trong tuần.
Lưu ý: Dùng hỗn hợp này tối đa trong 1 tuần. Hết 1 tuần, bạn hãy chịu khó làm hỗn hợp mới nhé.bảo quản bằng cách cho vào hũ để trong ngăn mát tủ lạnh.
Thực Hiện:
Bước 1: Rửa sạch mặt bằng nước ấm kết hợp massage mặt cho làn da để da tự khô
Bước 2 : Dùng miếng bọt biển đánh Thoa hỗn hợp lên mặt theo từng lớp từ mỏng -dày.
- Sau khoảng 20-30 phút mặt nạ khô .
Bước 3 : Rửa sạch hỗn hợp bằng nước lạnh.sau đó có thể bạn kết hợp thoa kem dưỡng da hàng ngày.nên làm vào buổi tối trước khi đi ngủ để da được tái tạo trong quá trình ngủ.
Tác dụng:
- Da trở nên mềm mại và giàu sức sống nhanh chóng,giúp làn da trắng hồng rạng rỡ. Đặc biệt đối với những người bị tổn thương da do mụn bọc có thể uống tinh bột nghệ với mật ong hoặc đắp mặt nạ vào các buổi tối, hiệu quả có thể nhận thấy rõ rệt.
- Đối với phụ nữ sau khi sinh kết hợp với đắp mặt nạ(tuần 2-3 lần thui ạ) và hòa 1 thìa với nước lọc pha chút mật ong, uống ngày 2 lần, giúp nhanh chóng hồi phục sức khỏe và nhan sắc, tránh hậu sản.
p/s: hỗn hợp với tinh bột nghệ sau khi rửa cách sẽ không bị vàng da như bột nghệ hay nghệ tuơi bình thường.Loại mặt nạ này không có hại, không lo dị ứng và nó rất tiện lợi.chỉ dùng dắp 2-3 lần/1 tuần thôi.đưng lạm dụng quá
Mặt nạ tinh bột nghệ đen, sữa chua sẽ khá mát lạnh và dịu nhẹ. Mùi tự nhiên của mật ong và sữa chua giúp bạn thư giãn tối đa trong quá trình đắp mặt nạ.

2/ MẶT NẠ ĐẮP MẶT GIÚP SE KHÍT LỖ CHÂN LÔNG :
từ nguyên liệu rất dễ kiếm,các chị em có thể tự cải thiện làn da thô ráp-lỗ chân lông lớn chỉ bằng cách đắp mặt nạ đơn giản.
Chuẩn bị: (chỉ làm cho 1 lần đắp)
- 2/3 thìa lớn Tinh bột nghệ.
- 1/4 quả bơ dầm nhuyễn.
- 1 thìa cafe nhỏ mật ong (nếu không có mật ong có thể thay thế bằng 1/2 thìa dầu dừa-bạn tự làm-pm mình chỉ cách làm dầu dừa rất đơn giản. hihi). Các bạn có thể làm đẹp bằng bột sắn dây
- 1 miếng bông gòn

Cách làm: - Bước 1: dằm nhuyễn 1/4 quả bơ (càng nhuyễn càng tốt nhé) - Bước 2: trộn BƠ +TINH BỘT NGHỆ + MẬT ONG (OR DẦU DỪA)=>được hỗn hợp sền sệt.

Thực Hiện:
- Bước 1: Rửa sạch mặt bằng nước ấm kết hợp massage mặt cho làn da để da tự khô
- Bước 2 : Dùng miếng bọt biển đánh Thoa hỗn hợp lên mặt theo từng lớp từ mỏng -dày.
- Bước 3:Sau 20-30 phút Rửa sạch hỗn hợp bằng nước lạnh.sau đó có thể bạn kết hợp thoa kem dưỡng da hàng ngày.
P/S:sau khi rửa sạch bạn có thể kiểm chứng bằng cách nhìn làn da qua gương đảm bảo các lỗ chân lông đã được thu nhỏ,da mặt rất mềm mịn. nên thức hiện mặt nạ này vào thư 7-cn :D
3/ LÀM MẶT NẠ  TỪ TINH BỘT NGHỆ+BỘT YẾN MẠCH+MẬT ONG+DẦU HẠNH NHÂN

 Cầu kì hơn một chút so với phương pháp trên.Chọn thêm yến mạch,mật ong,dầu hạnh nhân để làm tăng tác dụng làm trắng da của tinh bột nghệ.Thích hợp cho mọi loại da
Chuẩn bị:
- 2 thìa cafe tinh bột nghệ
- 1 thìa cafe bột yến mạch
- 1 thìa cafe mật ong
- 1/2 thìa cà phê dầu hạnh nhân
Tinh bột nghệ vàng mua ở đâu
2 thìa tinh bột nghệ vàng
bot yến mạch
1 thìa Bột yến mạch bán sẵn
Tinh bột nghệ
1 thìa mật ong

1/2 thìa dầu hạnh nhân
Cách làm:
Lấy 1 thìa bột yến mạch và 2 thìa Tinh bột nghệ trộn đều với nhau, cho thêm 1/2 thìa dầu hạnh nhân và 1 thìa mật ong. Đánh thật mịn là dùng được
Làm mặt nạ làm trắng da
Hỗn hợp sau khi trộn
Cách dùng: nên đắp mặt nạ này trước khi đi ngủ nhé
Bước 1: Rửa sạch mặt bằng nước ấm kết hợp massage nhẹ.
Bước 2: thoa hỗn hợp lên mặt khoảng 20-30 phút
Bước 3: Rửa sạch bằng nước ấm kết hợp massage nhẹ  nhang cho da mặt nhé.

Ninh binh travel guide

Ninh Binh travel guides are indispensable when you  discover destination  in Vietnam.
Ninhbinh -vietnam is a bridge linking Northern provinces with Southern ones and it is located on the transportation including National Highway 1A and trans-Vietnam railway. Ninhbinh contains all the scenic quintessence of whole Vietnam within its relatively small size. So, Ninhbinh can be said that is a miniature of Vietnam. Ninhbinh - a miniature of Vietnam is a province with potential and diversity terrain of both mountainous and coastal areas. Ninhbinh is located in the transitional position of natural systems: Red river delta, Northwest mountain area in Hoa Binh - Thanh Hoa buffer zone and sea territory. Ninh Binh – Halong 3 days
Ninh Binh

1. Location and weather
Ninhbinh-vietnam is delimited by Hoa Binh and Ha Nam to the North; Nam Dinh to the East and Thanh Hoa to the West and South. Here, the terrain is diverse with mountainous areas in the West and Northwest; and coastal parts in the East and South. The province is about 95km from Hanoi, or 2.5 hour South by car
The average temperature is 23.4 Celsius degree and its high humidity, between 80-85%, there is tropical monsoon climate. The best time to Ninhbinh travel in the dry season. It is between November to April of the following year.

• Jasmine Cruise – Halong Bay

2. Place to see
- Trang An eco-tourism center is a community cenic in Ninhbinh-vietnam. It is the most famous attraction of Ninhbinh-vietnam. With a chain of natural wonders like Tam Coc, Thai Vi Temple, Bich Dong Pagoda, Fairy cave or Sunny Valley; Tam Coc – Bich Dong tourist center is regarded as “Nam thiên đệ nhị động” (The second best cave of the South).
- Cuc Phuong National Park belongs to Nho Quan District, Ninhbinh province. It is the first national park of Vietnam preserving a variety of rare animals and plants. Here, there is has May Bac mount with 648.2 meters. It has tropical monsoon climate, average annual temperature about 24.70C. Especially, Cuc phuong has many caves, beautiful landscape and historical natural remnants such as: Trang Khuyet Cave, Chua Cave, Thuy Tien Cave, Nguoi Xua, Cave, Con Moong grotto, San Ho Cave…

• FROM THE DELTA TO ANGKOR

Ninh binh travel guide

- Ninhbinh - a miniature of Vietnam is great destination for cultural explorers. Here, the number of ancient vestiges may overwhelm any other provinces in Vietnam. In addition, Ninhbinh-vietnam attracts tourists by a complex of new pagodas is Bai Dinh Pagoda.
One more remarkable attraction of Ninhbinh-vietnam is Phat Diem Church - the most beautiful church in Vietnam which was built of stone and wood in all 24 year. Beside alluring tourists by its size, the most interesting part of Phat Diem Church is such a center of a religion originated from Western country, is built in Vietnamese architecture.

3. Ninhbinh ’s specialties
If you have chance to Ninhbinh travel would immediately think about delicious dishes made from goat, Kim Son wine, eel vermicelli and scorched rice (dried rice).
Among those specialties, Ninhbinh mountain goat is a well-known specialty that tourists can enjoy in many big cuisine centers like Hanoi, Sai Gon, Ha Long, Vung Tau, etc. However, it can be sure that you will be served with the most delicious one in Ninhbinh- vietnam, the origin of such goat meat.
You can spend time enjoying these specialties since they are not only delicious dishes but also contain the traditional value of this land. It is also a good way of getting to know about Ninhbinh -vietnam.

4. How to get there.

Ninhbinh travel guide has a convenient traffic system and tourist may get there by motorbike, car or train.
If you are in a small group, you can take a bus or a taxi since it is not too far from Hanoi. There are regular bus which depart from the South Bus Station in Hanoi

Nha Trang travel guide

Nha Trang travel guide
Nha Trang is Vietnam’s favourite party town, but has many hidden charms for those who delve deeper and explore its museums, aquariums and rich ethnic culture. Within striking distance in the hinterland are several important sites where the ancient Cham culture has left its mark. What is more, Nha Trang is serviced by daily flights from Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City, making a relaxing beach holiday within easy reach when the big cities start to grate on your nerves.  Dalat & Nha Trang Relaxation 6 days

Places to visit in Nha Trang and around

Po Nagar

On a hill above the Cai River, at the city’s northern entrance, stands the majestic temple of the famous Cham sanctuary, Po Nagar. The 25m (82ft) main tower is dedicated to the Cham goddess Po Yan Inu Nagar, the ‘Holy Mother’ of the Champa kingdom, and considered to be Shiva’s female form. Her statue resides in the main temple, but it was decapitated during French rule; the original head now resides in the Guimet Museum in Paris. Only four of the sanctuary’s original eight temples, all of which face east (symbolising life, renewal and purification with the sunrise), remain standing.

• 5 reasons to have a Halong Bay overnight trip

Nha Trang travel guide

Dam Market

Some of Nha Trang’s most interesting French-colonial architecture and crumbling 19th-century Chinese houses can be seen around Dam Market (Cho Dam), near the Cai River. This former Chinese quarter is truly the most underrated part of town. The busy market sees surprisingly few foreign tourists, and is a welcome contrast to the rest of the modernised city – and a great place to snack on local food.  Mango 2 days Ben Tre – Cai Be – Sa Dec

Alexandre Yersin Museum

The Pasteur Institute, on the seafront at 10D Tran Phu Street, was founded in 1895 by Dr Alexandre Yersin (1863–1943), a French microbiologist, military doctor, explorer and overall Renaissance man. Having discovered the link between rats, fleas and eventually the bacteria that cause bubonic plague (later renamed Yersinia pestis in his honour), Yersin built a laboratory to manufacture the serum for the disease, and the lab later became an official branch of the Pasteur Institute. The small Alexandre Yersin Museum attached to the institute displays many of his personal effects, furniture, documents and antique laboratory equipment (including an enormous telescope).

Khanh Hoa Museum

A few doors down from the Pasteur Institute is the small Khanh Hoa Museum (Bao Tang Khanh Hoa) at 16D Tran Phu Street. The museum’s left wing contains relics from the Xom Con (about 3,000 years old), the Dong Son (c.2,000 BC–AD 200) and Cham cultures. The most unusual item is the ancient musical instrument similar to a marimba which is estimated to be 3,000 years old.

Oceanographic Institute

Beside Cau Da Port, to the south of the city, is the Oceanographic Institute (Vien Hai Duong Hoc), founded in 1923 and housed in a large French-colonial complex. The institute has a dozen large, open tanks – most notable are the prowling sharks, inquisitive rays and the seemingly oblivious sea turtles.

Hon Tre

From Nha Trang Beach, the outline of large Hon Tre (Bamboo Island) in the distance is clearly visible. The island is dominated by the Vinpearl Land Amusement Park and Vinpearl Resort. A cable car departs from Phu Quy Port and delivers visitors 3,320m (10,892ft) across the bay to the centre of the amusement park. If you find the idea of a 10-minute cable-car ride daunting, take the ferry instead (20 minutes) from Phu Quy Port. The park contains a number of rides and a rollercoaster, games area, water park, shopping centre and restaurants. The crowning feature of the park is the modern Underwater World, with more than 20 tanks of varying sizes, including an impressive walk-through wraparound tank featuring sharks, rays and moray eels.

Street food saigon

After two winters of stuffing my face around town, I thought I would put together a guide to Saigon street food, gathering some of the places I love in one place. These are not the absolute best of everything, but rather a cross-section of delicious, cheap and authentic foods that are also conveniently located. I tended to head to outer districts more often, on the hunt for that bun mam a friend told me about, or what was billed as “the best Peking duck in town” by my enthused landlady. While fun side trips to outer districts are great, I wanted to put together a post that would be more helpful for short-term trips. The restaurants and street stalls below are fairly central to where most travellers stay, meaning people can frequent them even if in town only briefly. South Vietnam tours

Fasten your seatbelts, people: this post is close to 10,000 words long.

The focus is, of course, food. One specific soup, a sweet-and-sour canh chua (photo in the “street food” section below), was what initially led me to the city. I was lured in by the complicated tastes and unfamiliar sting of the rice paddy herb on my tongue. It might have been one soup that brought me to Saigon, but it was the rest of the food that kept me there, and keeps me coming back. It is not just taste of food that makes Saigon so enthralling, but the act of eating as well, and all of the craziness that eating comprises. The swirling noise, the families all sitting and enjoying a meal on the street, smiling at you fumbling with your condiments. The beauty of food being not just a necessity but also a sight in and of itself: a window into culture, and a source of endless wonder.

Mekong & Phu Quoc island (5 days, 4 nights)

Street food saigon

Countless moments of me smiling as an old lady came over shaking her head at my terrible rice paper folding skills, correcting my technique as we sat at the edge of traffic. Or the bo la lot vendor who discovered my love of starfruit and made sure to have extra on hand when I returned. The beloved grandpa at the pho ga restaurant below, who ran over to my bowl repeatedly to ensure I added pickled garlic, lest I forget. The landladies that adopted me into their homes, feeding me, giving me hugs, teaching me how to cook. HO CHI MINH CITY’S CENTRAL POST OFFICE, VIETNAM

There are hundreds of moments like these baked into the aggregate of my memories in Vietnam. Most of them derive from food. As Luke Nguyen says in The Songs of Sapa: Stories & Recipes from Vietnam,

Street food saigon
Streetside eating.
This is not an exhaustive list, but hopefully it provides a good start. Yes, I know I could have offered this post as an e-book for sale (thank you to those suggesting this already), but I’d prefer to have it freely available. If you want to support the site, pick up my book about travel and food, or a t-shirt in the shop instead.

Or, for those of you who loved your time in Vietnam and want to commemorate it at home with something a bit more tangible, please see my hand-drawn, one-of-a-kind Vietnamese maps of food. They’re available in t-shirt and poster form.
Hand-drawn typographic food map of Vietnam
I also realize some of you would have preferred diacritical marks in lieu of plain Roman letters, but when typing into Google Maps to find these places, most travellers have indicated they prefer the non-Tieng Viet script. I’m happy to update the post if this is no longer the case.

I should also note that I’ve never gotten sick from eating street food in Saigon, and I’ve eaten at all sorts of places, dodgy or otherwise. The culture of food is so prevalent that fast turnover and fresh ingredients rule the roost. At 4pm when I want soup, there is usually a gaggle of other people also chowing down. I joke that I graze like a cow, eating mini meals every few hours, and Saigon is an ideal place to do so. One can eat through the country as a whole — foods from the North and South, the Central region and the Mekong Delta — all in one city.

Saigon is most definitely a magical place for your tastebuds. The balancing act between warming and cooling ingredients, between heavier meats and lighter rice-based carbs, fresh herbs to round out the taste, never get old. I’m no culinary anthropologist, but in learning through eating, and being corrected by others also passionate about food, I’ve hopefully created a crash course here that will help travellers discover more about the city. For celiacs like me, I have included tips for gluten-free eating. I’ve also added a long basics for navigating Saigon section at the end, in the vein of my other “crash courses“. Here you’ll find information about taxis, visas, foot massages and more.

I’ve tried to include as many photos of these foods as possible, since my descriptions might not do the trick but a photo usually does. These are all my pictures, except for the bun moc (thanks Tom!).

Finally, I plan to put these all onto a Google Map, but haven’t done so yet as I’m tethering to 3G in Greece. I’ll update the post when it is in map form.

Banh Beo
Banh beo from Nam Giao in Saigon
Part of the cuisine from central Vietnam, banh beo (literally “water fern cake”) are small round discs of rice flour, formed to look like lily flower pads found in the estates surrounding the old imperial city of Hue. Topped with crunchy pork rinds and toasted shrimp powder and served with fish sauce, they are a very rewarding dish to share as they usually come in multiples of 8 or 10.

Where: Nam Giao
136 Le Thanh Ton Street, in an alleyway behind Ben Thanh market. District 1
+84 (8) 3825 0261

Banh Da Xuc Hen

Banh Da Xuc Hen in all its delicious glory.
I have a list of foods that sound like other foods in the local language. For example, the word for water in Bahasa Indonesia or Bahasa Malaysia is “air” — and obviously air in English is not food. In Vietnamese, the word for baby clams is “hen” — quite confusing at first, since I ordered it expecting a rice and chicken bowl, not even thinking that obviously hen would not be an actual hen. My brain did not compute.

Banh da xuc hen is a lovely and satisfying snack. A large rice paper crisp with hints of sesame and coconut arrives on a plate. It looks bare, but then you lift up the rice cracker and peek underneath, finding a pile of teeny tiny clams fried in lemongrass, rau ram (Vietnamese coriander), chilli, onion and garlic. It is a simple dish in terms of ingredients but the taste is profoundly different than anything else I have tried. If you want a heavier version of this plate, opt for the com hen, rice topped with the same type of clams and served with a small bowl of clam broth on the side.