Vietnamese Food Culture
Vietnam is a diverse country, with a rich recent and historical history. Traveling from the North to the South, there is a wide variety of culture—and foods—that you can experience. While dodging millions of scooters, guaranteed to burn the mass of calories you're about to put on, experience the usual, ideal Vietnamese food, as well as some recommendations that are a bit more... exotic, to say the least.
Hanoi
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The capital city of Hanoi at its core holds the West Lake, a green oasis with Trấn Quốc Pagoda where one can go to observe the Buddhist rituals carried out by the locals and enjoy the serenity. Others would argue that Hanoi’s center is its Old Quarter, whose history spans over 2,000 years. Scooters whiz past, baskets of flowers and fruit pass you by; movement, action, color and culture. Here is a humid city where you can enjoy both the hustle of an old city and the calm legend filled waterside.
If this is what you wish to experience as a traveler, then firstly mastering the traffic, whose flow resembles a school of fish, is the beginning step to experience the city like a local. Cross with confidence and go get some Bún Chả. A Vietnamese dish of grilled pork and noodle, and Chả giò—vegetarian versions are available too—is a local staple. In 2016, even Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain tried it themselves at Bún Chả Hương Liên.
There are plenty of local places in the Old Quarter that have mastered this dish too, so don't be afraid to walk about and follow your nose. After the meal, head over to Giảng Cafe for an egg coffee and don’t be taken aback by the tiny furniture there—or your new addiction for the unique drink.
Hue
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Hue (pronounced Hyew) is renowned as the royal city, but it wasn't until 1945 that it was recognized as the national, the political, cultural and religious capital of Vietnam. The evocative capital still holds the glories of Imperial Vietnam, even though many of its finest buildings were destroyed during the American War. Hue owes some of its charm from its location on the Perfume River, which calmly flows through the city which is now a combination of both modern and ancient, growing and crumbling, yet it still remains royal.
The food in Hue is renowned throughout Vietnam because it was served to the royals, and thus was refined, delicious and aristocratic. One of their specialties is their Fig Salad, the fig is steamed, cooked with peanuts, pork and then served on shrimp crackers. A great place where to enjoy the fig salad is Tha Om Garden House near the Perfume River. If you're a traveler who likes to explore royal history, and live like a royal, then Hue will be your best match.
Hoi An
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Hoi An, the ancient port town dating back from the 15th century, is now a calm UNESCO protected melting pot famed for its artistry and gastronomy. This is the place for a traveler who enjoys being in the country side, near a beach, in a town that's full of life and lives it with a laid back style. Hoi An is filled with incredibly talented seamstresses, silk producers and tailors, so do yourself a favor and order that outfit you've daydreamed about. Bao Khanh Silk is a respected tailor shop and the perfect place to start: pop in during the afternoon to place your order and within a day, a high quality custom made outfit will be yours.
If you are not so confident with your Vietnamese cooking skills, then sign up for a cooking class at Vy's Market Restaurant and Cooking School, where the lively atmosphere and the smell of Cao Lầu will make a cook out of you. Cao Lầu is a delectable dark pork broth with fat yellow noodles, slices of juicy pork, served with bean sprouts, green vegetables and crispy croutons. The noodles must be made with the water from one of the closely guarded ancient Cham wells hidden throughout Hoi An. The best place where to get some Cao Lầu is at Cao Lầu Thanh, a local spot with cheaper prices. When the sun sets, grab a mango cake, a Vietnamese sweet coffee to go and stroll the lantern covered ancient town of Hoi An.
Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City
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In Saigon, I warn you, there will be bikes. From the 9 million inhabitants of the city, 7.5 million have a scooter or a motorcycle. This is a metropolitan city where neon lights and traffic lights flash before your eyes. Saigon is the urban center of Vietnam, with street food being served on every corner and a cosmopolitan atmosphere surrounding you, a place to endlessly explore.
To experience Saigon as a local, book a tour with Vespa Adventures for a Saigon After Dark Tour, where for four hours you’ll be taken all over the city, for amazing local little food spots and music bars on the back of a vintage Vespa. You better go on the tour hungry because by the end, you'll be filled to the brim. When in Saigon, be on the back of a bike and get yourself some jumping chicken. The dish, a local specialty, ought to be familiar for the French—and saying no to eating frog is an insult that will not be excused.
