Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Food In Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City- Nha Trang City

It's really hard to write a small post about food in three different areas, which is the reason why I'm just going to mention about what is most popular in these places and hope it can give you an idea. A very special point which makes the south of Vietnam different is that the people down there cook with lots of sugar, and in the north it's too much MSG. In the centre of the country, people cook with lots of salt or fish sauce.

Bun Mam Saigon

In Ho Chi Minh City, most people go out for an easy and quick lunch then go back to the office or go home for a nap before heading back for work again. I think Bun Mam is one of the most popular dishes in Sai Gon which can be eaten everywhere, even sitting on the street? Why not, or even in a restaurant, this is the dish that lots of people choose whenever they come to Saigon.

Pho Ga

In Hanoi, people are more used to eating at home. After work, people hurriedly go to the market to buy some food and go home, cook and eat with their family. This is a good thing to do, but it's time consuming. However, a popular dish to have out of the home in Hanoi is Pho Ga (Noodles with chicken), the special point of which is that people can eat it as a snack or as the main course, and the location is not a problem at all.

Nem Ninh Hoa- Nha Trang

Similarly to Hanoians, Nha Trang people tend to have three meals per day at home. But when they go out to eat Nem Ninh Hoa (Ninh Hoa spring rolls) is the most famous that everyone knows about, cheap and good. It doesn't matter whether it's lunch or dinner because it's a really healthy dish with lots of veggies.

I think people have started eating out for lunch more now in big cities, or they're prepared food for the whole day in the morning, so that they can save their time and they still can enjoy their meals at home. Vietnamese people usually take a short nap after lunch and that's why there is little action on the street at lunch time.

16 comments:

junebee said...

Why is it you have food on your blog when I'm hungry?! And have ate crappy food today?! (Ate McDonald's with the kids for lunch today).

Anonymous said...

I think Hu Tieu is the most common dish in Saigon.

Anonymous said...

Tu, if you ever take a trip to the USA, you really must visit Houston. Houston has a large Vietnamese immigrant population that has greatly enriched our culture and our lunch choices! Within easy walking distance from my office, I can find easily a half-dozen pho shops and a couple of banh mi shops. I have my favorites, of course, but most of them are good. I think you would feel very much at home - the street signs (signs at the corners that have the names of the streets on them) are even in Vietnamese in some neighborhoods. :-)

Hasan Mubarak said...

Man, you made me so hungry. Just the look to these dishes make you feel their delicious taste.

Anonymous said...

Everytime I went to Hanoi, I encountered tasty dishes; banh da cua, xoi ga, bun oc... These 3 dishes are my best favorite so far. Though there are pretty good VN restrants run by Vietnamese families here in Japan, but I never found above dishes. How shame...

Crystal said...

I wish I could take a nap after lunch, but in the U.S. sleeping "on the job" is a big no-no. Asian food is really healthy and I should try introducing more veggies into my own diet.

Van Cong Tu said...

junebee, Sorry about that :) hehe
Anonymous, yes you are right but Hu TIeu is everywhere now, and I think bun mam is great and it also is the most wanted food for northern people.
Greg, If I have a chance to go there, I will for sure. Thanks.
Crystal: why dont you come and work in Viet Nam :) hahaha. Thanks

Anonymous said...

Choi oi, hinh Bun Mam ngon qua!!! I didn't know that northern people eat lots of Bun Mam. I thought it was mainly a southern noodle soup. The last time I was in Hanoi (3 years ago) I did not see one stand that served Bun Mam. Lots of Pho and Bun Cha stands, but no Bun Mam. I guess I just did not know where to look. Boo, hoo...Oh well, thanks for posting these pictures =) Your site and Noodlepie always make me hungry...I wish I could visit Vietnam again...

Van Cong Tu said...

Let me know if you ever make a coming back Ok.

Anonymous said...

Thanx or your website it really help me out thanx one more time!

Anonymous said...

Tu, cam on nhieu lam. I have been away from VN too long and feel foreign. Thanks to your blog I will know where to go. Is there anybody who will travel the Mekong Delta in early March that I can join? You photos are beautiful and delicious!

xl pharmacy said...

That looks so delicious, I love Asian food.

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Vietnam tours said...

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