Street cuisines
Vietnam’s street food is some of the best in the
world. The options are endless and the dishes timeless. Even simply simplest
fruit dish or baguette has a twist in this country. And, of course, being the
center of Vietnam’s economic and cultural activity, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is
the best city in the country to try street food.
Pho is the closest thing Vietnam has to a national
dish, originally from Hanoi; this brothy and hearty noodle soup is now popular
nationwide. Pho is mostly a breakfast dish, but stalls, some quite crowded, can
be found at any time of day.
Small stalls serving sandwiches are also available.
Small silver carts serve up these cheap eats (2 or 3 per dollar, depending on
the fixings) on virtually every street corner in the city. Sausage, pate,
pickled vegetables and chilies are the best combination, though salted pork and
even vegetarian options are quite good. Some of these stalls have specialties
that only the local people know about. Sitting back and watching business for a
few minutes might lead to a nice discovery.
Other soup such as Bun Bo Hue, a rice noodle soup
that is thicker than pho, is popular is the Chinese inspired hu tieu.
Lunch is the best time to find rice dishes. Many
street stalls prepare their dishes and place them on shelves above the prep
area of the cart. Diners simply point to what they want (a nice convenience for
non-Vietnamese speakers) and it is served up over rice. Some of the best dishes
are fried tuna steaks, tofu stuffed with vegetables or minced pork, barbecued
pork chops, and stir-fried squid. Stir-fried or pickled vegetables are served
as aside dish, as is a bowl of soup. All this produces a bill for under or
around $1.
Late night chicken and rice stalls pop up, some
cooking made to order. Also at night, try the drier squid. It is not nearly as
pungent as it might seem. It is, in fact, the perfect accompaniment to a cool
bottle of Tiger Beer.
The only real advice for visitors: explore. Many of
these street food stalls serve one dish. Think of eating a dish that a cook has
had years to perfect. The dining experience can be quite amazing, even if you
are eating while sitting on the sidewalk in a plastic chair that seems to have
been designed for children.
Exploring Saigon’s street food is one of the most
rewarding experiences one could have while traveling in Vietnam.
Once settled your foot in Ho Chi Minh City, do not
leave this city before trying “banh xeo” on Dinh Cong Trang Street. There is
about one block on the street where you can find hundreds of people eating
outdoors. This is one of the most unusual eating in the city. In these places
you will find a variety of Vietnamese food which is quite cheap except for some
seafood dishes.
