You can have your food on a silver plate, in a fancy restaurant, and maybe even have it served by a dapper waiter. Or you can have it handed to you by a sweaty, grumpy vendor (depending on what time of the day it is) who won’t need words to satisfy your gastronomic needs. Some of the best foods liven up streets no matter where you go. I used to tell our foreign guests in jest that in Southeast Asia, the dirtier the street food is, the yummier it is. Are you tasting the half-truth of this yet? There is something about food cooked in makeshift kitchens and pushcarts that make them more authentic and exciting.
I recently visited Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) and the place is a mecca of street food and all kinds of local cuisine. The colors, the smell and the entire experience left me surrendering to all the good stuff on my plate–and at other times, my friend’s plate.
Here’s a taste of Ho Chi Minh…
Pick your color. Here, it’s rice galore.Bánh tráng nướng, the local pizza of Vietnam.Right in every bite, Vietnamese pizza.Fruits? They have it all. Seriously.Crispy banana sheetsMuffins…because everybody loves them.Not your usual pizza toppings, but these make Vietnamese pizzas scrumptious.Duck in egg noodle soup, my first dinner in Saigon.The innocent mushroom in my duck soup.Beef for the hot pot.The very hot pot.Seafood fried rice from one of the food stalls at Ben Thanh Market.The shrimp dumpling that left me smiling.Spring rolls, another winner from the Ben Thanh Market.Beef soup with fresh leeks. It was Pho good!Banh beo or rice water fern cake. This is honestly my least favorite local food in Saigon. You should still give it a try even if I don’t have any good reason to give you.Beef taco from the Heart of Darkness Brewery.
Cassava served at the Cu Chi Tunnels tour.You tell me what this is because I really can’t remember the name of this yummy, non-alcoholic, coconut-laced drink from Runam Bistro.
Organic honey tea with lemon from the Unicorn Island.Dragon fruit, pineapple, papaya, makopa and guava…everything you’d ever want on a table of fruits.A shot of local tea at the Mekong Delta.Stir-fried water spinach at the Mekong Delta.Banh mi!Whatever mini cake you’ll find at Phuc Long, go ahead and try it! They’re all cheap and won’t disappoint.Tilapia, yes? It later evolved into a fish roll, a Unicorn Island specialty.Fish stew that was absolutely yummy!Sometimes you also need to step away from local food and check their take on your can’t-do-without steak.
No fowl left behind. Or is there?
If you have traveled to this part of Vietnam, share with us your favorite local dish and shoot us an e-mail at cure4mondays@gmail.com or leave a comment below. Would love to share gastronomic experiences with you!
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Cure for Mondays 
Gastronomic feast for the eyes! I’m drooling.
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Thanks Penchie! That happens when intermittent fasting leaves the room for a week.
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