Joanna James
From gourmet street eats to artisan speciality menus, Saigon's chief enticements don't just spring from heart-throbbing urban escapades and nature-kissed adventures along the Mekong Delta. Here are some unforgettable flavour fusions that will enhance your Ho Chi Minh experience.
While Vietnam's 'Pearl of the Far East' hosts no shortage of deliciously authentic experiences, from spice-scented colonial street markets and heritage-rich architecture to retro-chic boutique avenues and jewel-toned skyscraper lookouts, its decadently fresh, flavoursome, and hearty cuisine makes it high on the list. If you're hard-pressed to choose which delicacy to sample first, you can't go wrong with the herb-infused savoury noodle broth that is pho, especially when it's accompanied by the beef dipped in roasted chilli sauce and a poached egg.
Ho Chi Minh is a potpourri of cultural remnants that reflect European empires and Asian heritage, whether it's the old-world glamour of the Fine Arts Museum, the Sakura-fringed vintage-chic enclave of Nguyen Hue Street, or the exquisite nods to Old Vietnam you can glimpse in places like the enchanting Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine. However, the best taste of Franco-Vietnamese culture can be sampled at any street market in the city; crispy, buttery, and flaky ban mih takes a delicious step beyond the original baguette with its generous stuffing of marinated meat, sweet sauce, and a medley of fresh and pickled vegetables.
While Saigon has a superabundance of rich treats to relish, from Maison Marou's chocolaty artisan concoctions and scoops of gelato in every conceivable flavour to lip-smacking banquets involving edible molluscs cooked in a variety of styles, you will also find dishes that are light on the tummy, guilt-free, and undeniably delicious. Goi Cuon, for instance, with its paper-thin crispiness encasing crunchily fresh prawns, lettuce, cucumber, and carrot is a refreshingly addictive staple, especially when dipped into sweet chilli sauce.
If nothing steals your heart like a good pot of curry, this melt-in-the-mouth caramelised fish is braised to perfection with flavours of sweet coconut water, darkly rich brown sugar, and punch of chilli and fish sauce is typically served over a bed of steaming rice and redefines comfort food. For avant-garde apartments in Thu Duc City located close to the best gastronomic enticements, venture no further than Somerset Feliz Ho Chi Minh City.
While Pho is the paragon of meaty one-pot banquets, the blazing cities of Vietnam serve up a plethora of steamy variations, from Bun bo Hue with its rich flavour notes of lemongrass, chilli, shrimp paste, and beef stock to Bam Mam with its tantalising contrasts of fish paste, fresh vegetables, and vermicelli noodles floating in soupy seafood. But if you're looking for where to start, the beautifully vibrant crab meat and tomato-based broth of Bun Rieu is a fan favourite.
A rainbowy pudding of a drinkable consistency, Ché is a classic crowd pleaser comprising tapioca, mung beans, glutinous rice, creamy coconut milk, and crunchy peanuts topped with the colourful splendour of tropical fruits and jellies.
If you're looking for something airy yet delicious to munch on as you tour the dreamy cityscape and its river-ribboned precincts, this dainty mini-pancake-slash-tartlet is an irresistible golden-brown bite of coconut-creamy savoury shrimp and vegetables.
For a lush stovetop dessert infused with native flavours and brilliant colours, there is no better substitute than this glutinous symphony of taro root, coconut sauce, and pandan leaf. For extra oomph, this velvety pudding can be dyed a gorgeous green or purple!
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
