Vietnamese Food Ingredients

Generally speaking, Vietnamese food sustains a balance between sweet and salty. I like to believe this equilibrium represents the reality of life, recognizing that daily existence contains both of these elements. Or, perhaps it is related to a type of yin and yang as Vietnamese culture has been heavily influenced by the Chinese over the centuries.

Another common thread is the use of fresh vegetables. In the States, I pretty much avoided vegetables. Most of the time they had been canned or frozen, and they just had flavors and textures that didn’t work for me. However, in Asia I have been eating more vegetables than any other time in my whole life! They have such great flavor, and since they are fresh their texture is so much more palatable as well.

Vegetables are not only fresh, but often dishes will contain raw veggies. In the south, when you’re given a bowl of pho, it is accompanied by a large supply of leafy vegetables and herbs. The person who is about to devour their bowl of yumminess adds these into their soup right before eating, and the greens retain their crispness and flavors.

Where Thai food tends to homogenize flavors, Vietnamese cuisine is all about the individuality of flavors and textures.

“Parts” are not wasted either. In Vietnam, pretty much the whole animal is consumed. A trip to a wet market can be quite fascinating. Unless you have a weak stomach.

You will find everything from live frogs, fish, and crabs to brains, intestines, pigs ears, and even piles of cooked, shredded pig skin.

Regional Differences in Vietnamese Food

The north is not an ideal agricultural area. Most of their produce is shipped from the central and south areas of the country. Because of this, northern dishes tend to contain less vegetables.

The central and southern areas are much better suited for growing food. During what is referred to locally as “the American war,” the US had an active deforestation program to counter guerilla attacks and ambushes, among other things. Decades later, these areas have mostly rebounded, and the food from these regions celebrates this abundance. A south Vietnam dinner would not be complete without the presence of vegetable dishes.

Saigon (officially renamed Ho Chi Minh City after the Fall, but still referred to by most people, and even signage, by its former name) in particular offers much more diversity in food. The local markets in Saigon easily rival any market I’ve seen in the world so far.

Even if you don’t plan on shopping, the locals’ market is worth the experience.

Food is medicine

Many Asian cultures share this concept, and Vietnamese food definitely is no exception. Chinese medicine has a concept of foods having hot and cold energies. The body has these as well. Foods are eaten in such a way as to balance out the body’s energies, thereby maximizing health.

It’s the best-tasting medicine you’ll probably ever have.

Presentation

Even in its simplicity, Vietnamese food doesn’t require a lot to appear delicious. Lacking Western sensitivities to food and a belief in using the entire animal, food prepared in Vietnam does not try to hide what you’re eating. If you order pigeon, it won’t be nicely chopped up so that you have no visible evidence to remind you of the little birdie you’re eating.

Remember that whole “waste not” philosophy? Well, some things are considered edible that might surprise you. Once again, they aren’t going to hide you’re eating something that many might consider unusual.

Isn’t there anything “normal” besides pho?

Oh yes! And plenty of it. But sometimes the unusual is just too tasty to ignore. Although, you won’t find me snacking on deep-fried silkworms either (pictured above).

What’s your favorite Vietnamese food?

A welcome getaway from the hectic capital of Jakarta, Bandung offers a true respite to enjoy and escape into a fantastic Indonesian experience.

Top Tourist hot spots of Bandung

Kawah Putih

Without any doubt, the top tourist attraction in Bandung is the Kawah Putih lake. This stunningly beautiful piece of paradise is situated in the highland area, around 2 hours drive from the city centre. Known for its sulphur springs, this is a must visit destination.

Gunung Batu

Located in Lembang, a short hike up this mountain gives you 360-degree views of the breathtaking Bandung valley. This is a very off-beat locale and nowhere on tourist charts – all the more reason to pay Gunung Batu a visit.

Tangkuban Perahu

This is a volcano, around 20 km away from Bandung, where though it last erupted in 2013, one can still see the steam rising from the hot water spring which is situated at the bottom of the crater. Tangkuban Perahu is definitely worth a visit if you are in or near Bandung and have the extra time at hand.

Sari Ater hot springs

Located near the Tangkuban Perahu volcano, the main attraction here are the hot springs and waterfalls which claim to have many healing properties for skin diseases, rheumatism and many more.

Geological museum

Probably one of the best places to visit in Bandung, this highly informative museum showcases the evolution of man in charts, fossils and displays, and just about everything on geology. Entry is free and is definitely worth the experience.

Culinary delights of Bandung

Apart from the famous cool year round weather, Bandung is known for its awesome drinking holes and the multitude of culinary delicacies it has to offer. Visitors, simply come into the city in hordes, especially on weekends, to savor the many fine dining options available and the fantastic street food. These carts provide simple dishes in moderate settings, made from fresh local produce, with bold and rich flavors.

Satay

No trip to Bandung is deemed to be complete without trying the satay, which is essentially grilled mutton with sweet soya sauce.

Tofu

Bandung is known to produce top quality tofu, a dish made of rice cake, turmeric, bean sprouts and gently spiced peanut sauce. This special flavor is attributed to the local water source.

Nasi timbel

This spicy and salty dish is a combo of steamed rice and side dishes like assorted fritters, steamed vegetables and sambal.

Baso tahu

Another signature street food dish of Bandung is baso tahu, which is a combination of steamed tofu, stuffed with minced fish and served with sweet soya sauce, and plenty of sambal.

Nasi padang

This is essentially a combination of pre cooked dishes served with steamed rice. The traditional dishes which accompany the padang are grilled chicken, cow liver, eggs, shrimp and some others.

Nasi goreng

Literally meaning, fried rice in Indonesian, this most popular fried pre cooked rice comes with sweet soya sauce, garlic, tamarind, chili and accompanied by egg, chicken and prawns. The taste is stronger and spicier compared to the Chinese fried rice.

Sop buntut (oxtail soup)

The very famous oxtail soup of Bandung is not very difficult to find as probably everybody is aware that it is available in Dapur Dahapati.

A generation old recipe of the sauce used in making this soup, has made this place all the more special.

Pisang goreng

Pisang goreng or fried banana is another popular dish of Bandung. Served with chocolate, cheese,batagor and sate, the best outlet for this dish is at the floating market in Lembang.

Bakso kikil

This meat ball is prepared from a special part of the cow’s leg and is extremely soft and tender and is normally served with ketchup and chili.

Bandung, these days, is considered as a modern and dynamic city, which aptly portrays the science and technology of Indonesia while retaining its distinctive cultural charm.

Jo is an adrenaline junkie and an avid globetrotter. She loves to write and started putting pen to paper at a very early age by jotting letters to her penpals. Now, she prefers to write on her blog WanderWithJo.com and share her travel tales with adventurists across the globe. She loves the great outdoors and being close to nature, among other things.

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The noodle soup pho is probably the most famous Vietnamese dish. While pho is quite enjoyable, it pales in comparison to other Vietnamese cuisine.

There is no way to sum up the large array of food in Vietnam, but I’ll touch on some basics.

Soups

I’ve always been a bit mystified as to why soup is so huge in this steamy country. Living for so much of my life in the Pacific Northwest and in Colorado, we have definite soup weather. I associate soup, chowder, and stews with fall and winter weather. When it’s cold and damp outside, nothing can warm you from the toes up like a nice hearty stew or chowder.

Perhaps it’s, like with Chinese food, a belief in the medicinal value of food. Or perhaps it’s related to the older days where refrigeration wasn’t something that existed or was easily acquired. I imagine keeping food at a boiling temperature is safer than leaving meat to sit out for hours.

But even in this sweltering heat, I’ll gladly order a bowl of liquid deliciousness.

A strong contender for pho’s crown is the dish known as bún chả (pronounced boon chah). This northern Vietnamese dish, believed to be a Hanoi specialty, should come with instructions. Although it did provide great entertainment to the proprietor when I looked at the three bowls of food sitting before me and asked “How do I eat it?”

For the more adventurous, there is bun rieu. Like pho, there are regional variations, but generally it’s more of a seafood lover’s type of dish.

If you want to participate more in the preparation of your meal, then order a claypot dish. In the north, these were usually small, manageable portions. However, in the cool mountain town of Dalat, a claypot order could easily feed at least three people. I found this out by surprise when I ordered it thinking I was getting one of the nice, smaller pots.

How do you know which you’re getting? Generally, you’ll notice the small reddish claypots sitting around in the restaurant or street food cafe. If you don’t see them but notice claypot on the menu, you may be getting the larger cauldron. Another way to possibly differentiate between them is the price. The smaller ones are often around 60,000 VND (about $3 USD), and the large ones are closer to 150,000 dong.

Street food

Almost always a diverse assortment, street food in Vietnam has something for everyone. “Meat on a stick” is readily available, although it tends to get added to a lovely French-style baguette and called bánh mì. Some vegetables will get added along with a slightly spicy sauce. The result is a filling combination that delights your taste buds with a wonderful mix of unique flavors. Vegetarians can usually find tofu quite easily.

This blend of diverse flavors is one of the trademarks of Vietnamese cuisine. Where Thai food brings several sweet and sour flavors together and joins them, this country’s food highlights individual flavors. The taste of each ingredient stands out making it quite delightful. Even if it won’t make you break out in a sweat.

My recent street food addiction is bánh bao. They closely resemble Chinese dumplings, and we like to refer to them as “crack balls” because they’re remarkably addictive.

Imagine pork or chicken mixed with onions, mushrooms, and vegetables. Add a couple of hard-boiled quail eggs, wrap it in a fluffy dough, and cook it with steam. It may not sound like much, but once you’ve bitten into one of these delightful soft balls, I think you’ll be hooked, too.

Not only will they please your mouth, but they’ll make your pocketbook sing as well. The average price for a dumpling a bit larger than my palm (and I have large hands) is 10,000 VND, or about 50 cents. I have found them for as low as 3000 dong, though. Two can easily be a meal.

Just remember to peel the paper off the bottom before biting into it. Picking out partially masticated paper from your mouth isn’t as much fun as it might sound.

Spring rolls

These are usually served fried or fresh. When they are listed as fresh, they are usually wrapped in rice paper. It looks like plastic wrap, but it’s 100% edible and has a very mild, subtle flavor.

Spring rolls are often a vegetarian’s best friend and when served fresh they can be quite healthy. When ordering these in a restaurant, don’t be surprised if you have the opportunity to roll them yourself. I think it just adds to the fun.

The best fresh spring roll I’ve had so far were catfish spring rolls. They had amazing flavor. Of course, it’s hard to go wrong pairing fresh herbs with grilled fish. Just another example of the explosion of flavors that is common with Vietnamese food.

When served fried, they are very reminiscent of what are often called eggrolls in the States, although they are smaller. I love the texture of the crunchy wrapping, but I don’t find the flavors to be quite as good as with the fresh rolls. The flavors are more homogenized when fried.

Social component

The Vietnamese culture is very social. At night you will find locals in the street seated on small, low plastic chairs at roadside cafes, sharing food in restaurants, and/or playing games in coffee houses. It is fun to hear them laugh and tease each other. Vietnamese people are very playful, especially in the south, and you really get to experience this in the nighttime eateries that seem to spring up out of nowhere. Like in France, meals are meant to be enjoyed and shared.

The food is just part of the overall experience.

Do you have a favorite Vietnamese cuisine that wasn’t included above? Please share it with us in the comments section!

Yogyakarta

This city is considered the hub for cultural and historical Java. Here you will find puppet makers, silversmiths, batik artisans, and so on. It is also the home of the beautiful Borobudur, a 9th-century Buddhist temple, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can also visit Prambanan, which is a Hindu temple from the same period.

While you’re temple hopping, also check out Sewu Temple, which is often overlooked by tourists.

Lake Toba

This is the largest volcanic lake in the world, and it has some breathtaking views. The island in the center of the lake is actually known as a resurgent dome.

Mount Bromo

Located in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, this volcano isn’t the highest peak in East Java, but it is the most well known. It’s a very popular hike for the more adventurous.

Tana Toraja

This region has a very different cultural view of death and is a bit world famous for their extremely unique funerals. Its people are known for their hospitality. Just don’t be surprised if you’re introduced to one of their mummified relatives.

Interestingly, while Indonesia is mostly Muslim, the denizens of Tana Toraja tend to be Christian.

Raja Ampat

This is considered to be the best diving in Indonesia, and it is similarly ranked throughout the world. Its waters are estimated to house si and more than a thousand species of marine life.

Komodo National Park

You’ve probably heard of the incredible Komodo dragon. Well, here is their home. These large reptiles have a very unique way of taking down their prey, which can be as large as a water buffalo. Their saliva is filled with bacteria. They will lay in wait, bite their victim, and follow them for days as the infection takes hold, becomes systemic, and causes their death.

Another fascinating creature on the island is a flying fox. These large fruit bats sometimes fill the night sky in large numbers.

This is also another great diving spot.

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

Ubud is a popular place on Bali, especially for those looking to practice yoga and explore their spirituality. While visiting here, make sure to make a stop at this special sanctuary. The monkey forest is not just a place to view monkeys up close, but it also promotes harmony between humans and the natural world.

The monkeys are quite accustomed to the presence of humans. You can buy bananas at the entrance if you’d like to feed these very bold critters. Make sure to follow the visitor center’s guidelines about hiding sunglasses, food, etc. They can be quite brazen and are very fond of shiny objects.

Sanur

If you do happen to visit Bali, I can recommend this city. There are some very nice, calm beaches, and the vibe is much more relaxed. We happened upon a couple of Hindu ceremonies while walking along the beach which really added to the whole experience.

If you find yourself needing a break from local fare, they have a really fantastic Japanese restaurant that I highly recommend.

These are just some of the interesting places to visit in Indonesia. Make sure to plan plenty of time to explore this wonderful country.

Have you been to Indonesia? Which is your favorite area?

Beijing

Obviously, the Great Wall is a sight on many bucket lists. Part of me would like to see it, but then I get a bit dissuaded when I see some of the extensive touristy activities that have developed there. At one time I had planned on doing the Great Wall Marathon. Yes, there is actually a marathon that tackles all those steps. I think I’ve moved on from that particular idea, though.

Despite the possibility of heavy crowds, etc., I think not going to the Great Wall is probably like going to Paris without visiting the Eiffel Tower. It’s just one of those things you really need to do.

I would also like to visit the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.

A friend has also suggested dining in Wangfujing Street. Considering her other wonderful food suggestions, I’m definitely planning on following through on this.

Harbin

This city probably isn’t a huge item on the typical China tourism roster, but a friend and her son lived here for 6 months or so, and I was quite enthralled with some of her descriptions of the place. Most specifically, I would love to be there during the annual ice festival. The city is also filled with many quirky sights, and I’m a big fan of quirky places.

Shanghai

On the long list of things to see in Shanghai, I’d like to visit Yu Garden. This garden was finished in the 16th century by a government official of the Ming Dynasty. Just that history alone is enough to make me to want to visit.

Guangxi

This region has absolutely amazing scenery. It is well known for its rivers, caves, and karst formations. Just seeing one photo of the rugged, verdant, extreme peaks in the region was enough to catch my interest firmly. One of the main sights here is known as Elephant Trunk Hill. It is the symbol of the city Guilin. The space beneath the elephant’s “trunk” is known as Water-Moon Cave because one can see the reflection of the moon in the water at night.

That’s something I would love to see!

Gansu

In this province are located the Mogao Caves, which form a system of 492 temples. There are multiple huge buddhas carved into the hillsides. This area served as an important religious and cultural crossroads on the Silk Road.

These carvings and other important historical areas are almost 2000 years old. Manuscripts have been found there dating back to the year 1000.

I can only imagine what it would be like to walk in and among these ancient grottoes.

Which regions on your wish list for visiting China?

How untouched? There are no banks or ATMs on the island.

Like typical Thai islands, it is a mix of beautiful beaches and luscious jungle. The group I was with stopped at a fishing village, and I found it to be very interesting. It gives you a great insight into the local culture and a way to see how a different group of Thai live. The experience added a level of diversity I found intriguing, and I wish that I both spoke Thai and had time to just sit and observe.

Sometimes I prefer the lazy American way of serving shrimp

Typical public transportation on the island

Thailand is famous for many of its islands, but unfortunately many of those islands have been drastically altered under the sometimes heavy hand of tourism. However, while on a press trip as part of the #TBEXAsia and #DiscoverThainess campaigns, I visited the delightful Thai island of Ko Wai, and I discovered there are still some places providing what I love most about islands.

Ko Wai is a short speedboat trip from Ko Chang, Thailand’s 2nd largest island (and the largest in eastern Thailand). You can also visit via Ko Mak. It gets its name from the vines that grow from many of the trees on the tiny island.

There are a few different accommodations here. The ones we visited were primitive bungalows located practically on the beautiful beach.

The water is crystal clear, and you don’t have to go far from the shore to see bunches of colorful fish. One can take a boat to other areas of the island where there is a larger amount of corals, too.

As it is a fairly primitive island, don’t except 24-hour electricity or multiple places to eat. Frankly, that’s part of the island’s allure in my mind. I love island escapes that basically force you to just relax and enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds you.

In addition to the gorgeous beauty, the interior of the island is covered in jungle. You can hike these areas, but be aware that some may be closed. The island is a nesting ground for birds, so some areas may be restricted. I also had the feeling that some areas were closed simply because the terrain was more treacherous.

There are a couple of restaurants and a small convenience store on this part of the island. You might want to bring some groceries with you, such as fruit and eggs, although at a quick glance the larger restaurant/convenience store was quite affordable.

What do you think? Can you see yourself spending some time on this Thai island?

We were not asked to write about the hotel; however, after spending 3 nights there and having several meals there, I can honestly say when I’m considering where to stay in Bangkok, I’ll be saving up money to stay here again.

It isn’t uncommon for hotels to do a bit extra for bloggers or journalists who are staying in their hotel. Obviously, they want to impress you. So when I had a welcome bowl of fruit and a selection of truffles served on an edible sign, I didn’t let that factor in to my opinion. I felt the same way when the night before we left for our various 3-day tours we all received another gift of edible “toiletries” as well as a rather nice apron. Excellent touches, but I wasn’t surprised we were getting some VIP treatment. After all, we were essentially guests of the government.

I became a little more impressed when I discovered the bowl of fruits was standard. Then I found little extras like a disposable razor and shaving cream as well as a toothbrush and toothpaste. Even better was the set of bath salts and eucalyptus oil placed by the bath tub.

I was further impressed by the truly amazing hot and cold breakfast buffet that was on hand every day. There were basically two separate rooms of food. After 3 days there, I still hadn’t sampled everything they offered.

Despite a pretty full hotel, a friend and I enjoyed having the terrace pool and poolside bar all to ourselves.

Of course, the service was excellent. People practically ran to open doors or push elevator buttons for you. I find that level of service a bit uncomfortable, but it’s also Thailand, and it’s hard to beat Thai customer service. It’s pretty rare to find grumpy service anywhere, but it’s definitely absent at this hotel.

The property is also well located. It’s within about 2 blocks of a BTS station. Plenty of restaurants, both local and touristic, are within an easy walk, and you’ll find plenty of local markets as well, especially at night. If you want to do some shopping, you’re in a perfect spot for it.

Typically, the WiFi in resorts is pretty poor, but theirs was really good.

One of the finest memories I’m left with from our stay was their Sunday brunch, though. It easily ranks in my top 5 of best meals I’ve ever had. I know it’s not a good thing to enjoy, but I do like foie gras. They had a foie gras bar that included the absolute best foie gras I’ve ever had. I seriously could not keep my eyes open while eating it.

One of my colleagues sitting next to me said “it was an experience” just watching me eat all the scrumptious delights they offered. There were at least 5 rooms of foods which also included a caviar bar, a sticky rice with mango bar, homemade ice creams, a pasta bar that also had squid ink pasta, and more. I enjoyed one of the duck dishes so much I begged them for the recipe. When I return to Bangkok, this brunch is on my list.

If you’re wondering where to stay in Bangkok, do yourself a favor and make the splurge to stay here even a couple of nights. It’s a phenomenal experience. Make sure to choose the package that includes the breakfast buffet. Trust me, you can’t go wrong with it.

Do you have any affordable luxury recommendations for Bangkok?

But it isn’t always easy to connect with a local. And not everyone feels comfortable doing something like Couchsurfing, which is an excellent way to connect with locals.

Now there is a service that helps you out, and it has a great mission—to connect people and cultures through food and unique experiences.

An additional plus is it gives locals another way to earn money while showing off their culture and country.

WithLocals.com provides a secure means to connect with a local in a variety of ways:

Food

One of my favorite parts of travel is experiencing typical food.  Rather than experience the unfamiliar on your own in a restaurant, you can use their service to dine with a local and possibly some of their family. Not only do you get to enjoy authentic cuisine, but you can make new friends while learning firsthand about an area.

I love the variety of dining experiences that can be found on the website and wish we had known about it when we were in SE Asia (this is the only region covered currently). Just check out this unique experience!

Activities

Big tour companies have no problem running their own sites and advertising. One of the things I really love about this company, though, is it gives locals a forum to offer classes, workshops, etc.

The locals get to keep the lion’s share of the fees they’re charging, which isn’t always the case if they have to align with larger companies.

You can also find some offerings that wouldn’t be so easy to discover otherwise.

Tours

Most big tour operations focus on the well-known sites. While sometimes those places are definitely worth the visit, there are often places that most tourists don’t get to experience. Why not go with a local and discover some of the less-touristed spots? See a side of the country that most people don’t get to.

This company once again provides smaller operations run by locals an opportunity to compete more and to make more money from their efforts. It’s a more sustainable and fun venture in my mind.

When we travel, I generally don’t use guide books and don’t do much research because I want recommendations from locals. I want to see the things that represent daily life, that show me more of the actual culture instead of the one contrived to make the tourists happy.

‘This site gives you that access.

What about safety?

I can understand why some people might be hesitant to just show up at someone’s home and hope they’ll be safe, that their meal is decent and that they won’t get sick. In addition to user reviews, the company also vets locals. A local ambassador visits each new potential local host, and checks are also done by the main office. Plus you have the reviews of fellow visitors.

I love this idea. I love that their mission is to help locals and that it provides visitors such a great opportunity to connect with them. These are the experiences that last a lifetime and endear us to an area.

Right now they’re only offering services in southeast Asia, but hopefully they will expand to have more of a global presence.

In the meantime, if you’re heading to an Asian country make sure to check them out.

What do you think of these kinds of services? Do you enjoy a more local experience when you travel?

Anyone who has considered travel to China knows that the visa process can be . . . a bit of a challenge. And thanks to reciprocity, US citizens have to pay quite a bit of money to acquire their visa.

However, HK makes it easy on visitors! Most people can visit the city without an advance visa and get a generous 90 days to stay within the region. From what I’ve heard from numerous people, HK is also a great place to get a hold of your Chinese visa if a visit to the rest of the country is on your horizons.

With so much to do and see in the city, Travel Associates have created a rather helpful infographic so you can easily filter out all your must-do things once you’re there.

What’s on your list of things to do and try in Hong Kong?