In search of tacos, motorbike crashes
Not so happy!
Cantina Central: only memorable because of the motorbike crash minutes earlier. Side-slammed, out of nowhere, we both downed a drink and silently picked at some mediocre street-style tacos (although I have to say I was very surprised by their mini-tortillas! They were actually
Cantina Central: only memorable because of the motorbike crash minutes earlier. Side-slammed, out of nowhere, we both downed a drink and silently picked at some mediocre street-style tacos (although I have to say I was very surprised by their mini-tortillas! They were actually
hand-made and pretty good). Furniture by Gaya, otherwise dull interior.
Saigon Cafe Nightlife
If you're looking for somewhere to go and get your energy moving, whether it be at 11 am or 11 pm, Windows Cafe on Alexandre de Rhodes Street is the place to go. Thumpin' music w/ live Dj, great coffee, atmosphere, design, Spirits, food....they've got it all!
BEST Bahn Xeo on Cao Tang Street
This is the one w/ Ozonated water! Not only was this bahn xeo the best one we have had but cleaner and cheaper ($35,000 apx. $2USD) filled to the brim w/ pork belly and shrimp. And the bahn cot ( mini pancakes) were crazy yummy! Not to mention the establishment had spritzers and fans to cool you off, and clay tiled palapa roofs. Definitiely a place to frequent ( hope it doesn't disappear!)
Banh Cuon Somewhere around #11 Cao Thang, D3
We were looking for Hai Nam Bahn Cuon #11A Cao Thang St, D3. But as it turns out, this was one of those places that was no longer there (although it had been raved about in the November issue of "The Word HCMC"). But we did find a place close by which must have been it, re-located somehow. Anyhow, the bahn cuon were amazing!!!!! I thought the ones we had at our frequented deli were good.... but these little suckers were to die for! Bahn cuon are gelationous rice paper rolls, filled w/ either pork or pork and shrimp, served w/ a sweet fish sauce, bean sprouts, and a couple of slices of Vietnamese ham. For under $16,000 VND ( less than $1 USD) it just doesn't get any better than this!!!Saigon City Food
Bahn Xeo 46A 46A Dinh Cong Trang, D1
Food, food, food. I'm pretty sure we've both put on about 7lbs each. The thing is, the food is light and fresh and by nature, not fattening. But we tend to eat places where we can't be sure of the amounts of MSG being used, and I think that may be a factor. I think we're just bloated! But in the quest for the best, we've had to sacrifice our bodies for taste and discovery! In the process, we have been both pleasantly surprised and completely disappointed. In most cases, though, our favorite places have altogether just "disappeared". Swearing by our memories of our most frequented eateries, we thought we were going crazy when whole city blocks had been removed of all familiar signs. poof! gone... sometimes leaving their signs behind, but the buildings were either something else or in the process of becoming something else. Signs of the faces of change in a fast-growing economy ( even in this world of downturns and recession). Even those eateries mentioned in last month's issue of local ex-pat magazines like "The Word" or "Asia Life", had mysteriously disappeared! Whatever the case, it was beginning to become an annoyance, really. But we found some new favorites, particularly for those looking for a really good bahn xeo (Vietnamese crepe) and bahn cot ( Vietnamese mini rice pancakes w/ shrimp). We actually found a place where all the veggies are washed w/ ozonated water and they even have ozone water for washing your hands! We also enjoyed an amazing bahn cuon ( steamed rice flour rolls stuffed w/ ground pork & mushrooms) typically from Hue, and other Hue-style specialties. Both these places were MSG-free. Following are pics of the first good bahn xeo eatery. It is an outdoor street-style restaurant in an alley. Clean and good. For $50,000VN ( apx $3 USD) you get a good bahn xeo ( we thought it was the best up until this point, until we tried the other place ( next blog). I have to say, however, that this place has awesome spring rolls, made to order. We definitely felt better about the amount of food we were eating when we saw three small Chinese women order one bahn xeo each and a full order of spring rolls (8!) and had no problem finishing all of it! note: one bahn xeo is the size of a cocktail tray, folded in half! Thien and I split one, a half order of spring rolls, and one beef skewer, and were quite stuffed!
Food, food, food. I'm pretty sure we've both put on about 7lbs each. The thing is, the food is light and fresh and by nature, not fattening. But we tend to eat places where we can't be sure of the amounts of MSG being used, and I think that may be a factor. I think we're just bloated! But in the quest for the best, we've had to sacrifice our bodies for taste and discovery! In the process, we have been both pleasantly surprised and completely disappointed. In most cases, though, our favorite places have altogether just "disappeared". Swearing by our memories of our most frequented eateries, we thought we were going crazy when whole city blocks had been removed of all familiar signs. poof! gone... sometimes leaving their signs behind, but the buildings were either something else or in the process of becoming something else. Signs of the faces of change in a fast-growing economy ( even in this world of downturns and recession). Even those eateries mentioned in last month's issue of local ex-pat magazines like "The Word" or "Asia Life", had mysteriously disappeared! Whatever the case, it was beginning to become an annoyance, really. But we found some new favorites, particularly for those looking for a really good bahn xeo (Vietnamese crepe) and bahn cot ( Vietnamese mini rice pancakes w/ shrimp). We actually found a place where all the veggies are washed w/ ozonated water and they even have ozone water for washing your hands! We also enjoyed an amazing bahn cuon ( steamed rice flour rolls stuffed w/ ground pork & mushrooms) typically from Hue, and other Hue-style specialties. Both these places were MSG-free. Following are pics of the first good bahn xeo eatery. It is an outdoor street-style restaurant in an alley. Clean and good. For $50,000VN ( apx $3 USD) you get a good bahn xeo ( we thought it was the best up until this point, until we tried the other place ( next blog). I have to say, however, that this place has awesome spring rolls, made to order. We definitely felt better about the amount of food we were eating when we saw three small Chinese women order one bahn xeo each and a full order of spring rolls (8!) and had no problem finishing all of it! note: one bahn xeo is the size of a cocktail tray, folded in half! Thien and I split one, a half order of spring rolls, and one beef skewer, and were quite stuffed!
Vietnam or Veracruz?
If it wasn't for the pointed straw hats and signage, I'd swear I was in Veracruz. The similarities are striking. I swear I've seen this house before!
Dalat: City of flowers, man-made lake & French-era houses
This was our second time visiting Dalat, and although we were only there for one day, this time around, not much had changed. Still beautiful and strange, cold and damp, and damn good coffee! Known for it's high mountain coffee and specialty roasting, the area is highly regarded as the country's premier coffee region. Besides breaking down on our scooter... twice ... we enjoed the fresh, cold mountain air. The trip home was a long one ... we highly recommend flying out of the Dalat airport at the base of the mountain, unless you're into long car rides ... as far as the scenery... coffee, coffee and more coffee...and about an hour or 2 before the outskirts of Saigon, there are some really funky, on-the-verge-of-creepy buildings w/ out-of-proportion size religious statues...and funky-neo-retro looking churches. Funny, though, I couldn't really tell if I was traveling through coastal Veracruz, Mexico or if I was in Vietnam... the similarities are astounding! Climate, culture, architecture, religious fervor.... wow! Check out the slideshow "Roadside Attractions" at the bottom left.
More Pics: Nha Trang & Fishing Village Loung Soung
Loung Sung fisshing village apx. 30km north of Nha Trang
Cham Temple in Nha Trang
Day 2 & 3: Nha Trang
The weather eventually cleared up..... on the day we left... of course!!! We did enjoy the hot mineral mud baths which Nha Trang is well-known for. I rode the bike successfully, for the first time. Note: successfully! My first ( and what I thought would be my last) time was in Saigon, on our last trip, at night. Thien insisted I ride alone, so I did, I kept going, when I should've stopped...I thought to myself "you're a natural"... I turned with everyone else, blended right in ( except for the blonde hair, hight, and stiff arms..) Then, all I could see were "no turning" signs...everwhere. And I got lost, then I became anxious, then I almost ran over 2 pedestrains, whom later helped me find my way back to the pirated DVD stall ( one of many, and of course, they ALL looked the same!) where I had last seen Thien 40 minutes earlier... Oh yeah, did I mention I fell over on the curb trying to avoid the innocent bystanders? Anyways, this time I was taken to a place where there was nobody...I mean NOBODY....that I could hurt. Success!
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