Nem chua – Vietnamese fermented pork roll

Usually served as a snack with raw garlic, Nem chua is eaten all year round as an appetizer or a side. It is eaten especially for the Lunar New Year by many Vietnamese families.

Nem chua is a meat roll with a sweet, sour, salty and spicy taste which makes the mouth salivate with each bite. Nem chua possesses the local character of each region of Vietnam, due to the differing ingredients and sauces used. Most versions of Nem chua can be distinguished by their name, which is usually named after the area it originated from, such as nem Thanh Hoa, nem Dong Ba in the ancient royal capital of Hue, and nem Ninh Hoa in Khanh Hoa Province, nem Yen Mac in Ninh Binh Province, etc.

Traditionally, to make Nem chua, the main ingredient is pork thigh. Nem chua is made from minced pork, sliced pigskin and a mixture of seasoning and garlic. These contents are mixed thoroughly before being wrapped with aromatic, fresh leaves (usually in banana leaves) into small, boxy rolls before being stored for natural fermentation process for three to five days in a cool place before eating.


In the Lai Vung District of the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, the locals take pride in their Nem chua recipe, which has been passed down through many generations. Called "nem Lai Vung" after the district, it became more widely known in 1975 when a local woman, Tu Man, made Nem chua for visitors. She used pork, but she also used pig liver, and then ground them into a mixture with rice, shrimp meat and seasonings.

The characteristics of nem Lai Vung and other specialty foods from Lai Vung District are so distinctive and recognizable that they have been registered under a domestic brand name. Tourists to Dong Thap Province can take part in nem Lai Vung cooking classes to learn more about this regional specialty. The northern areas also create their own favorite varieties of Nem chua. The famous one is Nem Yen Mac, which has been made for a long time in Ninh Binh Province. The number of locals in Yen Mac who can make this kind of Nem chua is small because the work requires not only secret formula but also passion for the work.Nem Yen Mac is eaten with guava leaves, fig leaves and aroma vegetables dotted into nuoc mam (fish sauce) which is mixed with mingled with garlic, lemon juice, pepper and chilli.


While many people prefer the more traditional method of preparation for Nem chua, others enjoy a grilled and unfermented variety of Nem chua. Both traditional and grilled Nem chua are usually served with uncooked sliced garlic and nuoc mam (fish sauce). Whereas nuoc mam adds saltiness and spiciness, some prefer to use chili sauce instead.

Nem chua is best known to the expatriate community and international tourists who have taken an interest in Vietnamese cuisine in recent years...

                                                                                                                       Source: Vietnam Food Tour.

69th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army

Ho Chi Minh City municipal authorities held a grand ceremony at Ben Duoc temple in Cu Chi district on December 20 to mark the 69th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (1944-2013).

Youth union members offering incense to war heroes and martyrs at Ben Duoc temple in HCMC (Source: thanhnien.com.vn)

Bến Dược Memorial Temple

Addressing the event, Standing Vice Chairman Pham Van Hai of the city’s Fatherland Front Committee reviewed the nation’s struggle for independence, patriotism, undaunted spirit and the solidarity of the Vietnamese people.
He also affirmed that further endeavours would be made by Ho Chi Minh City’s administration and people to overcome difficulties, complete assigned socio-economic development tasks, strengthen the great national unity bloc and ensure political security.
In Cambodia, representatives from the Vietnamese Embassy, businesses and the overseas community joined with delegations from the Cambodian Defence Ministry and the Royal Army High Command to lay a wreath and offer incense at the memorial to Vietnamese volunteer soldiers in Phnom Penh.
Speaking after the service, General El Vansarath, secretary of state of the Cambodian Defence Ministry, spoke highly of the sacrifices made by Vietnamese soldiers to help his country escape from the genocidal regime of Pol Pot, an invaluable episode in the two countries’ special relationship.
In gratitude to officers and soldiers stationed in border areas, at sea and on islands, the People’s Army Newspaper, in co-ordination with the PetroVietnam Finance Corporation and the Military Bank, presented 200 scholarships, worth VND1 billion in all, to children of these soldiers.
The same day, an exhibition entitled ‘General Nguyen Chi Thanh – An outstanding disciple of President Ho Chi Minh’ opened at the Ho Chi Minh Museum in Thua Thien – Hue province. The exhibition displays more than 200 photos, documents and objects, many of which are being made public for the first time, featuring the life and the glorious revolutionary career of General Thanh (1914-1967).
The Quang Ngai provincial Military Command held a get-together of retired military officers to inform attendees about the achievements of the locality’s armed forces in realising its defence tasks in 2013, as well as the forces’ orientations for 2014. Six individuals were also presented with the ‘Protecting the Country’ order in recognition of their contributions to national construction and defence.

Source: en.nhandan.org.vn

Vietnam Political System

Over the past 80 years, the Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV) has been in the vanguard of the struggle for national independence, liberating the country from almost a century of domination by western colonialists and leading the people to total victory in the 30-year resistance war against powerful aggressors. Since the country's reunification, the CPV has led the Vietnamese people in carrying out the country's renovation, modernization and industrialization.

The CPV has established a nationwide political system with the Party serving as the ­­core that assists the Party leadership and mobilizes the people to realize the goals of national independence, democracy, and social progress. At present, the CPV has worked out a program for national construction which may be described as: Rich people--strong nation--equitable, democratic and civilized society. To achieve these goals, the CPV, in accordance with the principle of "the people as the country’s roots", has set up a wide and diversified political system.

The current political system of Việt Nam is composed of the following: the CPV, political organizations, socio-political organizations, socio-professional organizations, and mass associations.

The Communist Party of Việt Nam

The CPV was established on February 3, 1930. Over 75 years of its existence, the Party has been renamed several times: the Việt Nam Communist Party (February 1930), the Communist Party of Indochina (October 1930), the Việt Nam Workers’ Party (February 1951), and the Communist Party of Việt Nam (December 1976).

As stated in the Party's statute adopted in its 9th National Congress on April 22, 2001, the CPV, "established and trained by President Hồ Chí Minh, has led the Vietnamese people to carry out successfully the August Revolution, establishing the Democratic Republic of Việt Nam, now the Socialist Republic of Việt Nam, to defeat foreign invaders, to abolish the colonial and feudalist regime, to liberate and reunify the country, and then carry out the cause of renovation and socialist construction and firmly defend national independence."

The CPV, vanguard of the working people and the whole nation, represents the interests of the working class and the nation.

The aim of the CPV is to make Việt Nam a strong, independent, prosperous and democratic country with an equitable and civilized society, to realize socialism and ultimately, communism.

The CPV adopts Marxism-Leninism and Hồ Chí Minh Thoughts as the firm ideological foundations, serving as guidance for its activities, promoting the nation's traditions, and absorbing other nations' essential ideas. By thoroughly grasping objective laws, epochal trends and the country’s realities, the Party has worked out sound political programs and revolutionary policies to meet the aspirations of the people.

The Party is firmly organized and unanimous in ideological views and actions. It takes democratic centralism as its fundamental organizational basis, practicing criticism, self-criticism, and strict discipline, pursuing collective leadership and individual responsibility, and promoting comradeship and solidarity in line with the Party's political programs and statutes. The Party makes great efforts to maintain its close relationship with the people. The Party operates in accordance with the Constitution and other laws.

The CPV is the Party in power in Việt Nam. It respects and promotes the mastery of the people over the country, and is under the people's supervision. The Party relies on the people to strengthen its organization, unites and lead the people in the revolutionary cause. The Party leads the political system and is a member of that system. The Party leads, respects and promotes the role of the State, the Việt Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) and other socio-political organizations.

The Party combines genuine patriotism with the pure internationalism of the working class, proactively contributing to the struggle for peace, national independence, democracy and social progress of the world's people.

The Party, with its strong political base, firm ideology and stable organization, often carries out self-renewal and self-readjustment. It unceasingly strives to improve the qualifications of the cadres and Party members, affirming the Party’s fighting power and revolutionary leadership.

 Organization and Structure of the CPV

The Party organizational system is established in line with the State administrative apparatus from Central level to provincial, city, district, and communal levels as well as in administrative bodies, schools, enterprises, political/social/professional organizations, army units and police forces. The Party cells are the Party's grassroots foundations.

Article 4, Chapter I of the current Constitution, adopted by the National Assembly on April 15, 1992, defined the role of the CPV: "as the leading force of the State and the society."

"The Party’s activities are governed by the Constitution and laws."

Being the party in power whose mission is to lead the country in all fields, the Party directs State and socio-political organizations through:

- Deciding on political programs, strategies, and guidelines for national construction and defense; carrying out the leadership through ideological work, personnel management, and supervision over the implementation of its political programs, guidelines, and strategies;

- Consistently directing the personnel work and managing the contingent of cadres, at the same time promoting the responsibilities of organizations in the political system and their leaders in charge of personnel work;

- Introducing competent cadres for posts in State agencies and in socio-political organizations;

- All Party cells and members working in the State agencies as well as socio-political organizations must strictly observe the Party’s resolutions and directions; the Party cells direct the concretization of these documents into the State’s laws and organizations’ regulations as well as their implementation.

To consolidate its full leadership, the Party does not directly cover all activities but works through its affiliates, in line with the Constitution and laws:

- In the State leading agencies (National Assembly, People’s Councils) and socio-political organizations at the central level and in provinces/centrally-administered cities which are formed through elections, Party committees set up Party bodies at the same level, composed of some Party members who work for the related organizations and some members appointed by the same-level Party committees. The role of the Party bodies is to lead and make other members of the organizations implement the guidelines and policies of the Party, increase the influence of the Party, improve the close relationship between the Party and the people, realize the Party's resolutions on organization and personnel management and decide matters of organization and personnel management in line with the duties assigned by the Politburo.

- In judicial and executive bodies (the government, ministries, courts, the inspection agency, etc.) at the central level and in provinces/centrally-administered cities, Party committees set up the Party boards at the same level, which are composed of some Party members who work for the related bodies and some appointed by the same-level Party committees, including the secretaries. The role of the Party boards is to make other members of the bodies understand and implement the Party's guidelines and policies; give advice to the Party committees on operation, duties, organization, and personnel management; make decision within their competence; and to observe the implementation of the Party's guidelines and policies.

- As for the security and armed forces, there are the central military committees and the security Party committees.

With those bodies, the Communist Party of Việt Nam has a nationwide organizational system, from the Central to grassroots levels, and in political- social organizations and economic entities.

POLITBURO OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF VIETNAM
(11^th TENURE)

Politburo Member General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng	Politburo Member Trương Tấn Sang	Politburo Member Phùng Quang Thanh	Politburo Member Nguyễn Tấn Dũng
Politburo Member Nguyễn Sinh Hùng	Politburo Member Lê Hồng Anh	Politburo Member Lê Thanh Hải	Politburo Member Tô Huy Rứa
Politburo Member Phạm Quang Nghị	Politburo Member Trần Đại Quang	Politburo Member Tòng Thị Phóng	Politburo Member Ngô Văn Dụ
Politburo Member Đinh Thế Huynh	Politburo Member Nguyễn Xuân Phúc

Source: chinhphu.vn

Chef Struggles to Cook Vietnamese Rice - Gordon Ramsay

In this clip Gordon visits a village that is celebrating the end of the rice harvest.  

Video by Gordon Ramsay

Channel Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/gordonramsay

Travel back to ancient capital

When did Ha Noi become the capital of Viet Nam? What are Dong Ho paintings? What pagoda is the oldest in Viet Nam? What pagodas have unique structures or Buddhist treasures?

Panorama: The view from the top of the hill that houses Phat Tich Pagoda

Tien Thanh

You can find out all the answers by taking a one-day tour to Bac Ninh Province, just north of Ha Noi.
Starting from Hoan Kiem Lake by motorbike or bus, you arrive at your first destination in half an hour. Do Temple in Dinh Bang Village (Dinh Bang Commune, Tu Son District) is one of the country's most important national historic heritage sites.
The temple, which dates back to 1030, marks the birthplace of Ly Thai To, the first king of the Ly Dynasty (1009 – 1225).
The complex has a symmetrical structure with a temple dedicated to civil mandarins on the left, the biggest and most illustrious temple for the eight kings of the Ly Dynasty in the centre and a temple for military mandarins on the right.

Holy site: The front yard of the Do Temple, which looks neat and clean after getting a renovation last year.

The temple is dedicated to worshipping the Ly Dynasty kings, but it's a puzzle which is which as all their statues were carved identically.
Leaving the Do Temple, you can reach an equally old religious site in ten minutes: Phat Tich Pagoda, situated on the side of Lan Kha Hill in Phat Tich Commune, Tien Du District.
The pagoda underwent some restoration but much of it has been preserved in its original state. Plus you get a sacred and ancient feeling which you don't get at the previous temple.
The dozens of steps leading to the pagoda's main building are a bit energy-sapping, but the interesting statues make up for it.
The pagoda has many statues, but the most striking one is the altar dedicated to the Buddha and Buddhism, which features a statue of Amitabha Buddha carved in the 11th century from a single slab of black limestone. It is considered one of the most important treasures of Buddhism in Viet Nam.

Sacred statue: The altar at Phat Tich Pagoda's main building, with a 1000-year-old original Buddha sculpture at the back. The complex is undergoing an extensive expansion with a lot of construction towards the top of the hill, which houses two formidable structures.

One is a 50m tower, its diameter measuring about 20m at its base, built with a special kind of brick. The other, which is about 100m further, is a giant version of the Amitabha Buddha placed on a three-level platform. From the top of the hill you have a stunning view, stretching tens of kilometres to villages and rice fields in the surrounding areas – another great reward for your stair-climbing efforts.
Another ten-minute journey, which takes you past Ho Bridge, will bring you to Dong Ho painting village in Song Ho Commune, Thuan Thanh District. Here you will get a chance to witness the process of how centuries-old Dong Ho paintings are produced and purchase any paintings you like. Prominent artisan Nguyen Dang Che describes the significance of the paintings for visitors.
Leaving the painting village, you can drive five kilometres to Dau pagoda, widely recognised as the oldest in Viet Nam and the birthplace of Buddhism in the country. Admission is free of charge.
The pagoda dates back to the second century but was expanded into today's size in the 13th century. The feature distinguishing the pagoda from others is that it is dedicated to worshipping indigenous cults worshipping the goddesses of rain, clouds, thunder and other natural phenomena.
One spectacular tower made of bricks dating back to the 13th century stands strikingly in the middle of the yard between the main worshipping buildings and the gate building. The last destination on the itinerary, just a few kilometres from Dau pagoda, is But Thap Pagoda.
Like many other pagodas, the pagoda is symmetrical with 10 buildings covering an area of few hundred square metres. It is decorated with numerous ornamental plants arranged neatly in the spaces between buildings, creating a pleasant feeling for visitors.
"The pagoda is quite different from other ones. It looks ancient and pleasant," Frenchman Barberot Bernard said after visiting the pagoda with his wife. Unlike many other pagodas, the But Thap pagoda has much of its structure still in its original state. Pedestals are supported by pieces of rounded stones, similar to almost all ancient Vietnamese houses.
The most unique feature of the pagoda is probably the thousand-handed, thousand-eyed Goddess of Mercy, a famous sculptural masterpiece of Viet Nam. Last but not least, foreign tourists who cannot understand Vietnamese might be frustrated because there is not any annotation in English, so if you need detailed explanations, consider hiring a local guide for your visit to Bac Ninh.

Oceanography Nha Trang Institute

The Institute of Oceanography in Nha Trang City (Khanh Hoa Province) is considered a Wikipedia on marine ecological system. Visitors to the Institute can observe the rich and lively images as well as learn about the life of the sea creatures and ecological samples.

The Institute was established in 1923 and directly managed by the French. Since 1952, it has become one of the specialized research institutes under the Vietnam travel agency, Academy of Science and Technology.

The Institute's premier facility is on 20ha, located onshore but close to the deep-sea area and a meeting place of the hot-cold sea currents with several layers from the water surface to the sea bed, hence it provides favourable conditions for sea creatures to settle and live.

The Institute has 20 specialized departments and different showrooms. The mock-up of the "Terrains of Vietnamese continental shelf" provides visitors with general information of the Vietnamese sea. It works as a guide book on the depth of the sea, the bio-diversity, profits gained from the sea, information of marine environmental protection, and others.

A humpback whale skeleton of 18m in length and 10 tonnes in weight excavated in Nam Ha Province in 1994.

A sea calf is preserved in the tank.

In the sample showroom.

Samples of a Chinese fish species.

Sample of a big cuttlefish.

Everyday, more than 1,000 visitors visit Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography.

In the showroom with samples of fish, oysters, etc.

The tank to rear tortoises.

The Museum of Oceanography located in the Institute of Oceanography has many showrooms of the sea creatures and the eco-system. Visiting the aquarium, visitors seem to be lost in a colourful world of rare and valuable sea creatures, such as sea anemones, red and blue starfish, holothurians, snakes, tortoises, shrimp, fish, etc.

In the out-door sea creature rearing tank, visitors will have a general view of the diversity in colours and species of fish. Many rare and valuable species of fish are being reared, including amberjack, macropodus and king fish. Of special interest is the stripped dragon fish which has red, brown and yellow colours, with its front fins stretching like that of the bird, its back fin with 13 poisonous thorns, its thin fan-like tail with spots, its dragon-like head, and its body moving as gentle as a dancing fairy. The limuloids, often living in pairs, are said to have been in existence for about 400 million years. Big fish, like the shark, skate and neck-stripped fish are reared in a separate tank.

In another showroom, on display are 20,000 samples of sea creatures from Southeast Asia which were collected from the East Sea and surrounding areas during survey trips. They have been preserved carefully for the purpose of protecting the bio-diversity of the sea creatures.

The samples are divided into two categories: big and small. Among the big samples are a Humpback Whale skeleton of 18m in length and 18 tonnes in weight, which was found in Nam Ha Province in 1994; a skeleton of Dugong found in November 1997 in Lo Voi Beach (Con Dao Island), a species in risk of extinction. The small samples include a carrier-swift in its nest made from its own saliva and built on the side of high cliffs; a green spotted octopus first found in Vietnam in 1999; the sea calf, the Chinese sturgeon and the king crab found in the surrounding areas of the Vietnamese sea.

At the Institute of Oceanography visitors may have a feeling that they are taking in a tour underneath the ocean where they observe thousands of sea creatures. They also have a chance to see a survey ship of 30DWT with a speed of 8 miles/hour, which is used by the Institute's researchers on their trips to explore the ocean.

The Institute's library has more than 7,000 books and 60,000 scientific journals sent by 140 international organizations from 30 countries, with many of them being marine scientific documents compiled in the 18th-19th centuries - all are very helpful for scientists and research work. The Institute of Oceanography has contributed many huge research projects to the cause of exploring and protecting the East Sea. They include 1,100 printed publications, of which those on the bio-diversity account for 62.6%, 11.6% on oceanographic physics, 7.6% on eco-environment, 5.4% on marine geology and geomorphology, and 4.4% on oceanographic chemistry and bio-chemistry.

Departing the Institute of Oceanography, visitors will surely have useful knowledge of the marine potential and preservation work of the Vietnamese oceanography as well as people's awareness of protecting the ocean.

Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography
Address: No.1, Cau Da – Nha Trang City – Khanh Hoa Province
Open time: 6am – 6 pm, weekly, including holidays.
Entrance fee: 15,000 VND (adult), 7,000 VND (children)
Interpretation: 30,000 VND/tour.

Source: Vietnam.vnanet.vn

DAK NONG

Dak Nong Province is surrounded by Dak Lak Province, Lam Dong Province, Binh Phuoc Province and Cambodia. Gia Nghia Town is 245km from Ho Chi Minh City, 179km from Phan Thiet (Binh Thuan) and 125km from Buon Ma Thuot (Dak Lak). The average temperature is 24ºC. Dak Nong is suitable for tourists who like discovering superb natural fall scenery.

Area: 6,516.9 sq. km.
Population: 489.5 thousand habitants (April 2009).
Capital: Gia Nghia Town.
Districts: Dak Glong, Dak R'Lap, Dak Mil, Dak Song, Cu Jut, Krong No, Tuy Duc.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), E De, Nung, M'Nong, Tay...

Geography

Dak Nong Province is located on Central Highlands. It is surrounded by Dak Lak Province on the north, Lam Dong Province on the east and south-east, Binh Phuoc Province and Cambodia on the west.
Dak Nong has even and flat terrain with vast plain and plenty of grasslands on the east. The south is flood plain with many lakes and lagoons. There are main rivers such as Ba, Serepok, other small rivers, and high waterfalls.
Climate: The weather is quite temperate. The average temperature is 240C. The dry season extends from November to April following year. It is windy, cold and dry. The rainy season lasts from May to October with high amount of rainfall.

Tourism and Economy
Dak Nong has flat cultivated surface, mainly bazan. So the province has the advantage for industrial tree especially coffee tree. By there, the traditional culture of ethnic groups is diversified and distinct.
Dak Nong is suitable for tourists who like discovering superb natural fall scenery. Coming to Dray Nur Waterfall, one can hear the murmur sound of its flow from afar, and coming nearer, the sound becomes roaring. In Gia Long Waterfall, the flow is much smoother. Its stream does not flock into one side but gently passes through stones, tree roots and then runs to rivers. Apart of that, let save your time to visit Dray Sap Waterfall (Misty Waterfall), Ba Tang, and Dieu Thanh waterfalls.

Transportation
Dak Nong has transportation mainly by road. Gia Nghia Town is 245km from Ho Chi Minh City by National Highway No. 14 then No.13, 84km from Di Linh (Lam Dong) by National Highway No. 28, 179km from Phan Thiet (Binh Thuan) by National Highway No. 28, and 125km from Buon Ma Thuot (Dak Lak) by National Highway No. 14.

Source: Vietnamtourism

Have you ever drunk beer in Vietnam?

When you have a chance to visit Vietnam, you don't miss out onbeer gas ( Vietnamese: bia hơi). It's available in all regions of Vietnam, mostly from small bars on street corners. 

Bia hoi bars will give you the opportunity to relax drinking in a typical Vietnamese bar surrounded by the hustle and bustle of everyday life, especially in summer, lots of Vietnamese men like sitting in Beer bars with their friends after a long working day. Every traveler can easily find these bars to experience what the locals are enjoying.
Some most popular beer brands among the Vietnamese are Bia Saigon Special, Hanoi,Tiger, 333. One of those, Bia Saigon is also available as little stronger export version. Bière Larue is also good, and tourists can find local brands in every larger city.
Several famous places for beer, besides those around the Old Quarter, Lan Chin and Hai Xom Restaurant chain in Hanoi or Pham Ngu Lao area in HCM City. It might be fun to join in with the locals but beware that waiters at these restaurants do not know English to communicate with foreigners. However, they will know if you want a beer,
The beer at bia hoi corner is from a small local brewery, and varies in quality by the batch. At VND 5,000 (roughly 35 cents) a pint, it is really cheap (cheaper than water). If you're ready to try Bia Hoi, be prepared and drinking with the pros is not for the meek!

Translated by HT
Source: vietnamtourism.org.vn

Family life values in Vietnam

In Vietnam, family is a basic social unit of the society. Vietnamese family life is profoundly influenced by ancestor worship. Children learn at a very early age that they owe everything to their parents and their ancestors. When children do well in school and work hard, they honour their parents and the family name. Respect for parents and ancestors is extended to all elders, whose life experiences are valued.

Marriage and family are very important in Vietnam. In the countryside, parents often arrange marriages; divorce remains uncommon, though is more frequent in cities. In traditional Vietnamese families, roles are rigid. The man of the house is primarily responsible for the family's economic well-being and takes pride in his role as provider. Women are expected to submit to their husbands or to their eldest sons when widowed, and girls to their fathers. Older children help to look after younger siblings. Discipline is viewed as a parental duty, and spanking is common once children are past early childhood.

The woman of the house is referred to as noi tro, "General of the Interior." She looks after her in-laws as well as her parents, husband and children. In rural areas, women also do much agricultural work. Vietnamese women live by the "four virtues": hard work, beauty, refined speech and excellent conduct.

Communism in the 1960's brought big changes for women, who were suddenly given equal economic and political rights, as well as the right to choose their own husband. Years of warfare and dislocation in camps have also altered family roles. With so many men away at war, women took on many traditionally male duties, including managing factories and co-operatives.

Today, more and more people are moving to cities, but most Vietnamese are still farmers. Houses are sometimes built on stilts to avoid flooding. Materials such as earth, straw and bamboo may be used for walls, and red clay tiles or sheets of corrugated metal for roofs. City homes are often made with brick, wood and/or tile.

Source: vietnamtourism.org.vn

Drive-through dining, Vietnam style

The United States may have invented the drive-through restaurant back in the 1930s, but nowhere is it as diversified as Vietnam.

Businesses have adapted their sales tactics to appeal to the zippy go-anywhere Vespas, Hondas, Yamahas (and increasingly cheaper Chinese brands) that are making consumers ever more mobile.
From banh mi bread rolls and drive-by karaoke to rice paddy snacks served direct from the field, savvy vendors recognize the advantages of catering to the endless river of rolling consumers.
For anyone who's hungry and hates parking -- Vietnam by motorbike is bliss.

Youngsters soon adapt to motorbike culture in Vietnam. In the shaded arcade of Hanoi's iconic Kem Trang Tien ice creamery at 35 Trang Tien St., a father introduces his son to the pleasures of ice cream on a motor bike.

Great street food is everywhere in Vietnam and competition for customers is intense. A drive-through bay amongst the plastic tables and chairs allows this prawn pancake maker in Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Binh district to capture the lucrative mum-with-kids-on-bike market.

From a seller's point of view, fast traffic does not offer the best stream to fish from. But necessities such as bread do well on busy Tran Quang Khai -- a major Hanoi artery -- allowing commuters to shop without entering the melee of the Old Quarter.

Few Vietnamese commuters eat breakfast at home. Banh mi (Vietnamese baguettes) -- packed with pork, pate and salad, or served up with an egg drenched in tangy chili sauce -- are the bait that catches the breakfast crowd. A curbside counter is key.

Goose stuffed with lemon grass from Dong Hoi's riverside market in Central Vietnam's Quang Binh province is a gourmet take-home meal.

Who wants to haul groceries to a carpark in a mall when you can drive your motorbike right up to the meat counter? In an open-air street market near Hanoi's Old Quarter, a woman checks out the meat-to-fat ratio of a freshly butchered pig, from the cushioned comfort of a motorbike saddle.

Many vendors mount up themselves, diving into the stream of potential customers on Hanoi's main roads. Cheap bananas draw the attention of a motorcyclist who stops to purchase a bunch without even pulling off to the side. Traffic adjusts without anxiety -- society respecting that vendors need to earn a living and the convenience offered by mobile vending.

Don't have time to stop for an evening bia-hoi with barbeque squid but still want to hear a rendition of your favourite pop song? Mobile karaoke singers on Dong Hoi's riverfront roll from venue to venue to sing for the boozy crowds. Others simply park themselves roadside, taking drive-through karaoke requests.

For couples, families, and lone ice cream fans, an ice cream at Kem Trang Tien has become an institution. Parking attendants make you turn off your motor but let you push your motor bike into the shady arcade where the bike saddle serves as a comfortable padded bench. 

Up country in the scenic Ha Giang Province in Vietnam's far northeast, farmers tempt passing motorists with exotic offerings such as paddy crabs -- these ones are leashed to a brick on a plate of water, to keep them from returning to the paddy. 

Motorcycle touring is the transport of choice in the limestone karst wonderland of the newly opening Dongvan region in northeastern Vietnam. Farmers are quick to service this trend, offering snacks from the fields such as frogs barbecued on bamboo racks.

Source: travel.cnn.com

Quan Son Lake with natural beauty

Quan Son Lake is situated in My Duc District, Ha Tay Province. It covers an area of 850ha with nearly 100 mountains and a diversity of plantation, pagodas and historic relics. 

The lake water is clear with fresh air year round. Visitors to the lake will be taken by surprise at the natural beauty: the water, the clouds, the river and the mountains. Quan Son eco-tourism system is covered with rebirth-forests of rare plantation and animal species. Wildlife: birds, reptiles, mammals are plentiful in the forest. 

The area has retained traces of national cultures, festival traditional identities. The attraction lies in the natural beauties almost untouched and untapped. The first footing is ferry-berth of Giang Noi Lake. It's one of three huge lakes of Quan Son. Ranges of 20 mountains could be viewed tram distance, long and surround the lake. There are in the lake cliffs, which look like islets. Visitors to the lake by boat will be able to see mountains named differently: Su Tu, Voi Phuc, Ham Long, Yen Ngua and caves and grottoes: Doi, Ran, Da Truot, Linh Son, Bong Lai, Ngoc Long... 



Each one is natural wonder with stalagmites and stalactites in imaginative animals: dragons, turtles, ph?nixes and tigers, panthens or birds... Every year, from October to the end of spring, birds can be seen building nests in the Voi valley. ln rainy season, tram high mountains, waterfalls flow down the lake, creating white foamy waves that make the scenes more beautiful and exciting. Overclimbing Truot Mount, visitors will be more relaxed to breathe in fresh air while viewing the whole nature panorama of Quan Son. Everything here: the lake, the mounts, the forests, the lotus-ponds, the rice fields help to make unforgettable memories. Around the lake, there are pagodas. Linh Son Pagoda lies at the foot of the Linh Son Mount, mirroring in the Giang Noi Lake.

Linh Son Grotto is nearby. It's not so large but there are beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Pagoda of Cao and Ham Yen are close in sight. Ham Rong Pagoda is a must to see when in Quan Son. It's built in ancient architecture with decorative designs of dragons, phoenixes, plants, birds and flowers. The pagoda was a revolutionary base during the resistance-war against French invasion. Cam ping, boating, fishing and trekking, swimming are available and please don't forget to try the local specialties cooked by ethnic minorities in stilt-houses or night at the foot of the mountains.

 Source: http://crossindochina.com

A trip to Bat Trang ceramic village

Visiting a traditional craft village along the Red River banks is a good way of escaping the busy life of the capital city and exploring the age-old ceramic craft making. 

As a newcomer to Hanoi I find myself in daily awe of many people gathering around the sidewalk food stands, of the throngs of motorbikes winding and weaving their way up Hue street and down Ba Trieu street, and of the intrepid tourists who confront – however timidly or courageously – the sensory overload that is the Old Quarter. Sometimes, however, every city dweller needs to escape the sound and the fury of downtown activity.

If a city break is what you are after, the artisan village of Bat Trang, which lies about an hour’s leisurely drive from central Hanoi, is well worth trying - crossing over Chuong Duong Bridge and heading south on TL 195 to get out of the motorbike melee and into the fresh air with housing developments on the left and grazing cattle on the right coming into focus.

After what feels like a little too long following road markings for Bat Trang, a large sign appears on the right with the name of this lovely village, which specialises in hand-made, hand-painted ceramics in all shapes and sizes.

Upon our arrival, my girlfriend and I puttered around the streets with the dwindling afternoon light casting crisp silhouettes of power lines on chipping plaster walls the colour of lemon sherbet. There were women drinking tea in front of a cement mixer and a pile of bricks with the clear intention of filling the void left by a torn down building. We passed overflowing shops with ceramics of all sorts on offer.

Our senses were bombarded by the meandering melody of mournful music, the strident scent of burning incense wafting out from the Buddhist temple, and a huge crowd of people with white headbands spilling out onto the streets after a funeral ceremony was just wrapped up.

Inside the shops, the variety is incredible: tea sets, mugs, ash trays, plates, vases – small, large, and humongous. Then there are the ceramic figures of dogs, Buddha, Confucius, turtles, Bugs Bunnies, elephants, lions, eagles; you name it, they have it.

A bit overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of shops, we tried one of the larger ones n the main street, Huong Xuan, where all manners of dishware are sold in both the traditional Chinese blue and white motif as well as in a range of contemporary styles and colours. We purchased a couple of pieces as gifts for people back home, but the best part was yet to come.

The man in the showroom is a kind and welcoming individual, and if asked politely, he will allow paying customers to see the production facilities. In one part of the factory, a dozen or so women operate huge press machines, which hollow out lumps of fresh clay, turning them into vases or drinking vessels.

From there, low wooden planks are loaded with fresh pieces and carried upstairs into the kiln room. Two kilns larger than some studio apartments I’ve lived in are packed with hundreds of pieces waiting to be fired. The perfectly uniform cups, saucers, and teapots arranged in repetitive rows and columns of gray clay forms are visually striking.

The next room over is designated for painting and glazing. After the pieces come out of the kiln the first time, another dozen or so women paint intricate blue and white patterns and calligraphy on them with the narrowest of brushes.

Be warned: the grace and ease with which the women apply complicated motifs to their ceramics can easily mesmerize; on our visit, we stood there slack-jawed for what must have been ten minutes before giving a little bow to the forewoman and heading outside.

We hopped on our motorbike and headed back toward the city feeling eminently refreshed; we were ready once more to face the traffic and constant activity that assaults the senses in the city.

If you are looking for a bit of time away, and you do not have a motorbike, you can take the #47 bus from Long Bien bus station for VND5,000 or you can take a taxi for around VND200,000 each way.  

Andrew Crichton (VOV)

Ninh Thuan

Ninh Thuan province is lying in the middle of Central Viet Nam, has a small plain created by the Dinh River originating from Lam Vien Plateau. The province is famous for white-sand beaches, vast gardens of table grapes, onions and hot peppers. The province is also inhabited by a great number of the Cham ethnic minority people.

Area: 3,363.1 sq. km.
Population: 564,2 thousand habitants (April 2009)
Capital: Phan Rang - Thap Cham City
Districts: Ninh Hai, Ninh Phuoc, Ninh Son, Bac Ai, Thuan Bac, Thuan Nam
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Cham, Ra Glai, Co Ho, Hoa.

Vinh Hy Bay

Geography

Located in South-Central Coast, Ninh Thuan shares border with Khanh Hoa Province on the north, Lam Dong Province on the west, Binh Thuan Province on the south and East Sea on the east.

The terrain is a mixture of mountain, plain and seaside. Main rivers name Sat, Cai, Ong, Gia, Can, La, Quao. Mountains surround three faces of Ninh Thuan including Tha Nhonh, Chuan, Suong Mu, and Hon Dien mountains. Long seaside makes Da Vach, Thi, Ca Na capes and sea ports.

Climate: The climate is a combination of the tropical monsoon and dry and windy weather. It is hot, dry, windy all of year. There is two seasons: the rain season lasts from May to November, the dry season lasts from December to April. Annual average temperature is 27oC.

Tourism

Ninh Thuan belongs to tourism triangles: Dalat- Nha Trang- Phan Rang. Coming to there, tourists are able to relax in Ca Na Tourist Site, swim in Ninh Chu Beach, Vinh Hy Bay, climb to Da Trang Mountain, and observe natural animals in Phan Rang Reservation, or visit Pi Nang Tac Stone Trap.

Being home of Cham minority group, Ninh Thuan has characters culture of Cham ethnic, which stamp in local custom, Cham dance, sculpture, pottery, and brocade and agriculture of Cham towers. Famous towers name Po Klong Garai and Porome.

Nowadays, Cham people still preserve matriarchy, a valuable inheritance of Vietnam, and special festivals such as Kate, Cha Bun ceremonies, Royal Idiladha and Ra Glai Tribe festivals and other ceremonies like dig a ditch, dam up, new rice...

Transportation

Phan Rang- Thap Cham City is 105km from Nha Trang, 110km from Dalat, 350km from Ho Chi Minh City and 1.382km from Hanoi. Phan Rang Town is on North- South Express Train, National Highway No.1A and National Highway No.27.

Soource: Vietnamtourism.com

Vietnam’s leaders express grief over Mandela’s death

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Truong Tan Sang have conveyed their message of condolences to South African President Jacob Zuma over the passing of former South African President Nelson Mandela on December 5.

In the message, which was also sent to the African National Congress (ANC) on Friday, the Vietnamese leaders wrote, “We would like to extend the deepest sympathy to the ANC, the State and people of South Africa as well as to the late former President’s family.”

“Nelson Mandela is an eminent and beloved figure, a staunch soldier and a prominent hero of the South African people,” the message read.

The late former President has dedicated his whole life and made outstanding contributions to the fight against oppression, injustice and apartheid and constantly sought freedom, justice, equality and social progress for South Africa and the world, the Vietnamese leaders said in the message.

“We would like to extend the deepest sympathy to the African National Congress and the State and people of South Africa as well as to President Mandela’s family, the message read.

Source: http://tuoitrenews.vn

Eating around Vietnam

Bánh xèo (pancake)
Inside the yellow pancake, there are seafood and
mushroom. This pancakeis very famous in southern Vietnam..

The photos in this blog were taken on my trips to some cities and provinces of Vietnam. Except "thắng cố" (horse meat) of the H'mong ethnic minority people in Bắc Hà town (north west Vietnam) which I didn't eat, the other food in this blog are my favorite ones. You can find various types of food in Vietnam, as Vietnamese eat almost everything, for example pork, beef, chicken, goat meat, fishes, even snakes, birds, eels, dogs, snails etc. The only difference in the taste among 3 regions of Vietnam is that the central and southern people love spicy food, even though the weather there is hot throughout the year. The southerners also put sugar into their food, so the taste is sweeter.

Sò nướng (grilled oyster)
As Vietnam has a long coastal line, we can
catch lots of sea fishes. There are peanuts
and onion on this oyster meat.

There are some fast food brand names which are available in the big cities like KFC and BBQ chicken. You can find many restaurants that serve foreign food from Italy, France, Russia, Japan, China, Mexico, India etc. There are cooking courses for tourists in Hanoi, Hội An or Sài Gòn, which you can join for a day or two during your trips to make simple Vietnamese food.

In March 2008, I published a blog about Hanoi food with more than 100 photos (see the link below). Following are names and details of some food that I've tasted while traveling in Vietnam. They are local specialties and their tastes are the best when they are cooked right in the place. If you have a chance to visit these cities/towns, maybe you should try these food and I hope you will enjoy them.

Sài Gòn (aka Hồ Chí Minh city)

Bánh khọt (pancake) in Sài Gòn
Little pancakes with green bean, shrimp
and some special sauce on the surface.

Photo No. 1 - Bánh xèo (pancake): This is a popular food in southern Vietnam. The cake is fried on the hot pan and it contains vegetables (or mushroom) and shrimp, then it will be folded up and placed on a plate.

Photo No. 3 - Bánh khọt (pancake): Pancake with green bean, shrimp and some special sauce on the surface.

Both pancakes are served at Bánh xèo Mười Xiềm restaurant, 190 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, District 3, HCMC.

Photo No. 80 - Hủ tíu (or Hủ tiếu): A popular noodle soup in southern Vietnam. It can be eaten with pork, shrimp etc.

Ba khía (little crabs) in Cà Mau
Ba khía (little crabs) is a famous food in Cà Mau,
which is the southernmost province of Vietnam.
They can be fried with salt or tamarind.

Photo No. 92 - Chả giò gấc spring rolls: Inside the spring rolls there are Gấc fruit (red color), pork or chicken.

Photo No. 93 - Phở noodle soup with beef

Photo No. 135 - Bột chiên: Square pieces of sticky rice are fried on hot pan, along with chicken egg. Vegetables and sauce are used when eating this food.

Huế city (central Vietnam)

Photos No. 12 & No. 133 - These special cakes "Bánh bèo, bánh nậm, bánh bột lọc, bánh ram, bánh ít and chả tôm" are made of rice and shrimp, eating with sauce. They are my favorite food every time I visit Huế city and I've been there 23 times. The name of this restaurant is "Bánh bèo Cung An Định" inside an alley in Huế city. Address: 31, Kiệt (alley) 177, Phan Đình Phùng street, Huế city. Tel: 054-821962

Lợn cắp nách (pork) in Sapa
"Lợn cắp nách" are small sized pigs raised by the
ethnic minority people at the mountainous farms in
Sapa. They have black skins. (Vỏ bên ngoài của
con lợn cắp nách sau khi nướng thì rất cứng và
 không thể ăn được. Bên trong thịt lợn có màu hồng,
rất mềm và thơm ngon. Thịt lợn này ăn cùng một
 loại nước chấm như là nước tương.)

Photos No. 8 & No. 131 - Nem lụi (grilled pork is covered with rice papers and eaten with vegetables and peanut sauce) and Bánh khoái (pancake with shrimp) at Lạc Thiện restaurant. Address: No. 6, Đinh Tiên Hoàng street, near the Imperial Citadel in Huế city.

Photo No. 130 - Cơm hến (rice with tiny mussels)

Photo No. 132 - Bún thịt nướng (noodles with pork barbecue)

Photo No. 134 - Bún bò Huế (beef noodle soup)

Ninh Bình city (northern Vietnam)

Photo No. 9 - Thịt dê (goat meat): This goat meat is eaten with a special sauce made of bean.

Phở khô (fried noodles & chicken soup) in Pleiku
The noodles are fried with chicken / beef and
vegetables. The soup is separate in another bowl.

Another famous food in Ninh Bình city is "Cơm cháy chan súp gà" (Rice crackers with chicken soup). Any restaurant in this city serves these famous food.

Sapa (northwest VN)

Photo No. 5 - "Lợn cắp nách" is the name of pigs raised by the ethnic minority people at the mountainous farms in Sapa. They are of small sizes (about 10-15kg in weight) and have black skins. The pork is very soft and delicious, as these pigs only eat grass and run around the fields.

Photo No. 73 - Cháo cá hồi (rice porridge with salmon and onion)

"Cá lăng" fish soup & green banana
Cá lăng (hemibagrus) river fish only lives at the
 confluence of 3 rivers like in Việt Trì city. The fish
soup and green banana can be eaten with noodles (Bún).

Photo No. 74 - Các món nướng (grilled food) in the evening.

Bắc Hà (northwest VN)

Photo No. 56 - Thắng cố (mixture of all parts of horses) and Rượu Ngô (corn wine) are famous food and drink of the H'mong ethnic minority people in north west Vietnam, especially in Bắc Hà. I didn't dare to try this food, as I felt it was not safe for me.

Hà Giang (the northernmost province of Vietnam)

Photo No. 41 - Cháo ấu tẩu (rice porridge): The rice porridge with pork and special herb (củ ấu) which has bitter taste is a local specialty in Hà Giang.

Bánh khoái (pancake) & Nem lụi in Huế city
Nem lụi (grilled pork is covered with rice papers
 and eaten with vegetables and peanut sauce)
and Bánh khoái (pancake with shrimp).

Photo No. 42 - Thịt trâu gác bếp (buffalo meat) is another local specialty in Hà Giang. The locals in the mountain region often dry pork, beef or buffalo meat in the kitchen and save it for a long time. It is cooked with vegetables.

Photo No. 43 - Thắng cố bò (Beef soup): Traditional food of the ethnic minority people same as in Bắc Hà. They cook "Thắng cố" with all the parts of horses or oxen.

Việt Trì (northern Vietnam)

Photo No. 7 - Cá lăng (hemibagrus) is a kind of river fish that only lives at the confluence of 3 rivers. The fish soup and green banana can be eaten with noodles (Bún).
Yên Bái (northwest Vietnam)

Dê tái thính (goat meat) in Ninh Bình
This goat meat is eaten with a special
sauce made of bean.

Photo No. 51 - Thịt trâu cuốn lá lốt (buffalo meat): Buffalo meat and onion are put onto the leaves then rolled on. Fish sauce is used for eating this food.

Photos No. 52 & 53 - Bánh cuốn chả (steamed rice cake): Steamed rice cake is eaten with sauce which consists of grilled pork and onion.

Photo No. 72 - Bún chả cá (noodle soup with grilled fish)

Lai Châu province (northwest Vietnam)

Photo No. 70 - Thịt nhím (porcupine meat)

Quảng Ninh province (northeast Vietnam)

Making Bún nước lèo (noolde soup)
 in Sóc Trăng

Photo No. 65 - Bún tu hài (noodle soup with oyster meat) at the restaurants near Cái Rồng port on Vân Đồn island.

Photo No. 66 - Ruốc (little octopus) on Ngọc Vừng island.

Quan Lạn island (northeast of Hạ Long bay)

Photo No. 44 - Sá Sùng (seaworm) is cooked with vegetables and it's one of the famous seafood on the island.

Photo No. 45 - Hàu sống (raw oyster meat): Lemon water is poured over the raw oyster meat before eating.

Cát Bà island (northeast Vietnam)

Photo No. 67 - Nem mực (squid spring rolls)

Photo No. 68 - Bánh canh chả cá (noodle soup with grilled fish)

Bún nước lèo (noolde soup) in Sóc Trăng
Bún nước lèo (noodle soup) is cooked from
 fresh fish. You can eat this noodle soup
with shrimp, fish, pork and vegetables.

Photo No. 69 - Bánh canh thập cẩm (mixed noodle soup - red noodles)

Bắc Kạn province (Ba Bể lake)

Photo No. 28 - Thịt cầy hương xào lá mác mật (Musk-cat meat with vegetables)

Lạng Sơn province (northeast Vietnam)

Photo No. 46 - Vịt quay Lạng Sơn (roasted duck meat)

Photo No. 47 - Khâu nhục (pork with herb)

Photo No. 48 - Bánh áp chao (pancake with onion)

Photo No. 49 - Bún cá trắm (noodle soup with fish and tofu)

Rice cakes in Huế city
Various types of rice cakes at Bánh bèo
 Cung An Định restaurant. Each cake has its
own sauce and it's eaten with shrimp powders.

Photo No. 50 - Lợn quay Lạng Sơn (roasted pork)

You can find these food at Thảo Viên restaurant, address No. 57, Phai Vệ street, Đông Kinh ward, Lạng Sơn city.

Đà Nẵng (central Vietnam)

Photo No. 54 - Mỳ Quảng (noodles with chicken, shrimp, egg, peanuts, rice crackers and vegetables) - Address: No. 1, Hài Phòng street, Đà Nẵng city. The restaurant is located near the city's railway station.

Photo No. 20 - Bún thịt nướng (noodles, pork barbecue, vegetables) in Đà Nẵng city.

Hội An (central Vietnam)

Snails with banana, tofu & vegetables

Photo No. 21 - Cao Lầu (yellow noodles with pork or shrimp) and Photo No. 27 - Bánh bao bánh vạc (white rose dumpling): These food are very popular in Hội An town. You can find them at any restaurant in the tourist area.

Photo No. 55 - Sò điệp nướng (grilled oyster meat) in Cù Lao Chàm (Chàm island), Hội An town.

Tam Kỳ city, Quảng Nam province (central Vietnam)

Photo No. 29 - Cơm gà Tam Kỳ (chicken, veg and rice). The locals use chicken boiling water to cook with rice, so the rice has yellow color and it tastes fatty. Restaurant Cơm gà Tâm Duyên, No. 256 Trưng Nữ Vương street, Tam Kỳ city.

A rice porridge stall by street
An evening food stall in Buôn Mê Thuột
 city, Central Highlands of Vietnam.

Photo No. 30 - Mì cá lóc (noodles with fish and soup).

Photo No. 31. Bún cá thu (noodle soup with fish, young bamboo, pumpkin and cabbage).

Photo No. 32 - Mì Quảng noodles. This is a famous food which I found in both Tam Kỳ and Đà Nẵng. There are noodles, pork or chicken, prawn and veg with sauce.

Photo No. 33 - Bún mắm (noodles with prawn sauce, veg and pork) Restaurant at No. 4, Trần Dư street, Tam Kỳ city.

Photo No. 34 - Bún chả cá (noodle soup with fish).

Quảng Ngãi (south central coast of Vietnam)


Photo No. 57 - Ốc xào cay (sea snails, peanuts, chilli & vegetables) at the restaurant of Sa Huỳnh Beach resort, Đức Phổ district, Quảng Ngãi province.

Photo No. 58 - Don (tiny oyster) soup in Quảng Ngãi city

Hủ tíu (noodle soup)
This noodle soup is very popular in southern Vietnam.
There are pork, shrimp and little bird eggs.

Photo No. 59 - Bánh xèo pancake at Mỹ Khê beach, Quảng Ngãi province

Photo No. 60 - Bánh căng pancake in Quảng Ngãi city

Photo No. 61 - Bánh ít (rice cake) in Quảng Ngãi city

Photo No. 62 - A type of rice cake in Mộ Đức district, Quảng Ngãi province

Phan Thiết city (south central coast of Vietnam)

Photo No. 101 - Xôi gấc (sticky rice with "Gấc" fruit): The locals in Phan Thiết city use baby shrimps, egg and pork to eat with sticky rice. The "Gấc" fruit makes the sticky rice become red.

Photo No. 102 - Mủ trôm (juice made from "trôm" tree)

Phú Quý island (south central Vietnam)

Photo No. 95 - Huỳnh Đế crab: This type of crab has red color (US$15 for a kg).

Photo No.96 - Phở mực (noodle soup with squid)

Photo No. 97 - Grilled "Cá bò"

Photo No. 98 - Phá lấu (pig's inner parts & bread)

Photo No. 99 - Mì xào mực (fried noodles with squid)

Nha Trang (south central coast of Vietnam)

Photo No. 35 - Bánh trứng tráng (baked rice paper & quail eggs)

Photo No. 36 - Bún cá lá sứa (noodle soup with jelly-fish)

Photo No. 37 - Mì xào hải sản (fried macaroni with seafood)

Photo No. 105 - Bánh canh cá rô (Fish noodle soup)

Photo No. 106 - Thịt cá sấu (Crocodile meat)

Photo No. 107 - Thịt đà điểu (Ostrich meat)

Photo No. 108 - Chả tôm (pork & shrimp mixture inside leaves)

Photo No. 110 - Bánh đập rice cakes (Green onion and red shrimp powder inside the rice cakes)

Photo No. 111 - Bánh tẻ, gai, nậm, bột lọc (rice cakes)

Tuy Hoà (south central coast of Vietnam)

Photo No. 38 - Nem nướng (baked spring rolls)

Photo No. 39 - Mì bò (noodle soup with beef)

Đà Lạt city (Central Highlands)

Photo No. 112 - Kem chiên (Ice cream inside the pancake)

Photo No. 114 - Cơm gà (rice & chicken)

Photo No. 115 - Bánh giò & Bánh nậm (rice cakes)

Photo No. 116 - Chè đậu xanh (Green bean sweet soup)

Photo No. 117 - Bánh canh (fish noodle soup)

Photo No. 118 - Phở xào gan lợn (fried noodles with pig liver)

Pleiku town (Central Highlands)

Photo No. 6 - Phở khô (fried noodles): The noodles are fried with chicken / beef and vegetables. The soup is separate in another bowl.

Buôn Mê Thuột city (Central Highlands)

Photo No. 40 - Bánh khọt (pancake): same name as pancake in photo No. 3, however it's eaten with papaya pickles and cracklings.

Biên Hòa city, Đồng Nai province (southern Vietnam)

Photo No. 88 - Gỏi vịt (salad with duck meat)

Photo No. 89 - Bánh ướt (steamed rice with pork)

Photo No. 90 - Cháo huyết (rice porridge with pig blood)

Vũng Tàu beach city (south east Vietnam)

Photo No. 120 - Bạch tuộc nướng (grilled octopus)

Photo No. 122 - Bánh khọt pancake (shrimp & onion)

Photo No. 123 - Cháo vịt (rice porridge & duck meat)

Photo No. 124 - Mực nướng (grilled squids)

Photo No. 125 - Bánh cuốn (steamed rice cake)

Sóc Trăng (southern Vietnam)

Photos No. 10 & 11 - Bún nước lèo (noodle soup): The soup is sweet as it's cooked from fresh fish. You can eat this noodle soup with shrimp, fish, pork and vegetables. A bowl of this noodle soup costs US$1.

Cà Mau (the southernmost province of Vietnam)

Photo No. 4 - Ba khía (little crabs): The little crabs meat is delicious during July and August. They can be fried with salt or tamarind. This is favorite food of local men while drinking rice wine. You also can order this food at the restaurants in Cần Thơ (the biggest city in the Mekong Delta).

Trà Vinh (Mekong Delta)

Photo No. 78 - Bún nước lèo (noodle soup): It contains noodles, vegetables, fish soup, grilled pork or spring rolls.

Photo No. 79 - Bánh ống dừa (coconut cake)

Rạch Giá (south west Vietnam)

Photo No. 91 - Pò Pía rolls using rice papers, egg and vegetables

Hà Tiên (south west Vietnam)

Photo No. 81 - Lẩu cá bớp (fish hot pot)

Photo No. 82 - Mì hải sản (seafood noodle soup)

Photo No. 83 - Sò nướng (grilled oysters)

Photo No. 84 - Nước thốt nốt (juice from palm tree)

Photo No. 85 - Bánh thốt nốt (cake from palm tree)

Photo No. 86 - Cơm tấm sườn nướng (rice & grilled rib)

Photo No. 87 - Cá đuối hấp (steamed sea fish)

Phú Quốc island (south west Vietnam)

Photo No. 16 - Còi biên mai nướng (Grilled scallop): Special seafood which is only served on Phú Quốc island. Address: No. 7, Trần Hưng Đạo street, Dương Đông town.

Photo No. 17 - Bún riêu mực (Noodle soup with crab & squid)

Photo No. 18 - Cầu gai đen, Nhum đen (Black sea-urchin) seafood.

Photo No. 19 - Bánh hỏi (strings of noodles) - Thịt nướng (pork barbecue): At Dinh Cậu night market in Dương Đông town.

Côn Đảo islands (south east Vietnam)

Photo No. 24 - Ốc vú nàng (sea snails) and Photo No. 26 - Ốc bàn tay (hand shaped sea snails)

Address: Phương Hạnh restaurant at 38C Nguyễn Huệ street, Côn Đảo town.

Photo No. 25 - Bún riêu chả cá (noodles with fish) at Côn Đảo market.

Tây Ninh province (southern Vietnam)

Bánh tráng (rice papers) in Trảng Bàng town: Pork and vegetables are placed on these rice papers, then rolled on and eaten with special sauce. This town is also famous, as the photo of napalm girl Kim Phúc was taken during the American war and it was then awarded a Pulitzer Prize. Address of her family's restaurant: 19/26, Trảng Bàng town. Tel: 066-881008. Please read my blog about the meeting with Kim Phúc's brother at this restaurant: The people I met when traveling

My other blogs about Vietnamese food and drinks in Hanoi

My favorite food in Hanoi

"Phở" noodle soup - a feature of Hanoi

Bia Hơi (Vietnamese fresh beer)

Author's note

I have separated a section named "Vietnamese Food and Drinks" in my blog Vietnam - Guide for trip planners. If you are interested in Vietnamese food and would like to share your blogs or experiences in cooking courses with others, please provide me with the links to your articles, so that I could add them to this section. So far, there are some blogs from me, Rob & Lorenza (blog about north Vietnamese food) and Kent (blog
duck egg). Thank you.

(Blog No. 120, photo No. 4000)

Hanoi_girl

Source: travelblog.org

Còi biên mai nướng (Grilled scallop) This seafood is only served on Phú Quốc island. It costs VND 80,000 (US$4) for this dish. I ate once and it was very delicious.	Bún riêu mực (Noodle soup with crab & squid) At a restaurant on Phú Quốc island in the southernmost region of Vietnam.
Cầu gai đen, Nhum đen (Black sea-urchin) One of the seafood on Phú Quốc island.	Bánh hỏi (noodles) - Thịt nướng (pork barbecue) At Dinh Cậu nightmarket on Phú Quốc island.
Bún thịt nướng (noodles, pork barbecue, vegetables) Three food in this photo served in Đà Nẵng city, central Vietnam: Bún thịt nướng (noodles, pork barbecue, vegetables), Nem lụi (pork barbecue sticks), Bò cuốn lá lốt (grilled beef covered with leaves).	Cao Lầu (noodles, pork, vegetables) - famous food of Hội An
Cơm gà Hội An (fried rice, chicken, vegetables) This food is served in Hội An town, central Vietnam.	Bánh tét (round shaped sticky rice cake) This cake is eaten during Vietnamese lunar new year (Tết) in central and southern Vietnam. It contains sticky rice, green bean, pork and pepper. The cake in northern Vietnam is of square shape (Bánh chưng).
Ốc vú nàng (sea snails) This type of sea snail is local specialty of Côn Đảo islands. It looks similar to oyster. The snails live on the rock. This dish costs US$3.5 (VND 70,000). The snails are cooked with peanuts and onion.	Bún riêu chả cá (noodle soup with fish) I ate this food at Côn Đảo market. It costs US$1 for this bowl of noodles.
Ốc bàn tay (hand shaped sea snails) This type of sea snail is local specialty of Côn Đảo islands. This dish costs US$7 (VND 140,000). The sea snails are cut into small pieces and steamed.	Cơm gà Tam Kỳ (chicken, veg and rice) This is a very famous food in Tam Kỳ city. The locals use chicken boiling water to cook with rice, so the rice has yellow color and it tastes fatty. Restaurant "Cơm gà Tâm Duyên" at No. 256 Trưng Nữ Vương street, Tam Kỳ city.
Hội An white rose dumpling (Bánh bao - bánh vạc) This is a famous food in Hội An town.	Bún cá thu (noodle soup with fish and young bamboo) Noodle soup with fish, young bamboo, pumpkin and cabbage - Tam Kỳ city, central Vietnam.
Thịt cầy hương (Musk-cat meat) Musk-cat meat with vegetables at my dinner in Chợ Rã town near Ba Bể lake in Bắc Kạn province. (Thịt cầy hương xào lá mác mật trong bữa tối tại thị trấn Chợ Rã, huyện Ba Bể, tỉnh Bắc Kạn)	Mì cá lóc (noodles with fish and soup) One of the delicious food in Tam Kỳ city, central Vietnam.
Mì Quảng noodles This is a famous food which I found in both Tam Kỳ and Đà Nẵng. There are noodles, pork or chicken, prawn and veg with sauce.	Bún mắm (noodles with pork and prawn sauce) Restaurant: No. 4, Trần Dư street, Tam Kỳ city, central Vietnam.
Bún chả cá (noodle soup with fish) Tam Kỳ city, central Vietnam.	Bánh trứng tráng (rice papers & eggs) This street food is sold in Nha Trang city. A rice paper is baked over low coal fire. On its surface there are quail eggs, onions and sauce. It will then be folded before eating.
Noodle soup with jelly-fish Bún cá lá sứa (Noodle soup with jelly-fish) is a street food in Nha Trang. Jelly-fish is also used to mix with vegetables to make a salad.	Fried macaroni and seafood Mì xào hải sản - My favorite food when traveling to the beach towns.
Nem nướng (Baked spring rolls) This street food is sold near the beach in Tuy Hoà city. Inside spring rolls there is pork. Sweet sauce or chilly sauce is put over the baked spring rolls. A stick costs VND 2,000 (10 US cents).	Mì bò (noodle soup with beef) At a street-side restaurant in Tuy Hoà city.
Bánh khọt (pancake) in Buôn Mê Thuột The same pancake as photo No. 3, however it's made in Buôn Mê Thuột city in the Central	Cháo ấu tẩu (rice porridge) The rice porridge with pork and special herb (củ ấu) which has bitter taste is a local specialty in Hà Giang. This bowl of rice porridge costs US$1.5. (Cháo có thịt lợn băm, chân giò nướng và củ ấu có vị đắng là một trong những món ăn nổi tiếng của Hà Giang. Tô cháo này có giá 30.000 đồng)
Thịt trâu gác bếp (buffalo meat) Thịt trâu gác bếp (buffalo meat) is a local specialty in Hà Giang. The locals in the mountain region often dry pork, beef or buffalo meat in the kitchen and save it for a long time. It is cooked with vegetables (Thịt trâu gác bếp loại tái là một đặc sản của Hà Giang. Khi ăn thường xào với rau)	Thắng cố (horse meat) in Bắc Hà Thắng cố (mixture of all parts of horses) is a favorite food of the H'mong ethnic minority people in north west Vietnam. This shot was taken at the Sunday market in Bắc Hà. I saw it but decided not to taste.
Thắng cố bò (Beef soup) in Hà Giang This is one of the local specialties cooked by the ethnic minority people, however when it's cooked for Vietnamese, it must be cleaned. The ethnic minority people often cook "Thắng cố" with all the parts of horses or oxen.	Seaworm (Sá sùng) on Quan Lạn island Seaworm is cooked with vegetables and it's one of the famous seafood on the island. (Sá sùng hay giun biển màu trắng là đặc sản của đảo Quan Lạn. Khi ăn cảm thấy lạo xạo vì có cát).
Raw oyster meat (Hàu sống) This is also one of the local specialties on Quan Lạn island. Lemon water is poured over the raw oyster meat before eating. (Hàu cũng là một đặc sản khác của đảo Quan Lạn, cùng với sá sùng và tu hài. Khi ăn vắt chanh lên hàu sống).	Vịt quay Lạng Sơn (roasted duck meat) This is one of the local specialties in Lạng Sơn province, North East Vietnam.
Bánh áp chao (pancake with onion) This pancake has nothing inside it. It's often sold in the North East of Vietnam.	Bún cá trắm (noodle soup with fish and tofu) My breakfast in Lạng Sơn city, North East Vietnam.
Lợn quay Lạng Sơn (roasted pork) One of special food in Lạng Sơn province.	Thịt trâu cuốn lá lốt (buffalo meat) Buffalo meat and onion are put onto the leaves then rolled on. Fish sauce is used for eating this food. This shot was taken at a restaurant in Yên Bái city. (Thịt trâu xào tái với hành cuốn vào lá lốt rồi ăn cùng nước mắm).
Making steamed rice cakes "Bánh cuốn" Mù Cang Chải town, Yên Bái province.	Bánh cuốn chả (steamed rice cake) This is my favorite food on my 2-day stay in Mù Cang Chải town, Yên Bái province. The steamed rice cake is eaten with sauce which consists of grilled pork and onion. See next photo. (Món ăn yêu thích của tôi ở Mù Cang Chải. Bánh cuốn ở đây có nước chấm bao gồm chả nướng và hành phi).
Mỳ Quảng noodles in Đà Nẵng city This is famous food in Đà Nẵng city and also in Quảng Nam province. It consists of noodles, egg, shrimp, chicken, peanuts, vegetables and rice crackers.	Sò điệp nướng (grilled oyster meat) in Cù Lao Chàm island Sò điệp nướng (grilled oyster meat) in Cù Lao Chàm island, Hội An town, central Vietnam.
Sea snails, peanuts, chilli & vegetables Ốc xào cay (Sea snails, peanuts, chilli & vegetables) at a restaurant in Sa Huynh beach, Quảng Ngãi province,, central Vietnam.	"Don" oyster soup in Quảng Ngãi city "Don" is very tiny oysters. Rice crackers are used when eating this soup. VND 10,000 (50 US cents) for a bowl. (Don giống như con hến rất nhỏ, ăn cùng bánh đa tại TP Quảng Ngãi, giá 10.000 đồng/bát).
Bánh xèo pancakes at Mỹ Khê beach, Quảng Ngãi province Pancakes and vegetables are put into rice papers and rolled on. Sauce is used for eating this food. (Bánh xèo đặt vào bên trong bánh đa nem cùng với rau rồi cuốn lại và ăn cùng nước chấm).	Bánh căng pancakes in Quảng Ngãi city
Bánh ít (rice cakes) in Quảng Ngãi city There are two types of Bánh ít cakes. When you open the leaves, the black ones are sweet, and the white ones are salty. Both have green bean inside. (Bánh ít có hai loại mặn màu trắng và ngọt màu đen với nhân đậu xanh giống như bánh gai).	A type of rice cake in my father's village Sticky rice cakes with green bean inside are put in the middle of rice crackers (Một loại bánh ở thôn Vân Hà, huyện Mộ Đức là quê của cha tôi. Bánh có nhân đậu xanh kẹp giữa bánh đa)
Bún tu hài (noodle soup w/ oyster meat) Tu hài is a type of oyster which is available in Vân Đồn island district, Quảng Ninh province. US$2 for this bowl of noodle soup.	Ruốc (little octopus) Ngọc Vừng island, Quảng Ninh province
Nem mực (Squid spring rolls) Cát Bà island, northeast Vietnam.	Bánh canh chả cá (noodle soup with grilled fish) Cát Bà island, northeast Vietnam.
Bánh canh thập cẩm (mixed noodle soup) Red noodles - Cát Bà island, northeast Vietnam	Thịt nhím (porcupine meat) Pa Há (Nậm Tăm district), Lai Châu province.
Quẩy nóng (sweet & salty type) Sơn La city, northwest Vietnam	Bún chả cá (noodle soup with grilled fish) Trạm Tấu district, Yên Bái province.
Cháo cá hồi (rice porridge with salmon) Sapa town, Lào Cai province, northwest Vietnam	Grilled food at night in Sapa town Lào Cai province, northwest Vietnam
Grilling food for sale at night in Sapa town	Food ready to be grilled in Sapa town
Grilling food for sale at night in Bát Xát town Lào Cai province, northwest Vietnam.	Bún nước lèo (noodle soup) This noodle soup is a local specialty in Trà Vinh province. It contains noodles, vegetables, fish soup, grilled pork or spring rolls. (Bún nước lèo gồm bún, rau, nước canh cá lóc, ăn với thịt lợn quay hoặc chả giò)
Making Bánh ống dừa (coconut cake) A Khmer ethnic woman in Trà Vinh market is making coconut cake (Bánh ống dứa) for sale.	Hủ tiếu tôm (noodle soup with shrimp) Hủ tiếu is a popular noodle soup in southern Vietnam. It can be eaten with pork, shrimp etc.
Lẩu cá bớp (fish hot pot) Hà Tiên town, south west Vietnam	Mì hải sản (seafood noodle soup) Hà Tiên town, south west Vietnam
Sò nướng (grilled oysters with peanut) Hà Tiên town, south west Vietnam	Nước thốt nốt (Juice from palm tree) Hà Tiên town, south west Vietnam
Bánh thốt nốt (cake from palm tree) Hà Tiên town, south west Vietnam	Cơm tấm sườn nướng (rice & grilled rib) Hà Tiên town, south west Vietnam
Cá đuối hấp (steamed sea fish) Hòn Tre island, Hà Tiên district, south west Vietnam.	Gỏi vịt (Salad with duck meat) Biên Hòa city, Đồng Nai province, southern Vietnam
Bánh ướt (steamed rice cake with pork) Biên Hòa city, Đồng Nai province, southern Vietnam	Cháo huyết (rice porridge with pig blood) Biên Hòa city, Đồng Nai province, southern Vietnam
Pò Pía rolls using rice papers with egg & vegetables Rạch Giá city, southern Vietnam	Chả giò gấc spring rolls Inside the spring rolls there are Gấc fruit (red color), pork or chicken.
Phở noodle soup with beef in Sài Gòn Mixture of white and red noodles.	Súp cua (crab soup) At a street side restaurant in Đồng Xoài town, Bình Phước province. VND 15,000 (65 cents) for a bowl like this.
Huỳnh Đế crab on Phú Quý island, Bình Thuận province This type of crab has red color (US$15 for a kg) and different with all crabs I've seen.	Phở mực (noodle soup with squid) I always ate Phở noodle soup with beef or chicken. The people on Phú Quý island of Bình Thuận province used squid instead.
Grilled "Cá bò" fish - Phú Quý island One of the fishes caught in the sea area of Phú Quý island, Bình Thuận province.	Phá lấu (pig's inner parts) - Phú Quý island I saw this food in some areas of southern Vietnam. The locals used inner parts of pigs and cooked with medicinal herbs. This food is eaten with bread.
Mì xào mực (fried noodles with squid) Phú Quý island, Bình Thuận province	Fruits sold at Coopmart supermarket VND 12,000 (60 US cents) for this plate which contained 10 types of fruits (Phan Thiết city).
Xôi gấc (sticky rice with "Gấc" fruit) The locals in Phan Thiết city use baby shrimps, egg and pork to eat with sticky rice. The "Gấc" fruit makes the sticky rice become red.	Mủ trôm (juice made from "trôm" tree) At Coopmart supermarket in Phan Thiết city
Selling sweet soup on a street in Phan Thiết city VND 5,000 (25 US cents) for a cup of hot sweet soup (corn, bean).	Sweet cake with milk and ice - Mũi Né town VND 3,000 for this cake (caramen)
Bánh canh cá rô (Fish noodle soup) This fish noodle soup is made by some northerners living in Nha Trang city.	Bánh tẻ, gai, nậm, bột lọc (rice cakes) Four types of rice cake sold at a market in Nha Trang city.
Making Bánh Đập rice cake - Nha Trang city Onion and shrimp powder are put on the surface of the rice paper and steamed rice cake. See next photo (Hành và chả tôm được phủ trên bề mặt bánh cuốn tráng và bánh đa nướng giòn. Sau đó gập lại và cắt ra đĩa).	Bánh đập rice cakes - Nha Trang city Green onion and red shrimp powder inside the rice cakes.
Chả tôm (pork & shrimp mixture inside leaves) Nha Trang city, South Central Coast of Vietnam	Crocodile meat at Yang Bay waterfall The waterfall is located 45km from Nha Trang city.
Ostrich meat at Yang Bay waterfall The waterfall is located 45km from Nha Trang city.	At a local restaurant in Đà Lạt city A local boy was grilling pork and chicken at a rice restaurant (Cơm tấm).
Cơm gà (rice & chicken), soup & tea VND 32,000 (USD 1.5) for this portion.	Bánh giò & Bánh nậm rice cakes Some types of rice cake (Bánh giò & Bánh nậm) at a street side restaurant in Đà Lạt city.
Chè đậu xanh (Green bean sweet soup) A street vendor in Đà Lạt city carried this type of sweet soup and sold it. VND 7,000 (30 US cents) for a pack.	Kem chiên (Ice cream inside the pancake) There is taro ice cream inside the pancake - Đà Lạt city.
Bánh canh (fish noodle soup) Đà Lạt city	Phở xào gan lợn (fried noodles with pig liver) Đà Lạt city, the Central Highlands
Fishes & octopus for grilling - Vũng Tàu city At a local restaurant in the city	Grilled octopus (Bạch tuộc nướng) VND 40,000 (or US$2) for this dish - Vùng Tàu city
Bánh khọt pancake in Vũng Tàu city This is one of the local specialties in Vũng Tàu city. US$1.5 for 10 pieces. It contains shrimp and onion. See next photo.	Bánh khọt pancakes in Vũng Tàu city The pancakes contain shrimp and onion.
Cháo vịt (rice porridge & duck meat) One of the food in Vũng Tàu city	Grilling banana for sale Xuyên Mộc town, southern Vietnam
Bánh cuốn (steamed rice cake) - Vũng Tàu city Steamed rice cake with pork, vegetables and sauce.	Grilled squids sold on Long Hải beach Small grilled squids were sold at cheap price, mainly for pupils and tourists at the beach.
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