in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Amid Saigon's Heat, a Wintry Ambiance in Xocoati's Cozy Cocoa Drinks

Amidst Saigon’s year-round scorching heat, I crave coziness — a feeling that often comes with snuggling under heavy blankets in my Hanoian winter. I was searching for some comfort and “winter vibe” spots when one review, in particular, sparked my curiosity by mentioning (in my opinion) the greatest combination known to mankind: cocoa and Harry Potter. Brimming with expectations, I weaved through Saigon’s usual frantic roads to find a small alley, which surprisingly led to a spacious apartment complex.

in Ănthology

In Taiwan, a Vietnamese Baker Creates Bánh Mì Thịt From Scratch

“We’re going to Taipei on VietJet Air,” an acquaintance said to me. An international flight on Vietnam’s notoriously delayed airline didn’t sound like the best idea ever. But who would expect that I was set to fly to Tainan, a city on the island's southwest coast, just a few hours after the brief conversation with her. The reality was that I found it excruciatingly difficult to reject a cheap flight deal.

in Hanoi Ngõ Nooks

Ngõ Nooks: Slurping Thick Noodles and Seafood at Bánh Canh Ghẹ Út Còi

A whiff of the ocean hits you before you even step foot onto the street. In this curious corner between Quang Trung and Nhà Chung, a new form of restaurant exemplifies the vitality and variety of Hanoi’s street food.

Khôi Phạm

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Reliving the Joy of Jollof Rice at Saigon's Only Nigerian Eatery

Food is history. For some, it may just be sustenance, fuel for life, something to wash down quickly with sips of water to keep the body going. But the reality is that many food types have directly influenced and changed the course of human history, like sugarcane, palm oil, and spices. On a national scale, many Vietnamese dishes that we adore today, like hủ tiếu Nam Vang or cà ri gà, are surviving proofs of the country’s storied past.

Thi Nguyễn

in Snack Attack

Via Curry Packets, Curry Powder Made Its Way From India Into Vietnamese Homes

Step inside the kitchen of any household in Saigon and chances are that you will find one or two ready-made curry powder packets in a cupboard waiting for the family's next weekend treat of cà ri gà (chicken curry).

Thi Nguyễn

in Food Culture

Chè, Bánh, Chả, Nem: The Curious Lives of Vietnam’s Regional Food Names

Realizing the word that one is using refers to an entirely different object in another region is a situation many can relate to. The last time this happened to me, it almost cost me a bowl of Hanoi’s bánh đa trộn.

Khôi Phạm

in Food Culture

From Kuy Teav to Hủ Tiếu: How a Phnom Penh Classic Became Hủ Tiếu Nam Vang

Originally from Cambodia, made popular by Chinese vendors and enjoyed by local diners, hủ tiếu Nam Vang captures the essence of Vietnamese history in one hearty bowl of noodles.

Khôi Phạm

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: A Streetcart Named Aoya and the Comfort of Sidewalk Ramen

The first time I tried to visit Aoya Ramen was on a Monday. The pavement where the stall should be was empty, without any trace of noodles or noren. I learned quickly that they’re closed on Mondays. The second time, my joy in discovering that the cart was open for business was quickly dashed by the long queue of hungry diners already in line. The third time, learning from the previous crowd, I arrived later at 8:30pm, just to find out that they were out of stock for the day.

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in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Bò Nhúng Dấm @ Anh Ba

At Anh Ba, it’s all about the beef. This eatery offers up four bovine dishes - lá lốp (beef wrapped in lolot leaves), mỡ chài (beef quasicrepinettes), nhúng dấm (vinegar based hot pot) and tái chanh (...

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

[Video] The Story of a Saigon Chè Master

Saigoneer has teamed up with Only In Saigon to bring you stories from the city’s streets. Our first episode explores the tale of Son, a District 1 chè vendor who, for 25 years, has maintained thi...

in Food Culture

Will Saigon's Street Food Scene Last Another Generation?

According to a recent article in The Guardian, while Vietnamese street food is “imitated, fetishized, and replicated in cities all over the western world,” for many vendors, their profession is a mean...

in Food Culture

A Chat With The Organizers Of The Outcast’s Farmers Market

Saigon’s only farmers market is gearing up for its second installment at Saigon Outcast this Sunday. We sat down with the organizers (Saigon Outcast and La Holista) to see why they started the market,...

in Food Culture

[Video] How To Make: Bánh Nậm

When we order bánh thập cẩm at our Hue standby, Rất Huế (136/11 Lê Thánh Tôn), one of the highlights is bánh nậm, gelatinous rice with minced shrimp wrapped in a banana leaf.

in Food Culture

How To Make A Fresh Phở Noodle Salad In 15 Minutes

When most people talk about Vietnamese food, they immediately think about a delicious steaming bowl of phở.

in Food Culture

Is the World's Best Banh Mi Found in Hanoi?

Vice’s food-focused arm, Munchies, recently profiled banh mi in Hanoi and presented a set of sandwiches that made us tremble with jealousy. While we’re neither accredited banh mi connoisseurs nor freq...

in Food Culture

[Video] Samurai Isao Machii Is A Real Life Fruit Ninja

In this SoftBank commercial, modern samurai, Isao Machii, is attacked by three assassins – an orange, a fried shrimp and a glowing ball.

in Food Culture

How To Make The Perfect Gỏi Cuốn

On a hot summer day, nothing feels better than eating something light and crisp. Here's a recipe for Gỏi Cuốn (Summer Rolls) with an unconventional twist.

in Food Culture

[Video] Would You Take On This Phở Burger?

A few months ago, Youtuber Richie Le uploaded a video of the phở burger, a natural follow-up to the phở burrito, the phở cocktail and the phở dumpling.

in Food Culture

[Video] Phở Has Never Looked So Beautiful

This short clip, "Mrs Phở," is the work of Tung Pham, a second year student at Lasalle College of The Arts in Singapore.

in Food Culture

Saigon Ranked Among World’s Ideal Cities for Vegans and Vegetarians

When On Earth, a Buzzfeed-style travel website, has ranked Saigon among the world’s ideal cities for vegan and vegetarian travelers.

Brian Letwin

in Food Culture

[Video] Watching A Master Noodle Maker Do His Work Is Absolutely Mesmerizing

The beauty of art is that it is all relative and often transcends traditional mediums. One such exception are the handmade noodles made by soba master Tatsuru Rai, owner and chef of Sobatei Rakui...

in Food Culture

[Video] How To Make Bánh Chưng

Though particularly popular during Tet, bánh chưng is available all year long from street vendors who sell them off the back of their bicycles. If you ever wanted to try your hand at the dish or you’r...

in Food Culture

Saigon Bakery Finds A Hit With Ginormous Bánh Mì

We’ve seen plenty of crazy spins on Vietnamese food, from phở cocktails to street side duck tacos. However, one Saigon bakery has found success by simply supersizing a popular Vietnamese sta...

in Food Culture

[Photos] Coffee Shop On Wheels: Inside Hanoi’s New “Bus Café”

Vietnam’s ever-evolving coffee culture has produced a number of unique offerings, from sock-brewed coffee to tree house cafés. In Hanoi, a group of young entrepreneurs has taken a completely different...

in Food Culture

[Video] American Children Fall In Love With Vietnamese Breakfast Food

Many of the videos on Cut Video’s Youtube channel are dedicated to giving people new experiences and filming their reactions. Sometimes, this manifests in giving grandmothers marijuana, but in this cl...

in Food Culture

20 Vietnamese Foods You Need to Try Now

Uyen Luu, author of My Vietnamese Kitchen and contributor to Jamie Oliver’s FoodTube, shares her favorite Vietnamese dishes and how to cook them.

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Craft Beer Makes Its Debut In Saigon: Pasteur Street Brewing

Nestled down a hẻm in District 1 are many a gem to be found by either stumbling upon them or through an awesome bit of advice from a friend. Whether it be your favorite bánh mì stand or a hidden coffe...

in Food Culture

[Video] This Cannon Can Assemble And Cook A Dumpling In Under 3 Seconds

After unleashing the Prawn Cannon on unsuspecting audiences last year, Docomo, Japan’s largest mobile communications company, has released another explosive food-related video to push their 4G service...