Ho Chi Minh- again
Although i'm piled with a huge stash of work that must be done (a result of procrastination and sheer laziness) I figured I should update while my brain is fried (from just reading one article on religious and moral conscientious objection and writing the introduction to my research paper).
Not too long ago - recess week - Mark and I made a short trip to HCM, and thanks to my lovely parents, much of my shopping and eating was sponsored although like a dutiful child, I paid for my airfare and part of my tailoring expenses.
To be honest, I'm not quite sure if western food can ever trump the flavours and depth of Asian cuisine because Vietnamese food, like taiwanese and thai.. chinese.. and indian food, is simply glorious.
I'm not quite sure what else I did on the trip other than eat compulsively and tailor several suits that I needed - because all I can recall was the glorious taste of a freshly made banh mi on a rainy day (which is often the case in Vietnam) and the amazing dessert concoctions (i.e. 4 colours - a coconut milk based dessert) they have available there.
Our first stop upon arrival in HCM was Vietnam House - a touristy, super commercialized restaurant with decent/ good food at prices that are comparatively higher than other places. Nonetheless, it's a trusty place to go to if it's pouring, you're stuck at Dong Du Street and not in the mood for Pho 24 or Western food
Seriously, Vietnamese know how to do spring rolls
My favourite Viet dish and I think the best ones I've ever had were all at Vietnam House
You can't go to vietnam and not have a cup of drip coffee at Trung Nguyen. The difference is that their coffee is roasted with tonnes of butter so it's very fragrant and rich taste + aroma
Our next stop was Wrap and Roll - a fast food chain which specializes in Springrolls
It's good with decent prices, although I thought the ones in Ben Thanh market were better
Of course I got 4 colours...the invention of this concoction and my introduction to it in Melbourne 4 years ago was like the best thing that ever happened to me
For dinner we went to this vietnamese restaurant which was meant to be pretty atas... but with amazing food (and yes, it was numerous times better than vietnam house)
One thing we learnt: we only like chinese styled dumplings... German and vietnamese dumplings... not so much
I hate rice but I loveeee the lotus steamed rice they have in Vietnam. This one was particularly well done and despite the huge serving, mark and i finished every grain
Famous cod fish which was superb
Tapioca dessert
As you can tell from the plate designs - this wasn't at a fancy restaurant but from one of the numerous stalls at Ben Thanh.. they're btw extremely big on touting there, so I specifically chose a stall which left us alone and boy was it a good decision
BEST BARBECUED MEAT OF MY LIFE.
this was so good, mark and I finished it up in seconds.
and then to the famous dessert stall in Ben Thanh for THE BEST THING EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark btw hates desserts and decided he would share a cup with me - I reluctantly agreed... but he took a spoonful and proceeded to order one for himself ^^
THE NEXT BEST THING TO EVER HAPPEN IN MY LIFE: THE INTRODUCTION OF BANH MI
We had spent the previous day looking for a cart selling banh mi but were unfortunately deprived of the most amazing sandwich in the world.. so when we turned out of ben thanh with our full tummies and spotted a cart.... we bought 2 banh mis...
I LOVE YOU.
We then walked around the city to burn off the multiple calories consumed and visited significant landmarks
... we passed by another cart on the way back to the hotel and I got another banh mi ^^
FAVOURITE NON-VIET FOOD RESTAURANT IN HCM
it was just beside our hotel and we only went there because the rain was insane and we couldn't go far out.. but man was that the best decision ever - we were the only people in there who weren't japanese
Perfectly grilled squid
HUGE ASS SUKIYAKI FOR ME
Mark's soba and tempura set was so huge that he couldn't finish it
FYI: Total cost? $20 SGD... weeps
On our second last day i broguht mark on the mekond delta tour I went on last time because I figured we should take a day off from stuffing our faces with food (and searching for more banh mi carts)
BUT ON THE WAY BACK... I SPOTTED ANOTHER BANH MI CART WITH THE BEST BANH MI I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
omg it was insanely good - and this cart was at the entrance of a motorcycle parking area...set in the centre of a huge rain puddle
Probably the least unhygenic one I ate as well.. but oh god, it was the best - i think i should add a caveat that my stomach has an amazing tolerance for unhygenic food
I do however get food poisoning.. from eating in legit restaurants (always in australia too)
after a tiring day... and one banh mi... of curse we went back to wasabi for our last night in HCM
Second last meal - at a disappointing spanish restaurant
I did however have a really good sangria which i of course was allergic to - but hey! yolo?!
All in all... I will go back to HCM soon, only because I am craving so badly for a huge ass bowl of pho and banh mi + four colours - but before I do, a much needed trip to Taipei is required because I miss bubble tea so terribly and I have been dreaming of skewers and dumplings that can only be found at my favourite haunts in Taipei.
(also.. i am running out of contact lenses)
Not too long ago - recess week - Mark and I made a short trip to HCM, and thanks to my lovely parents, much of my shopping and eating was sponsored although like a dutiful child, I paid for my airfare and part of my tailoring expenses.
To be honest, I'm not quite sure if western food can ever trump the flavours and depth of Asian cuisine because Vietnamese food, like taiwanese and thai.. chinese.. and indian food, is simply glorious.
I'm not quite sure what else I did on the trip other than eat compulsively and tailor several suits that I needed - because all I can recall was the glorious taste of a freshly made banh mi on a rainy day (which is often the case in Vietnam) and the amazing dessert concoctions (i.e. 4 colours - a coconut milk based dessert) they have available there.
Our first stop upon arrival in HCM was Vietnam House - a touristy, super commercialized restaurant with decent/ good food at prices that are comparatively higher than other places. Nonetheless, it's a trusty place to go to if it's pouring, you're stuck at Dong Du Street and not in the mood for Pho 24 or Western food
Seriously, Vietnamese know how to do spring rolls
My favourite Viet dish and I think the best ones I've ever had were all at Vietnam House
You can't go to vietnam and not have a cup of drip coffee at Trung Nguyen. The difference is that their coffee is roasted with tonnes of butter so it's very fragrant and rich taste + aroma
Our next stop was Wrap and Roll - a fast food chain which specializes in Springrolls
It's good with decent prices, although I thought the ones in Ben Thanh market were better
Of course I got 4 colours...the invention of this concoction and my introduction to it in Melbourne 4 years ago was like the best thing that ever happened to me
For dinner we went to this vietnamese restaurant which was meant to be pretty atas... but with amazing food (and yes, it was numerous times better than vietnam house)
One thing we learnt: we only like chinese styled dumplings... German and vietnamese dumplings... not so much
I hate rice but I loveeee the lotus steamed rice they have in Vietnam. This one was particularly well done and despite the huge serving, mark and i finished every grain
Famous cod fish which was superb
Tapioca dessert
As you can tell from the plate designs - this wasn't at a fancy restaurant but from one of the numerous stalls at Ben Thanh.. they're btw extremely big on touting there, so I specifically chose a stall which left us alone and boy was it a good decision
BEST BARBECUED MEAT OF MY LIFE.
this was so good, mark and I finished it up in seconds.
and then to the famous dessert stall in Ben Thanh for THE BEST THING EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark btw hates desserts and decided he would share a cup with me - I reluctantly agreed... but he took a spoonful and proceeded to order one for himself ^^
THE NEXT BEST THING TO EVER HAPPEN IN MY LIFE: THE INTRODUCTION OF BANH MI
We had spent the previous day looking for a cart selling banh mi but were unfortunately deprived of the most amazing sandwich in the world.. so when we turned out of ben thanh with our full tummies and spotted a cart.... we bought 2 banh mis...
I LOVE YOU.
We then walked around the city to burn off the multiple calories consumed and visited significant landmarks
... we passed by another cart on the way back to the hotel and I got another banh mi ^^
FAVOURITE NON-VIET FOOD RESTAURANT IN HCM
it was just beside our hotel and we only went there because the rain was insane and we couldn't go far out.. but man was that the best decision ever - we were the only people in there who weren't japanese
Perfectly grilled squid
HUGE ASS SUKIYAKI FOR ME
Mark's soba and tempura set was so huge that he couldn't finish it
FYI: Total cost? $20 SGD... weeps
On our second last day i broguht mark on the mekond delta tour I went on last time because I figured we should take a day off from stuffing our faces with food (and searching for more banh mi carts)
BUT ON THE WAY BACK... I SPOTTED ANOTHER BANH MI CART WITH THE BEST BANH MI I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
omg it was insanely good - and this cart was at the entrance of a motorcycle parking area...set in the centre of a huge rain puddle
Probably the least unhygenic one I ate as well.. but oh god, it was the best - i think i should add a caveat that my stomach has an amazing tolerance for unhygenic food
I do however get food poisoning.. from eating in legit restaurants (always in australia too)
after a tiring day... and one banh mi... of curse we went back to wasabi for our last night in HCM
Second last meal - at a disappointing spanish restaurant
I did however have a really good sangria which i of course was allergic to - but hey! yolo?!
All in all... I will go back to HCM soon, only because I am craving so badly for a huge ass bowl of pho and banh mi + four colours - but before I do, a much needed trip to Taipei is required because I miss bubble tea so terribly and I have been dreaming of skewers and dumplings that can only be found at my favourite haunts in Taipei.
(also.. i am running out of contact lenses)