Yummy treats of Vietnam
Vietnam is truly a foodie's delight. To say that our Vietnamese sojourn has been the ultimate culinary experience for me (rest of the family are vegetarians) would be an understatement. I had tried many new things (like clams and oysters and scallops) and many new dishes of already tasted delicacies (like prawns, squids,etc). If I try and document every meal that I had, then this post would become a never ending one. So I am trying to give a brief overview of what I loved and is indispensable for seafood lovers like me in this post.
GRILLED OYSTERS WITH SCALLION OIL (HAU NUONG MO HANH)
I had the best experience with trying out oysters for the first time because they weren't raw! Grilled and garnished with fried garlic, scallions and roasted peanuts! The best combination ever! Also, if you have ever tasted fish eyes (like of Rohu or Catla) oysters taste the same. (For the ones who haven't tasted yet).
SWEET AND SOUR CLAM SOUP (CANH NGAO CHUA)
I have always been apprehensive of clams, but I finally took the plunge. Cooked with pineapples and rosemary and cherry tomatoes and all, it was really a delight!
Scallop Tempura:
Give me tempura in any form and I will relish it. And the succulent scallops are a must if you love seafood.
Vietnamese Spring Rolls Recipe (Gỏi Cuốn)
Well this can be loved by all provided you are open to having pork and seafood. Because the rolls are thin rice paper rolls and the stuffing is minced pork and squids and all. Served with a sweet and sour dip, glass noodles (vermicelli) and a bowl of very pungent raw herbs. I finished them all!
Vietnamese Noodles with seafood:
I opted for only shrimps and squids with my noodles and they were delicious! Of course the noodles were loaded with bok choy too.
Banh Mi
Basically a Vietnamese sandwich, this should not be missed at any cost! If you are a non meat eater, you can try and explain them to add egg instead. Vegetarian food is difficult and communicating with the locals is even more challenging!
Vietnamese Fried Tofu with Scallions (Dau ran tam hanh)
I love tofu and these were an excellent veg option for my family members.
Trứng Chiên Chay/ Rolled omelette: Again they were a delight and if you love eggs, go for it!
Deep fried Taro Balls
I am not a fan of Taro and I don't like this South East Asian delicacy.
Cải Thìa, Cải Chíp (Bok Choy)
OMG the amount of Bok choy I had during the entire trip; I hadn't had in my entire life! They add bok choy in EVERY SINGLE DISH. But who's complaining? I like it!
Goat Meat: This is a delicacy of Ninh Binh and I did not like it. It was rough, dry and chewy. Not at all upto my liking.
Egg Coffee and Coconut coffee: Coffee is an integral part of Vietnamese cuisine and they are special indeed! They use condensed milk in place of creamer and it's heavenly!
I was sceptical of egg coffee but it tasted like pudding! They serve it over hot water and you are supposed to stir the coffee and then drink it. Surely a must try!
Coconut coffee is a universal favourite. Imagine cold coffee in coconut milk and 100 times tastier. A definite must!
This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla
in collaboration with Zariya Healings.
30 comments
I'm a fan of grill oyster.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on, and stay safe.
Looks like Vietnam is a foodie's paradise. Thanks for sharing the vegetarian options as well its always helpful especially when you are travelling to a new country.
ReplyDeleteYou brought water to this preferential vegetarian's mouth ( I do love fish and tried quite a few things in Goa), I can see the food was a hit with all looking at their food plates. Most importantly though, where did you have this in Vietnam?
ReplyDeleteWell I have no idea about Vietnamese Cuisines but all I can say after reading this post and checking the mesmerizing pictures you shared that I love prawns and when I visited Singapore enjoyed such amazing prawns which were super yummy and the worst dish I ever had is Oyster and it resembles the look of the oyster dishes which you shared above. But the remaining dishes you shared looks super yummy
ReplyDeleteVietnamese cuisine is very popular and the best way to have it is in Vietnam. The food looks so tempting. Egg and coffee is one combination worth trying.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a feast! As I am a vegetarian, I guess I would face challenges. But the spring rolls with rice paper are delcious. I have had them in India. And I would love to try the coconut milk coffee. Am a coffee fan.
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredible feast! The exotic dishes you enjoyed must have been a culinary delight. I can only imagine how delicious those oysters tasted. Thank you for sharing this exquisite gourmand experience. I've bookmarked another one of your captivating blog posts. Vietnam is now firmly on my bucket list! 😊
ReplyDeleteLove seafood and this Vietnamese spread looks so tempting. The pics had me drooling. Wish I could try out the egg or coconut coffee. This goes into my Keeps folder too.
ReplyDeleteI was stuck to the food pics that you put up. OMG! This is so tempting especially the very first one the oyester. My eyes were reading but my mouth was drooling 🤤
ReplyDeleteYum, yum, yum! I am sure your favourites were as tasty as they look and as u made them sound Mandira. I feel sad for the members of your family who are vegetarians... in a place like Vietnam n like u mentioned, it mustv been difficult for them. Loved the pics esp.. the first one overlooking the waters.
ReplyDeleteI have a question, where did all the calories from the food go??? 🤔 😉
- Kaveri
Sounds like a great meal! Being a vegetarian might make it tricky, but I'd still love to try the coconut milk coffee. I'm a big coffee fan! I've also saved another one of your interesting blog posts. Vietnam is definitely a place I want to visit now! 😊
ReplyDelete- Anjali
wow, food posts are always relishing. Coconut milk coffee I would like to try. Coffee is always the best thing I prefer.
ReplyDeleteConsidering that I'm a vegetarian who doesn't even eat eggs Vietnam seems like a place that'll probably starve me. This is a can't-miss treat for seafood lovers though.
ReplyDeleteVietnam has been on my bucket list for quite some time now. Thanks for sharing the veg food options. I'm a vegetarian and to know good veg food will be available there helps choosing the place as destination
ReplyDeleteThere seem to be nice food options in Vietnamese cuisine. Though I'm not a seafood fan, the Egg coffee and coconut milk coffee tempted me:)
ReplyDeleteI remember gobbling all the Thai food I could on my trip to Thailand. Vietnamese cuisine is out of this world and I am bookmarking this page for my visit to Vietnam. Thanks for the droolworthy pics :)
ReplyDeleteHave you ever thought of publishing all your travel experiences in a book? You must do! such lovely locations, beautiful pics and descriptions....I'm a fan of your posts. Like others, this piece is lovely too.
ReplyDeleteI am a vegetarian and I completely enjoyed my 10 day vacation in Vietnam. While I have heard rave reviews of the seafood, the veg options are equally mouthwatering. The fresh fruits and veggies, salad, rice paper rolls were simply yummy. Infact, on the Halong Bay cruise I was the only vegetarian but they made sure I was served an option in every course. Of course the Vietnamese coffee is good too and had to be tried. Found it a tad bit sweet but otherwise great tasting!
ReplyDeleteI want to visit Vietnam soon as my friends have been there on girls-only or solo trips and have found people to be amazing there. The cuisine would also be new to me. But I can manage Asian food.
ReplyDeleteVietnam is indeed a haven for seafood lovers. How is it for vegetarians? We had an issue in the interiors of Cambodia. Sandy N Vyjay
ReplyDeleteHey, your Vietnam food journey left my taste buds dancing! Your descriptions of those yummy treats had me drooling. Thanks for introducing me to a whole new world of flavors. Can't wait to explore more through your delicious posts!
ReplyDeleteHi Mandira,
ReplyDeleteI just had to reach out and thank you for your delightful blog post on the yummy treats of Vietnam. Reading about the diverse and mouthwatering dishes from the vibrant streets of Vietnam has ignited my passion for culinary exploration. Your vivid descriptions and personal experiences have truly transported me to the heart of Vietnam's culinary delights. I can't wait to embark on a food adventure and taste these delectable treats for myself. Your blog post has been a true source of inspiration, and I'm so grateful for your dedication in sharing the joys of Vietnamese cuisine with all of us.
Well Well being a foodie nd traveller I know the importance of cuisine for any country and Vietnam is just not exceptional for sure. You know I loved everything about Vietnam, good nature, places, budget and food. Food and coffee are just the things you always want to try in any place while looking at your pocket. Amazing post for sure, saving it for my trip to Vietnam
ReplyDeleteBumped into your post just after dinner and all that food is making me hungry all over again. The chingri machh is to die for and your coconut coffee description is making me drool! Vietnam calls for another culinary trip...
ReplyDeleteYour post was the first one that took me to a virtual trip to Vietnam. Later on, everyone seemed to travel there & Insta was full of Vietnam contents.
ReplyDeleteI like to try local cuisines, so would love to have it whenever I visit Vietnam.
Vietnam is a Wonderland for every foodie. But being a vegetarian I enjoyed reading about the few options that were mentioned and look forward to trying them out when I visit Vietnam
ReplyDeleteWow, Loved your food pictures. Can not wait to visit this beautiful place and try these yummy treats.
ReplyDeleteI really loved the way you created detailed information on the your favourite dishes from Vietnam and also sharing the experiences of the ones that you didn't like. It is very helpful and gives great clarity on what foods to expect in Vietnam and it's easy for non vegetarian to enjoy the food. Also, you clearly stated that they add bokchoy in every food. All these details are valuable.
ReplyDeleteThis post made me drool 🤤 the Vietnamese noodle and spring roll are my favourite. Their shrimps are by far the best way to have them. So healthy and absolutely delicious
ReplyDeleteI love Vietnamese food - I can live on Pho!
ReplyDeleteNoor