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.

in Snack Attack

Tracing the Roots of Bến Tre's Coconut Candy via My Grandma's Family Tales

Hometown treats encapsulate within them the flavors of memories, reminding us of a land we haven’t visited for a long time. I open the jar of coconut candies from my mother and my hometown, and immediately breathe in a familiar scent reminiscent of our kitchen back then. I thought to myself: so this is the feeling of yearning people often talk about when referring to home. 

in Saigon Hẻm Gems

Hẻm Gems: Time-Tested Sâm Bổ Lượng Versus Wacky Quail Eggs in a Dessert

As a kid, my mom would often buy me chè when the weather was too hot to keep me from drinking Coca-Cola. Chè made by Hoa people always got my attention, thanks to its distinctive presentation. Though, to get to it, I would usually drive to Chợ Lớn, which is fine, but it often involves traversing through traffic jams. So when I discovered Chè Sâm Bổ Lượng 399 on a random Google search, a long-established chè shop run by a Hoa family just 7 minutes from my office, I had to check it out.

in Dishcovery

The Unbearable Lightness of An Giang's Bánh Bò Thốt Nốt Chảo

Some simple delights can capture the flavor of an entire region.

Thi Nguyễn

in Snack Attack

In Bánh Củ Cải, a Curious Slice of Bạc Liêu's Teochew Heritage

You know a dish is special when it can spark conversation with a stranger on a bus. Halfway through the scrumptious bánh củ cải (radish cake) from our last-minute trip to the market, I shared the other half with my mom. "You're full?" asked a lady in the bunk next to us, which was then followed by a long discussion. I came home with several handy tips on how to recreate and elevate the already flavorful treat.

in Hanoi Ngõ Nooks

Ngõ Nooks: This Modern Co-op Serves up One of Hanoi's Best Skewer Bánh Mì

Hợp Tác Xã Thịt Xiên is more than just a bánh mì eatery, it’s a place to rekindle your childhood nostalgia and take in the ambiance of the street.

Back Eat & Drink

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...

in Food Culture

Stop Motion Video Shows How a Bánh Mì Is Made

This stop motion video made by Triet Le Thanh uses 1,146 individual photos to show how a traditional bánh mì is assembled.

in Food Culture

'Trendy' Elephant Poop Coffee Taking off in Vietnam

Vietnam is known for its cafe chồn, coffee beans that are ingested, pooped out by weasels and sold at prices far higher than the normal variety. Now, a Vietnamese breeder is adopting a similar techniq...