Hẻm Gems: The Ghé Coffee Tucks Art, Fragrant Coffee Into a Quiet D1 Crevice
Delivering premium origin coffee and fine art from artists across Vietnam in a tiny room that dates back to French colonial times, smack dab in the middle of District 1, The Ghé Coffee balances the finer things in life and the comfortably mundane.
Paul Christiansen in Food Culture
Into the Beguiling Backyard Rice Wine Distilleries of Long An
The highway eases into sand and gravel the way history descends into myth and legend when traveling towards Long An. A mere 27 kilometers outside of Saigon, the province feels a world away: the difference between a cocktail made with 18-year-old scotch, jackfruit-infused rum, seven types of bitters and brandy-soaked organic cherries and a plastic water bottle of homemade rượu nếp. The latter was the reason we were going there: for information, interviews and anecdotes to complete Saigoneer’s two-part investigation of the history of rice wine.
From a Blend of Cultures, Phá Lấu Became a Beloved Saigon Street Snack
When the word phá lấu is mentioned, two genres of dishes will appear in the mind of Vietnamese. One is a small bowl of orange broth that sings of coconut milk, another is slices of caramelized offal awash in a translucent shade of brown. Both these forms of preparations speak volumes about the growth of local street food through episodes of history.
Live Music, Sports, Art and Activities Fill District VUI with Summer Fun
Vietnam’s south-central coast is blessed with warm sunshine, cool waves, and relaxed vibes all year round, creating a perpetual vacation atmosphere. With school breaks and summer holidays, there is no better time to explore the tropical regions at the nexus of forest and sea.
Gỏi Đu Đủ Reflects the Mekong Region's Culinary and Cultural Wisdoms
As the cicadas begin to sing in the tamarind canopies along Pasteur Street after the first monsoon rain, vivid scenes from my formative years flash by in my mind. My cheeks became flushed and my eyes teary, but not from the harsh sun and wind, nor the frustration of losing multiple marble games; it was the sight, or rather, the scent of a papaya salad enveloped in Cô Ri pungent anchovy sauce.
Hẻm Gems: In D5, a Family Durian Xôi Xiêm Recipe Inspired by Cambodia
At first glance, xôi xiêm sầu riêng — or sticky rice with egg custard and durian — may appear plain-looking, but apart from being a tasty sweet treat, this simple dish also holds stories of life during Vietnam’s post-war period.
A Pilgrimage to Sơn La, Vietnam's National Mận Capital, as a Devoted Fan
There’s a kind of sweet, sour, and slightly tannic fruit that never fails to make our mouths water every summer.
Paul Christiansen in Food Culture
Banana Is a Paragon of Neutrality. I Propose Using It as a Metric to Rank All Fruits.
Line up all the world’s fruits, best to worst, taking into account every rateable aspect imaginable including taste, appearance, price, reliability and seasonality — the banana rests at the exact middle. So I've personally used it as the ideal threshold to rank every fruit I've ever eaten.
Cows Treated To Beer and Massages At Vietnam’s First Kobe Beef Farm
Most animals raised for their meat live a sad life in small cages and experience extremely low standards of living. But at Vietnam’s first Kobe beef farm, cows live a comparative life of luxury as the...
[Video] Marou Chocolate’s Quest for Vietnam’s Best Cacao
When it comes to beans, Vietnam is best known for the mass-cultivated, coffee variety. On the other end of the spectrum is the cocoa bean, the central ingredient in chocolate, which is grown throughou...
KFC, Pizza Hut Operator Launches US Bánh Mì Chain
While many U.S. sandwich shops have caught onto the magic that is bánh mì, it is still a relatively unknown dish to many Americans. One of the world’s largest fast food companies is seeking to change ...
Ramos Pinto Wines Arrive In Saigon
Alfredo de la Casa is a wine expert who runs the blog wineinvietnam. In order to increase awareness about wines available in Vietnam, Alfredo periodically stops by to profile some of his favourit...
5 Unique Spins On Phở That Can Be Found In Saigon
Phở is a known commodity. One of Vietnam’s most famous dishes and perhaps one of the world’s most famous soups, there are few mysteries (perhaps other than its origin) when it comes to the delicious b...
[Video] How To Cook: Rau Câu Khuôn (Jello Cake)
While rau câu khuôn is typically served in individual pieces, in the shape of flowers or animals, it can also be served as a cake wherein triangular slices are cut and served. But over at Hellen’s Rec...
A Look at Vietnam's 'Paper' Food
Vietnamese food not only features a wide range of ingredients, but also takes many different forms, from steaming bowls of phở to crispy bánh xèo. One of the more unique forms of Vietnamese cuisine is...
U.S. Brewer Bringing Craft Beer To Saigon
Beer may be the libation of choice in Vietnam, but choices are limited to the cheap, and flavorless variety. While the country’s tastes have become increasingly westernized over the past few years and...
Brian Letwin in Food Culture
[Video] What Does The World Eat For Breakfast?
Cultural differences are perhaps most apparent in the food people eat. The awesome video from BuzzFeed shows what people all over the world consume for breakfast, highlighting Vietnam’s morning love a...
[Video] Vietnam’s 300-Year-Old Food Forest
7 hours south of Hanoi, in the province of Hà Tĩnh exists a 300-year-old, 2-acre food forest, one that has been tended by 28 generations of a single family.
Spanish Bodegas Castano Wine Lands In Vietnam
Since good wine is still slowly trickling into Vietnam, I was pleased to hear that Bodegas Castano has finally made its way to Saigon.
Brian Letwin in Food Culture
[Video] How To Cook: Cá Hấp
One of our favorite YouTube channels, Helen’s Recipes, recently posted a super simple recipe for cá hấp, a steamed fish with mushrooms, glass noodles, all rolled up in rice paper.
[Photos] The Honey Hunters Of Phú Yên
July is the time for the honey hunters of Phú Yên Province’s forests. The honey season, which starts in February, is centered in Xuân Phước forest, located in Đồng Xuân District (Phú Yên).
5 Unique Markets In The Mekong Delta
While the cities of Vietnam become hooked into the global supply chain, their culinary tastes are becoming more homogenous. From pizza to shopping in supermarkets, our diets are slowly moving in line ...
In Bánh Mì We Trust
Though bánh mì is often labeled as one of the world’s best sandwiches, something to hold, behold and consume, Saigonese don’t eat them solely because they are delicious.
5 Of Saigon’s Best Markets
When people think of Saigon, the iconic Bến Thành Market usually comes to mind. But while it’s rich in history, for locals, it’s little more than a tourist attraction. Vietnam Coracle recently took to...
YouTuber Racks up 18m Views Teaching the World How to Cook Vietnamese Food
YouTube sensation, Le Ha Huyen (aka Helen), has been making awesome Vietnamese cooking tutorials for the past 3 years. Over that time, she’s attracted over 130,000 subscribers to her channel (Helen’s ...
A Guide To Ordering Phở In Vietnamese
Due to popular demand, we’ve created this guide to help those who haven’t mastered Vietnamese order a bowl of phở exactly the way they want it.
Coffee Styles in Saigon Then and Now
Photo via truyenthongtuonglai. In Saigon, coffee can be consumed on the sidewalk or in a fancy coffee shop, out of a plastic cup or one made of fine porcelain. Regardless of location or vessel, this ...
[Photos] Lychee Season Causes Huge Traffic Jams in Luc Ngan
During lychee season, the normally empty Highway 31 becomes inundated with farmers, bringing their crops to market, creating major traffic jams.
