I was cycling along Au Trieu today, next to St Joseph’s Cathedral, and was compelled to walk into a shop that I’ve seen before but have never really registered. The shop is called Indigenous and I was drawn in by the shiny packets of coffee. I’m not a coffee drinker but I think Vietnamese coffee makes a … read the full post

Matchbox Restaurant used to be a cosy restaurant hidden away on Nui Truc; it was one of those places I always planned to visit but never quite made it to. Then it moved to the grounds of the Fine Arts Museum, upgrading its environment and planting it more firmly in tourist land. The restaurant is now housed in a … read the full post

So called ‘BBQ chicken street’, on Ly Van Phuc just off Nguyen Thai Hoc, is hard to miss in the evening, as the plumes of  smoke drift into the night sky and the smell of barbecueing drifts along the street. Very distinct from the “BBQ Chicken” fast food joints that are rapidly springing up all … read the full post

Pho – the staple of Vietnam – is available all day and, for my post-drinking eating pleasure, all night. A quick resume: steaming fragrant broth, thick rice noodles, beef or chicken. Simple and tasty as that. It’s not a tricky dish to eat but, for those of you who have as yet been unwilling to venture into the unknown … read the full post

While pho is probably the first food everyone thinks of, or hears about, when they come to Vietnam, bún chả is a northern speciality and arguably one of the tastiest things in the world. Yes, I am a big fan. It’s impossible to resist: as you walk past a stall the smell of barbecuing pork … read the full post