Hidden down a Saigon back road in a part of District 1 that is more District 3, especially if you’re in Pham Ngu Lao, resides one of the more popular Vietnamese restaurants in the city. Cuc Gach Quan, located at 10 Dang Tat in an easy-to-miss building, is developing a great reputation for serving delicious … read the full post

A trip to Ho Chi Minh City isn’t complete without a quick visit to the Cu Chi district, where the city’s big buildings melt away and morph into rural countryside. While the area is most famous for its tunnels and war history, Cu Chi has something else worth a visit: a Cu Chi cricket farm. … read the full post

A staple of the Saigon street food world is banh mi (pronounced bun-mee), or Vietnamese baguette sandwiches. These tasty sandwiches are extremely popular and can be found all over the city, and make a perfect meal on the go if you’re walking around the city. Knowing what to order from a cart, however, can be … read the full post

There are many reasons I recommend visiting Ho Chi Minh City, from the shopping to the traffic it is a place to be experienced. The best reason to come however is to taste the food, the most famous of which is the legendary pho. But finding a great bowl can be tricky if you don’t … read the full post

Saigon street food isn’t all about main meals — yummy drinks and sweets are also on offer. Among the sugary offerings is che dau hu, a confection that can be tricky to find, but is worth the effort. Keep your eyes peeled: the roaming vendors are often surrounded by groups of students or children seeking … read the full post

When the humidity goes up and the mercury rises, doing anything outdoors in Ho Chi Minh City can be unbearable. When I can no longer stand the punishment I often find myself ducking into one of the city’s numerous cafés. Bobby Brewers, one of my favourites, has a few locations scattered about the city but … read the full post

Confused as to what to eat next in Saigon? Take a deep breath; if you smell what you think to be barbecue and see smoke rising from a grill you have hit the jackpot! You’ve found bun thit nuong, a dish that is not too hot and not too cold but, as Goldilocks and I … read the full post

Cold drinks seem to always taste better in hot places, and HCMC is no exception. From iced beer to coffee, the streets here offer a huge variety of cold drinks to choose from. My favourite cold, roadside drink in Saigon is the smoothie. Smoothie stands usually offer a wide variety of fruits, from standard strawberry … read the full post

Strolling past Saigon’s numerous street food vendors will make most travellers hungry, but the problem is most of us wonder: what the heck are they making? Today I’ll tell you about one of my personal favourites, a food eaten in Vietnam for breakfast, lunch and dinner: banh cuon (pronounced: bon-koo-on). Looking at a prepared plate … read the full post