All posts tagged: Vietnam

Bánh Mì Chiên Chạo Tôm / Easy Vietnamese Shrimp Toast

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A fantastic party dish that is easy to make ahead of time is my version of shrimp toast with a Vietnamese twist. Shrimp paste mixed with ground meat of your choice, pressed between slices of white bread and then deep fried is always a crowd favorite. I have deep fried these mini sandwiches and have also used the air fryer. Deep frying creates a crunchier and tastier shrimp toast. Air frying these mini sandwiches is a healthier alternative and you will still get the nice crunch in every bite. Whichever method you choose, your friends and family will love you for it. Difficulty: Easy / Time: 30 minutes / Servings: 24 toasts Ingredients: 3/4 lb. / approximately 22 shrimps/ 350 gram of shrimp (devein with no shell and no head) 1/2 lb. of frozen ground meat such as pork, chicken or turkey 1 teaspoon of chicken bouillon powder 1 teaspoon of sugar 1/4 teaspoon of salt 1/8 teaspoon of ground pepper 1 and 1/2 tablespoon of a neutral oil 1/4 teaspoon of chili powder or annatto powder 1/2 tablespoon of …

Restaurants to Try in Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon (Vietnam) for 2018

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On my recent trip to Ho Chi Minh City (“HCMC” or “Saigon”), my local friends recommended a few of their favorite restaurants (a combination of classics that we highlighted in previous posts and current hot spots). I was able to try a few and loved their recommendations. As many of my friends and colleagues continue to ask me where to eat in Saigon for their upcoming trips, I decided to share this list. Phở Lệ Address: 303-305 Võ Văn Tần, Phường, District 5 / Tel: +84. 3834.4486 This is an oldie, but a goodie with all the locals. When I had a craving for a good bowl of southern phở, my god sister (a Saigon native) and I ventured to Phở Lệ in District 3 (the second location is in District 7). The restaurant is your quintessential phở restaurant with a short menu of the famous noodle soup with a variety of meat toppings. The broth is rich, sweet (from the herbs and fruits) and robust, which can only be achieved from hours of cooking …

Sticky Rice with Baby Red Jackfruit / Xôi Gấc

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Xôi gấc or sticky rice with baby red jackfruit is the essence of any holiday feast. The red color comes from the baby jackfruit, a fruit exclusive to southeast Asia, and signifies luck.   The fragrant aroma comes from the seed of the jackfruit and resembles vanilla. This rice dish has become a staple of everyday meal in Vietnam and is often eaten for breakfast or as a snack. In the US, you will often see this xôi gấc at any Vietnamese family gathering as it is inexpensive and easy to make, feeds a large crowd and everyone loves it. Sticky rice can also be made in advance since it is usually served at room temperature. Try this red sticky rice for your next meal. Difficulty: Easy / Servings: 6 / Time: 8 hours to soak the rice and 30-45 minutes to cook Ingredients: 3 jars (5.6 oz. jar) of frozen baby red jack fruit pulp with seeds or 2 jars without seeds. (I prefer the jar with seeds. This can be purchased at any …

Vietnam – Posts Index

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Vietnam is quickly becoming the next hot destination in southeast Asia. I have been to Vietnam so often that is is practically my third home country. Over the last year, our bloggers have written numerous posts on what to do, where to sleep and what to eat. I have combined the links of all the Vietnam travel articles into one post for our readers. We are constantly writing up new post about Vietnam so check back for updated links. Ho Chi Minh City – Metropolitan city in the south Select Local Eateries in Ho Chi Minh City – District 1 Hotel Review: Hotel Nikko Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) Hue – Central region with an imperial history Local Favorite Eateries in Hue, Vietnam Hotel Review- Pilgrimage Village Resort  Hanoi – Capital of Vietnam located in the north My picks for Hair, Nails and Spa Must eats in Hanoi Hotel Review- Hanoi Delano Hotel Da Nang – Modern beach city in central Vietnam Must Do’s Part 1 Must Do’s Part 2 Hotel Review-Fusion Maia Resort Phu Quoc Island Weekend …

Hotel Review: Hotel Nikko Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

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Hotel Nikko Saigon is a modern and minimalist five star hotel from a Japanese conglomerate located on the outskirt of District 1. It takes approximately 15 minutes to get to city center in a taxi so the location is close enough to get where you need to go. However, it is not completely in the center of all the action. I had an opportunity to stay twice at this hotel while I was in town for business. The hotel left a great impression on me and I look forward to coming back. Here is my assessment from my two visits. Address: 235 Nguyen Van Cu, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam Website: http://www.hotelnikkosaigon.com.vn/ Pros: This is a new hotel with luxury modern amenities. The room has a gorgeous soaking tub and  a large bathroom. Room size is large even for the standard deluxe room. Customer service is what one would expect from a 5 star hotel. Price is reasonable for a 5 star hotel in Ho Chi Minh City with nightly rates ranging between $120-$150 for a standard room. Cons: …

Viet Style Strawberry & Banana Shake / Sinh Tố Dâu Chuối

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Summer is when strawberries are in season and are abundant at any farmer’s market. A great way to serve strawberries is our delicious strawberry and banana shake or  sinh tố dâu chuối. This is my mom’s recipe for a delightful afternoon treat. Ingredients: 6 large strawberries 1 banana 1 5.3oz lowfat yogurt (we used chobani greek yogurt with strawberry and banana) 1 tablespoon of condense milk 1 tablespoon of sugar ¼ cup of milk 1 cup of ice Directions: Combined all the ingredients into a blender and blend until you have a smooth consistency.   For more recipes, visit our EAT page or Recipe Index. Authors: Susan Tran and Chau Hoang

Must Do’s – Local Favorite Eateries in Hue, Vietnam

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Every year and a half, I will travel to Hue, Vietnam to visit orphanages as part of Orphans’ Futures Alliance due diligence trip. I am always excited to visit the kids and also to sample my family’s favorite restaurants in the city. Hue is known to have the best authentic traditional cuisine stemming from its imperial history. My family is originally from Hue so I grew up eating many of the local specialties. Locals take great pride in the food culture and I am excited to share with you some of my family’s must eats when we are in Hue. Huyen Anh (52 Kim Long Street, Hue, Vietnam) This place specializes in fresh rice rolls (bánh ướt thịt nướng) and bbq pork (thịt nướng). This is a local favorite and the people there do not speak English. Don’t be intimidated as there are only 3 items that you can order. You can always just show them a picture. I would advise bringing your own wet naps as the place can be a little grungy like …

Hotel Review: Pilgrimage Village Resort (Hue, Vietnam)

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Hue is Vietnam’s most historically significant city located in the central region of the country. Between 1802 and 1945, Hue was the imperial city under the Nguyen dynasty. The city is well known for historical sites such as the imperial city, the royal tombs and numerous temples. The city is still very rural compared to HCMC, Hanoi and nearby DaNang as most of the city was heavily damaged during the Vietnam War. The government continues to make progress to restore the city to its former glory but the process is slow.  Hue does not have world class accommodations that have been springing up all over the major tourist cities in Vietnam.  However, there is one resort in Hue that is worth checking out. Pilgrimage Village is an oasis on the outskirt of city center that provides a retreat from a hot and humid day of sightseeing. It is one of the few high end hotel catering to luxury jet setters. La Vie Partagee has stayed at this resort over the past few years and we …

Must Do’s: Select Local Eateries in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)

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Ho Chi Minh City (“HCMC”) is the center of a diverse food and modern culture in Vietnam. HCMC is also the largest city in Vietnam and home to approximately 9 million people and growing. The city has gone through many iterations from an important Khmer seaport up to the 17th century to a romantic city under French colonization and now a vibrant metropolis in 2016. With its diverse history, it is no wonder that the variety of food is present in HCMC. I asked a good friend of mine to scout her favorite places to eat in HCMC and the following places are her recommendations. Ốc Đào (Seafood Restaurant) Address: 214/C84 Nguyễn Trãi St, Nguyễn Cư Trinh Ward, District 1 Hồ Chí Minh, Việt Nam Open: noon – 9:00 pm This is a quintessential local hangout for friends and co-workers. This restaurant serves many different types of snails and seafood at reasonable prices and has good quality. Don’t be afraid to check this restaurant out as they have pictures for non-Vietnamese speakers. Banh Mi Huynh Hoa (Vietnamese Sandwiches) Address: …

Hotel Review: Hanoi Delano Hotel (Hanoi, Vietnam)

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Hanoi Delano is a new hotel situated in the heart of Old Quarter in Hanoi. I had the pleasure of staying there on two occasions in two different rooms. My experience varied a lot because of the location of the rooms where I stayed. This cozy and elegant hotel should be classified as a boutique hotel. The hotel is rated as a four stars hotel on Booking.com but it is really on par with 3 stars international ratings for boutique hotels. Overall I had a good stay for the price and the location but there is still room for improvements. Website: http://www.hanoidelanohotel.com/ Address: No.52 Bat Su Str., Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi, Vietnam Pros: The location is in the heart of Old Quarter. The hotel is new and has all the modern amenities. The staff tries their best to be accommodating. Breakfast option was very good for a small hotel. Cons: The rooms are very small and nothing like the size implied in the official photos. Noise insulation is very inadequate in this hotel so you can hear …