I Committed One of the 7 Deadly Sins in Vietnam

I over-consumed. I over-indulged. I showed excessive desire for mouthwatering Vietnamese cuisine. I was selfish; I didn't want to share. I lost self-control whenever we entered restaurants. And every time we finished trying something new, I craved for some more.

It was pure gluttony, one of Christianity's seven deadly sins. But what joy it brought me! I love everything about Vietnam's cuisine, from its yogurt to local coffee and of course, the pho!

I've been to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam twice and I'd never go home without gaining a few pounds hehe. My first visit was back in 2006 when my mom was invited to do a short talk in one conference and I tagged along. The last one was in 2012, with my mom again, but this time my dad and Marv also came with us.

We had a family friend who lives in Vietnam; his name is Dr. Thuong. He and his wife are our constant tour guides whenever we are in their country.

2006

2006

2006

And they take us to different places where food is easy on the pocket but taste isn't jeopardized.

Disclaimer: I am not a food blogger nor a food photographer. But I just want to share with you our gastronomic trip to Ho Chi Minh. Please bear with me.

Bánh xèo

Let's start with my favorite among all the Vietnamese dishes we tried! Bánh xèo (means sizzling pancake) is a sizzling rice-flour pancake with shrimp and pork. You eat it by wrapping a small portion of the crepe with a green leafy vegetable; you may also add mint or veggies to your customized "roll". It tastes best when dipped nước chắm, a sauce made with fish sauce, sugar, garlic, chili peppers, and sometimes with shredded carrots.

Photo from Vikibomi as I wasn't able to take a photo of nước chắm

We had bánh xèo in Banh Xeo 46A which is a renowned spot that is described to be one of the best places for this yummy dish.

You can watch them cook it!

Phở

Pho is one of Vietnam's noodle soups and usually contains beef or chicken, lime wedges, basil, mint, cilantro, and onions. I'm not a fan of mint so I used to request the servers to separate this from the noodle soup.

The first thing that we ate when we arrived in Ho Chi Minh was its most popular dish, pho! We ate it in our hotel's restaurant for breakfast before our city tour. You're given a plate of leafy vegetables, usually with mint, and you can mix this with your pho. It was so perfect for breakfast and I'm a rice-for-breakfast kind of person! And I put all the chili sauce that I can take in my bowl. Mmmm, my mouth is watering as I type.

Pho Hoa

No one complained when Dr. Thuong brought us to another pho restaurant for lunch! You really can't have too much pho in one day when you're in Vietnam! We had our pho lunch in Pho Hoa and the place was crowded!

They provide plates loaded with the usual greens plus some spices and sauce.

Satisfied customer

Vinamilk Yogurt

Okay, so I hoarded Vinamilk products! I went crazy in one of the supermarkets on our first day and bought some to consume while we were there. I purchased new batches before we went back to the Philippines so I'd have stocks. Try it!

Chả giò

Spring rolls in Vietnam are known as chả giò (means minced pork). Not much different from the lumpia I am used to eating. I liked chả giò perhaps because it reminded me of the lumpia back here in the Philippines or possibly because I would dip these in nước chắm -- that sauce certainly has super powers.

We had chả giò for dinner one time we decided to go to the Bến Thành Night Market. We ate at one of the food stalls there.


Bánh tét

This is among the dishes served by Dr. Thuong and his wife when they invited us over at their house for some snacks. Bánh tét is one of Vietnam's many rice cakes. Sticky rice is packed with mung bean paste and pork belly. It is the only rice cake that I liked, perhaps because there was a touch of sweetness from the rice that reduces the taste of the pork. But if I was to be asked if I would buy it for myself, I'd say no. Probably because I prefer rice cakes to be sweet, no taste of meat, whatsoever.

Based on Vietnamese tradition, Bánh tét is usually prepared and eaten during Tét (Vietnam's Lunar New Year Celebration) as it symbolizes the significance of rice. They prepare, consume, and place this in front of altars during their new year celebration. I think Dr. Thuong and his family still had some left because we were during the last week of February.

Bánh kẹp lá dứa

Bánh kẹp lá dứa, also known as Vietnamese waffles, is a popular street food in the country. My favorite breakfast in Pancake House which I rarely eat now because of its steep price is being served out in the streets of Ho Chi Minh City. But unlike the waffles I'm used to, it is not eaten with maple syrup.

Here we are buying waffles. No need for a posh waffle irons as the vendors just cook it over charcoal.

I've been told that these waffles (and other French cuisine like baguettes) are a result of the French occupation and some bits of the French culture are left behind.

The waffle is like a biscuit which has crisp exteriors but moist in the inside, just like a pancake. The ones we tasted were coconut-flavored so they had a sweet taste that was just right for someone like me who's fond of bland flavors. But for some certain seconds, I wished that I had a rich amount of whip cream that I can pour over it hehe.



Cà phê đá

I can't believe I don't have a decent picture of my favorite coffee ever, Vietnamese iced coffee or cà phê đá! I guess we have to stick with my photo above.

Just kidding! I borrowed a photo from the web to give you a closer look at my favorite coffee. 

Grabbed this photo from The Adventures of the Hungry and Bored blog

Vietnamese iced coffee is a strong kind of coffee as it is made from Vietnamese coffee beans and ample amount of condensed milk poured over ice. Nothing like the coffee I'm used to which needs creamer and sugar. If you're a strong coffee lover, you've gotta try this.

There are plenty of coffee shops in Ho Chi Minh but I prefer the smaller ones that just set-up tables and chairs on the sidewalks. Aside from the cheaper prices, I like these as the experience give me a better feel of their "lives".

I like Vietnamese coffee so much that I needed to bring it home with me. So just like what I did with Vinamilk, I hoarded bags of Vietnamese coffee mixes.

These are just some of the food and beverage that I enjoyed in Ho Chi Minh. But there are still plenty of Vietnamese dishes that will welcome you once you set foot on Vietnam. You just have to be open to new tastes and not be afraid of committing that one deadly sin, gluttony.

Some tourist-y photos...