Let us start our journey by going through a list of 12 best Vietnamese foods, which are considered must-eats in Vietnam!

VIETNAM – NEW LEADING CULINARY DESTINATION

Phở – The worldwide icon of Vietnamese cuisine

POPULAR STREET FOOD MUST EAT IN VIETNAM – PHO

Phở have been the worldwide icon of Vietnamese cuisine and surely one of  the famous type of  Vietnamese noodle. The noodle of dish are called “Banh Pho” which made from a typical type of Vermicelli in Vietnam with salty Sweet Broth that is made from animal bones (some chefs use chicken’s, some may use pig’s, it really depends), a mixture of herbs and meat (depends, also).

Usually, there are two kinds of Pho: Pho Ga (Chicken Vermicelli Soup) and Pho Bo (Beef Vermicelli Soup), in which the latter one is more well-known. These two types of Pho differ in their topping, while Pho Ga often merely goes with boiled chicken meat and herb, Pho Bo’s toppings are more diverse.

Bánh Mì- Vietnamese sandwich

Banh Mi’s most outstanding aspect that makes it become a popular choice in Vietnam might be its convenience. People can find Banh Mi roughly anywhere along the street in each urban region of Vietnam.

The origin of the bánh mì can be traced back to the French-style breakfast platters that were popular during Vietnam’s colonial era. Crusty baguettes, processed meats, pickled vegetables and pate were served individually until the late 1950s. The modern bánh mì was created in Saigon when the Le family, refugees from the north and owners of a small restaurant in District 3, began putting the ingredients inside the baguette so that the meal could be enjoyed on-the-go. They also increased the vegetables-to-meat ratio to create a much more affordable sandwich. These simple alterations proved to be revolutionary, leading the bánh mì to fast become the breakfast fare of millions. Today, bánh mì carts are ubiquitous throughout Vietnam.

Gỏi Cuốn -“Freshest Dish”

If you are tired of the fatty fried food and absolutely want to get rid of them, then Goi Cuon is definitely for you! There are thousands of Goi Cuon’s edition. Like Banh Mi, it will be made based on customers’ orders. However, the main ingredients are often lettuce, some kinds of herbs and boiled meat or seafood. These ingredients will be wrapped tightly by a rice paper, then the roll can be dipped into the sauce, which is diverse depending on the chef making it.

Bún Chả – The Vietnamese Dish President Obama Fell In Love With

In the capital of Vietnam, you can find many delicious local dishes, especially- bun cha. This simple dish is a great combination of savory and fresh flavors, it has a vibrant color and the harmony of the meat and vegetables is incomparable.

The highlight of bun cha is definitely the broth (or dipping sauce). To make the sweet and sour soul of this dish, the cook mixes fish sauce, vinegar, and sugar together. The ingredients might sound simple but the taste varies from one shop to the next because every Hanoin has their own ratio they follow. Diners can tell whether their bun cha is good or bad by the flavor of the sauce.

Nem Rán (Vietnamese Fried Spring Roll)

Fried spring roll was brought to Hanoi from the Southern part of vietnam and this dish has rapidly become a favorite one of Hanoian, and to express the affection as well as to remember the real origin of the dish, people here call it “Nem Sai Gon”.
Unlike popular myth, Vietnamese do not eat fried spring rolls with rice everyday. In fact it is a preferred food on special occasions such as Tet and other family festivities. Spring rolls not always go along with rice but also seen with round noodle in the mouth-watering bún nem dish.
Like other dishes in Vietnam, Nem Ran also has several recipe versions varying on families and regions of Vietnam. This may be the most interesting feature in Nem recipe. The perfect combination of sour, sweet, and salty is really made the best Vietnamese spring rolls.

Bánh Cuốn – Perfect for Breakfast

Bánh cuốn is a popular Vietnamese street food item consisting of steamed rice rolls stuffed with pork (banh cuon nhan thit), mushrooms (banh cuon than tri), or both (banh cuon Ha Noi). The dish is usually served with a fried shallot dip, sweet and sour fish sauce (nuoc mam chua ngot), a variety of fresh herbs, and lime-based sauce on the side.

It takes a special kind of skill to prepare these steamed rolls which should always be extremely thin and translucent. Bánh cuốn is usually consumed for breakfast in Vietnam, while a similar version of the dish is also present in Thai cuisine, where it is known as khao phan.

Bún Bò Huế (Hue-style Beef Noodles)

Bún bò huế is a staple Vietnamese soup that is traditionally consumed for breakfast, consisting of pork and beef bones broth, bun noodles, lemongrass, shrimp paste, lime juice, and a variety of herbs. The soup is much spicier than most Vietnamese soups, and its flavor is often described as rich and complex.

5 MUST TRY FOOD WHEN YOU VISIT HUE

Cà Phê Trứng (Vietnamese Egg Coffee)

INDULGE BY EGG COFFEE IN VIETNAM 

Egg coffee is a sweet and dense Vietnamese beverage that traditionally consists of strong black coffee that is mixed with a combination of egg yolks and sweetened condensed milk. The two come together in the most surprising way, and, even more surprisingly, this combination rocks!

Cơm Tấm (Broken Rice)

Cơm tấm is a traditional Vietnamese dish that’s typically sold as street food. This type of rice, in fact, used to be only for the lower class of society. However, in these modern days, thanks to its cultural value as a past reflector, the dish is a signature dish of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).
Broken rice has a texture that’s similar to normal rice, just smaller. When served, cơm tấm is accompanied by numerous toppings such as fried eggs, shredded pork skin, grilled pork chops, or deep-fried fish patties.

Mì Quảng (Quang Noodle)

Like Bun Bo Hue, Mi Quang (Quang Noodle) is noodles made in Quang way. This specific type of noodles has its origin from the central province of Quang Nam, Vietnam. Unlike other types of rice noodles, which often have a round appearance and white color, Quang Noodles impress tourists by their two signature features: the flat appearance as well as the specific yellow color.

This Vietnamese classic consists of a combination of flat rice noodles and yellow egg noodles that are served with a small amount of flavorful meat broth and crispy fresh vegetables and herbs such as banana blossoms, lettuce, cilantro, scallions, and Vietnamese coriander.

Bánh Xèo – “Vietnamese Pancake”

Loosely translated as sizzling pancakes, bánh xèo is a famous Vietnamese dish that combines crunchy crêpes with a variety of savory ingredients. The distinctive Vietnamese element in these nourishing pancakes is rice flour, which is combined with water, turmeric, and coconut milk or coconut cream in order to create the thick yellow batter.

THE 5 HOI AN CUISINES YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO MISS

Chè (Sweet Soup)

Vietnamese chè dishes include any traditional sweet soup, beverage, pudding, or any other custard-like dessert that is made with a base of either water or coconut cream and served either hot or cold. Other ingredients for making chè include various jellies and fruits, beans and pulses, rice and grains, and even tubers and cereals.

5 INTERESTED FACT OF VIETNAMESE CUISINE

12 best Vietnamese Foods that rock your stomach!
Nguyen Thanh Van

A contender for the most famous road in Vietnam, the Hai Van Pass is a short but scenic route winding around a mountainside above the East Sea, on the central coast. Đèo Hải Vân – Ocean Cloud Pass – is famous for a number of reasons: as a geographic and political boundary between ancient kingdoms; as a climatic divide between the tropical south and the subtropical north; and as a strategic military post during times of war, both ancient and modern. But, most recently, the Hai Van Pass is famous, quite simply, as a great road trip linking the popular central Vietnamese destinations of Hoi An, Danang, and Hue.

For Vietnamese and foreign road-trippers alike, the Hai Van Pass is a favourite ride, its fame bolstered by the popularity of the Top Gear Vietnam Special (2008), in which the presenters waxed lyrical about the pass, inspiring a generation of travellers to take to the road on two wheels and hit the Hai Van Pass. Although it’s certainly not the greatest road in Vietnam, the Hai Van Pass is still a lot of fun to ride, with excellent views, light traffic, and easy access from several cities.

Source: asianwaytravel

The most famous road in Vietnam – Hai Van Pass
Nguyen Thanh Van

Hoi An is small and there is not yet an airport or train station that services the town. Although many visitors take what seems like an easy bus ride to this charming place from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh, this option will leave you tired and sick from the 15-hour drive on serpentine roads. Instead, travelers wanting to visit Hoi An should find their way to Da Nang city either by plane or train, and then hop on an easy ride to the destination. In this article, I will provide you a comprehensive transportation guide from Da Nang to Hoi An that will save you time and leave you stress-free.

“How should I get to Hoi An from Da Nang?”

Transportation to Hoi An

Travelers can choose between a private car, taxi, bus, or motorbike rental to get to Hoi An. Although Grab has recently become available in Da Nang and Hoi An, the chance of getting your ride accepted is fairly low compared to the options above.

Private Car

If you have already booked your stay in Hoi An, ask your accommodation if they can arrange a private pickup car for you. Provide them your pickup address, this can be the airport or your hotel in Da Nang, and a car will be sent at the specified time. Charges vary but this is the least stress-inducing option.

If you want a hassle-free experience getting to your hotel, just book this private shuttle service. Quick, easy and reliable, you’ll find yourself headed to your destination in a comfortable car.

Just input your flight details as you book, and once you exit the airport after landing, you’ll find your driver already waiting for you. With Müvv Airport Transfers, you can avoid delays, scams, price-haggling and of course, getting lost in Da Nang’s maze of alleyways and roads. Müvv will be in contact with your hosts or hotels in advance to ensure a smooth arrival. The price for the service ranges from 20 USD (~460,000 VND) up to 30 USD (~700,000 VND) depending on whether you opt for a four, seven or 16-seater car. These prices are for one-way during normal hours. From 11 PM to 6 AM, the cost will be 25 USD, 30 USD, and 35 USD for four, seven, and 16-seaters respectively.

Call the car service company or contact us and provide your details such as pickup time, location, and even flight number if you’d like to be picked up at the airport. The private car option is as comfortable as it gets, so of course, it will be slightly more expensive than the other options available, therefore you can arrange with the driver if you want to visit some sites along the way. If you are traveling in a group or with your family, this will be the best way! In addition, a private car pickup is available at any time whereas taxis are more difficult to find during the quiet hours of the day.

Taxi

Taxis are the most convenient and also considered the easiest way to get to Hoi An from Da Nang since from the city center (or the airport) you can just catch a taxi and get in without making any prior arrangement. It will take you around 30 – 45 minutes and will cost you from 15 USD to 23 USD. Make sure your driver is aware of where to take you to. Some of them may not be very familiar with the Hoi An area and they could end up driving in circles trying to find the destination. Also, to avoid scams, you should choose a well-known taxi brand:

• Mai Linh Taxi: +84 511 352 5252
• Song Han Taxi: +84 511 372 7272
• Tien Sa Da Nang Taxi: +84 511 379 7979
• Vinasun Taxi: +84 511 368 6868

There is a new service that recently launched at the Da Nang airport – Dichungtaxi (shared Taxi). By booking your taxi on their site, the system will send your booking information to drivers and have them pick you up. You can share the taxi with other people heading the same way by choosing the “share” option. If not, you can always take the “private” taxi as usual. This new service is potentially cheaper than other normal options and can also help you avoid being scammed since their pricing is fixed based on the package you select. Shared taxis will be around 150,000 VND (7 USD) and the normal price will be 220,000 VND (10 USD).

Bus

To encourage tourists to visit Da Nang, the government launched a direct bus line between Da Nang and Hoi An – Bus #1 – for just 30,000 VND (1.3 USD). Although the bus is the cheapest travel option, it will take a bit longer, 45 to 60 minutes to get to Hoi An. Bus services start at 5:30 in the morning and stop operating at 6 PM, with a frequency of one bus every 20 minutes. For your convenience, you can use Google Maps and its schedule explorer to pinpoint the nearest bus stop near your stay and the arrival time of the bus. The ticket can be easily purchased on the bus but make sure to pay the right price: 30,000 VND (1.3 USD). If you are arriving from the airport this option will be less convenient because the nearest bus stop is around three kilometers away. But if you are taking the train, there is a bus station close to the Railway Station. It’s at 162 Ong Ich Khiem, only a 10-minute walk from the station.

Motorbike

I saved the best for last! Traveling by motorbike is the most exciting option of all. Most locals travel in between Da Nang and Hoi An because it is the most popular form of transportation in Vietnam, and it allows for flexibility to visit destinations along the way.

However, if this is your first time in Vietnam and you are not familiar with driving a vehicle similar to the motorbike, I would not recommend this option because it is fairly risky. Traffic in Vietnam is quite different from traffic in other countries; driving requires a special set of skills like situation awareness, good reflexes, excellent balance, and guts of steel. If you do not have this set of skills, do not take the risk.

There are two common types of motorbikes: manual and automatic transmission. Automatic bikes are the first choice for most travelers because they are easier to handle, especially in light of the slew of new traffic laws you must obey. Just turn the throttle and it will run. However, if you also plan to visit other nice spots in the area including Son Tra peninsula or challenge yourself to Hai Van pass, then the manual bike will be more suitable since you can manually control the torque (force) which is essential to going uphill.

Remember to check the bike carefully: tires, horn, brakes, and lights. If you have rented a manual bike, then also check the gear pedal. Make sure all functions are in good condition and take a photo of the shop, with contact and address, or take their business card with you in case something unexpected happens on the way and you need their assistance. The average price for a bike rental is 130,000 VND (6 USD) per day. Some shops will give you a discount for a longer rental period. There are a few small shops that provide bike rentals for less than 130,000 VND per day but this is because they rent older motorbikes; make sure nothing is missing or wrong with the bike if you choose this option.

You will have to leave your ID or your passport – sometimes they allow a copy – at the rental shop in order to rent a motorbike and ensure the bike’s safe return. You can either go directly to the shop to retrieve the bike or you can pay the shop extra money and they will bring it to your place.

Route to Hoi An

With the variety of off-line maps and other navigation tools on your phone, it should be very simple to navigate by yourself. Just in case you don’t have 3G data and have trouble connecting to the wifi along the way, it is useful to keep this piece of information with you. Getting to Hoi An on your own bike is fairly easy, and the traffic is minimal. There are two common routes from Da Nang to Hoi An:

• Route 1 – This route takes you along the seashore, arriving at An Bang Beach, my favorite beach of Hoi An. Beginning in Da Nang, pass the Dragon Bridge, towards the beaches. Turn right at Vo Nguyen Giap street. Continue straight ahead for 20 kilometers, along the linking Truong Sa street and Lac Long Quan street. Continue until you see the Hoi An city welcome sign
• Route 2 – This route takes you through Da Nang city’s urban and suburban areas, arriving in downtown Hoi An. Start from Tran Thi Ly Bridge, heading away from the city center. Turn right at the roundabout to Ngu Hanh Son street. Ride straight for 24 kilometers on connecting streets of Le Van Hien, Tran Dai Nghia and Nguyen Tat Thanh. You will know you’re in the right place upon seeing a series of yellow old houses.

The first route should be easier, faster, and more straight-forward, since it runs along the beach and you can take in nice views along the route. On the way, you can pay a visit to the temples and marble stone sculpture facilities in Ngu Hanh Son area if you like. But in its current condition, the beach route has a lot of construction in the latter half of the route and the street might be bumpy and risky there. So I am not recommending it at the moment, yet it is still the quickest way to Hoi An.

If it is not your cup of tea and you would like to see more of Da Nang, then the second option is for you. The second route follows a highway and there are many places for you to catch a break or get your bike refueled and well-maintained. Stop at Vagabond Cafe, no.4 Vo Chi Cong St., Da Nang. It is located right at the 3-way junction of Tran Dai Nghia street and Vo Chi Cong street. Dong Tra park is nearby. The cafe is conveniently a garage as well, so you can get something to drink while you get your bike checked or fixed. The cafe was opened by a guy from Nha Trang along with his French buddy. You can meet beautiful mademoiselle Céline and learn about her project of planting aquaponics right in the backyard.

Now that you have the necessary information, let’s hit the road!

Source: guide.cmego.com

Transportation Guide: How to Get From Da Nang to Hoi An
Nguyen Thanh Van