Conversations on Vietnam Development
VietNamNet Bridge – The best local restaurants in HCM City are legendary establishments that have stood the test of time, offering authentic and satisfying meals at incredibly attractive prices.
Nguyen Thi Thanh (Lunch Lady)
Unlike many local restaurants in this list, Nguyen Thi Tanh (or Lunch Lady) only cooks one dish per day, changing the dish according to the day. Tiếp tục đọc “Saigon’s best restaurants for local food”
Bangkok, one of the world’s foodie capitals, caters to almost every taste, whether fine French cuisine or fresh sushi. But for tourists and locals alike, it is Thai street food that really makes the city such a culinary delight.
Dishes from all over the country are available at every hour of the day. They include som tam, a spicy green papaya salad from the northeast, and muu bing, strips of grilled pork on sticks. There are also the popular lad kao (on rice) varieties, which are stir-fried dishes like krapao moo saap – minced pork fried in garlic, fish sauce, chilli and Thai basil. The food originates from different parts of the country, making the capital’s streets reflect the kingdom as a whole.
In April this year, the authorities announced they would purge the city of street food, in the interests of “cleanliness, safety and order”. The next area to be cleared would be Bangkok’s Chinatown and the backpacker ghetto of Khao San Road. There would be no exceptions said Wanlop Suwandee, chief adviser to the governor. “Every street vendor will have to move out.”
The announcement was met with incredulity. The authorities were quick to back-pedal, claiming they were not banning street food entirely, but regulating it. Special areas would be set up for vendors, they announced, but far from the centre. The tourist areas of Chinatown and Khao San would be spared. Tiếp tục đọc “Will Bangkok’s street food ban hold?”
Ban Gioc is listed one of the most beautiful waterfalls on earth by Russia’s Sputnik Agency. Let’s contemplate the imposing beauty of Ban Gioc in the monsoon season.
 Situated in Dam Thuy village, Trung Khanh district, Cao Bang province, Ban Gioc is 53 metres high and 300 metres wide and has three levels of smaller waterfalls. Tiếp tục đọc “Imposing beauty of Ban Gioc Waterfall” |
Thoi Son Islet, Vinh Trang Pagoda, Man Dinh Hong flower village, Cai Be floating market and Dong Hoa Hiep ancient village are must-see attractions in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang.
 Thoi Son Islet is situated downstream the Tien River. It is not only a top-rated attraction in the Mekong River Delta, but also a famous fruit growing area with a population of about 6,000 people. Tiếp tục đọc “Top five must-see attractions in Mekong Delta” |
In late July and early August, Bac Son valley, Lang Son Province becomes very attractive with its ripening rice fields. It is an ideal time for travellers and photographers to capture the beautiful moments of the year.
From the peak of Na Lay Mountain, visitors can view the whole of cloud-covered Bac Son valley. Tiếp tục đọc “Bac Son valley attractive to tourists in rice harvest season” |
VietNamNet Bridge – The best food in Saigon is well regarded as nutritious, savoury, and hearty, enjoyed at any time of the day.
Some of the defining traits in Vietnamese cuisine include rice, noodles, seafood, pork and beef, as well as various fresh herbs and spices, all of which result in robust flavours and unique interpretations.
Although the city is evolving into a cosmopolitan landscape with sprawling shopping malls, fine-dining restaurants and luxury hotels, you can still find plenty of roadside eateries, vibrant street market, and street food carts to satisfy your appetite for authentic Vietnamese delicacies.
Dining in the city is not just limited to Vietnamese pho and coffee, as you can also enjoy fresh seafood, noodles, rice, spring rolls, and meats prepared with an array of cooking methods.
Here are the best food that you should try in the city:
Banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich)
Available almost everywhere in HCM City, banh mi is a quintessential Vietnamese dish that you should never miss out on. This baguette sandwich is priced between VND 10,000 and VND 20,000, with pickled vegetables, pate, butter, soy sauce, cilantro, chilies, and hot peppers. Tiếp tục đọc “Must-try cuisines in Saigon”
It is hoped that in the near future, tourists will be able to cruise along the watercourse that runs from Da Nang City directly to the ancient town of Hoi AnBy Tuoi Tre News
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| The Co Co River, with Ngu Hanh Son Mountain Cluster, one of central Da Nang City’s icons, in the background. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
Tân Sơn Nhất được trang web xếp hạng các sân bay trên thế giới The Guide to Sleeping in Airports đánh giá là xuống cấp hạ tầng, nạn mất cắp và có cáo buộc về tham nhũng.
Theo bảng xếp hạng năm 2015 của trang web The Guide to Sleeping in Airports, Tân Sơn Nhất được xếp hạng đứng thứ 4 trong danh sách sân bay tệ nhất châu Á. Năm 2014, sân bay này cũng bị liệt vào danh sách tệ nhất do trang web trên bình chọn.
Theo đánh giá của trang web, hạ tầng sân bay Tân Sơn Nhất đã xuống cấp những năm gần đây và bị hành khách cáo buộc có tình trạng tham nhũng. Trả lời khảo sát, nhiều hành khách cho rằng bị nhân viên hải quan đòi hối lộ để được di chuyển nhanh hơn.
Ngoài ra, hành khách còn phàn nàn tín hiệu wifi kém, phòng vệ sinh bẩn và hạn chế lựa chọn trong các nhà hàng. Lời khuyên được trang web đưa ra là nếu ghé qua Tân Sơn Nhất, hành khách nên cẩn thận giữ tài sản có giá trị và cầm một số tiền nhỏ trên tay
Sa De Phin in Sin Ho District, northern Lai Chau province, is famous for hundred-year old tea trees, which are considered valuable local specialties.
The ancient tea area, which lies 1,700m above sea level, is cloudy and foggy all year round. Tiếp tục đọc “Visiting Sin Ho ancient tea trees” |
VietNamNet Bridge – Many people are familiar with grilled pork, but far fewer have ever tasted grilled pork wrapped in grapefruit leaves. The dish is even unfamiliar to many food connoisseurs in Viet Nam, but not for the Muong ethnic group in Hoa Binh Province, the third largest among Viet Nam’s 53 minority groups.
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| Unique: Cha cuon la buoi can only be found in Hoa Binh Province. — VNS Photo Thai Ha |
The dish, known as cha cuon la buoi, is very popular in the country’s northwestern region. Bui Van Thao, a Muong resident of Ban Ngoi Village in Tan Lac District says he saw his grandparents making it since he was a child. Previously, the dish was only prepared on festive days, but now it has become a daily family staple. Tiếp tục đọc “Pork in grapefruit leaves: a Muong delicacy”
VietNamNet Bridge – Rice is not only the staple of Vietnamese diets, but also the major ingredient in many signature dishes.
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| Blended flavors: Before being grilled, the chicken is soaked in salt, herbs as well as ground mac khen grain (a type of pepper), chili and lemongrass. —VNA/VNS Photo Huong Vien |
Besides the better known ubiquitous stir fried rice, the chicken rice of Hoi An Town and the rice cooked with coconut typical of the south, com lam is a feature of traditional festivals of several ethnic groups. These include the Tay, Dao, Muong, Nung, Thai in some northern mountain provinces like Cao Bang, Son La, Yen Bai, Lao Cai and Hoa Binh, as well as in the Central Highlands provinces.
There is no official document indicating the origin of this dish. But based on its name, it is said to have originated in the Thai ethnic community of Viet Nam. In the Thai language, lam means “grill”, indicating the cooking method. While lam in the Viet language means “green blue”, a reference to the colour of the bamboo tube covering the dish.
It is said the ethnic people who lived in remote mountainous areas often went to the forest to gather wood for cooking or building houses. These long-distance trips could take several days, and the men would bring along rice, salt and a knife as basic necessities. As they also had to find a way of cooking without a pot people eventually discovered how to grill rice in a bamboo tube. Tiếp tục đọc “Rice and chicken: fun, fired up and flavourful”
Visitors can now have a much more enjoyable experience on the most popular street in Ho Chi Minh City’s ‘backpacker area’
By Tuoi Tre News
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| People take a stroll on Bui Vien Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City on the night of August 19, 2017. Photo: Tuoi Tre |
Located in Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1, the city’s newest pedestrian street is scheduled to debut on Sunday night, offering local residents and tourists a wide variety of entertainment activities.
The promenade stretches 850 meters long from the Bui Vien intersection with Tran Hung Dao-Nguyen Thai Hoc Streets to Cong Quynh Street. Tiếp tục đọc “Saigon: Bui Vien Walking Street to officially debut tonight”
Located in the Truong Son Mountain Range, Minh Long white waterfalls in the central province of Quang Ngai impress visitors, especially young people with its stunning beauty.
 The white waterfalls are about 40km away to the southwest from Quang Ngai city. It is situated in Thanh An commune in Minh Long district. Tiếp tục đọc “Exploring beautiful waterfalls in Quang Ngai” |
VietNamNet Bridge – Visitors to Hoc Mo, a wild and charming beach located in the central province of Quang Ngai, can enjoy all sorts of activities, from fishing, to enjoying beautiful views or learning about the culture of the local fishing village.
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| Paradise: Hoc Mo Beach has tranquil and untouched beauty. — Photo thanhnien.vn |
The beach is part of Sa Huỳnh tourism complex, about four kilometres east of the People’s Committee of Pho Thach Commune; however, it is relatively unknown among tourists, meaning its still has its untouched beauty.
To reach Hoc Mo, visitors have to pass through Thanh Duc Bridge and walk on the small village path shaded with bamboo trees, before a wide space suddenly opens at the end of the path. Tiếp tục đọc “Nature’s treats at Hoc Mo Beach”
Besides the famous Phu Quoc Island, Nam Du Archipelago, also in Kien Giang province, has been known as a summer paradise in Vietnam. Let’s contemplate the pristine and splendid scenery of Nam Du through the lens of photographers at Zing’s photo contest.
 Nam Du Archipelago in Kien Hai District is around 80km from Rach Gia City. Tiếp tục đọc “Pristine and splendid beauty of Nam Du Archipelago” |
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