Comments on: Vietnam Food Culture: Coffee, Street Food, and Hygiene

By: Nora

Nora — Sun, 02 Apr 2017 01:45:48 +0000

In reply to Alex.

Hey Alex,
Since writing this article I’ve been to even more countries with similar markets, including many in South America where I’ve spent the last few years. I’m much less “freaked out” by the market conditions and love to shop there, but admittedly I prefer to cook vegetarian food at home and thus don’t deal with the meat/fish side of things.
Nice list of foods! It’s all about the Bun Cha, baby. 😉

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 08:41:34 +0000

I really love your blog! It’s more like a personal diary with deep reflections than a traveling tips website 🙂 And I must say that your thoughts on food hygiene in Vietnam vs. North America are really interesting. As a Vietnamese who also has the luck to study in the U.S. for 4 years, I have experienced both kinds of food. Ironically, since I came back here I only go to supermarket to shop for food, mostly because it’s more convenient. But food safety in Vietnam is such a controversial issue, where it is indeed fresher, but no one knows where the food exactly came from, and what the animals actually eat before they were butchered. So I just prefer to shop where I can see exactly where the food comes from, and what company is responsible for that, although I can never be guaranteed 100%.

However, I still give life benefit of doubts, because street food in Vietnam is just so hard to resist 🙂 if you ever come back, I suggest you these must-try dishes: https://blog.inspitrip.com/578/7-delicious-traditional-vietnamese-foods-you-must-try/. If you want I can recommend some trustworthy places to eat them. Of course, I can never guarantee you 100% safety, so bring some medicine in advance – I know you haven’t had any intestinal distress, but you never know.

Cheers!

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 17:13:47 +0000

In reply to Ayan Villafuerte.

Hi Ayan,
I’m glad you had a similar experience with the coffee in Vietnam!
The reason the coffee didn’t taste the same even when using the filter and sweetened condensed milk is the coffee itself. I had the good fortune to get some coffee as well, but as soon as it ran out I noticed a big difference. It’s almost like Vietnamese coffee is chocolately, or velvety, or something! Yum! (drooling)

By: Ayan Villafuerte

Ayan Villafuerte — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 04:37:21 +0000

“Maybe the secret is in the ambiance; siting on a miniature chair on the sidewalk, watching a river of bikes go past as you sip your coffee in relative peace.” spot on.
Vietnam made me a coffee convert. i don’t drink coffee prior to travelling there.
i brought home coffee and a coffee filter. i tried using condensed milk with it too but it did not taste close to what i had in the streets of Hanoi. but, still, absolutely better than those being served in fancy coffeeshops.

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 12:45:38 +0000

In reply to Claudia.

Ha ha – That’s so true, Claudia! I know many travelers who have gotten more sick at fast food joints than they have eating local street food! 🙂

By: Claudia

Claudia — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:22:58 +0000

I`m from Italy and absolutely loved this article! 😉 so true!
During my first trip to southeast Asia I started with a lot of hygiene related doubts but the smell from the stalls was so inviting I gave up on my third day, and the only stomach aches I had in six months there have been caused by my one and only Burger King meal!!

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:08:26 +0000

@Baron’s – In my experience, if I’m sick after eating something (even if the illness isn’t related to what I ate), I have trouble eating that food again. I understand!

By: Baron's

Baron's — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:57:46 +0000

Yes I did, this one time in Korea, we were travelling and I was extremely hungry (Ravenous) and we stopped at a hawker to grab a bite to eat…food was good but as we were eating I saw a women squatting down and washing rice in a filthy pan on the floor next to water running from a hydron making a pile of mud just next to the pan and this is what we were eating, not to mention the rat that was running in the alley who seemed to be well fed….have had the Delhi runs for a couple of weeks…very unconfortable situation to be in…having said all that I still agree with your article as we’ve had some very good, in fact excellent, street food in other places like Singapore, JB, KL and Penang….but generally speaking, and I know one shouldn’t generalize, I am off ASIAN food…I can’t stand it.

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:25:12 +0000

@Baron’s – Really? But street food in Asia is usually the same stuff they serve in restaurants too. Did you have a bad experience?

By: Baron's

Baron's — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 02:48:22 +0000

A super superb post….as usual. I have travelled in the Far east for almost 20 years and street food turned me totally off Asian food. Foe instance I cannot stomach Korean food even for free. The smells turn me off.