Vietnamese-style hot dog: A foreigner's delight

Having lived in Vietnam for 10 years and experienced many local dishes, Vietnamese-style hot dog remains a "shock" that Mr. Ray Kuschert, an Australian, fondly remembers and cannot forget.

Life in Vietnam often brings me enjoyable moments, but sometimes it also leaves me perplexed, such as the time I had a hot dog that was... so peculiar.

About a decade ago, just a few weeks after arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, my stomach was still not accustomed to the local cuisine, causing me some discomfort.

Then, a fellow countryman introduced me to a teaching opportunity. On my first day of work, I was assigned to a public school in District 3.

As I arrived at the school, my stomach started to ache, and I glanced around to find a familiar sign. It wasn't for pho, com tam, or banh mi; it was for HOT DOG. Yes, that's right, a hot dog.

I smiled with delight, finally finding a familiar Western food item.

I made my way from the parking lot to the school gate, heading towards the hot dog stand. Without a single word of Vietnamese, I raised a finger and said, "One hot dog, please."

The vendor looked at me puzzled, mumbling something in Vietnamese, while I continued to repeat, "One hot dog, one hot dog," and pointed to the sign on her food cart.

Eventually, she stopped trying to decipher what I was saying, prepared the food, put it in a bag, and handed it to me.

I paid her, not much at all, and entered the school to find a place to sit and eat, secretly excited to savor a hot, delicious hot dog with a German sausage nestled in soft, fragrant bread, accompanied by familiar ketchup.

The moment I opened the bag, I was speechless. The hot dog I was holding wasn't the hot dog I had imagined. Instead, it was a triangular-shaped sandwich. I bought a hot dog, and they gave me a waffle. A baked waffle with a sweet taste and cheese filling inside. What should I do now? At that moment, I didn't know what to do, so I just ate the sandwich and went to class.

During the following months, I "learned" that the hot dogs sold on the streets of Vietnam were not actually hot dogs, but more like a type of sandwich or grilled bread.

Different vendors had their own variations, but they all seemed to consist of two parts: the bread and cheese. Some places even had meat fillings and other ingredients.

This cultural difference intrigued me and sparked my curiosity to explore how Vietnamese-style hot dogs were made and enjoyed.

What is Vietnamese-style hot dog?

From the limited information I have found, it seems that Vietnamese-style hot dogs have only gained popularity in the early years of this century.

Some anecdotal stories without evidence that I have read suggest that at some point, Vietnamese homemakers started purchasing various electronic appliances, and one of the popular items was a sandwich toaster.

Meanwhile, children need something filling and affordable to eat in the morning and after school, so mothers started using this machine to make Vietnamese-style hot dogs.

From there, some people began selling this type of bun outside school gates.

Children often prefer fast food over heavier meals like broken rice or Hu Tieu, so a hot dog with the sweet taste of the bun, the savory flavor of cheese, and occasionally including sausage, is a perfect choice for them.

I couldn't find why this dish is called a hot dog, but I dare to guess that rushing to buy a hot dog in Vietnam is similar to buying a quick hot dog on the streets of the US.

Over time, Vietnamese-style hot dogs have become popular in many places. With only 5,000 - 6,000 dong, you can stop and buy one anytime. A hot dog is not big enough to make you feel full, but it provides enough energy for you to get home or attend your next meeting, for example.

I now tend to opt for newer choices when snacking between meals, but I still chuckle to myself when I come across a vendor selling "Vietnamese-style hot dogs." A hot dog that is not really a hot dog.

If you haven't tried this dish yet, be sure to have at least one during your trip to Vietnam, and don't forget to take a photo of the hot dog sign and share it online.

This is a creative and wonderful aspect of Vietnamese culture that makes the country unique and special everywhere.

Western tourists prefer tours to explore the history of Ho Chi Minh City

 Many international tourists prefer historical tours to visit the Saigon Special Forces Museum and Cu Chi Tunnels.

Zuzanna Henel, a tourist from Poland, shared that her historical tours in Ho Chi Minh City were a completely new experience, even though she had visited Vietnam many times before.

"Poland also experienced a war, and we see many similarities between the two countries through the stories told at the Saigon Special Forces Museum," said Zuzanna.

The Saigon Special Forces Museum is located in the center of District 1, with an area of over 100 square meters and displaying more than 100 artifacts from the special forces soldiers. Objects such as tables, chairs, and cabinets in the house are still intact and decorated similarly to before. Mr. Tran Trong Nghia, the founder of the Saigon Special Forces Museum - Gia Dinh, said that in the first quarter of this year, Ho Chi Minh City witnessed an increase in the number of foreign visitors, about 1.8 million, almost equal to before the pandemic in 2019 and more than 35 times compared to last year. Most international tourists coming to Vietnam visit historical sites.

The Saigon Special Forces Museum alone welcomes hundreds of foreign visitors every day. In the first quarter, the number of visitors to the Saigon Special Forces Museum was about 4,000-5,000, which tripled compared to the same period last year. Most are tourists from India, the US, and the Philippines. Visitors mostly travel in groups of 3-5 people or 5-15 people and explore independently during the day. Tour groups usually follow a 2-day-1-night itinerary, with the largest group comprising about 150 tourists.

Mr. Nghia stated that the Saigon Special Forces Museum and other historical sites in the city are not just meant to attract tourists but also to provide genuine value. Each location is associated with stories of the Saigon Special Forces, creating a space for visitors to learn about history in an engaging way.

Apart from the Saigon Special Forces Museum, searching for other historical tours such as the "Cu Chi Tunnels" on social media yields results mainly in the form of videos shared by foreign visitors. These videos often have a viewership of up to millions, with at least 100,000 views.

Travel companies in Ho Chi Minh City also promote the city's unique tours. They consider these tours to be popular among inbound tourists. "Culture and history tours primarily serve the inbound market. Foreign visitors always prefer these types of tours," said Mr. Tran The Dung, the CEO of Vietluxtour Travel Company.

These tours typically last for a day or two and are often part of a two-week itinerary covering famous destinations across the three regions of Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City. Therefore, any international tour group visiting the city will also visit historical sites such as the East-West Armed Forces Command Bunker System.

Culture and history tours in Ho Chi Minh City are priced between VND 150,000 and VND 2.3 million. Besides the well-known Cu Chi Tunnels tour, there are also newer tours such as the Saigon - Cho Lon tour and the Saigon Special Forces tour that have been welcoming visitors since 2019.

According to Mr. Dung, visiting historical sites and cultural destinations is like stepping into a history lesson. Therefore, tourism professionals must make the tour soulful. Tour guides must be the ones to lead and tell stories throughout the journey. For example, the Saigon Special Forces Tour invites eyewitnesses to recount what happened. The destination supports the tour company in filming stories recounted by eyewitnesses to make a documentary film, preserving them for many years to come.

Sharing the coverage of historical tours in Ho Chi Minh City with international visitors, Mr. Dung said that for many years, this tourism product has received great attention from foreign markets. Tour programs were interrupted in 2020 due to the pandemic. In 2021, when foreign visitors had not yet returned, historical tour programs began to attract domestic tourists. By mid-2022, this product began serving foreign tourists again.

Ms. Sandra Raison, a tourist from the Australian group who visited the Cu Chi Tunnels in early April, said that the stories from Ms. Chinh Nghia and Ms. Hiep, eyewitnesses to the history of the Saigon Special Forces, left a lot of emotions.

"I appreciate the bravery and dedication to the fighting of Ms. Nghia, and was deeply moved when she recounted being captured and tortured by the enemy but still remained resilient, not confessing anything," Ms. Raison said.

The tourists in the group were also moved by the truths of war recounted by living witnesses. Most of them hope that such historical programs will be expanded.

The CEO of Vietluxtour shared that historical and cultural tours have no competitiveness and almost no profit. However, the company continues to promote this tour line, diversifying its routes and market share to spread the historical values of the locality. Historical tour products in Ho Chi Minh City are expected to become the city's signature product, leaving an impression on foreign visitors. In addition, these tour lines are also targeting domestic tourists on the occasion of the upcoming April 30 holiday.

Vietnamese sour fish soup with vegetables has made it to the top 50 delicious soups in the world.

 "Canh chua cá" and "phở bò" have made it to the list of the 50 most delicious soups in the world, according to Taste Atlas. In the list, which was compiled by the website known as the "world food map," "canh chua cá" is ranked 30th with 4.5 points, while "phở bò" is ranked 13th with 4.6 points. Topping the list is the famous Japanese dish "tonkatsu ramen" with 4.7 points.

Taste Atlas describes "canh chua cá" as having a sweet taste from the cooked fish combined with the sour and spicy flavors of the herbs and vegetables used in the soup. The fish used in the soup is usually a smooth-skinned freshwater variety. Additionally, the soup also contains "dọc mùng," "giá đỗ," and "đậu bắp" to add sweetness. Diners are advised to enjoy the soup with scallions, cilantro, and water spinach.

Different regions have different ways of preparing "canh chua cá." In the North, for example, during the summer, cooks often use "sấu" instead of tamarind to add sourness to the soup, while in the South, tamarind is commonly used. In some areas in the West, "bông điên điển" is added to the soup.

This is the first time "canh chua cá" has appeared on the Taste Atlas list. Previously, other Vietnamese delicacies such as coffee and "bò nhúng giấm" were also honored. However, "trứng vịt lộn" was ranked as the worst dish.

Established in 2015, Taste Atlas connects with over 9,000 local restaurants, introducing more than 10,000 dishes to readers, along with thousands of reviews and research from culinary experts and chefs.

80-year-old original Chinese-style noodle shop in Saigon

Hủ tiếu sa tế is a traditional dish cooked by Mrs. Doanh at her restaurant using a family recipe, which combines over 30 different ingredients.

The restaurant, Hủ tiếu Tô Ký, is located on Gia Phú Street in District 6 and was founded by Mr. Tô Cẩm, who came from Triều Châu, in the 1940s. Passed down through three generations, it has been in operation for almost 80 years. The current owner, Ms. Tô Mỹ Doanh, 42 years old, is Mr. Cẩm's granddaughter. She learned the trade from her father at an early age and has been working at the restaurant for over 20 years.

The traditional dish at the restaurant is hủ tiếu sa tế beef, which requires meticulous preparation. Every morning, Mrs. Doanh wakes up at 5 am, receives the supplies from her trusted sources, and begins to prepare the ingredients. "This dish is difficult and extremely demanding to prepare. I can't do it alone, I need help from my family members," she said. Each person in her family has a specific task, such as picking vegetables, cutting meat, or making the dipping sauce.

The special flavor of hủ tiếu sa tế comes from the thick, brown broth, which is made from over 30 different ingredients and spices, including peanuts, chili, galangal, onions, lemongrass, garlic, Chinese vinegar, ground dried shrimp, and Chinese herbs. This creates a rich, slightly spicy taste that stimulates the taste buds. Adding coconut milk to the broth enhances the dish's aroma and richness.

When a customer orders the dish, the owner prepares the beef and hủ tiếu, adds the spices, and pours in the broth. A full bowl costs 72,000 VND and includes beef, beef balls, Chinese celery, and various vegetables such as mint, bean sprouts, lettuce, and cucumber. The hủ tiếu sa tế is served with two dipping sauces: soy sauce and vinegar. According to Ms. Doanh, this method of serving was invented by her grandfather, as other restaurants usually serve only soy sauce.

"The dipping sauces are handmade. The vinegar is made from Tiều people's traditional vinegar. The soy sauce is made from our homemade soybean sauce," she said.

The restaurant is open from 11 am to 7 pm every day. The busiest time is around 5 pm, when many people stop by for dinner or takeout. Many customers from Phú Nhuận, Bình Thạnh, and Tân Bình districts also visit the restaurant.

"Sometimes, when we are about to close, regular customers call to say that they are on their way and ask us to wait for them. I wait for them because I appreciate their support, even though they come from far away," said Ms. Doanh.

After running the restaurant for 20 years, Ms. Doanh believes that doing business must come from the heart, overlooking short-term gains, in order to create goodwill and retain customers in the long run. Her desire is to continue to maintain the traditional hủ tiếu sa tế dish of her family, pass it on to future generations, and contribute to preserving the culinary heritage.

Hoi An delays plan to charge all tourists

On April 8th, Mr. Tran Anh, Secretary of Hoi An Party Committee, stated that he had proposed to the city government to delay the plan of dividing and selling tickets to all tourists visiting the old town from May 15th as previously scheduled.

Explaining this, Mr. Anh said that Hoi An will hold meetings with local residents and business owners to find the best solution with the highest consensus, and then hold a public press conference to gradually implement the plan. Currently, the management and control methods to prevent revenue loss while ensuring comfort for tourists are being studied.

"The May 15th deadline will not be implemented because it's not ready yet," said Mr. Anh. He also said that Hoi An needs to learn more from domestic and international experiences to find the optimal solution, only applying it to real tourists.

Currently, visitors to Hoi An's old town who wish to visit certain places with guided tours must purchase tickets, while those who simply walk and dine are free. The ticket price for international tourists is 120,000 dong and 80,000 dong for domestic tourists per trip.

On April 3rd, Hoi An announced that they were implementing a plan to enhance the management of guided tours in the old town, including selling tickets to all tourists and controlling the flow of visitors. The expected time to apply the plan is from May 15th, selling tickets from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily in summer and from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. in winter.

Embark on an Unforgettable Journey: Exploring Vietnam’s Iconic Destinations

Explore Vietnam: A Journey Through History, Culture, and Nature

 

Vietnam is a country that never fails to amaze travelers with its rich history, stunning natural landscapes, and vibrant culture. With so many fascinating destinations to choose from, planning a trip to Vietnam can be a daunting task. To make things easier for you, we’ve put together an itinerary of some of Vietnam's most iconic destinations that will take you on a journey through the country's diverse regions and highlight its unique attractions.

Hanoi – The Heart of Vietnam

Start your journey in the capital city of Hanoi, a bustling metropolis that combines the charm of ancient Vietnam with modern city life. Explore the narrow streets of the Old Quarter, sample the delicious street food, and visit the historic Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Temple of Literature. Take a leisurely stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake, located in the heart of the city, and visit the Ngoc Son Temple, a beautiful temple situated on a small island in the lake.

Ninh Binh – Discover the Natural Wonders

Head south to Ninh Binh, a province that is home to some of Vietnam’s most stunning natural landscapes. Take a boat ride through the Tam Coc or Trang An caves, which are surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and lush greenery. Visit the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, a historic site that was once the capital of Vietnam in the 10th and 11th centuries. Explore the beautiful countryside on a bicycle or a motorbike, and soak in the breathtaking views of rice paddies, karst mountains, and winding rivers.

Hoi An – A Charming Ancient Town

Next on the itinerary is Hoi An, a picturesque town located in central Vietnam that is famous for its well-preserved ancient architecture. Stroll through the colorful streets and admire the unique blend of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese influences. Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, an iconic landmark that is over 400 years old. Take a cooking class to learn how to make traditional Vietnamese dishes, or visit the nearby beaches for some relaxation time.

Da Lat – A Cool Escape

Da Lat is a highland city located in the central region of Vietnam and is known for its cool weather and stunning landscapes. Visit the Valley of Love, a romantic park that offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and is perfect for a picnic or a stroll. Take a cable car ride to the Truc Lam Zen Monastery, a beautiful Buddhist temple that is set against a scenic backdrop of lush pine forests and tranquil lakes. Visit the colorful flower gardens, waterfalls, and lakes that are scattered throughout the city.

Mui Ne – A Coastal Haven

Mui Ne is a coastal town located in the southern region of Vietnam and is known for its stunning beaches and sand dunes. Take a tour of the White Sand Dunes, which are the most popular attraction in the area. Visit the Fairy Stream, a small creek that flows through the red sand dunes and is surrounded by lush greenery. Relax on the beach and soak up the sun, or try some of the fresh seafood that the town is famous for.

Saigon and Can Tho – The Bustling City and Mekong Delta

End your journey in Saigon, also known as Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam. Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, a historic network of underground tunnels used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. Take a walking tour of the city to see landmarks such as the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Reunification Palace. Head to Can Tho, located in the Mekong Delta, and take a boat ride through the floating markets, visit fruit orchards, and witness the daily life of the locals.

In conclusion, Vietnam is a country that offers a unique blend of culture, history, and natural beauty that will leave you mesmerized. From the bustling city streets to the tranquil countryside, Vietnam has something for everyone.

Traveling through the country's iconic destinations will take you on an unforgettable journey that you will cherish for years to come. Whether you're an adventure seeker, a history buff, or a foodie, Vietnam has something to offer that will leave you enchanted.

So what are you waiting for? Embark on an unforgettable journey to Vietnam and explore the country's iconic destinations. Discover the rich culture, savor the delicious cuisine, and soak in the stunning natural beauty of this beautiful country. You'll leave with memories that will last a lifetime!

What is the best way to travel around Vietnam?

 Hey there! I'd say that there are a few good ways to get around depending on your preferences and budget.

 One popular option is to take a train. Vietnam has a well-connected railway network, and you can book tickets online or at the train station. The trains are generally comfortable, and it's a great way to see the countryside. However, be aware that travel times can be quite long, especially if you're going from one end of the country to the other.

 Another option is to take a bus. This is a good choice if you're on a budget, as tickets are relatively cheap. However, be prepared for some discomfort, especially if you're taking a long-distance bus. The roads in Vietnam can be quite bumpy, and the buses are often crowded.

 If you're looking for more flexibility, you can also rent a motorbike. This is a popular option among backpackers, as it allows you to explore the country at your own pace. However, be aware that traffic in Vietnam can be chaotic, and you should always wear a helmet and drive safely.

 Finally, you can also hire a private car or join a tour. This is a good option if you're short on time and want to see as much as possible. Private cars can be quite expensive, but you'll have the flexibility to stop whenever you want. Tours are a good choice if you want to travel with a group and have everything taken care of for you.

 In short, there are a few good ways to travel around Vietnam, depending on your preferences and budget. Personally, I'd recommend taking a train or renting a motorbike, as they're both great ways to see the country and experience the local culture.