With a population of more than seven million, Saigon is Vietnam’s largest city. While Hanoi is the political core of the country, Saigon is the country’s economical heart.

The city has a distinct European flavour, with its wide boulevards and beautiful French villas. Aromas of coffee and baking bread fill the air, yet the city is still very Asian.

The widest variety of Vietnamese food and international cuisine is on the menu in Saigon; however, unfortunately it is becoming increasingly hard to find due to the city becoming more and more cosmopolitan. The key is to avoid overpriced tourist traps and follow your nose to where the locals are dining.

The History Museum is a good place to start any sightseeing tour of the city. The museum houses an extensive collection of artefacts from the country’s 2000 year old history. Shoppers throng to Saigon, and Ben Thanh Market certainly provides the ideal hunting ground for bargain seekers.

Chinatown is also a great place for shopping, although it can get very hot and congested. There is a massive variety of goods for sale and with a little bargaining, you can get considerable discounts.

There are many beautiful pagodas in the city, all lavishly decorated and worth admiring. Just outside the city, further attractions make ideal day trips. The Cu Chi Tunnels provide insight into life during the war, while visitors can take part in Cao Dai worship in Tay Ninh.

Putting your knife in your mouth in the west is unheard of, and considered very rude if witnessed. So what is the dining etiquette in Vietnam?

First and foremost, don’t ever leave chopsticks sitting vertically out of your rice bowl at the end of a meal. This resembles the position of incense sticks used to commemorate death, and so it is considered very rude. Placing the chopsticks side by side, or on top of the bowl, is a lot more polite.

Do not tap the side of your bowl using your chopsticks as it is thought to be unlucky for your next life. The older generation believe if you do this, you won’t have rice to eat when you are reincarnated.

Unlike Thailand, it is better to finish every last grain of rice in Vietnam. If you have been invited to dinner with a family, allow the oldest family member to eat first, as a sign of respect. Try to eat everything you are given, as the best is always saved for guests. When you are full, gently cover your bowl with your hand to signal you have had enough. This is a polite way to refuse; however, it doesn’t always work!

Always drink bottled water in Vietnam

If you have been to Asia before, you probably have a good idea of what to expect on arrival in Vietnam; however, every culture has its differences. Here is a quick list of travel tips which may be useful if you are planning a trip to Vietnam:

Don’t drink tap water. Bottled water is readily available and cheap.

Don’t take cyclo rides after dark. Exercise the same caution you would anywhere in the world. Using your common sense is usually enough to keep you safe in Vietnam.

Dress modestly when visiting religious sites and local dwellings.

Before heading out on the town at night, put any valuables in your hotel safe or a locked bag in your room. Also, avoid taking valuables to the beach.

When crossing busy city thoroughfares, walk slowly and keep looking to the right and left. Don’t ever change your pace, or turn back!

Don’t offer money to minority people, as it encourages begging. Making a donation to a local charity or offering a useful gift is the best way to help.

Always ask for permission to photograph locals or their communities.

No matter how frustrated you feel, don’t loose your temper. It is embarrassing for everyone and it certainly won’t help your situation.

Don’t be afraid to try some of the delicious street food. If you are concerned about hygiene, check the vendor is presentable and has a high turnover of food.

Book medical insurance before you travel.

Make sure you keep the yellow form from the airport. This exit/entry form needs to be returned on departure, so if you lose it you may be fined.

Rambutans are the most eye catching fruit. From a distance they have a vibrant red glow, but at closer inspection visitors are surprised and amused by their unusual hairy skin. Under the red and green stubble, a beautiful pearly egg shaped delight awaits. The meat of the fruit has a cool, sweet taste, although the seed is quite woody and difficult to remove.

Mangosteens also have a surprising inner beauty; the white segmented delicate fruit contrasts with the tough, violet outer casing. The fruit has a refreshing sweet and sour tang, and is thought to be a powerful antioxidant.

Jackfruit is also easy to locate at the market, as it has an extremely sweet scent which is released into the air when the edible pulp is removed. The vibrant yellow fruit is extremely sweet and calorific, and contains juice depending on the species.

Most of Vietnam’s longan is grown in the north of the country, and the fruit was once a food reserved as a tribute to the King. A thin, brown skin encases a small white pearly fruit which covers a shiny black seed. The fruit tastes sweet and juicy, and is a good source of protein.

To produce the rich aromatic broth, beef or chicken bones are boiled with charred onion and spices such as ginger, cloves, star anise and cinnamon. White rice noodles and thin cuts of beef steak or brisket are served in a bowl of the steaming soup and garnished with basil, coriander, chilies, bean sprouts and lime wedges.

Pho is eaten with both chopsticks and a spoon for maximum pleasure. Diners use their chopsticks to fish the noodles from the broth and slurp the soup from the spoon in alternate motions. Pho is best enjoyed while piping hot as the noodles can get soggy and spoil the consistency of the soup. The broth is served in copious quantities and leaving some in your bowl is perfectly fine, just as it is equally acceptable to scoop out every last drop.

Pho’s origins aren’t quite as clear as its broth, however it is thought to have originated over a century ago in the north of Vietnam. The use of onion to color and flavor the broth is evidence of a French influence, while the use of rice noodles and multiple spices is the basis of Chinese cuisine. Despite these foreign influences, pho remains distinctly Vietnamese.

Ao dais and bicycles
Travel Vietnam virtually here, as we reveal the country weekly on this travel professional’s blog. From the Delta in the South to Sapa in the North we cover all the sightseeing, culture, history, food, entertainment, hospitality and activities travellers can expect to see and do in Vietnam.

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