Vietnam Travel Guide

Writing a guide to the best cheap eats in Saigon is the journalistic equivalent of building an exact replica of the Great Pyramids without the slave labour. In other words, heroically time-consuming and practically pointless. Great cheap food is everywhere in Ho Chi Minh City. From the toothless old crones purveying goodies such as bot chien (fried rice cakes with egg) and cut chien (tiny fried quails) to the street side quans (basic restaurants), there’s... Read More

For those on a budget, Vietnam is pretty much close to the ideal destination. Banquets can be had for cents while the profusion of cheap alcohol means that you can get the party well and truly swinging for the price of what a packet of cigarettes would cost in the west. Unsurprisingly, accommodation is just as reasonable. Competition is fierce in Ho Chi Minh City, especially in the budget-tourist hub of Pham Ngu Lao, and you won’t struggle to find a decent... Read More

Nighttime hot pot is a good way to warm up on a cold Hanoi night. For a semi-temperate, semi-tropical city, Hanoi isn’t best equipped to stay warm during their short six to eight week cold, damp period – this where hot pot comes in. Hot pot in Vietnam is called lẩu and refers to the family style East Asian simmering pots of stock placed at the center of the dining table. The pot is kept simmering throughout the meal during which eaters place their desired... Read More