Vietnam Restaurants

The spice of life is literally located in the center of the Vietnam culture. The Vietnamese have come up with the perfect dose of fun, food and culture…making each gathering an unforgettable one. Vietnam culture is waiting for the rest of the world to discover what a unique and unforgettable vacation a trip to their land would be. However, the wait is about to end as the travel industry is catching on to Vietnam’s splendid way of life.

Vietnamese food is poorly represented anywhere else than besides the country itself. Leave all your preconceptions at the door and get ready for your palette to be pleased. Using only the freshest of ingredients, the tastes seem to jump out at you grabbing your attention and bringing a vast craving for more. Deemed one of the healthiest forms of food in the world, it lacks nothing when it comes to taste. It seems that every cook in the country seems to know just the right amount of spices to use in their cooking. Lemon grass, coriander, mint, basil and sauces extracted from shrimp, squid and other sea creatures…are a few of the Vietnamese secrets in cooking. As far as great cooking goes, Vietnamese food takes a fair amount of time to assemble and create. However, you absolutely reap what you sew…which is apparent with every dish you taste!

One of Vietnam’s many sand filled beaches will provide a good time and some much needed relaxation. Vietnam is full of a coastline that is uniquely beautiful and utterly fascinating. A bit of history is always intertwined when visiting any portion of the country, which only enhances the Vietnam culture experience. Ruins of ancient temples, pagodas, and other architectural gems are found wherever your eye looks. Southern Vietnam culture is definitely the place to have a good time. You can find ample amounts of bars, coffee shops, clubs and other hotspots in Ho Chi Minh City. Smiles are abundant, and laughter anything but foreign.

The perfect foreign vacation consists of these vital elements: fun, food and culture. Without even one of them, your vacation ends up lacking. Having an open mind in regards to the Vietnam culture will definitely enhance your trip. People are uniquely interesting everywhere you go, and this is especially true with the Vietnamese. You can’t help but feel at home with the Vietnam culture.

The road to revelry runs right to this popular pub in the city! Though it's the official headquarters of Hanoi's Minsk Motorcycle Club, you don't have to be a biker to drop by. Highway 4 will set you right on course with its Honey-Egg Wine and Vietnamese Rice Wine. Sample the traditional fare from the a la carte menu, or then if you are with a large group, opt for the buffet. There is also another location at 54 Mai Hac De Street, Hai Ba Trung District.

Located in the Hanoi Palace Hotel, this restaurant serves a combination of Vietnamese and Western cuisine. The seventh floor windows give patrons a wonderful view of the Old Quarter neighborhood. Also enjoy a tasty and filling buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The elegant atmosphere and upscale cuisine will keep hotel guests of all tastes satisfied.

Pungent coffee scents enticingly waft from Moca Cafe. Sandwiched between an upscale tailor and a refined housewares store, this all-purpose spot anchors Hanoi's artsy neighborhood and boasts one of the finest brick walls in the city. Expatriates flock to Moca for Western brunches and crosswords, and travelers find respite with spring rolls and magazines. With a variety of Indian offerings, the Oven-baked Naan is scrumptious. The menu appeals to both vegetarians, and steak-and-potato eaters.

The Polite Pub offers its largely foreign clientele the comforts of home. The owners sate cravings to munch while you drink with an endless supply of roasted peanuts; the CD collection draws from mostly Western favorites, both past and present; and foosball and pool provide sporting distractions from the main activities--drinking and cavorting. Besides beer, the women's Vietnamese pool champion bartender mixes good margaritas and Long Island ice teas.

A cross between a library, a movie theater and a cafe, Lac Viet satiates many desires. Centrally located on Hoan Kiem Lake, this tranquil two-story little cafe provides a stomping ground for travelers and expatriates. Hanoians can join the library, which features authors ranging from the page-turning Robin Cook to the more literary Toni Morrison. Several nights a week the cafe shows videos. Aside from the entertainment factor, Lac Viet entices customers with coffees, bagels, sandwiches, salads and ice cream.

The Met' Pub, located inside the posh Hotel Sofitel Metropole, boasts more than 40 different beers, the occasional live music performance and bar food to snack on. Along with hotel guests who drift in to enjoy a pre-dinner beverage, local Hanoians perch on the wooden stools to unwind after work, watch sporting events or enjoy the tunes of local bands. A well-stocked magazine rack appeals to those sipping a cocktail alone. The fancy selection comes at a price--even the price of local draft beer is nearly double that of other bars.

Au Lac's extensive menu and soothing courtyard setting offers an appealing lunch locale or tea-and-cake pit stop. Housed in a French villa opposite the Hotel Sofitel, this quaint cafe cultivates a colonial appeal. The kitchen deftly prepares food from around the world like sandwiches, pizzas, salads, pastas, burgers and, of course, Vietnamese standards. Those in need of frothy coffees will delight in the array of java favorites such as cappuccinos, mochas and lattes.

This friendly French Quarter café, situated on a street packed with local eateries and restaurants, specializes in Western breakfasts for the homesick expatriate. Bright and airy surroundings are conducive to relaxation, though the stools are a little low for the long-legged. Baked beans and mashed potatoes, with or without Dutch cheese, is a popular dish as is Real Oats Porridge, each ringing in at less than USD1. Tea served in a teacup and thick fruit shakes with yogurt make for authentic, if incongruous, changes from the norm.

This late bar is very popular with French expatriates, with the owner being half—French himself. Its interior comprises of varnished wood furniture and decor, customized chopper—bike seats with red leather upholstery and a balcony supporting at least 10 different varieties of ruou (Vietnamese rice wine). If motorcycles are your thing, The Minsk Motorbike Club runs tours from here so there is much talk of "bike treks" and "piston rings" between bouts of drinking.

Just steps from Hoan Kiem Lake, Ciao Cafe's breakfasts, snacks and homemade ice creams attract a steady flow of both travelers and locals. This colorful cafe blends modern stylistic touches, such as steel-backed chairs, with old-fashioned cafe lore, like the illustrated menu. Meal seekers or simply grazers can find an array of edibles from an extensive international menu. Empty stomachs can gorge on the fillet mignon while snackers can pick at onion rings. Ciao's pastries, cakes and lush ice cream will sate sweet cravings of all varieties. The list of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will also please.

Across the street from the Hanoi Sofitel, Diva blends inventive cocktails (including a fruity original named after the restaurant) and prepares both Western and Asian dishes. The garden patio offers a restful bubble outside of Hanoi's frenzied streets and an ideal spot to stop pre- or post-show at the Opera House. In addition to the standard Vietnamese dishes, the menu also offers Thai curries, grilled items from the sea, pastas and meats served in a variety of sauces. For dessert the rich chocolate mousse will send you buzzing for hours.

Fanny's scoops some of the richest ice cream in Hanoi. The old fashioned, French-style ice cream parlor is steps from Hoan Kiem Lake. Heavy metal chairs crowd around tiny metal tables and French posters dress the walls. Flavors vary depending on the season. The young rice ice cream, somewhat like a cold and creamy rendition of rice pudding, attracts a cult-like following. Other exoticisms include sorbets made from jackfruit and custard apple. Purists can enjoy cones while those craving a bit more adventure can select from a variety of fancy flavor and topping concoctions.

Whether you sit upstairs, downstairs or on the terrace of this tourist friendly pizzeria, there is no escaping the red checkered table cloths or the loud Western pop music. Framed photos of St. Peter's Square, Rome and the Colosseum hang between large colorful menu boards, highlighting further the authenticity of this most Mediterranean of diners. Pizzas are served in all sizes alongside pasta dishes and a variety of chef's specials.

This small and smoky Old Quarter coffeehouse is a popular meeting place for locals. Ideally placed for people watching, the open front looks onto a busy pedestrian intersection. The lighting is low, as are the stools that cling to the dark wood-paneled walls, encouraging the sitter to do the same. A modest tariff offers coffee and tea, hot or cold, as well as freshly squeezed orange juice and lemonade. Pickled limes can be taken with a pinch of salt and cigarettes are for sale if you can not take your coffee without one.