Vietnam travel - 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.

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.

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.

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.

The Hot Rock Café is well located near the Daewoo Hotel, Capital Gardens and Fortuna hotels. This popular Western restaurant is particularly famous for its take-away pizzas. Offering some of the very tasty options with reasonable prices, it is often the first place party goers call. The largest pizza sells for only USD6, while the chicken steaks sell for between USD4 and USD10. It provides a haven for those business travelers needing a quick "beer and pizza" break. Although a little far from the city center, this restaurant lies close to the international hotels dotted around the outer suburbs.

This modern café located near the Opera House offers a great atmosphere to relax after a busy day. Delectable drinks are mixed up by the friendly bartenders. Lighter snacks are served to go with the drinks. The venue is popular with both the travelers and locals.

Located on a flashy street in Hanoi's Old Quarter, Mediterraneo draws expatriate families and travelers seeking a change from rice. The multilevel haunt serves authentic thin crusted pizzas and fresh pastas. Oven-baked flat breads, which appear on the table as you sit down, provide a teasing glimpse of the menu's offerings. Starters include brushcettas and crostinos, breads and toasts topped with such offerings as an olive oil and herb spread or a mozzarella, anchovy and egg mix. The menu also features a good variety of authentic meaty dishes and wine to accompany your meal.

This Australian cafe specializes in large portions and friendly tour advice for its own privately run excursions. The open-front layout makes for a spacious, informal atmosphere. Flags of socialist and communist countries are displayed on all the tables while Vietnamese Workers' Party placards adorn the walls. The colorful surroundings attract a large contingent of expatriates and travelers alike. The burgers will have you bursting and the plate-sized pancakes will insist on an encore! Tea is served by the mug and lurking Aussie hospitality is always on tap.

Kim Cafe is one of the most popular places to eat on De Tham, the city's tourist hub. The menu features foods from all over the world. Eastern or Western style—the food is great. The spring rolls are as good as the steak and the big American breakfast is as good as the Vietnamese noodle soup. Outside is unimpressive but ignore that. The clientele is mostly travelers with the occasional local or expatriate as well. A selection of beers and fruit juices is available.

Guns 'N' Roses was opened in 1991 when the heavy metal band of the same name was still "hot". Murals of the band and of lead singer Axel still watch over the mixed local, traveler and expatriate clientele. Although it is a bar in tribute to Guns ‘N' Roses, the music shows some variety and songs from the 1980s and early 1990s prevail. The featured pool table can be used free of charge. The drinks are generally inexpensive. The staff is extremely friendly and speaks English very well.

Restaurant 13 is the nondescript name of this simple, softly lit, well-known Vietnamese restaurant. Because the prices here are quite reasonable, it has become popular with travelers. One Vietnamese specialty is particularly prominent here—Clay Pot. Clay Pot, as this restaurant calls it, is a dish where you do the cooking yourself. You are provided with an assortment of meats and a grill-covered clay pot filled with glowing coals and you cook the meat. This small restaurant has a friendly staff, most of whom speak English. Beer is the drink of choice here.

Set in an extravagant old French colonial home, this restaurant was previously owned by a famous Vietnamese lawyer. His son redesigned the interior into an elegant French restaurant in the mid-1990's, and it is now a popular place for business travelers and up-market tour groups. Although eerily reminiscent of colonial indulgences it has an excellent menu and great prices to match. Steaks, salmon and salads are a few of the highlights. A difficult choice from over 40 imported wines soon follows. The upholstered chairs and grand piano in the corner make an elegant backdrop for any meal.