Bun Ca Chau Doc: A Fish Noodle Soup with a Local Accent
Bun ca in Chau Doc is a reminder that two bowls translated as “fish noodle soup” may have very little in common.…
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Canh Chua Ca: How the Mekong Delta Builds a Sour Fish SoupCanh chua ca is a soup often…
Banh Tet: The Rice Cake That Carries Southern Tet TraditionsBanh tet is not usually eaten the…
Bun Mam in Can Tho: Fermented Fish and the Delta’s Deepest FlavorsBun mam is not a gentle introduction…
Banh Cong in Soc Trang: A Fried Snack with a Multicultural SettingBanh cong resembles a little golden tower… What’s changing in Vietnam
Important developments, explained in context.
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Canh Chua Ca: How the Mekong Delta Builds a Sour Fish Soup
Canh chua ca is a soup often encountered as part of a shared meal rather than a one-person noodle bowl. An honest guide…
Banh Tet: The Rice Cake That Carries Southern Tet Traditions
Banh tet is not usually eaten the way a street sandwich is eaten. An honest guide to the food, the people who make…
Bun Mam in Can Tho: Fermented Fish and the Delta’s Deepest Flavors
Bun mam is not a gentle introduction to fermented flavors, and it should not be presented as a challenge for daring tourists. An…
Banh Cong in Soc Trang: A Fried Snack with a Multicultural Setting
Banh cong resembles a little golden tower rather than a flat pancake. An honest guide to the food, the people who make it,…
Banh Khot in Vung Tau: Crispy Rice Cakes from a Seaside City
A plate of banh khot arrives with several small golden cakes, usually crowned by a shrimp. An honest guide to the food, the…
Banh Can: The Little Clay-Pan Cakes of South-Central Vietnam
Banh can are small enough to fit several on one plate, but they invite a surprisingly slow lunch. An honest guide to the…
Trip ideas
Ideas for exploring Vietnam at your own pace.
Vietnam by Train in 10 Days: Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City
A ten-day rail journey through Vietnam is not the fastest way to travel between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. That is exactly…
Vietnam in 14 Days: A First Trip From Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City
Two weeks is enough for a meaningful first trip through Vietnam if you accept one uncomfortable truth: you cannot see the whole country.…
Da Lat in 3 Days: Coffee, Markets and the Highland Landscape
Three days in Da Lat is enough to see why the highland city cannot be reduced to flowers and cool weather. Coffee, markets,…
Explore Vietnam by place
Go beyond a single stop. Find connected stories about each destination.
Beyond the checklist
The people, histories and everyday details behind the places.
Hanoi’s Sidewalks: Where Everyday Life Meets the Street
A Hanoi sidewalk can be a breakfast counter at seven, a delivery route at noon, and a place…
Understanding Ancestor Worship in Vietnam
A family altar is not simply decoration, and a death anniversary is not only a memorial meal. Ancestor…
Hanoi’s Coffee Culture: Beyond Egg Coffee
Egg coffee may be Hanoi's most famous cup, but it is only one part of the story. Follow…