re: Exploring the food culture in Vietnam beyond pho

Yes, the pork belly char sui.

$20(500k) food challenge:

Here’s the 500k which is Vietnam’s largest denomination bill with Ho Chi Minh on it. Actually, he’s on every bill.



For this challenge I decided to visit the local market. There are supermarkets here, but for everyday grocery items of meat, seafood, vegetables, fruits, the locals go to these markets. Also, you can find great eats here as well.









For the challenge, I started with another bánh mì(#5). This one I’ve never had before. It’s the banh mi bot lot(shrimp tapioca dumpling).



The tapioca dumplings are like the texture of those tapioca pearls, except there’s a crispy shrimp in the middle. It sounds kind of weird at first but the chewy dumpling totally works with the crispiness of the banh mi. Then you get a hit of umami and the right spicy. My favorite bánh mì so far(A tier), and it was only 15k.

Next I got the 20k banh beo (steamed rice cakes) from another vendor. In Vietnam, “banh” (cakes) have a wide range. In the US, it’s a sweet flour confection. Here, it’s can be sweet or savory and can be made from wheat flour, rice or tapioca flour.



Topped with shred dried shrimps, fried shallots, fish cakes, peanuts, with homemade fish sauce. The peanuts is a new addition is new to me. Usually I have it with sautéed green onions instead. That’s the thing with Vietnamese food here is that each region or city will put their own twist of a dish.

I got a pint of freshly squeezed sugar can juice with calamansi. Very refreshing drink for 10k(under 50 cents).




And I finished it off with a soursop smoothie for 20k.




Cool side story. The sugar cane vendor was this old man that I frequent the last time I was here(5 yrs ago). As I approach to order the juice, I noticed a young woman now operating the stall. The stall next to it was a smoothie vendor who is middle age woman. She remembers me and immediately orders the sugarcane juice for me. Because of that, i felt obligated to buy a smoothie from her. btw, i found out the old sugarcane vendor sold his spot and retired. He was a good dude.


remaining balance : 435k