re: Exploring the food culture in Vietnam beyond pho

Usually, when I go to VN I stay at least a month. I flew into Saigon this time because this one flight was particularly cheap. I believe it was around $530 one way. Stay there 2-3 days and head into Da Nang. I think Saigon is a smaller India minus the cows or monkeys in the street. District 1 and 7 can be nice but overall the city is very chaotic, noisy, hot. It does have good food and a wide variety. I have family ties in Da Nang but if it wasn’t for that, I’d still visit it. Cleaner and more quiet than Saigon but it still has a laid back city feel. It has mountains, beach, the riversides, coconut trees, friendlier people and cheaper prices. Hoi An 30 minutes to the south, Hue 45 mins to the north.