I’m a total foodie, so whenever I travel, I love diving straight into the local cuisine. In Vietnam, that was an absolute joy. Almost every night, I found myself in the Old Quarter in Hanoi, settling into tiny street kitchens and enjoying bowls of rich, flavourful broth packed with different meats. I made a point of eating where the locals ate, and those favourite street food spots quickly became my own. I loved the whole experience.
There are also plenty of cooking classes and food tours on offer, which provide fantastic opportunities to immerse yourself in Vietnamese cuisine and culture.
One of the more unusual things I tried was bamboo rice in a range of vibrant colours. I also treated myself to lobster cooked in not just one, but two delicious ways. Then there was the famous Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City, buzzing with energy and tempting smells, where I happily tucked into sizzling pork.
The only tricky part was getting up from those super-low plastic chairs and trying to master the art of using chopsticks. Google Translate also came in handy from time to time. But honestly, that was all part of the fun and made the experience even more memorable.
Food ended up being one of the highlights of my time in Vietnam, alongside experiences like cruising Ha Long Bay and exploring the buzzing streets of Hanoi.
Vietnam: a paradise of tropical fruits
I had heard so much about the exotic fruits in Vietnam that I could not wait to try them, and they did not disappoint. Our guide took us on a wonderful fruit tour through one of the bustling markets in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. It really helped having a local with us to explain what each fruit was and to show us the best way to eat them.
I tried everything I could: star fruit, longan, pomelo, dragon fruit, star apple, guava, durian, passion fruit and, of course, jackfruit. The flavours were incredible. Even fruits I thought I already knew tasted completely different in Vietnam. Mangoes, for example, were unbelievably aromatic, juicy and delicious. People eat them as a snack, in savoury dishes, in salads, and even with a sprinkle of salt or chilli.
One of my favourites was rambutan, a vibrant hairy fruit that is just as fun to eat as it looks. Vietnamese people clearly love it, and so did I. I felt lucky that it was in season because it seemed to be everywhere, from market stalls to bicycle vendors. Another fruit I enjoyed was longan, sometimes called “dragon’s eye”, with its sweet, juicy white flesh and dark seed in the middle.
Vietnamese fruit is a whole new experience and definitely something worth trying if you ever get the chance to visit.
Drinking beer in Hanoi
Beer is the go-to drink in Vietnam, especially when it comes to relaxing after a long day. Our guide was keen to take us to a famous beer parlour in Hanoi that locals love. We were told it serves some of the best beer in the city, and part of its appeal is that it is brewed fresh around the clock.
One of the quirkiest and most memorable parts of the experience was sitting right in the middle of the road, sipping our beers. It felt slightly surreal, but in the best possible way. On a hot day, that cold beer was incredibly refreshing and exactly what we needed.
If you ever find yourself in Hanoi, it’s a fun and unusual way to soak up the local atmosphere — and just one more reason why Vietnam is such an unforgettable place to visit.
