Before boarding a boat on Ha Long Bay, we stopped at a pearl factory – the ideal place to buy pearls, eh? Travel books advise tourists to bargain when in Vietnam, but when I tried to bargain at the pearl factory, I had a close encounter of the woo-woo kind. Continue reading “Close Encounter of the Woo-Woo Kind”
Category: Far East
From Noodles to Oodles
If you drive from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay you may see, rising up from an otherwise rural setting, a gleaming, modern city complete with parks, lakes, and luxury accommodations. It’s creator is a guy who started by selling instant noodles. Now he’s the richest man in Vietnam. You might say he went from noodles to oodles. Continue reading “From Noodles to Oodles”
Do You Know the Way to Ha Long Bay?
I think that’s how the song goes. Or is it, “Do you know the way to San Jose?” Either way, today we’re leaving Hanoi and heading east. Hopefully our driver knows the way to Ha Long Bay. Let’s go! Continue reading “Do You Know the Way to Ha Long Bay?”
Quiet Time at Hoàn Kiếm Lake
It’s Friday night in Hanoi. We’ve just finished a foodie tour, where we made our way from one stop to another in Hanoi’s bustling Old Quarter. A leisurely walk back to the hotel will take us by Hoàn Kiếm Lake. It’s time to walk off some bún chả! Continue reading “Quiet Time at Hoàn Kiếm Lake”
Egg Coffee?
The last stop on our Hanoi foodie tour will be at a coffee shop that specializes in egg coffee. I like eggs and I like coffee, but I don’t know if I want my eggs in my coffee. There’s only one way to find out. Continue reading “Egg Coffee?”
Grilled Sausages, Vietnamese Style
We’re deep in the bowels of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, and we’re deep into our foodie tour. Hunger is now a thing of the distant past. After stuffing ourselves with Bún Chă at the last stop, no one can eat another bite. But we must. Who’s not going to try grilled sausages, Vietnamese style? Continue reading “Grilled Sausages, Vietnamese Style”
The Old Quarter at Night
Hanoi’s Old Quarter at night – it’s a feast for the senses. We’re here on a foodie tour, having our own feast. We’ll try summer rolls at the next stop, so let the foodie tour continue! Continue reading “The Old Quarter at Night”
Oh Man. I Could Eat a Buncha Bún Chă
The next stop on our Hanoi foodie tour is the one I’d been looking forward to the most – Bún Chă. Westerners are familiar with bánh mì. They know about phở. But not very many Westerners have heard of a dish that Hanoi is famous for: Bún Chă. Continue reading “Oh Man. I Could Eat a Buncha Bún Chă”
GPS – Also Known as Green Papaya Salad
Regions all over the world have their signature salads. In Italy, it’s an Italian salad, of course. The French have salade Niçoise. When it comes to salad in Southeastern Asia, it’s all about green papaya salad. Continue reading “GPS – Also Known as Green Papaya Salad”
Who’s Ready to Eat Worms?
We’re in Hanoi, Vietnam, on a foodie tour in the Old Quarter. So far we’ve been treated to steamed rice rolls and sweet donuts. Now we’re approaching Stop Number 3, and the question is, “Who’s ready to eat worms?” Continue reading “Who’s Ready to Eat Worms?”
