Vietnamese Culture
[ food ]
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Eating is an important part of travel and the wide range of dishes available in Vietnam makes it a
memorable part, as well. Most food is only a step or two away from its origin, an aspect that I loved.
Everything is fresh and most of it is delicious. Give the kids a chance to try new fruits and dishes
along the way and you might be surprised at what they like. We'll start with fruits, but don't forget
to check out the other stuff.
Bananas (Chuối)
Not like typical North American bananas, these are a short, fat variety. They taste a lot sweeter
than the kind we'd grown used to in the States. They also have a longer variety that is less sweet.
The little ones have occasional honkin' huge seeds, surprising to bite into, to be sure. The best
memory of eating bananas was being at a student's house and she asked the kids if they wanted
bananas--"sure"--so she headed off with a knife, cut a bunch off the tree and handed
them over. |
 Coconuts (Dừa)There are two ways to get coconut: young coconut or regular ol' coconut. Young coconut is used primarily for the milk inside. In many places, you can find street stands that sell the green coconut with the top hacked off and a straw stuck inside. The "water" tastes vaguely of coconut, but Westerner kids don't seem to like it much. It's definitely best when it's really hot (a frequent occurance) when it's particularly thirst-quenching. |
 Custard Apple (mãng cầu dai or na)I thought these were some sort of weird artichoke, but really it's a delicious seed-ridden fruit. They have the taste and consistency of cooked apples, which can be a surprise. There are tons of seeds inside, so don't give them to little ones that could possibly choke on them. They're a little expensive, but make for an interesting treat. Just peel and eat the tasty 'meat.' |
 DragonfruitWith their stunning hot pink skin, dragonfruit is unmistakable. I've heard a couple versions of where the name comes from (either the tree looks like a great dragon with fruit covering it or the fruit looks like scales of a dragon). Either way, they are a fruit that the kids will not soon forget. Usually cut into pieces, can be peeled to find the soft, white fruit with millions of little black seeds. They're fairly taste-less, mostly just a sweet sensation. Perfect for hot weather. |
Grapefruit (quả bưởi chùm)
Even if you or your kids aren't a fan of grapefruits, don't pass these by. They are a sweeter version and don't have nearly the bite of North American grapefruit. The thick white rind has to be peeled to reach the fruit which, when pulled apart has segments 4-6 inches wide. These things are enormous. You'll see them growing around the country; we saw them at HCM's Stilt House in Hanoi. |
 Mangosteen (măng cụt)Imported from Thailand, these fruits are available only for a short time, typically in June and July. Cut open their tough outer skin with a knife, then pull out the white segments. Their mildly sweet taste is unique and can be overpowering to the little ones. |
 Oranges (cam)Despite the name, the oranges are green here. Truthfully, there are both kinds, though the green-peel variety are more common. They are sweeter than navel oranges and kids love the incongruity of a green peel with orange inside. There are also other varieties, including small mandarins. Another fruit with a startling peel? Lemons. They are green outside, yellow inside. |
 Rambutan (chôm chôm)Sold in bunches, rambutans look like eyeballs to me, but were hits with the kids. Their flavor is subtle and very watery. From the outside, they look more like red horse chestnuts, but the soft fruit inside is completely different. Cut them open with a knife and then pull out the fruit. Beware of the good-sized seed inside. |
 Watermelon (dưa hấu)The perfect summer fruit, in my opinion. It's available all over the country, both in restaurants and fresh markets. A small version, they taste every bit as good as any I've ever tasted. |
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Ice Cream (kem)
Sure to keep most any kid (and adult) happy, ice cream is everywhere. Vanilla (kem va ni) and chocolates (kem so co la) are the two you'll most easily recognize, but don't expect it to taste exactly the same. You'll also find 'green bean' (soy bean), taro, coconut and durian flavors. In tourist areas, you'll often find individually wrapped Americanized ice cream. |
 Candy (kẹo)The Vietnamese are fond of their candy, but most will be unfamiliar flavors. We tried banana, taro, milk, and corn candies. Give them a try, you never know what you'll find that you love. But you'll probably find a bunch that you and/or the kids don't like. There are lots of snack cakes as well, but look for the ChocoPies and SoSofs. |
 Dried Squid (má»±c)A favorite of train travellers, this overly smelly snack is sold in the fresh markets and at every train stop. You can find it stuck on a stick for easy transport. If you really like squid, give it a try. Otherwise, hurry past this area, the smell is intense. |
Watermelon Seeds
Watermelon seeds are eaten with astounding regularity and any cafe will have the floor littered with red casings. There's a trick to splitting the little things open, so watch carefully or ask for a demonstration. They're habit-forming and the older kids'll enjoy the challenge. |
 Tet Cake (banh chung)An integral part of the Tet holiday in the spring, banh chung is made with glutinous rice, mung beans and pork. While it doesn't often suit the Western palate, it's worth trying. And the story behind the cake is an interesting one. |
You'll find numerous other fruits, including asian pear (lê), apples (táo), lychees, mango (xoà i), pineapple (th?m or d?a) and sugar cane (mia).
Find out about more food! Including meat, soups and snacks.
Outside resources:
- Viet World Kitchen: Andrea Nguyen's site offers information on
traditional Vietnamese cooking, including recipes.
- Tu Vy: Culinary info about Vietnam
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