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Eat Like Anthony Bourdain In Vietnam - Food Tour In Ho Chi Minh City

Friday, July 12, 2024 Food & drink Dang Thuc

Wondering what to eat in Ho Chi Minh City? Why not trace the steps of the world's most famous chef and food influencer - Anthony Bourdain. This blog is to give you all the information you need to have a Bourdain special food tour in Ho Chi Minh City.

1. Anthony Bourdain and Vietnam
2. List of food tried and favorited by Anthony Bourdain in Ho Chi Minh City
3. Some tips before having a food tour in Ho Chi Minh city
4. Often question about Ho Chi Minh city food

1. Anthony Bourdain and Vietnam

To Anthony Bourdain, Vietnam is something like the first love. Bourdain's profound connection to Vietnam resonated deeply with many around the world, especially those with personal ties to the country. As a high-profile TV personality, Bourdain possessed an extraordinary ability to capture the essence of Vietnam in a way that no other outsider ever had.

Bourdain's genuine appreciation for Vietnam was palpable. He referred to it as "one of my favorite places on Earth," "my place of dreams, my spirit house," and "my first love" - words that conveyed a deep, almost spiritual bond. Beyond mere admiration, Bourdain seemed to instinctively understand the intricacies of Vietnamese culture, from the captivating streetside dining experience to the complex flavors of the country's renowned noodle soups.

Anthony Bourdain Vietnam episodes became a source of inspiration for a generation of travelers, giving them the confidence to immerse themselves in the country's vibrant food scene and rich cultural tapestry. By projecting a nuanced, overwhelmingly positive image of Vietnam to a global audience, Bourdain played a pivotal role in sparking an upsurge of interest and enthusiasm for visiting the country, particularly in the West.

While the Vietnamese already knew the excellence of our own cuisine and the fascination of their history and culture, we appreciated Bourdain's dedication as a "foreigner" to exploring and championing these aspects of their national identity. Bourdain's work cemented his status as an exceptional ambassador for Vietnam, forever shaping perceptions of the country around the world.

2. List of food tried and favorited by Anthony Bourdain in Ho Chi Minh City

Below is the list of things that Bourdain had tried in Ho Chi Minh City in all of his videos. Keep in mind that some of the food is a challenge even to Bourdain. But fear not, the Vietnamese know what they are doing. So buckle up and see what a food tour in Ho Chi Minh City should be.

a. Balut

One of the few foods that put Bourdain in fear

One of the very first things Bourdain tried in Vietnam is balut - fetus duck egg. A very popular street food/breakfast in Vietnam and you can find it in every traditional market throughout the country. Trung vit lon, also known as balut, is a popular savory delicacy in many Asian countries, especially the Philippines, Vietnam, and Cambodia. It consists of a partially developed duck embryo that is incubated for 14-21 days and then boiled and eaten directly from the shell. The flavor and texture vary depending on the embryo's stage of development, with younger balut having a soft, jelly-like consistency and more mature balut containing a partially formed duckling with bones and feathers. While the concept of eating a partially developed duck embryo can seem unusual to outsiders, balut is prized in these cultures for its high nutritional value and cultural significance as a traditional comfort food and perceived source of virility.

To Bourdain, it was a “difficult dining experience”, making the world famous chef fancy a croissant for the next day. The balut is one of many pinnacles of “required taste” in Asia, so test your might to see if you can conquer this unique dish.

b. Squid soup

The perfect breakfast in Ho Chi Minh city

Squid soup or in a more correct name of the dish - squid porridge is a specialty of Ho Chi Minh City. The dish consists of rice porridge, well cooked squid and the topping of your liking: a handful of green herbs, blood cake, fried onions, cut up fried bread,... A truly normal breakfast for the locals, yet to Bourdain, it is the distinctive culinary approche of Ho Chi Minh City, a dish that balances and harmonizes all tastes: sweet, sour, spicy, salty, bitter. Truly something you must try once in your life, to sit in a little stool, watch the road of Ho Chi Minh city, seeing people “doing the everyday things they were doing 200 years ago and will probably be doing 200 years from now”. Perhaps it is Anthony Bourdain who made this dish so popular. It must be.

Some good squid shop you can find in Ho Chi Minh City

Quán Cháo 207 Nguyễn Tri Phương

Address: 207 Nguyễn Tri Phương, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City
Open hours: 00:01 - 23:59

Quán Cháo Mực - Lò Gốm

Address: 771 Lò Gốm, District 6, Ho Chi Minh City
Open hours: 12:00 - 17:30

Quán Cháo Mực Thanh Sơn

Address: 144 Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
Phone: 028 3829 7554
Open hours: 09:00 - 23:00

c. Com Nieu Saigon

Cơm Niêu Sài Gòn

Address: 27 Tú Xương, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City

Surely one of Bourdain's favorite restaurants

A destination seemingly favored by Anthony Bourdain Ho Chi Minh city is Com Nieu Saigon. At the famous Cơm Niêu Sài Gòn restaurant, viewers are introduced to Linh, the government-approved fixer who accompanies host Anthony Bourdain throughout his journey in Vietnam.

Owned by Madame Gao (Lê Thị Hồng Ngọc), the restaurant's signature dish is the "flying rice" - an inventive yet delicious menu item. The warm, well-narrated scene at Cơm Niêu Sài Gòn provides a great advertisement for the family-style dining experience so common in Vietnamese cuisine. The meal features classic, homestyle southern Vietnamese dishes such as rau muống xào tỏi (stir-fried morning glory with garlic), thịt kho trứng (braised pork and egg stew), and canh chua (sour soup), showcasing the abundant seafood that is central to the region's culinary traditions.

This visit to Cơm Niêu Sài Gòn not only introduces Bourdain Vietnam fixer Linh, but also gives viewers an authentic glimpse into the comforting, family-oriented nature of Vietnamese food culture.

Dishes of normality you can find in ever Vietnamese meal

d. Cobra

A meal that would be a true test of your adventurous nature is cobra, specifically cobra heart, and more specifically, freshly cut cobra hearts that are still beating. To a world renowned chef it might be nothing much of difficulty, but to other people, this dish can surely be quite a challenge. At the restaurant, the chef and waiters will do a live performance, taking out the heart and u can eat it raw or put it in alcohol and take a shot. After that, the cobra will be cooked in all different ways, making sure no part goes to waste. Grilled skin, deep fried bones, snake blood mixed with alcohol, … as terrible as it sounds ,keep in mind that “Maybe eating snakes and worms only seems more outrageous because it's a different culture.”. To travel is to venture into places you don't know, and as Bourdain said, he was not disappointed.

"Taste like fries" said Anthony Bourdain

Restaurants where you can find this bizzard dish:

Ẩm thực Đầm Rắn

Address: 480/81/11 Bình Quới, Ho Chi Minh City
Phone: 090.832.8228

Quán rắn 5 Hiếu

Address: 55/3 Bình Phú, Tam Phú, Thủ Đức, Ho Chi Minh City
Phone: 093.674.6323

e. Banh Xeo

A now much more popular dish in Vietnam thanks to Bourdain

Quán Bánh Xèo 46A

Address: 45 Dinh Cong Trang, Tan Dinh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

One of the now more famous street foods of Vietnam is Banh Xeo. As the name suggests, this is a type of pancake made of rice flour, sizzling in a pan with toppings of your choosing. Pork, shrimp, and young sprouts are the most popular. And it wouldn’t be Vietnamese dining if there wasn't a heap of greens on the table to enjoy. Anthony Bourdain recognised that street foods should be eaten on the street. When being asked about if he going to remake Banh Xeo in his restaurant, Bourdain expressed there is no way he eating Banh Xeo in a fancy restaurant with proper chairs and carpet, you have to come here to Vietnam to try this dish out, while watching and listening to the typical traffic of motor bikes.

f. Snails

Snails and turmeric sauce, perfect with beer

Or to be more precise, seafood snacks for drinking. One of the things tourists know about Vietnam is the beer that is as cheap as water. But why only drink beer if you can have a snack with it. And in Ho Chi Minh city, the most popular snacks are seafood. Snails, crabs, dried squid,... are all great choices for this occasion, which you can find in almost all sidewalk drinking shops in walking street Bui Vien. It is always a great choice of entertainment to pass the night. Just like all have come before and after Bourdain, this is a must try in Ho Chi Minh City.

g. The lunch lady

The Lunch Lady

Address: 23 Hoang Sa Street, Phuong Da Kao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Thanks to Bourdain Vietnam video, The Lunch Lady became one of the most sought out destinations for food enthusiasts when they visit Ho Chi Minh City. This place offers a wide range of food for you to choose, all hand made by The Lunch Lady herself. The food choice of the day rotated throughout the week so you can be sure to try new things here on different days.

But of course it is the Bun Bo Hue that you must try. A mixture of savory soup with beef, blood cake, pig leg, fish cake, cartilage sausage and of course herbs and greens. Some of those ingredients sound not so appetizing, but as of now, the whole world deem it rival to Phở, so fear not and have a bite. Lucky for us, the Lunch Lady is still there on that same street corner, waiting for your arrival to show you why she is - as Bourdain said - legendary.

3. Some tips before having a food tour in Ho Chi Minh city

Here are some tips to consider before embarking on a food tour in Ho Chi Minh City:

Research local specialties: Ho Chi Minh City is renowned for its diverse and delectable cuisine. Before your trip, research the must-try local dishes, such as pho, banh mi, bun cha, and com tam. This will help you identify the best places to sample these regional specialties.
Pace yourself: Vietnamese meals often include multiple courses and generous portions. Pace yourself during the food tour to avoid overeating. It's best to go with an empty stomach and slowly work your way through the various dishes.
Be adventurous: Don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and try new and unique Vietnamese ingredients or preparations. This is an opportunity to explore the depth and breadth of the local culinary scene.
Familiarize yourself with dining etiquette: Understand local dining customs, such as the proper way to use chopsticks, share dishes, and interact with your hosts. This will help you navigate the experience more comfortably.
Stay hydrated and bring antacids: The rich, flavorful Vietnamese cuisine can be quite heavy. Make sure to stay hydrated throughout the tour and consider bringing along antacids or digestive aids to help with any potential discomfort.

By keeping these tips in mind, you can fully immerse yourself in the vibrant food culture of Ho Chi Minh City and have an unforgettable culinary adventure.

4. Often asked question about food tour in Ho Chi Minh City

What are the must-try local dishes in Ho Chi Minh City?
- The top signature dishes to try include pho (noodle soup), banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches), bun cha (grilled pork with rice noodles), com tam (broken rice), and a wide variety of fresh seafood dishes.
What are the best street food in Ho Chi Minh City?
- The city is renowned for its bustling street food scene. Some of the must-try street food items include banh mi, banh xeo (sizzling crepes), nem (spring rolls), and a variety of tropical fruit smoothies and juices.
How does the food tour in Ho Chi Minh City differ from other regions of Vietnam?
- Southern Vietnamese cuisine, including that of Ho Chi Minh City, tends to be slightly sweeter and feature more seafood than the food in the central and northern regions of the country.

By following this guide, you can make the most of your Anthony Bourdain like food tour and enjoy all that Ho Chi Minh City has to offer. If an authentic food tour in Ho Chi Minh City is what you are after, then don't hesitate to contact us : AUTOUR ASIA - Vietnam Travel Agency to ensure you the voyage of your dream.

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