‘Banh trang tron’ (rice paper salad), has recently become a popular street food for young people in big cities in Vietnam. The main ingredient of the classic rice paper salad is rice paper which is cut into thin strips and then kept dry. The dry rice paper is then mixed with shredded green mango, torn Vietnamese coriander, Tay Ninh shrimp salt, herbs and a squeeze of lime juice. All these ingredients are mixed well together until everything is blended thoroughly. Hard boiled eggs, dried beef or chicken floss can be added later as the final steps to finish the dish. Rice paper salad is often served in a plastic bag with two skewers serving as chopsticks. The dish is served at almost every pavement in a metal cart rolling along every street across cities in Vietnam. The price is amazingly cheap, starting only from VND10,000, depending on extra ingredients that customers may wish to add to their portion. … [Read more...] about Rice paper salad – A popular street food in Vietnam
Vietnam rice paper
Ben Tre: Vietnam’s coconut kingdom
Talented: Nguyen Bach Lan, also known as Ma Bay (Seventh Mum) from Ben Tre‘s Chau Thanh District, often uses coconut to make dishes, including cakes for her family. Whenever I think of coconuts, Ben Tre Province immediately comes to mind. Though coconut trees can be found nearly everywhere in the country, only in Ben Tre can you find the special species of palm tree that is characteristic of the region. Located in the southwestern part of the Mekong Delta, about 90km west of HCM City, Ben Tre has ong been famed for its delicious variety of coconut dishes. Travelling from HCM City, you will soon notice the shadows of coconut trees as you cross the Rạch Mieu Bridge over the Tien River linking the two Delta provinces of Tien Giang and Ben Tre. All around you are lush, verdant paddy fields and boats quietly gliding on waterways, a perfect gateway to a relaxing vacation or weekend retreat away from the big city. One of the area’s most famous products is keo dua (coconut … [Read more...] about Ben Tre: Vietnam’s coconut kingdom
Get your lips around this crispy rice paper wonder in central Vietnam
By Thu Chinh  April 12, 2018 | 07:41 am GMT+7 The focal point of the dish lies in the secret recipes behind the shrimp paste. A trip to Vietnam’s central province of Quang Ngai is not complete without tasting cheap but appetizing rice paper grilled until crispy and topped with chopped green onions, dried beef and shrimp paste. The central dish can be found along Tra Khuc River, which is a favorite meeting point for local residents every night thanks to its airy ambiance and value-for-money street food. The grilled rice paper, with its unique fragrance and tempting flavor, has won the hearts of many travelers to the central province, just 150km (93 miles) south of Da Nang and a three-hour drive from the popular tourist town of Hoi An. The focal point of the dish lies in the shrimp paste that's elaborately crafted based on secret recipes and satisfies the tastes of even the most fastidious diners. The treat is commonly prepared on the spot to ensure … [Read more...] about Get your lips around this crispy rice paper wonder in central Vietnam
Fast food and its invasion of Vietnam’s culinary paradise
For seven happy years, from 2003 to 2010, I lived on Tran Hung Dao Street, Hanoi. Right behind our elegant French villa, within a few blocks, there was a food paradise. The area to the south was full of wonderful eating places, from grand restaurants to sidewalk cafés. I loved the oceanic taste of stir fried squid, the freshness of rice-paper spring rolls, the strength of beef in black pepper sauce… But perhaps my biggest favorite was bun cha, which we used to purchase from a little restaurant on Le Van Huu Street, to eat at home on Sundays. Renowned chef Anthony Bourdain once wrote: “You don’t have to go looking for great food in Vietnam. Great food finds you. It’s everywhere. In restaurants, cafes, little storefronts, in the streets; carried in makeshift portable kitchens on yokes borne by women vendors.” I was not at all surprised that the little restaurant on Le Van Huu Street where we used to buy our Sunday bun cha was the place where … [Read more...] about Fast food and its invasion of Vietnam’s culinary paradise
Historic Vietnam-Australia strategic partnership ignites hope for Vietnamese Down Under
The Vietnamese community in the land Down Under is upbeat following a deal struck by Vietnam and Australia on Thursday to upgrade their relationship to a strategic partnership during PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s official four-day visit to the country. The pact opens up new avenues for heightened bilateral cooperation in the fields of politics, economic development, education and defense, as well as regional and international cooperation. New agricultural and seafood products are a particular highlight for the community, now that the two countries will promote market access and trade facilitation. Australia currently imports most of its tropical fruits like rambutans, durians, jackfruits and guavas from Thailand. “I really hope Vietnam can export more products to Australia, especially agricultural ones, as the two countries turn a new page in their relationship,” said Nguyen Luc, a Vietnamese national living in Sydney. He added that fruit from Vietnam is in no way … [Read more...] about Historic Vietnam-Australia strategic partnership ignites hope for Vietnamese Down Under