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accent on pepper, as Vietnam is the world's largest producer
of the spice. 'Pho' is the noodle soup eaten at any time of day
and 'com' means 'rice dish'. Because Buddhist monks of the
Mahayana tradition are strict vegetarians, many dishes contain
tofu, mushrooms and raw, cooked and fermented vegetables.
While Vietnamese desserts such as pastry, sticky rice and beans
tend to be a little sweet for foreign palates, the selection of
local fruits is amazing. Try green dragon fruit, jujube, longan,
pomelo, three-seed cherry and water apple. A word of warning,
smoking is still allowed in most hotels and restaurants in
Vietnam, so it's advisable to get a table outside or by a window.
In Saigon, entertainment can be found at discos and hotel
nightclubs, while bars and cafes are popular throughout the rest
of the country. For a local experience, enjoy a 'Beer Hoi' at a
road side bar. It's cheap, refreshing and a great way to meet the
locals.
Shopping
Vietnam is known for its handicrafts, including lacquerware,
mother-of-pearl inlay, ceramics, bamboo products, jewellery,
silk goods, intricately carved statues and paintings. In Hanoi,
two popular areas are Hang Gai Street and Hang Bong Street
which stock embroidered tablecloths, greeting cards with
traditional hand-painted silk covers, water puppets, clothing
and antiques. In Saigon, Ben Thanh Market is a good place
for shopping. (Vendors will willingly bargain but as a courtesy,
do not ask the price of something unless you want to buy it.)
Dong Khoi Street is an arts and crafts tourist bazaar.
