Archive for November, 2010
Northern Vietnam
By Thomas on November 28, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Our amazing time in Vietnam is slowly coming to an end. From the traditional hill tribes of Bac Ha and Can Cau to hip Hanoi to magnificent Halong Bay, the North is just as impressive as South and Central Vietnam. Although we are sad to leave, we are more than happy to have explored this diverse region. Follow along in our 4-minute video and see for yourself, why you should definitely be planning a trip to Vietnam in the near future.
Quan An Ngon – The Mother Lode
By Tony on November 26, 2010 | 3 Comments »
Like miners prospecting for that legendary vein of gold, Thomas and I have been scouring Vietnam for culinary treasures. When we finally set foot into Quan An Ngon, I screamed, “Eureka!” – well, at least mentally.
Fodor’s states that Quan An Ngon “just might be the best restaurant in Vietnam.” But don’t expect super-chic poseur portions with vertical stacks, flash-dried mousse, or chemo-cuisine. Nope, this restaurant is all about » Continue reading this post »
Vietnam: What a Dollar Can Buy You
By Thomas on November 24, 2010 | No Comments »
Vietnam would be a dirt-cheap country – if visitors could only pay the local prices. But more often than not, tourists are charged inflated rates for pretty much everything. With this in mind, we had to really kick it up a notch and work the Vietnamese with our superb bargaining skills.
And even with that, we stayed just within budget. I have to admit, we put out a lot more money on upgrades: a deluxe Halong Bay cruise, more polished hotels, and fancy sleeper trains. And our fabulous Food-Venture set us back a bit which, I’m ecstatic to say, was worth every dong. (Oh, dong jokes – we’ve heard them all.)
Overall, Vietnam is still very affordable and there are plenty of things you can get for 20,000 dong or about a buck:
- 1 day of bicycle rental
- 2 Vietnamese coffees with sweet condensed milk
- 15 minutes of air time on a Mobifone sim card
- 1 bowl of pho bo
- 1 small load of laundry
- 250 grams of candied ginger
- 1 Chinese lantern made of bamboo and fabric
- 40 quail eggs
- 1 Vietnamese conical hat (non la)
- 7 liters of drinking water
- 2 tickets to the Temple of Literature in Hanoi
- 2 chilled Halida beers
- 1.25 liters of gasoline
Bar Hopping
By Tony on November 23, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Hanoi is full of cool, cutting edge, trendy little bars and cafes that can stand up to those in any world capital. Less pretentious and better value than similar establishments in other major cities, it’s no wonder Hanoi attracts travelers in droves. And believe me, they are here in droves!
After making some fantastic new friends on our Halong Bay trip, we were motivated to get out there and explore Hanoi’s bar scene a little. Clearly, Hanoi has what it takes to be a trend-setter. And the world is figuring that out very quickly. Over the sound of clinking glasses, toasts can be heard in every language from French to Japanese to Russian to Turkish. Hanoi is the hottest place in Southeast Asia right now (and I’m not just talking temperature.)
Unfortunately for those who love to stay up all night, the government restricts how late things can stay open, so start early and pretend you’re Cinderella.
Light as a Feather
By Thomas on November 22, 2010 | No Comments »
I guess there are always two sides to an Excellent Food-Venture…
