Pho for the President
March 18, 2009 by Nik
Filed under Exotic South East, Feature Highlights
A recent trip to Saigon gave our contributor, Michelle Lee, the chance to explore Vietnamese hospitality in four short days. In the first part of this four-part story, she enjoyed a hearty meal of Vietnamese beef noodle (or Pho) fit for the President, more specifically, former US President Bill Clinton. After which, she explored the mazy Ben Thanh Market as well as its crowded night market and enjoyed some unique Vietnamese snacks.
Vietnamese beef noodle, or locally known as pho. Photo credit - springstep.
Day 1: Pho for the President
Delicious Vietnamese gourmet are available in any part of the world, but nothing beats having the real thing at the place it originated from. From way-back before I touched down in Vietnam, the thoughts of tasty thinly sliced beef tenderloins served with rice noodles in a flavorful broth (known locally as Pho) has got me drooling in anticipation.
The city is filled with a myriad of Pho restaurants. With help from the locals, they are whittled down to only a handful best. I settled for Pho 2000, a restaurant right at the heart of town renown for playing host to former US president Bill Clinton.
The evidences are proudly hung on walls of the shop. Numerous pictures of the former US President in varying stage of blissful contentment in savoring the meal. Indeed, the local spices conjure a unique and tasty Pho Ngan (beef noodle soup), definitely one worth writing home about!
Outside the Ben Thanh Market. Photo credit - lecercle.
Mazy and Crowded
Next, I hop across the street to the ever-crowded and mazy Ben Thanh market, the largest retail market in the city with over 1,000 stalls selling local handicrafts, silk cloth, handbags, lacquer-ware souvenirs and decent imitations of branded wear.
You’ll find yourself getting lost in the world of Vietnamese art and craftsmanship as most of the products are handmade, with design details impossible for machines to match up to. For the entire afternoon, I found myself mastering the art of haggling and experiencing the Vietnamese culture handsomely.
In the evening, the market closes but the Night Market begins, just outside the gates of Ben Thanh Market. Hundreds of stalls springs up along the two minor side streets along the main building. This is a great place to try some local snacks, like the banh xeo (a pancake filled with beansprouts, shrimp and port), and banh can (an egg flour savoury).
Banh xeo, Vietnamese 'crepes'. Photo credit - flickmor.
Next, in the second part of this four part story, Michelle explores the war remnants at the Chu Chi Tunnels and the unique Vietnamese-established religion of Cao Dai.
