The Gastronomic Tour

For those who love their food and drink, this city has a lot to offer, especially for those with a strong stomach. Try fresh local beer (bia hoi) at an outdoor stall with grilled squid or any one of many favorite beer snacks. Snacking is a favorite Vietnamese past time: taste tests the many snacks walking by in baskets carried mostly by little Vietnamese women wearing pajamas. A visit to Ben Thanh or other indoor market is a-must to see the sheer variety of foods available. The city has excellent fresh seafood. Try crabs in tamarind sauce, dried bamboo rice noodle duck soup or fish in clay pot. From excellent canteens to the finest in fine dining, Vietnamese food is at its best in Saigon.