VIETNAM

Vietnam is rich in culture and street food. Admittedly, I wasn’t too big a fan of Vietnamese food before our trip but I am now. It has some of the best street food we’ve encountered on our travels, and for cheap too! Some of our best memories in Vietnam entail eating delicious food on the street and washing it all down with ice-cold bottles of local beer.

The Ultimate Vietnamese Food Guide: What to Eat in Vietnam (and Where to Try Them)

Central Vietnam / FOOD GUIDES / Northern Vietnam / Southern Vietnam / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jan 13, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

If I were to use one word to describe Vietnamese food, it would be "balance". Balance is important in all types of cuisine but it seems to be of particular importance in Vietnamese cooking. Vietnamese cuisine aims to strike a balance in different aspects of its food like taste, nutrients, and presentation, and it does so by paying attention to five elements per aspect.

Ha Long Bay Cruise: A Must-Do in Northern Vietnam

Northern Vietnam / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Nov 1, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ha Long Bay is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Vietnam. If you'll be spending any time at all in Hanoi and the northern part of the country, then an overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay is a must.

Where to Stay in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam: M2C+ Cafe

Southern Vietnam / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jan 13, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

M2C is a small chain of upscale cafes in Saigon. One of the cafe's branches – M2C+ Cafe in District 3 – offers more than just cool glasses of cà phê đá. They have a handful of rooms on the building's top floor which they rent out to travelers on AirBnB.

Where to Stay in Hoi An, Vietnam: Ngan Phu Villa

Central Vietnam / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jan 3, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

Ngan Phu Villa is peaceful, relaxing, and gives you great value for your money. USD 20+ a night for a room this big with breakfast for two already included is a fantastic deal. On top of that, you get to use their bicycles for free.

The Ancient Town of Hoi An, Vietnam is (Almost) Too Pretty to Be Real

Central Vietnam / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jun 24, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

We became enamored with Hoi An the moment we arrived that morning. But at night, with its many colored lanterns all lit up, it transformed into something I wasn't expecting. It looked magical, like something out of a fairy tale.

Cu Chi Tunnels: Crawling through Two Decades of War in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Southern Vietnam / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jun 24, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

The Cu Chi Tunnels which have become one of the most iconic attractions not just in Saigon, but in all of Vietnam. If you'll be spending any time in Southern Vietnam, then this is something you need to do.

Take a Day Trip to Hoa Lu & Tam Coc from Hanoi, Vietnam

Northern Vietnam / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Nov 1, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

About two hours south of Hanoi in Ninh Binh province, this tour features a boat ride through the Hoang Long River amidst rice paddies and towering limestone mountains on all sides. Like many people, I’ve come to associate these limestone formations with Northern Vietnam so it seemed a great way to spend the day.

Vinh Khanh, District 4: Where to Have the Best Street Seafood in Saigon, Vietnam

Southern Vietnam / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jan 12, 2020 JB & Renée Macatulad

A steady flow of seafood and activity is what you can expect on Vinh Khanh Street in District 4. Known for serving the best street seafood in Saigon, this was easily my favorite dining experience in our two weeks in Vietnam.

War Remnants Museum: A Grisly Reminder of the Vietnam War in Ho Chi Minh City

Southern Vietnam / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Nov 21, 2017 JB & Renée Macatulad

The Vietnam War played a big role in American pop culture, which is probably a big reason why the War Remnants Museum is one of the most visited attractions in Ho Chi Minh City.

My Son Sanctuary: A “Mini Angkor Wat” in Hoi An, Vietnam

Central Vietnam / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Nov 14, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Often referred to as a "mini Angkor Wat", My Son is a Hindu sanctuary dedicated to the worship of Shiva. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most popular day trip destination from Hoi An.

Ben Thanh Street Food Market: A Trendy Food Hall in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam

Southern Vietnam / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Feb 26, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

Ben Thanh Street Food Market is a trendy food hall in Saigon created specifically for tourists. Many tourists are afraid of eating street food so they opened this place to make it more hygienic and appealing to foreigners.

INSPITRIP: Experience Vietnam Like a Local

Northern Vietnam / Southern Vietnam / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Jun 29, 2019 JB & Renée Macatulad

I had heard about websites like Inspitrip, sites that connected travelers to local hosts or guides. Tourists can have local experiences that go beyond the usual travel agency tours, things like enjoying a home-cooked Vietnamese meal at someone's home or going bar-hopping in Saigon with locals.

Discovering the Locals’ Favourite Street Food in Saigon, Vietnam

FOOD GUIDES / Southern Vietnam / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Nov 5, 2019 Alexis Nguyen

Although many fast food chains have started settling in to Vietnam’s larger cities, the best place to eat local dishes are still at the small stalls which line the streets. Many of these are not only cheap but also have existed there for half a century.

Hanoi: A Vietnamese Street Food Paradise

FOOD GUIDES / Northern Vietnam / VIETNAM / WHEN WE WANDER Last Updated: Nov 5, 2019 Konrad Waliszewski

Hanoi has earned its reputation as a street food paradise. Around every twist and turn of its labyrinthine streets, ravenous travelers are invited to sit on small plastic chairs at a communal sidewalk table and are offered a superabundance of food options. It’s easy—and deliciously fun—to get lost in Hanoi’s food scene.