Forget Pho... Bun cha (Bún chả) and Che (Chè) are the best Vietnamese foods you really should be trying. Even United States former president, Barack Obama, ate Bun Cha during his stay in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Nonetheless, Pho is still insanely delicious, but there is more to the Vietnamese cuisine than this world-famous dish. During my stay, I tried several popular Vietnamese foods where Bun Cha and Che became my favorites. That being said, in this episode, you’ll be joining me for the best Vietnamese food.
Bun cha is claimed to have originated from the streets of Hanoi and, thus, being a local delicacy. However, outside Hanoi and across Vietnam there are similar dishes. It’s served practically all day and anytime of the year and you can find it either in restaurants or by a hawker or vendor on the streets. Furthermore, Bun cha is prepared in advance, so you will be served immediately once you've ordered. Main ingredients in general are grilled minced pork and pork belly (cha), rice vermicelli noodles (bun), pickled vegetables, sweet and sour broth, fresh herbs and sides including garlic and chili. The fatty pork, vegetables and broth are mixed and served in a bowl alongside a big plate of the rice vermicelli noodles and fresh herbs. Everything is served cold. Grab a pair of chopsticks and carefully put a few pieces of garlic and chili into the broth. Now pick up some noodles and herbs to dip into the bowl. The perfect bite also includes a piece of pork and pickled vegetables. When the bite hits, you will discover new taste buds that you didn't know you had.
While Bun cha is a complete meal, Che is considered more as a dessert, snack or treat. It is sold as street food or can be found in grocery stores all over Vietnam. Che is a general Vietnamese word for any sweet beverage and it's served as a drink, pudding or dessert soup in either a plastic cup, glass or bowl. In terms of ingredients, there are a wide variety but it usually comes with different jellies and fruit, other stuff like beans, corn and/or glutinous rice and is often topped with coconut milk. If bought on the street, you often get some ice at the side which is recommended to mix in. Even though Che doesn't look that appealing, it's highly addictive; Che has the perfect amount of sweetness and is very refreshing and cooling when mixed with ice. Just about perfect in the Hanoi heat and humidity.
I've also included the price of each dish to provide you with a somewhat relevant answer to the question: how expensive is Vietnam?
This episode wraps up my second time in Vietnam. Vietnamese food never disappoints; there are an abundance of incredible dishes where each one features more or less all five fundamental tastes. There's also something to the simplicity, that the majority of the popular and most delicious dishes can be made on the sidewalk. I can go on forever about the Vietnamese cuisine but I'm going to stop here. However, there's more to the Vietnamese cuisine than just the food; the atmosphere contributes to the amazing experience. Watching the food being prepared and cooked amid the hectic streets in the architectural charming Hanoi Old Quarter, not to mention the sounds and smells, plays an important role in the experience.
Finally, Hanoi is a beautiful city with wonderful people showing great hospitality. Therefore, I've also included a cinematic intro (as always) as some sort of tribute.
ADDRESSES:
Bun cha at goo.gl/maps/51wbzkvQwFwBUaN79
Che at goo.gl/maps/DQ1prGqXa6RD8cNw8
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FYI: this is the sixth episode in English. My English speaking skills are far from flawless so bear with me :) My channel name, "Matvraket", is Swedish for the glutton.
INSTAGRAM:
/ ostermandavid
/ capturesson (Travel Photography)
NUTRITIONAL COACHING - MACRONUTRIENTS & NUTRIENT TIMING:
osterman.coaching@gmail.com
GEAR:
Canon EOS M50
Canon EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM
Joby GorillaPod 3K Kit Tripod
RØDE VideoMicro
GoPro Hero 6
iPhone 8
MUSIC CREDIT:
Sappheiros - Fading (Remake)
/ fading-remake
/ sappheirosmusic
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Doug Maxwell/Zac Zinger - Sao Meo Orchestral Mix
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Le Gang - I Don't Need U 2 Say Anything
/ i-dont-need-u-2-say-an...
/ thisislegang
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Sakura Hz - Chill
/ royalty-free-music-chill
/ sakurahertz
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#VietnameseFood #Vietnam #StreetFood #BunCha #Che #Hanoi #Matvraket #CheatMeal #dunkarsson