The First Taste of Saigon

Posted by roma on August 08, 2013 in Asian Food, cà phê nâu đá, Food, Food and Restaurants, Nha Hang Vietnam House, Saigon, Vietnam, Vietnamese food,

For our first taste of Saigon, my sister's friends took us to Nha Hang Vietnam House. People said that former Philippine President Cory Aquino and Former US President George Bush Sr. dined here when they visited Vietnam. I don't know though if they came here on the same occasion.

The restaurant has a French Colonial theme, but is infused with Vietnamese culture and serves delicious Vietnamese cuisines.

Look at the French table setting with the Vietnamese elements on the foreground.

I think it is customary to taste the Vietnamese favorite Cha Gio or fried spring rolls, served with lettuce and vermicelli and is sold as street food in Vietnam.

Fried Spring Rolls with Shrimp and Pork, 115,000 VND

To get the full taste of Cha Gio, you must roll it inside a lettuce leaf with the vermicelli before taking a bite. It is surprisingly delicious. 

Another must try is the lotus stems salad with shrimp and pork, served with rice crackers.

Lotus Stem Salad with Shrimp and Pork, 125,000VND

I guess eating Vietnamese food is not only about getting it to your mouth, but going through the whole experience of preparing it to taste its full flavor. And the best way to eat the lotus salad is by using the rice cracker as a the base and topping it with all the other ingredients. 

And one must never pass the chance to taste the Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk, cà phê nâu đá. Sua means milk and da means ice.

You'll be surprised how strong the coffee is, and how long it takes before the ice melts. People in Vietnam said its because they take time drinking their coffee so they wait for the ice to melt, watering down the strong coffee taste.

Here are the other food that we ate.

Grilled pork chops with garlic -- not so Vietnamese

sauteed chicken with lemongrass 125,000 VND, kangkong
(sauteed morning glory as they call it) 85,000VND, and beef stew 145,000 VND.

Vietnam House Seafood Soup 179,000 VND

The whole gang - most of them are working for Vietnam's Manila Water

Nha Hang Vietnam House:
93 Đồng Khởi, Bến Nghé  Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
+84 8 3829 1623

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Good Morning Vietnam!