5 weird Vietnamese foods to try in Ho Chi Minh City

 

1. Balut (trung vit lon)

 

Trung vit lon aka fully-formed duck egg is a nutritious and popular food in Vietnam even though it looks a little bit scary to Western and international tourists.

 

 

2. Fermented shrimp paste noodles ( Bun dau mam tom )

 

Originated in Hanoi, Bun Dau Mam Tom or Rice Noodles with Fried Tofu and Fermented Shrimp Paste is a simple but very popular in North Vietnam. It has won the heart of all ages not only in North Vietnam but also around the country because of cheap price and great taste. 

 

Although some foreigners are aware of fermented shrimp paste, you will find this strange food is so yummy and understand why millions of Vietnamese people have fallen in love with it.

 

Traditional Bun Dau Mam Tom consists of tender rice noodles, crispy deep-fried tofu cube, shrimp paste dip, herbs and vegetables.

 

 

3. Coconut Worm

 

Do you dare to pick the live fat coconut worm swimming in a bowl of fish sauce and put it in your mouth? Coconut worm is a yellow larva with a brown head. It usually lives inside the coconut stem and eats coconut tubers. In the Mekong Delta, live coconut worm is a specialty dish.

 

 

4. Cow intestine soup – Pha Lau

 

Cow intestine soup (pha lau bo) is a dish many locals love. This dish is a combination of the culinary styles of the Vietnamese and the Chinese. Instead of throwing away the inner organs of the cow, Vietnamese people use them for more dishes.

 

To make magic happen, the cook washes all of the organs many times, using salt and lemon to remove bacteria then ginger and wine to remove the bad scent. Then, they will cook it with milk to make noodle soup. Finally, they will chop the kidney, stomach, intestines, lungs, and heart to serve the hungry pha lau lovers.

 

 

5. Blood Soup

 

The last one would be another tasty challenge for you, blood soup.  Blood soup is a dish from the North of Vietnam, and it has a special ingredient. Yes, that would be raw blood. Commonly, it is duck blood, but it can even be pig or goose.

 

The raw blood is collected in a bowl and then mixed with fish sauce. The salty fish sauce prevents the blood from premature coagulation.

 

Now once the blood is set, like a jelly cake, minced cooked meat and organs are added into the bowl with peanuts and herbs such as coriander, mint, and pepper, along with spicy chili. These ingredients will create a really beautiful layer on the top of the jelly-like blood, just like a pizza.

 

Related article:  8 Delicious Vietnamese Breakfast Dishes 

I hope this article will help you in deciding your dream apartment when living in Ho Chi Minh city. If you need any help from a local expertise with free searching services (only landlord have to pay) feel free to contact us. Here is some listing for you:

Apartment for rent in District 2 (Thao Dien).

Apartment for rent in District 4.

Apartment for rent in Ho Chi Minh city.

Masteri Thao Dien for rent.