Three (more) of the best food experiences in Vietnam.
Exploring Hoi An and the surrounding region
Welcome subscribers, I really appreciate you taking the time to check out this week’s edition which returns to a destination I’m a huge fan of. And that’s Vietnam.
This is a country which hits all the reasons why I choose to visit anywhere. That is “destinations with outstanding food, history and culture experiences”. Vietnam (and Hoi An in particular) definitely ticks all three for me.
Links to my previous Vietnam posts are included at the end of this newsletter so readers can catch all of my current Vietnam recommendations in the one post. Enjoy!
Hoi An food experiences
If you haven’t heard of Hoi An it is a relatively small town situated on the Tue Bon River in the centre of Vietnam. It’s accessible from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (and a welcome respite for these big cities). Anyone I know who is planning a Vietnam trip I recommend adding Hoi An to their itinerary.
The town is wonderful to explore on foot, especially through Old Town Hoi An and along the river. Hoi An is famed for its restaurants, central market, cooking schools, tailors and the beautiful lantern shops which cast a rainbow coloured glow each night.
Secret Garden Restaurant
Secret Garden is a restaurant I have had opportunities to eat at a few times on different visits. As the name suggests the restaurant is hidden away in a garden setting. So hidden in fact it is down a narrow laneway away from the town centre. The restaurant is complete with water features and fountains, beautiful plants and dining tables that are a mix of indoor and outdoor.
Attentive staff will happily lead you to house specialities like white lotus dumplings, beef in betel leaf, grilled crab, whole fish with peanut sauce and many other local specialities. There’s a nice mix of wine, beer and cocktails offered too.
Do make a booking if you are keen to eat at at Secret Garden. It offers quality, contemporary Vietnamese food in a beautiful setting. Visit Secret Garden restaurant here.
Fishing Trip and Rice Paddies tour
Hoi An is set on the Tue Bon River which flows into the sea just 5 kms away. The local area offers lots of river and farm based experiences.
I can highly recommend booking a fishing trip with a good local operator. Local fisherman will demonstrate their skills in casting huge nets and navigating the river in round basket boats. Journey through the coconut forest in the basket boats and enjoy this interesting eco-tourist feature.
My particular tour combined the fishing trip with an opportunity to meet a local rice farmer and learn about the process involved to cultivate and grow this essential ingredient. Amazing to see the buffalo who assist with ploughing the rice paddies. Really interesting experience for those who love food (like myself) and are keen to understand the farming process behind the product. I travelled with Jack Tran Tours for this experience.
Tour the Hoi An Central Market
Vietnamese food markets are an absolute feast for the senses, as well as busy and bustling places to visit. They can definitely be overwhelming with butchering occuring, live seafood being prepared, crabs tied for cooking, noodles being made and the multitude of fresh herbs, greens, fruits and vegetables.
The Hoi An Central Market definitely fits this description with so much going on. If this is your first Vietnamese food market I’d recommend doing a tour with a knowledgeable and well connected guide. This will mean introductions to stall owners, explanations of the many foods and tastings along the way. I toured Hoi An Central Market with the team from Morning Glory Cooking School and it really added to the experience. Highly recommended!
So there you have it folks, three more reasons to add Vietnam to your must-visit destinations list. Thanks for reading and I look forward to bringing you subscriber-only news each Saturday.
Allan Campion
So many of you have shared these newsletters with friends who have an interest in food + travel and I send my thanks.