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Submitted by Christina Vo
The friendly southern city of Saigon is a vibrant, energetic, rapidly changing place. Now known officially as Ho Chi Minh City, this metropolis is trying to balance and maintain its Vietnamese essence in the face of intensive economic development. These changes are visible almost everywhere, and the culinary culture is no exception. Changes include a growing plethora of international food options - from French to Middle Eastern to Indian – and an influx of international chain restaurants. What is perhaps most interesting though, is the commercialization of traditional Vietnamese fare, which while in transition, is maintaining a hold on the mainstays of southern cuisine, adding some international flair and creating an exciting mixture of modern and traditional.
Beautiful traditional landmarks such as the Opera House and the famous Caravelle Hotel are now surrounded by Kentucky Fried Chicken, an Ily cafe, and Highlands Coffee (Vietnam's own version of Starbucks!). Brodard Café one of the landmarks in Saigon's history located on Dong Khoi, one of the most charming shopping streets in Saigon, has now been replaced by Gloria Jean's Coffee, an Australian chain.
The landscape of this bustling, vibrant city is certainly changing, but weary travelers rest assured that the traditional food is still readily available in Saigon. For those who love to eat and drink, travelers and locals alike will undeniably find their favorites. The choices are endless. One could spend an entire day on a food tour of Saigon – from a delicious, sweet and rich café sua da to the Vietnamese pancakes (banh xeo), to drinking flavorful fruit shakes (sinh to), to grilled pork chops over rice (com bi suon) to finishing the night with a late night dim sum snack. |