Page 170 - Asian Paradises 2019-20

—
— Vietnam — Vietnam —

Food and entertainment the rest of the country. For a local experience, enjoy a ‘Beer Hoi’
Vietnam offers the opportunity to sample some truly amazing at a road side bar. It’s cheap, refreshing and a great way to meet
cuisine. There are said to be nearly 500 traditional dishes, the locals.
ranging from exotic meats such as bat and cobra, to a variety The sights
of fish, vegetables, spices and sauces. As a guide, food in the Vietnam’s national parks include: Cat Ba, Ba Be Lake and Cuc
Central region tends to be spicy, while the Northern region Phuong national parks in the north; Bach Ma National Park in the
cuisine is mild. The Southern region has an understandable Central region (sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund); and Nam
accent on pepper, as Vietnam is the world’s largest producer Cat Tien National Park in the south to name a few.
of the spice. ‘Pho’ is the noodle soup eaten at any time of day
and ‘com’ means ‘rice dish’. Because Buddhist monks of the In 2003, another national park, Phong Nha-Ke Bang was
Mahayana tradition are strict vegetarians, many dishes contain recognised as a World Natural Heritage site by UNESCO. Phong
tofu, mushrooms and raw, cooked and fermented vegetables. Nha- Ke Bang National Park offers mountains that are ideal
While Vietnamese desserts such as pastry, sticky rice and beans for climbing and exploring and it is also home to archaeological
tend to be a little sweet for foreign palates, the selection of and historical relics along with a range of geographic attractions.
local fruits is amazing. Try green dragon fruit, jujube, longan, The most recent to find favour with visitors is the Son Doong
pomelo, three-seed cherry and water apple. A word of warning, (Mountain River) Cave. Discovered in 2009, it is claimed to be
smoking is still allowed in most hotels and restaurants in the world’s largest cave. The other UNESCO recognised sites in
Vietnam, so it’s advisable to get a table outside or by a window. Vietnam are Halong Bay, the imperial city of Hué, the ancient
quarter of Hoi An and the My Son Sanctuary, the Trang An
In Ho Chi Minh City, entertainment can be found at discos and landscape complex, central sector of Imperial Citadel of Thang
hotel nightclubs, while bars and cafes are popular throughout Long – Ha Noi, and citadel of the Ho Dynasty.

www.paradises.com – 168 –