Exploring the Street Food Scene in Ho Chi Minh City

Arthurus, a Lithuanian content creator residing in Ho Chi Minh City for approximately five years, manages a YouTube channel boasting more than 11,000 subscribers. He is affectionately known as Mr. Abroad and provides insights into travel tailored for his Vietnamese viewers.

In an earlier video this year, Arthurus shared his return to Vietnam after a trip back home to Northern Europe, expressing his longing for the country’s array of tasty foods, particularly banh chung, a traditional rice cake.

Upon arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, he made his way to Nguyen Thuong Hien Street in District 3, a well-known area celebrated for its lively street food offerings.

“I was eager to taste the traditional banh chung wrapped in banana leaves, along with some Vietnamese coffee and other street food,” he noted.

His choice of Nguyen Thuong Hien Street was due to its standing as a “food paradise” for the local youth. Despite visiting during the day, he was pleasantly surprised by the bustling atmosphere and the range of food stalls available.

While searching for a light lunch, he caught a whiff of roasted pork skewers, and the enticing aroma drew him in.

After confirming the price, he decided to indulge and was thrilled by the flavors, pleasantly surprised by the dish that was new to him.

“I’ve been living in Vietnam for a while but had never tried this. It’s fantastic,” Arthurus told the vendor.

Arthurus described the pork as beautifully cooked, mildly sweet, and flavorful, enhanced by fresh herbs and a delicious dipping sauce. He appreciated the vendor’s attention, as even with just one skewer, he received a variety of condiments. The vendor’s eagerness to ensure his satisfaction impressed him.

“The vendor was warm and sincerely interested in my opinion. I thoroughly enjoyed this snack,” he shared.

As he continued on, Arthurus stumbled upon a stall offering a selection of Vietnamese sausages and initially mistook one wrapped in banana leaves for the banh chung he craved. Instead, it turned out to be cha bo, or beef sausage. Undeterred, he decided to sample cha bo, nem chua (fermented pork), and cha gio (pork spring rolls) for a taste test.

He found the cha bo to possess a “crisp, smooth texture,” while the cha gio was complemented by a rich dipping sauce. He described the nem chua as having a “lightly tangy” flavor, which he enjoyed enough to take additional bites, praising its taste.

Throughout his culinary adventure, Arthurus also tried a fried dumpling filled with quail eggs, minced pork, and black fungus, as well as fresh quai vac (savory turnovers).

“While the fried dumpling may not have looked like much on the outside, the filling was delightful. The quai vac was both fresh and flavorful,” he remarked.

At the end of his meal, he was pleasantly surprised when the vendor included a complimentary sesame donut with his order. Touched by the kindness, he expressed his appreciation numerous times.

“They work hard for a living yet still share with foreigners like me,” he commented.

Even though he did not find the banh chung he was in search of, Arthurus left feeling content after a day filled with Vietnam’s street food treasures. He believes that street food in Vietnam is not only varied, delicious, and affordable but also available at any time of the day.

Thao Trinh