Shiori’s Culinary Adventure in Vietnam

In early 2024, Shiori, a popular Japanese YouTuber with around 370,000 subscribers, visited Vietnam for the first time. After enjoying a day on Ha Long Bay, she headed to Hanoi to delve into its vibrant food scene.

Choosing to dine close to her accommodation because of the hour, Shiori found herself at a bustling street food stall located at the entrance of a charming alley on Hang Voi Street in the Hoan Kiem District. Here, she decided to sample bun ngan.

“This warm soup was not only delicious but also rejuvenated my body and spirit after a long, rainy day in Ha Long Bay,” Shiori expressed.

She ordered bun ngan for 40,000 VND, which featured duck, bamboo shoots, congealed blood, and a sweet-tangy dipping sauce, complemented by fragrant herbs like Vietnamese balm (hung cho) and sawtooth coriander (mui tau).

Though she was new to the dish, Shiori enjoyed the broth’s lightness and comforting essence, describing it as “gently enveloping.” She appreciated the unique textures from the herbs.

After adding more seasoning and additional herbs, she discovered the dish’s flavors enhanced significantly. “It became even better,” she mentioned, thoroughly enjoying her meal.

Much to her astonishment, with each bite, Shiori felt a surge in her energy and mood. “I never anticipated discovering a dish that could uplift my spirits like this,” she remarked, feeling relaxed and revitalized.

Enthralled by the dish’s taste, she used a translation app to convey her enthusiasm to the stall owner, proclaiming bun ngan as “the best dish in the world.”

Throughout her stay in Hanoi, Shiori also indulged in various other local delicacies, which included cassava dessert (che san), banh mi, old-quarter fried doughnuts (banh ran), Vietnamese pancakes (banh xeo), and coconut coffee (ca phe cot dua).