Netflix Street Food Show: Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, known to many as Saigon, has become home for people from all over the region. But to survive in this bustling city, these newcomers have to think of a way to make money, for many that is selling street food.
Netflix recently launched a Documentary Series entitled: Street Food which features Ho Chi Minh in an episode. In this episode, you’ll witness many different stories behind those yummy street foods that Saigon is famous for, starting from the story of Mrs. Truoc – the snail lady.
Snail and it’s not only snail
Saigonese do love eating snails, when people invite their friends to eat snail, it does not only include the snail dish but also many more delicious dishes.
When Mrs. Truoc was a little girl, her father taught her how to cook the “Mud Creeper Snail with Coconut Sauce” (Oc len xao dua). Little did she know that one day, it would be thanks to her beloved dad that she would be able to survive in the hardest time in Saigon, while making a living and raising her children.
In order to enjoy the dish, you have to suck at the shell bottom hole and don’t forget to lick all the sauce coat outside the shell.
From the first day of selling her first dish, she now offers up to 15 different dishes, not just snails but also clam, pincer, scallop, shrimp, ect.
To find her stall, come to the Alley No.171 on Co Bac Street, District 1
Opening Hours: usually from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Banh mi
Banh Mi is not original from Vietnam, it’s actually an adaptation of the French baguette and paté. However, Saigon people during the French colonial era made it their own. Now, whenever you are on the street, hundreds of Banh Mi stalls are open and offer a Saigon signature bread for breakfast, lunch and dinner with various, creative homemade ingredients.
Address: Banh mi Bảy Hổ – 19 Huỳnh Khương Ninh Street, Đa Kao Ward, District 1
Opening Hours: 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Broken Rice Dish (Com tam)
In the 80s, due to the shortage of food, decent quality rice was hard to find. Therefore, people have to collect the small piece of rice that broken. The broken rice are small and pretty hard to cook, but when cooked perfectly, they taste better than normal rice.
The broken rice dish is usually served with sunny side up eggs, roasted pork chops, oil spring onions, fried pork skin, etc, with homemade mixed fish sauce poured on top.
Address: Kim Ngân Stall – No.002 Block J, Nguyễn Thiện Thuật Apartment, Alley No.251, Nguyễn Thiện Thuật Street, District 3
Chicken Pho & Glass Noodle (Pho Mien Ga)
After 1975, people from Northern Vietnam started migrating to the South and brought along many recipes from their hometowns with them. This is reflected particularly in this stall where Mr. Manh father has developed his Pho in his Mien Ga Food Stall.
Pho was originated in the North. Nevertheless, you can now find Pho everywhere along Vietnam.
Address: 14/5Bis Kỳ Đồng Street, Ward 9, District 3
Opening Hours: 5:00 – 1:30 AM
Street food is a vital part of Saigon. Without it, Saigon will never be the same. There are over a million street food stall in the city and awaits for you to visit in your next trip of Vietnam travel, in Ho Chi Minh City.
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3 Comments
Daniel · 2019-05-14 at 1:05 pm
Thanks for a great post mate, following that food trail as I type……Next stop, that famous Banh Mi!
Fayfay.com · 2019-07-04 at 10:52 am
Happy to help you in discovering Vietnamese food
Syairah · 2019-07-07 at 9:46 pm
May I ask if they are halal?particularly on the aunty cooking snails.