Flipping through an in-flight magazine recently, I saw an article on unusual coffee shops in Vietnam, including one in Da Nang called Traffic Sign Cafe. It’s a bit tricky to find, and I should have known as much since the address, Lo 21 Tran Nhan Tong, shows the lot number rather than the Read more…
Com ga is simply chicken and rice (OK, literally ‘rice chicken’) and it’s a regular dish in my lunchtime rotation. It’s pretty famous in Central Vietnam, and Da Nang has it’s share of ‘must-try’ spots, including a couple on Hai Phong and the awesome Quan A. Hai on the corner Read more…
Last week my cousin and her friend came out for a visit. They only had a week, and they wanted to see and much as possible, so I thought “Why not hop on the bike and drive north?” Here’s a few of the highlights from our Da Nang to Hanoi Read more…
Bo Ne is a funny dish. Usually in Vietnam, food is named by what kind of meat or noodle it is, followed by how it’s cooked. So if you have pho noodles, and xao means ‘sauteed’, then pho xao is sauteed pho noodles and ngheu xao is sauteed clams. Pretty simple. But bo ne is unique in that it’s name is Read more…
Considering it’s long history if being invaded by other countries, Vietnamese people are surprisingly kind and generous towards foreigners. Just the other day, I was asking about the tea in a restaurant and where I could buy it. The lady patiently explained what this particular tea is called, how to ask Read more…
Visitors to Da Nang are often surprised by the lack of phở (that O sounds like the U in ‘up’) here. The main reason is that Vietnamese food, like so many things in Vietnam, is highly regional. Pho is a northern dish, and Da Nang is firmly in Central Vietnam. In Hanoi, Read more…
Last night I had a family food tour, and they were great! Judy, Lucien, Matt and Sara came from good old Texas, in the US of A. Matt, who’s currently in college, was the master planner behind their holidays. He booked almost everything they did here, including a hike through the forest outside Read more…
Despite the increasing number of expats in Da Nang, it seems people here still aren’t used to hearing a foreigner speak Vietnamese. Here’s a few of my favorite reactions I get when trying to order food. The Interview Me: (in Vietnamese) Can I have a bowl of noodle soup please? Waitress: *gasp* Read more…
Da Nang nightlife has something to offer for every taste. While the city is still small enough that can run into people you know at the bar, there’s plenty of spots to grab a drink for every style and budget. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the Da Nang Read more…
Where’s the best place for a Da Nang coffee? That’s like asking where’s the best fish sauce; it depends on what you like. And while there are probably hundreds of good coffee shops in Da Nang (and lots of bad ones too), these all stand out for a reason. Here’s a Read more…