Food — Travel Ideas — Page 4– tax –

Hanoi ranked 25th and Ho Chi Minh City ranked 38th in Time Out's "World's Best Cities 2026." The survey combined responses from more than 24,000 urban residents with votes from more than 100 Time Out experts. While it serves as a useful reference for travel destinations, it is not the same as government statistics or an objective "liveability..."

We explain nuoc mam, the fish sauce essential to Vietnamese cuisine, in detail—from basics to authentic uses, type differences, and how to choose to avoid mistakes. We also organize aroma and salt characteristics and use by dish, making it a practical guide useful even for those who want to recreate Vietnamese cooking at home.

A thorough explanation of the Vietnamese staple “fried spring rolls (cha gio).” We organize the features of the ingredients, how they’re eaten locally, the types of dipping sauce, and tips for a recipe you can recreate at home. We clearly introduce the charm of cha gio—crispy outside and juicy inside.

We introduce, in a complete guide, the representative vegetables used in Vietnamese cuisine. Starting with water spinach and herbs, we organize the types and features of vegetables unique to the country, and how they’re eaten and used in cooking at the source, clearly explaining the basic knowledge for enjoying Vietnamese food culture more deeply.

We introduce Vietnamese soups in a complete guide. From standard pho to tangy local soups, we organize the features of each type, differences in flavor, and how they’re eaten locally. We clearly sum up the soups you’ll want to try on your trip and the points for choosing.

We introduce, in a complete guide, the Vietnamese staple fresh spring rolls. In addition to how they’re eaten in Vietnam itself, the types of dipping sauce, and combinations of ingredients, we organize tips for a recipe you can recreate at home. We clearly explain the points that make it hard to fail even for beginners.

We clearly explain the differences in Vietnamese flavors, divided into the north, central, and south. We organize the food culture of each region and the features of its representative dishes—the light north, the spice-heavy central, and the sweet south. It’s a practical guide useful as basic knowledge so you won’t get lost choosing dishes on your trip.

A curated selection of 8 recommended shops for tasting authentic pho in Hanoi. From long-established spots where locals go daily to famous shops that are easy even for tourists to enter, we cover them all. A practical food guide that lays out the difference between beef and chicken pho, the character of the broth, typical prices, and busy hours.

A thorough guide to the street food you absolutely can't miss in Hanoi. Centered on classic stall fare like pho, bun cha, banh mi, and fried spring rolls, we introduce the local favorites. A complete guide covering recommended areas and times, typical prices, how to choose a stall that's safe even for beginners, and points to watch for hygiene.

Introducing 12 food-crawl spots to enjoy in Hanoi's Old Quarter. From staple gourmet fare like pho, bun cha, and banh mi to local sweets and street stalls popular with locals, carefully selected. A practical food-crawl guide that also lays out easy routes by area, typical prices, ordering tips, and hygiene cautions.