Traveler tip
20
Unique market experience in Chiang Mai
Visit the Buffalo Market early( 7-8am) on a Saturday morning. The market is in Hangdon( suburbs of Chiang Mai, Thailand). They sell buffalo, cows, chicken, motorbikes, new and antique clothes, food, garden supplies, household supplies and much more.
— Muffy Lutzin, 8-time traveler, Quincy, MA
21
Get your eyeglasses in Ho Chi Minh City( Saigon)
There’ s an entire street of optical shops near the Ben Thanh Market( on Lê Thánh Tôn) where you can get great deals on fashionable frames, as well as on prescription lenses( even progressives) and contacts. Many offer same-day service. Bring your prescription from home.
22
Linger over coffee in Vietnam
Especially in the major cities, Vietnam has quite a coffee culture— and plenty of charming cafes where it takes place. Enjoy a cup of cà phê trứng, a delicious dessert coffee with egg whites in it.
What to Eat in Vietnam
Vietnam’ s national dish is pho, a classic rice noodle soup. Its name refers to the noodle, but it’ s the aromatic, savory, long-simmered broth that makes the dish. The two main varieties are chicken( pho ga) and beef( pho bo). Both are served with different cuts of meat and accoutrements like basil leaves, bean sprouts and condiments. For lunch, try banh mi, a delicious French- Vietnamese sandwich. It starts with a crusty toasted baguette, which is layered with pâté, pickled vegetables, cilantro, chilies and your choice of protein such as pork belly, chicken, or fried fish.
Bún cha are rice vermicelli noodles served in bowls filled with grilled ground and whole pork drenched in nuoc cham, a sweet yet savory mix of fish sauce, sugar and vinegar. This is what President Barack Obama and the late Anthony Bourdain ate on a famous episode of Bourdain’ s show Parts Unknown— washed down with frosty Hanoi beer.
71