Arriving in another country, every traveler is interested not only in its sights and culture, but also in culinary traditions. Nutrition is not just an important and interesting topic for discussion anywhere in the world. It is also a vital necessity, a way to have fun and one of the main expense items. Food has its own characteristics in Nha Trang - a Vietnamese tourist town, where the Asian flavor is uniquely combined with the Soviet cultural heritage.
The national cuisine of Vietnam has several hundred diverse dishes. Each of them is different from our usual foods. Food in Nha Trang, according to tourists, is interesting and unusual. This town, located in the south-east of the Eurasian continent, has something to offer both lovers of delicacies and supporters of conservative culinary ideas.
First meal
Soups in Vietnam are loved not only by tourists. Locals do not deny themselves the daily use of hot liquid food. One of the most popular is pho soup. It looks like our noodles in chicken broth, and this is no coincidence: the basis of the dish is funchose (rice noodles) with vegetables and herbs. Soup fo is prepared with any kind of meat (beef, pork or poultry), cut into thin slices. This dish is popular in Vietnam about the same as cabbage soup and borsch in Russia. But if we eat this kind of food mainly at lunch, Asians can eat pho soup for breakfast or dinner. Real Vietnamese food in Nha Trang is inexpensive, not more than two dollars per serving. This dish is served with chopsticks and a spoon.
Bun Bo Hue is a no less popular meat broth soup. Unlike fo, bun bo hue is more rich and is cooked exclusively with beef on the bone. The soup is distinguished by its characteristic shrimp aroma and piquant smack of lemongrass.
Fans of fish dishes should better get acquainted with Vietnamese cuisine, starting with bun cha ga - this is a fish soup with small pies, specific fish sauce and aromatic spices. The highlight of this first dish is a pronounced garlic flavor.
Another story is hot pot soup. If translated from English, you get a "hot pot." In institutions where they prepare hot pots, each client is left with space for imagination: a soup in a pot is prepared from those ingredients that he himself will choose. The visitor is served with a pot of boiling broth mounted on a gas burner, and many plates with various components (vegetables, seafood, meat). The minimum price for soup in restaurants and eateries in Nha Trang is eight dollars. According to the responses, a portion of the hot pot can satisfy the hunger of not one, but two or three tourists at once.
The most exotic snacks
What determines the traveler’s menu to a greater extent? Of course, from the budget. Anyone who is not limited in means can safely go to any institution they like and try everything that the soul desires. If the goal is to spend a vacation with minimal cost, including food, you will have to take a more careful approach to choosing a catering place. In any case, visitors should try dishes from a turtle, ostrich, crocodile, snake, scorpion, frog and other specific ingredients. In some cafes they cost more, in others - cheaper.
Along with specific types of meat, Nuong cutlets and crispy pancakes with seafood are also popular here. The most exotic local delicacy, which only daredevils decide to try, is rightfully considered balut. This is a non-standard treat, which is a boiled duck egg. Inside the shell is a formed fetus, duck embryo. That is why even those who consider themselves to be gourmets, it is better to know in advance about the composition of a particular dish before ordering it and eating it.
In addition, in Vietnam, as in another Asian country, we must not forget about hygiene and the rules of safe nutrition. Sanitary standards here differ from those in force in our country, and therefore everyone who neglects security measures risks serious poisoning. Buying food directly on the streets of Nha Trang is undesirable. The most common diagnosis among tourists here is intestinal infection.
What about dessert?
We have already said about what dishes to try in Nha Trang in the first place. But a hearty meal for some seems incomplete if, in addition to the main delicacies, sweets are not served on the table. Vietnamese desserts are different from sweets and pastries that Europeans are used to pampering themselves with. Almost all of the confectionery in this country is made from local fruits. Sweets are like soft toffee, wrapped in a thin edible rice film. Favorite among locals and tourists is halva from masha and fruit chips.
According to visitors, sweets with durian have the strangest taste, so it's best to buy just a little for the sample first. Curious sweets in Nha Trang are viscous dark candies made from dried banana. As for the “standard” desserts (pudding, souffle, mousse, ice cream, etc.), it’s easy to find them even here in Southeast Asia. Such products are in the assortment of almost every supermarket or a decent cafe.
Best places in Nha Trang
Where to eat in this town? Most tourists, especially those who are in Vietnam for the first time, have their eyes scattered from the abundance of cafes and restaurants. Again, the choice of institution depends on the budget. Although there are several options that will suit even the most economical travelers.
"Grill Garden"
By the way, the owners of this restaurant are a Russian married couple. Most tourists who have been here do not recommend going past a colorful establishment. The unusual buffet format of the menu and the original supply of raw, thermally processed products that you need to cook yourself - this is what distinguishes Grill Garden from its competitors. To make it clear how the service is arranged in this institution, we note that on each visitor's table there is a miniature roasting pan with lighted coals. The visitor can take as many plates as he needs. The menu here is the most exotic: from a frog and marine reptiles to a crocodile and an ostrich.
Hawai reataurant
The facility is located on the third line, on Nguyen Thien Tuat Street. Prices there are not the lowest, but not the highest. A particularly nice bonus is cheap beer. The most noteworthy here is the cuisine: the menu includes all the popular exotic items. In addition, the restaurant serves so-called combo dinners at a better price than the cost of each dish individually. The average price of a dinner for two is about a thousand rubles.
Hawai reataurant is distinguished by its highly trained staff. This is one of the few places where Vietnamese will bring you food in Nha Trang, who speak both English and Russian equally well. High-quality service is a rarity for the Asian outbacks, but in this institution a really decent level of service.
Cafe des amis
The most delicious seafood in Nha Trang is cooked in this interesting place. Unlike colorful Vietnamese cafes, the restaurant's interior is made in a youth style. Cafe des Amis business card - birds in cages on the second floor. To feed them, you need to climb the stairs. In addition to seafood and tortoise soup, the menu contains many dishes from European cuisine. Visitors are attracted by a Russian guy standing at the entrance. By the way, in the specified institution there is an opportunity to pay with a plastic card, which is quite rare in Nha Trang.
Quan
Many tourists from Russia prefer the simple and atmospheric Vietnamese cafe “Kwon”. This place is perfect for the first acquaintance with traditional dishes of national cuisine. It is located at the intersection of Hung Wuong and Nguyen Ti Minh Khai. Locals also speak well of Kvon Cafe, although the prices here are hardly the most affordable in Nha Trang.
Average prices
So, we got to the most burning issue - the cost of food. Of course, we will not list the prices of all dishes in all restaurants, but still dwell on the main points.
Let's start with Vietnamese money. In this country, everything is measured in thousands of dongs: 6,000, 12,000, 380,000, but for convenience, locals and tourists use abbreviations of 6, 12, 380 dongs. At the time of publication of the article, the exchange rate of the Russian ruble against the dong is approximately 1: 3, that is, one thousand Vietnamese money can be exchanged for almost three thousand rubles. To understand how much this or that dish will cost in rubles, you need to multiply its value in dongs by three.
In general, a full meal for an adult will cost here 800-1000 rubles. However, the cost of the same product or dish may vary depending on the place of purchase. For example, coconut in the market will cost half as much as on the beach.
Unknown fruits
Starting a conversation about food in Nha Trang, many first of all imagine a variety of fruits. For vegetarians there is a real paradise. In Asia, delicious and varied fruits that are not found in Europe, despite the fact that much of the exotic is sold in supermarkets. Nha Trang is rich in pineapple, mango, citrus. But since no one can be surprised by these fruits, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with other wonders of Vietnamese fruit crops.
Longan is a small round fruit in a thin peel, which, despite its stiffness, separates very easily. Longans grow in clusters on branches, are sold in bunches in the markets of Nha Trang. Inside the fruit has a juicy transparent flesh and a huge hard bone. To taste the longan is difficult to compare with anything. It has a refreshing aroma, leaves a pleasant tart aftertaste. Outwardly, the longan resembles rambutan. How to eat these fruits?
Rambutan has a denser skin with a shaggy cover. By the way, the name of the fruit itself is associated with the word “hair”. Inside rambutan is a large bone. The flesh is particularly palatable. Before you eat this fruit, you need to know how to eat rambutan. The thing is that a plate from the bone “sticks” to its flesh. To separate it, you will have to work hard: it bites off with difficulty. This feature of rambutan makes it difficult to enjoy eating it.
Another strange fruit is chirimoya. Varieties of this plant grow in southern Europe, but there they are larger and slightly different in structure. In Nha Trang, chirimoyu is called the “sugar apple”. This is a very tasty and nutritious fruit with a limited shelf life: you should not bring them home as a hotel.
It should be noted the fruits of mangosteen, which are especially popular among tourists in Vietnam. If you believe the reviews, this strange fruit helps restore metabolism and lose extra pounds. The mangosteen is covered with a dark purple peel, it has a white juicy pulp, which in its shape resembles a clove of garlic. The fruit has a delicate and delicate taste, therefore it is considered one of the most expensive in Nha Trang.
Bananas are also different here. These fruits are completely different from what we are used to seeing them. Those bananas that are on the shelves of our stores here are called fodder. In Nha Trang, small and sweet fruits are sold in large bundles, whole clusters. In color, Vietnamese bananas can be either yellow or greenish, and a saturated yellow color does not always indicate ripeness of the fruit.
It is worth paying attention to the pitahaya fruit. How to choose it, as it is? Translated from Vietnamese, “pitahaya” means “dragon's eye”. This is actually not quite a fruit. Pitahaya is a type of cactus. The fruits of the plant look very impressive, have a dense peel of bright color with small leaves-growths. Inside the fruit there is a lot of white pulp with black stones that you can eat.
Among fruits in Nha Trang, durian stands out separately - the king of Asian cultures. This is an unusual thick-skinned fruit with sharp growths. To eat it will require a lot of effort. Inside durian, the most delicate creamy pulp. Asians - admirers of the fruits of this plant, consider them a delicacy, but for Europeans the aroma and taste of durian often remains incomprehensible. The fruit smells specific, and the darling comes out so strong that it was even forbidden to carry on airplanes.
What to try in Nha Trang from food: reviews
The most controversial opinions concern, as a rule, tasting durian. Reviews about the "sickening" fruit and its terrible smells are not fiction. But after studying them, we can say that some people still like durian. If in doubt whether you should try it or not, keep in mind: you are unlikely to be able to taste it anywhere else, not in Asia. In the end, it’s better to focus on the smell - if you don’t feel sick from it, you should definitely try durian.
Affordable food prices in Nha Trang allow even the most economical tourists to try everything they want. In addition to fruits, various fresh juices are sold here - they are made directly at the buyer. An interesting option that you can’t try anywhere except in Asia is sugarcane juice.
And although Nha Trang is located on the shores of the South China Sea, seafood is not as accessible as it seems to many by mistake. But still you can try marine reptiles even with a limited budget. In cafes and restaurants, seafood costs fabulous money, and few people decide to cook such dishes in apartments without a kitchen. You can taste the delicacies from the deeps of the sea by contacting the chefs from the nearest restaurant with a request to cook a dish for a nominal fee. An alternative way to taste all the most interesting at minimal cost is suitable for everyone who is set up for experiments and vivid emotions.
In general, the local food service industry in Nha Trang is extremely developed. There are much more street stalls and simple bistros than pompous restaurants. Mid-level cafes are found literally at every step. In addition to these establishments, the city has many markets and grocery stores. In supermarkets it is unlikely to be able to buy marine animals or durian - these wonders are better to look for in the market. In Nha Trang, street souvenir traders, food stalls, and the large Perekrestok and Maksimark shops are especially popular among tourists.
Typically, tourists who fall in Nha Trang are satisfied with the local food prices. When it comes to water, sweets, snacks and other snack foods, many travelers recommend shopping at Crossroads. In comparison with the shopping center "Maksimark" there are lower prices and no less wide assortment. In addition, they are located in different parts of the city within walking distance.
For the sake of interest, some decide to visit the Xom Moi food market, but not all, judging by the reviews, get a positive impression. For Europeans, such a market seems like a very specific place with terrible mixed smells, annoying merchants. There is no bargaining here, and prices are above average. In addition to Xom Moi, Cho Dam market is popular with locals.
In general, tourists are advised to shop in the shops and stores of the European quarter of Nha Trang. According to most, this place has an unusual surroundings and a comfortable atmosphere. Also, travelers with experience are advised to be guided by common sense, not to take anything of value with them, not to keep large amounts of money in sight, and to carefully look after their wallet. You should also be careful about treats from strangers, do not wear expensive watches and jewelry.