In less than an hour, I shall be on my way to a country that I have never been to before. I have always wanted to visit Vietnam, if only for their food. Friends who have been there have said nothing but nice things as well. And, apparently, this is one place where I can be a millionaire – at least for a day or two. There aren’t many places where the Philippine Peso has a strong purchasing power, and Vietnam is one of them! For a mere PHP10,000, one call himself a Vietnamese millionaire!
So why am I itching to see Saigon (now called Ho Chi Minh City – HCMC for short – by the way)? As I said, Vietnamese food is to die for. Fresh spring rolls, the famous pho (noodle soup), and banh mi (French baguette with all sorts of stuffing). I am fairly new to their cuisine, so we’ll see what else I will discover! Oh yeah, I shall let Anthony Bourdain’s Vietnam feature guide me for a week.
I also read this article in the New York Times about “following the beer trail in Vietnam.” I didn’t know it, but Vietnam has quite a good selection of beers, many of them local! I wouldn’t call myself a beer connoisseur but I can appreciate a good brew anytime! Now I have printed out the article and will go around HCMC looking for some of the best beer in the city.
Of course, there is shopping. From what I hear, I can find tons of shawls, bags, and other apparel for dirt cheap.
I seriously am beside myself with excitement now.