Having been to Vietnam three times before, Fiona Wang - a famous culinary vlogger from Australia - has just had a fourth return trip and continued to choose Hanoi as a familiar destination.
In this comeback, she visited Dac Kim bun cha restaurant - one of the Michelin Selected (Michelin-requested) culinary addresses in Vietnam.
Sharing with Lao Dong about her culinary experience in Vietnam, Fiona said: I really like bun cha and I have to eat it every time I come to Hanoi. But this is the first time I have tried a Michelin standard version.
A Vietnamese-American friend living in Sydney introduced this restaurant to me. The first impression was that the portion was quite large, with lots of meat and noodles. The bun cha dipping sauce is light, not too strong, I think it is suitable for many peoples taste.
Although she highly appreciated the quality of the dish and thought that the restaurant deserved to receive a Michelin certificate, Fiona still shared frankly: In Hanoi, there are many sidewalk bun cha restaurants that are equally delicious. I find the dish here really great, but on the street there are still excellent places to cook bun cha, the price is cheaper. Michelin is a great recognition, but that does not mean that only recognized restaurants are worth trying.
In addition to bun cha, Fiona Wang also had the opportunity to visit another restaurant that also received an award from Michelin Guide, Mrs. Xuan's Banh cuon - a dish that she admitted was not sure to pronounce correctly but was very fascinated by the flavor.
Another interesting discovery that Fiona discovered was the interesting variety of Vietnamese fried sticky rice balls in Hanoi: "Many people only know about one type of Vietnamese fried sticky rice sticky rice sticky rice, but in fact, there are many variations in Hanoi, some types of grilled fried sticky rice - worth trying".
The thing that impressed Fiona the most about Hanoi cuisine was the light, sophisticated flavor: I have traveled to many places in the world, but the flavor in Hanoi is really special - not too salty, not spicy but still rich.
Dishes often combine many types of herbs and natural spices - creating a very unique flavor. Many places in the world often use salt or sweet potatoes, but in Hanoi, I feel the natural deliciousness. That is very unique.
Not only the dishes at the restaurant, Fiona expressed his special love for Vietnamese street food: I have tried street food in Taiwan (China), Korea, Japan - in a different way. But Vietnam has something very unique. The light flavor, fresh ingredients and best of all are suitable for everyone.
Vegetarians have many options, and so do meat lovers. And all are very affordable. In addition, the space with small plastic chairs, tables on the sidewalk, street lights, etc. creates a very special atmosphere. Perhaps, Hanoi owns my favorite version of street food".
In Fiona's eyes, Hanoi is not only a culinary destination but also a favorite city every time she returns to Vietnam. I have been to many cities in Vietnam as well as many Asian countries such as Japan, China, and South Korea. But Hanoi is always the first destination I introduce to my friends. Every time I return to Vietnam, I visit Hanoi.
In conclusion, the female vlogger emphasized: "Vietnamese cuisine deserves world class - from flavor to health".
However, she expressed regret that there are still many delicious dishes that are not known to international friends. "Sheron, banh cuon and bun cha are my three favorite dishes, but many people still do not know what they are. I hope I can share these dishes with the world.
