Want to Have a Truly Authentic Experience in Vietnam? Here's How to do it!

Riding the Mekong Delta in Southern Vietnam [SOURCE]

If you are planning a trip to Vietnam in the near future, you will likely be looking for some ways to have the most authentic experience. After all it only makes sense to do justice to such an interesting country; of course there is the legacy of the war, but there is much for you to discover about modern Vietnam too. 

That is why you should separate your time between the cool mountain regions, emerald green waters and soft white beaches with some time in the towns and villages.

When it comes to towns and villages, there is really only one fool-proof way to get the experience that you are craving, and that is by trying the local cuisine. It really is an infusion of culture for all of your five senses. 

So get yourself down to the street markets and get involved! Here are a few tips on how to do it...

Spend a Day or Two With the Locals

Negotiations at the Fish Market in Vietnam [SOURCE]

As a tourist in a country such as Vietnam, it can be a bit overwhelming when you first arrive; that is why many people follow other tourists. Yet you could be missing out on amazing eateries with that attitude, so sign up for a private tour in Vietnam run by a local. 

They will show you where all of the best places to eat are, and might even bring you to have a home cooked meal with their family. 

Alternatively you could opt for a tasting tour such as “The Last Great Taste of Hoi An” - all of the stalls and sellers have been verified by a nutritionist which is important to some nervy Westerners.

Follow the locals to the Nearest Street Market

A Small Town Market in Binh Long, Vietnam[SOURCE]

If you are short of time and can’t arrange a tour at late notice, at least make the effort to head down to the street markets before noon. 

Avoiding the tourists can be a good thing as you will be able to follow the locals instead - and they will be the specialists when it comes to where to eat. 

General tourist places will sell a range of items, none of which will taste as authentic as where you can find it elsewhere.

Make a list of Vietnamese Dishes You Want to try

A Hot Meal of Vietnamese Pho[SOURCE]

Make sure you taste the things you have been meaning to try for a while, but it is also worth nibbling some items you have never heard of before. 

You will probably have heard of pho before, which is actually the national dish of Vietnam. It is made up of noodles, broth, herbs and chillies, and is sure to awaken your senses. 

Com tam is another popular choice; it generally incorporates glazed pork steak, meat loaf, omelette, and sticky broken rice. 

Of course in order to get the best selection of Vietnamese dishes, you should get to the markets early as sellers will pack up whenever they run out of ingredients - usually during the lunch hour.

Be Smart, Keep an eye on hygiene levels

A Hanoi Street Vendor[SOURCE]

However it is worth keeping in mind the hygiene of various sellers and stalls as you wouldn’t want to get poorly whilst on holiday - you would miss out on many more experiences! 

However most places actually do adhere to pretty good levels of hygiene, but just use your common sense and stay away from places with too many flies or rotten smells.

PREV

NEXT

---

If you enjoyed this article, please SHARE it by clicking the buttons below. And if you would like to know more about this, and other posts, don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletter for monthly updates, or to my RSS Feed for up to the minute e-mail notifications!

And now we ask you - What are your tips for having an authentic experience?

---