Saigon Street Food (English)

Saigon has never stayed the same, it doesn't stay still for anybody nor stop changing for anything. But for every generation that was born, raised or immigrated here, there is always a personal definition and image of the city, something to call their own.

I've work in the media industry for many years, journeyed through many countries, and had the opportunity to enjoy thousands of different and unique cuisines everywhere Ive touched down, but every time I pass Ho Con Rua (Turtle Lake), I desperatly want to have the same humble dumplings from the same ageing shop that I had 20 years ago. I will always remember those cool, calm nights when I took my kids here to play, how they ran around, how they sat and ate these tiny dumplings. Those memories will forever have a special place in my heart, like a perfect example of happiness and peace, something that always takes me away from the stress of reality.

When I share my thoughts with colleagues and friends, it's really touching because we all share the same feelings.

There's a Vietkieu lady who wanders around and stops at Le Thanh Ton - Pasteur corner to buy small packages of corn and sticky rice with crunchy fried shallots sold by a mother and daughter at the same location for more than 60 years. Sometimes she rides to Vuon Chuoi to enjoy the rice pancakes with fried mince meat which cannot be found anywhere else in the city made by a northern mother and daughter duo. The food reawakens happy memories of the past.

I am always surprised by my overseas friends who live in Saigon that know more about Vietnamese food than I do. They will drag me to some snail restaurant in a small neighbourhood or the oldest Phở stall or bakery shop in town. Some of these shops are only open for 2-3 hours a day and there's nothing left if you arrive too late.

I have heard a lot about foodies and studious, diligent researchers. They not only know the food but they also have vast knowledge of Saigon's culinary history. I love listening to them - I can learn so much and it deepens my love for this extraordinary cuisine and culture.

I believe that each and every one of us will have a few beloved dishes that we will always remember throughout our lives. Through 'Saigon Street Food', I hope you will enjoy all these endearing stories from generations of local families, and also from foreigners who has chosen Vietnam as their new home. In this book, the allure of Saigon's cuisine and culture are carefully captured with personal stories, accompanied by vibrant pictures, which will surely convey to readers a different aspect of the city - the other side of Saigon that is rarely portrayed in mainstream magazines.

“I truly hope that street food vendors in Saigon will last forever as a culture, never to be forgotten by time and replaced by social changes and globalization, and will always be a nall simple delight for people who love it.”