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Vietnam's entertainment scene is varied and interesting, with a wide range of excellent restaurants, bar and clubs catering to almost every taste (and pocket) at most major destinations in the country.
One of the great pleasures of any journey in Vietnam is the rich and varied cuisine of the country. The northern staple is noodles, as is evinced by the huge numbers of pho shops and stalls all over town. Pho is a noodle soup usually augmented with either chicken (ga) or beef (bo). It is served from dawn until well after midnight and is indulged in by young and old, rich and poor. A visit to a good pho shop is recommended for any visitor to Hanoi.
Central Vietnam is famous for "Royal" or "Imperial" cuisine, and is also well represented in Saigon. Southern dishes tend to be somewhat hotter and spicier than elsewhere in the country, and fried foods are more common than boiled/steamed dishes.
Rice is of course a staple throughout the country, and almost every meal will be accompanied with a large bowl of steaming boiled rice. Fish is another staple, and seafood restaurants abound in Saigon, serving beautifully prepared dishes.
Other local delicacies run to snake, goat, jungle game and, perhaps most famously, dog. These can be sampled at local restaurants throughout the country although most are not suitable for the squeamish.
The lingering colonial influence of the French is still very much apparent in the Vietnam's dining options, but as the country has opened up, so myriad foreign cuisines have infiltrated menus at many establishments. Pizzas and pasta, hamburgers and sizzling steaks, sushi and tempura, Chinese cuisine and Thai specialities - all are well represented at a range of restaurants throughout the country.
Finally, dining out in Vietnam is excellent value. From street side food stalls to Imperial dining with classical entertainment, top-end Chinese and Japanese restaurants to fine French cuisine, pizza and pasta to American and Tex-Mex menus, travellers cafes to local snack bars, the range of food available is wide and everyone should be able to find a venue to suit both taste and budget.
Bars and clubs are a relatively recent addition to Vietnam's entertainment scene, although today's bars and other entertainment venues at major destinations in Vietnam are as sophisticated as anywhere in the world, and the range of drinks available as wide.
In Hanoi, Saigon and other major destinations, bars catering to foreigners are plentiful, but don't overlook the local scene. Vast beer halls catering to over a thousand customers at a time are dotted around the cities. Another experience not to be missed is bia hoi - literally "fresh beer" - a lager-type beer which is served the same day as it is brewed in vast beer gardens or hole-in-the-wall outlets. This is a great way to mix with everyday Vietnamese.
Other local brews include snake wine, rice wine
and various other evil spirits designed to numb
the senses. Beware when imbibing - the locals
can be very forceful when take no prisoners when
it comes to drinking games. Beware also of cries
of "tram phan tram" or "100
per cent" which demands that you empty the
contents of your glass in a kind of race with
the person calling. The problem is that a group
of five or ten Vietnamese will all want to "tram
phan tram" the foreigner - individually.
One favourite form of entertainment is karaoke which has sprung up all over the country. Even in the remotest outpost of the Central Highlands it is often easier to find a karaoke bar than it is to locate a decent restaurant.
Finally, the club scene in Vietnam caters mainly to the locals although foreigners are always welcome. The exceptions to this rule are clubs such as Apocalypse Now which target travellers and foreign residents as their mainstream clientele. A few bars and clubs feature live music, some of which is of excellent quality.
For listings of recommended restaurants and bars, please select you destination from the menu at left.
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