Meals will usually include rice or noodles as staples along with a vast array of vegetables, and meat like chicken, duck, beef and pork. Good quality seafood (fish, calamari, prawns and crab) is widely available and you will find that fish sauce is a condiment which accompanies almost every meal. The most famous Vietnamese dish is spring rolls either deep fried(known as cha gio in the south and nem ran in the north)or served fresh (bia cuon/ bo bia)with a combination of raw vegetables and grilled prawns, crab, pork or chicken. Pho(noodle soup) served with either chicken or beef, fresh green leaves, beans sprouts, and red chilly is also found throughout the country, if you are after a snack try a banh cuon, a steamed dump ling stuffed with minced pork or prawns, black mushrooms and bean sprouts. The French colonial period has left a legacy of delicious continental food. Of-ten street cafes have a distinctly French feel with crispy banana flam be, and sweet pastries on the menu.
Vegetarians
Vegetarians should not have any difficulty in finding a great selection of food in Vietnam as there is a strong Buddhist influence and chines and Vietnamese vegetarian dishes abound.
Food allergies
If you have food allergies or preferences, please make them (nown to you guide who will do their best to ensure that your equirements are.
Drinking
Bottled water and mineral water are obtainable at any shops n most cities.it is advisable to drink ice and tap water. The nost reliable local brand is LAVIE (Don't con-fuse them with he imitations such as la viler or la verge).Aquafina of Pepsi md real Evian also available at many shops. Tea, similar to "hinese green tea, is one of the most common drinks in Vietnam. Coffee was introduced by the French and served :omplete with drip filter, so you know it's fresh! If you ask for nilk it will usually be sweet condensed milk. Popular beers ire. Local brand: 333, Hanoi Beer, Saigon beer and interna-ional Foster
Film and Developing
Fresh negative film is widely available. Popular brands are Kodak, Fuji, Agfa and Konica. Memory cards for digital camera could be found earls for digital careful both negative film or digital file are obtainable in cities and towns. The tourists say that the negative film is cheaper than abroad.
One-hour service photo shops have become ubiquitous in places where tourists abound. Positive film can be developed only in Saigon and Hanoi. Most reliable and centered-located Film developing shops are 19 Nguyen Cau - Ba Trieu St. and Shops on Nguyen hue Blvd, District lin Saigon.
Shopping
The Following items are quite unique and have good quality:
*Carved wooden Furniture, fine lacquer ware (these can be shipped home upon request).
*Traditional Vietnamese hand-made silk, linen and cotton dresses, kimonos, embroideries, etc. *Simulated and cotton dresses, etc. *Copies of famous paintings.
Business hours
Business hours :(GMT+7) ♦Offices: 07:30 a.m.to 11:30 a.m. And 01:00p.m.to 04:30p.m.closed on Saturday and Sundays * Banks: 08:00 a.m. To 03:00 p.m. closed on Friday afternoons, Saturday and Sunday.
Taxi
Taxis with meters are available in big cities. The current price is about U$$ 0.5 per kilometer. Most metered taxi drivers can speak a little English.
Long distance call should be made at post offices, hotels or telephone booths (phone cards are available at post offices).
Internet
Internet cafes with ADSL can be found easily in Vietnam. Cost For an hour is around 0.5U$$.
