Flat white skin

It’s time to fess up: after several years of living in Vietnam, my Vietnamese language skills remain a disaster. It’s a veritable train wreck, there’s no getting around it. I have excuses which I replay in my mind in an effort to dull the pain of defeat, most of which are pretty lame. Vietnamese is a tough language for most foreigners to grasp, with endless pronunciation quirks representing the biggest obstacle between us and success. Fair enough, we all know that. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry wants to practice their English with us, so we, as guests, should indulge them, even at the expense of our own progress. That approach conveniently twists a feeble excuse for tires spinning in mud into a benevolent gesture, so that we feel we are making a contribution to the community when the truth is it’s laziness on the part of us foreigners. Those damn accents are the crux of the problem, and the cause for much despair, and there are lots of them – rising, falling, short, long, flat, bim, … [Read more...] about On the truth about learning Vietnamese in Vietnam

Locals have tweaked their sizes, ingredients or cooking methods. Banh khot (mini pancake) A plate of hot banh khot . Sizzling banh khot on a mold somewhat resembles Japanese takoyaki (octopus balls) but has a crispier texture and the yellow of turmeric added to white rice. But in Vung Tau, banh khot does not contain turmeric powder, and is deep fried to ensure crunchiness. Toppings include shrimp, squid and mantis shrimp decorated with scallions and shrimp powder to further enhance the flavor. The dish is eaten with shredded carrot and green papaya and herbs such as lettuce and mustard greens, and dipped in savory and sweet fish sauce. It is sold at an eatery called Ba Hai at 42 Tran Dong Street, Ward 3, with a portion of eight pieces costing VND60,000 ($2.6). Banh beo Banh beo , which originated in central Thua Thien - Hue Province, has a soft white base made of rice flour, tapioca flour, and shrimp and pork skin on top. It is a versatile … [Read more...] about Popular snacks get makeover in Vung Tau

Hoàng Vân Anh Our entire lifestyle news desk went out to Bát Tràng recently, not for its famed pottery but to try the much-hyped “Bát Tràng feast” from culinary artisan Nguyễn Thị Lâm. The chef is now over 70. She used to live in Hà Nội’s Old Quarter, where home cooks are known not only in the capital but also countrywide for their refined methods. She was trained by her mother and mother-in-law, and has now passed down the craft to her daughter-in-law, who doubles as her sous-chef. OUTDOOR DÉCOR: Traditional ceramic tiles and a miniature pond on the terrace. Photo Vân Anh The house is traditional, with a large terrace filled with greenery and ceramic tiles. Inside are three tables for guests. The feast did indeed fill us up, with a range of different dishes. There are generally seven plates and three bowls of food on a full festive table of Bát Tràng delights. The seven plates include stir-fried kohlrabi and dried squid, assorted vegetable salad, fried spring … [Read more...] about A feast worthy of the name

GOLDEN SKIN: Roasted pigeon in coconut juice. Photo courtesy of the restaurant Bếp Quán (A Kitchen) Restaurant initially piqued my curiosity when friends told me about its craft beer, bia tam giác mạch , or beer brewed from buckwheat, with the grain harvested in the northern province of Hà Giang. Then, after coming to check out its beers and other drinks, I found how delicious the food was and it has remained on my list of favourite restaurants. The diverse menu features dishes in the northern, central, and southern culinary styles, and there really is a dish for everyone, no matter their taste. The restaurant has three locations along crowded streets in Hà Nội. It’s best to make reservations in advance, with its large number of guests confirming the quality of its food. I often go to the one on Hàm Long Street, which is close to my office and the downtown area and is ideal for hanging out with friends. Its interiors are decorated with attractive murals depicting … [Read more...] about Unique craft beer a tasty touch

Vietnam needs over US$128 billion for power investment next 10 years A drone is used to inspect a power transmission system in Vietnam. The country will need an estimated US$128.3 billion for developing the power system in the next decade The Institute of Energy, under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, on February 22 continued to collect feedback over the plan from the relevant agencies. According to the plan, during the 10-year period, Vietnam will need to pour some US$12.8 billion on average into the power sector per year. The total investment for the following 15 years from 2031 to 2045 will be some US$192 billion, including some US$140 billion for power sources and US$52 billion for the grid. The draft zoning plan also revealed that Vietnam will continue to import electricity from China, Laos and Cambodia in the next 10 years. The State-run Vietnam Electricity Group is purchasing electricity from China through two 220kV power lines, with 1.5 billion kWh of … [Read more...] about VIETNAM BUSINESS NEWS FEB. 26