Saigon
“No place should ever be defined by war.…
Vietnam is a country with a rich cultural history. And beauty. And food. And future. It’s define by these people.”
PHIL'S SAIGON LOCATIONS
Maison Merou
Maison Merou was started by two expats from France who trekked across the jungle and found cocoa trees. They decided to harvest cocoa seeds and create luxury chocolates in Vietnam.
Address: 167-169 Calmette, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bìn, Ho Chi Minh City, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Tao Dan Park
Phil peruses Tao Dan Park (Công viên Tao Đàn) and finds coffee and banh mi. Phil tries both the black and milk coffee (cafe sua da) and an egg baguette sandwich.
Address: Trương Định, Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Vỹ Dạ Quán
Phil meets up with journalist Simon Stanley and photographer Vinh Dao at Vy Da Quan. They eat pork ribs and fried Ca Bo (unicorn leather jacket fish). They also watch a street performer eat a snake.
Address: 146, Võ Văn Tần, Phường 6, Quận 3, Thành Phố Hồ Chí Minh, Thành Phố Hồ Chí Minh, Phường 6, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Cậu Ba Quán
Phil meets with Nikki Tran, the owner of Cậu Ba Quán. Chef Nikki serves a 5 color beef salad and boiled seafood in a Vietnamese Cajun, aka Vajun, seasoning. The cuisine is reminiscent of New Orleans style crab boils.
Address: 85 Hoàng Sa, Đa Kao, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Pho Phu Gia
Phil first stop is with Calvin Godfrey, a writer residing in HCMC, for phở (pronounced “fuh”). Calvin takes Phil to his favorite phở restaurant, Phở Bò Phú Gia. Phở is a Vietnamese noodle soup that is traditionally served during breakfast. At Phở Bò Phú Gia, they stir fry their meat in garlic and beef fat and then add it to the bowl of fresh rice noodles and green onions and vegetables. This style of phở is from Northern Vietnam.
Address: 146 Lý Chính Thắng, phường 7, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
