What it is I do not know. Nor do I want to find out, right now. Wildlife is best left alone, methinks. Vung Tau, Vietnam 2019
Phu Quoc
Why does ‘good’ often taste so bad?
The lovely ladies here reckon I need something healthier than iced coffee, BBQ scallops and Tiger beer.
Hence: rau má, AKA pennywort or Centella asiatica.
I gave it a go: ever imagined what the water would taste like after you’ve hosed underneath the lawn mower?
I doubt even vodka could save this stuff.
I’m now viewing Australia’s V8 juice in a whole new light …
– Vung Tau, Vietnam 2019
Fare’s fair: travel smart
#TravelSmart: why give that extra money to Qantas if the flight is Jetstar anyway? If needed, buy a Jetstar fare with extra baggage allowance.
Always check the better offerings from Vietnam Airlines, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Australia to Bali etc.
Travel smart and travel happy.
The old ways are still good ways
Sometimes the “old ways” are best: a cyclo rider and his passenger stop to buy fresh produce from a street fruit vendor’s hand cart. Vung Tau, Vietnam 2019
An apple a day … goes well with iced coffee
She’ll be apples: crunchy, not too sweet, and delicious. Vietnam’s little green apples, táo, add “healthy” to the breakfast of iced coffee with sweetened milk, and trà da (weak iced tea). I’ll skip on the little sachet of dipping chili salt mix (muôi ót) that South-East Asians cherish on their fruit.
Sea Mantis Shrimp if it’s still kicking, it’s fresh
Mantis shrimp/sea mantis are a popular Vietnamese seafood.
Locals call them tôm tít.
There’s not a lot of meat in them but they are a cheap-ish treat, and usually barbecued, steamed, or pan fried in coconut oil.
I don’t recomment the fried version as I find the oil too sweet, and extracting the meat is a hot, messy, oily affair.
But don’t let me stop you – give them a crack …
Choice: In with the new while keeping the old
A view to the future: Ibis will be a perfect fit for the foreshore at Vung Tau, Vietnam.
The popular weekend escape for Ho Chi Minh City’s populace, Vung Tau is balancing the accomm options with new, proportionate hi-rises while keeping the multitude of traditional nhà nghì “motel” guesthouses. Choice.
This “Ibis Suites” Hotel on the “back beach” is having the finishing touches and will soon open. (The security guard came over and went crook at me for taking this pic – all the while he was smiling, as they do. Haha.)
Vung Tau is so do-able…
Easy to Digest
Growing up, my brother and I often sought refuge in Readers’ Digest books.
I’ve found a hard cover classic here – add tropical weather and a big, frosty glass of freshly squeezed watermelon … who’s in a hurry to go back to the political morass of Australia? 🤠
– Vung Tau, Vietnam
It’s all about the salad. And the pork. And the rice …
You don’t like eating vegies? Then come to South-East Asia: the salads are so good, sometimes I could treat the meat as the garnish. Not this time – I last recall eating pork this tender in Argentina. Oh, and at the Sofitel Wanda Hotel, Beijing. This lunch is charsui Hoi An pork with firewood cooked rice. (I don’t know what firewood does to steamed rice, but the menu says it’s “traditional”. It’s tasty.) USD$1.95, Câm An (a little, street corner eatery known for chicken), Vung Tau, Vietnam
Dogs love a weekend at the beach
He loves the Vung Tau beach, he’s been for a swim, he’s had his shower and shampoo, now for the long ride home with Mum and Dad back to Ho Chi Minh City …
Haxtrax 