Pure Vietnam Beauty & Spa Nha Trang Blog

Breakfast with a friend.

This morning I went out with a friend to look around a little. There were so many areas of Nha Trang that I haven’t explored yet. I ended up having Banh Can on the street for breakfast near Hương lộ ngọc Hiệp.

I met the lovely lady who cooks, Mrs Duoc who is 61 years old, her husband, Mr Ky who is 67 years old. They cook every day of the week for four hours each morning and have done for the last seven years. Their son Tuoi, who is 25 years old, comes and helps his mother cook whenever he can. Today they are especially proud of their son as he starts work today as a pastry chef in one of the larger hotels in Nha Trang. He said one of his favorite things to cook is cheesecakes so I am sure he will be making quite a few of these.

Mrs Duoc cooks with fingerless gloves on to try to protect her hands from the heat but nothing can protect her fingertips that touch each cup as she gets each of our Banh Can out of the pan. Mr Ky efficiently sets up and cleans up after customer as well as preparing our grated green mango and fried spring onion that we have with our sauce.
When we arrived there was no-one there but after we sat down people started to come. They thought I was very lucky for them. They were all amazed at my dexterity with the chopsticks.

After breakfast we adjourned to a waterside coffee shop with amazing views. We sat and watched the boats go by. After refreshment we went to a local railway bridge that has amazing views up and down the Cai River at the back of I Resort. An all round great morning.

Ca Nuong - BBQ Fish - Ca = Fish - Nuong = BBQ

One of the street foods that is near my apartment that I like to eat is BBQ Fish. This fish is marinated with chili, spring onions and many other flavors and wrapped in alfoil then grilled. When it is cooked it is bought to you with a plate of rice paper , various leaves, mix of cucumber and green banana (not my favorite) a little noodle as well and sauces. You then make rolls with rice paper and fish and anything you want. You dip this in the sauces. It is delicious.

It costs 250 000 VND to 300 000 VND a BBQ fish depending on how big the fish is.

This is an incredibly popular place seven nights a week. I can hear the locals Hai, bai yo through the night.

Its on the corner of Hon Chong Street and Tran Phu Street. There are several different places but the best is on the corner at the end nearest the beach.

Cơm cháy

Com Chay (Burned Rice) is one of the many traditional dishes of Vietnam. It is made from deep frying already cooked rice until golden brown and then topping it with dried shrimp or pork floss , chopped spring onions and chili. There are places that you can buy this on the streets however more and more you buy this on the internet (a sign of the times). My staff know that I like to eat Com chay and they order this through facebook (Nha Trang Club) and its delivered to us.Expect to pay 10 000 VND for each container.

Banh Cuon

Banh Cuon is one of the famous dishes in the North of Vietnam. Banh Cuon is made from a thin sheet of steamed rice that is then filled up with minced pork, wood ear mushroom and fried minced shallots. When serving Banh Cuon you usually get a mix of Cha Lua ( Vietnamese Pork sausage), sliced cucumber, bean sprouts and some mix of herbs with a dipping sauce called Nuoc Cham which is made from fish sauce, chili and sugar.

It is very tasty and filling but very light.

It is an amazing dish to watch being made as the lady pours the mix of rice batter over a muslin sheet that is being steamed. She waits for it to set then adds the filling and quickly rolls it up with a chop stick and wips it off and replaces it with the next ladle of mixture.

There are some places in Vinh Hai Market and a place near Xom Moi market where they make and sell Banh Cuon for breakfast. Expect to pay 10 000 VND to 12 000 VND each box.

Sweets and Sinto

Sinto

There are many places to have different smoothies (Sinto) in Nha Trang. There are also many different combinations. I’m not a fan of Durian and I have a problem with drinking avocardo. This is a favourite local drink avocardo and durian smoothie when they are in season. I love ripe mango (Xoai). One of the best places we have found for this is on 2 4 Street. It is just back from a busy intersection that you turn left at and go to the university, on the left hand side if you are going into town. I am unsure what they do differently but this place at night is packed with students. Yes it is cheap but the quality is great. Only open after 5 pm.

You can also get flan here. Crème caramel without the brulee but served with ice and coffee. Doesn’t sound fantastic but apparently delicious. I like it without the coffee. 10 000 per serve. Price lists are on the wall.

Deep fried Banana and Sweet Potato

Deep fried banana and sweet potato. Several places on Dang Tat Street. Normally available between 3-5pm. 10 000 per serve. You will get a mix of both. You can ask for just banana (duey). There are a few places around that do this. It is better fresh and hot than cold. The batter loses its crispness and can become oily.

Sweet Banana Soup

Sweet banana soup. Sounds a little weird but it is amazing. We went out with some friends from Australia the other night who we had previously taken here and she wanted to go here first in case it was closed or sold out by the time we finished dinner.

The banana is wrapped in sticky rice and grilled. It is sliced up and served with sweet coconut milk and sago covered with crushed peanuts. Available after 7 pm. This lady has been making it for 40 + years. In winter it sells very quickly. In summer because of the heat it is available 9-10pm if your lucky. It is very sweet but addictive. 10 000 per serve. On 2 4 street. Past the traffic lights on your right outside of the church.

Coconut Jelly

Coconut Jelly in a cup. This is made from agar agar and coconut water and some times some flesh and some people make to coconut milk top. I like the coconut milk top. At night in some of the busier areas students will come around and sell these. Normally 6-10 000 each. There is a lady who sells them in Dang Tat Street after 4-5 pm and they are excellent. Not too sweet and refreshing. You get the spoon as well 4 000VND each in Dang Tat Street.