THE COMMON FOOD IN VIETNAM

BANH MI SAIGON – BANH MI KEP

Stuffed Bread

1/The history of banh mi Saigon

Banh mi is a Vietnamese term for all kinds of bread.  The word is derived from Banh and Mi ( means " Wheat"). Bread, or more precisely, the baguette, was introduced by the French during its colonial period in Vietnam. Nowadays, the term "banh mi" also refers to the Vietnamese sandwich, which is a combination of deli-style pork, pate, and veggies stuffed into a soft and crunchy baguette.

Before, under the French colonialism, people often put butter and pate inside the baguette. Then when Vietnamese sent the French back to their country in 1954, they added some more ingredients such as sliced pork, herbs, and pickled vegetables and created the "banh mi" or Vietnamese sandwich as we know it now. Depending on the "fillings" ( what we fill inside the banh mi), we will have a different name for "Banh mi" such as " banh mi that" ( banh mi filled with sliced pork) or "banh mi pate ( banh mi filled with pate"). So the formula for the name of banh mi could go like this: banh mi + the main filling. It's very simple and easy.

Needless to say ( không cần phải nói), Banh mi is the most common food in Vietnam. People have it for their breakfast, lunch or even dinner. It's very cheap but super delicious. With 10.000 VND now you can have a perfect banh mi to ease your hunger.

2/ The ingredient of banh mi Saigon

The ingredients inside of Banh Mi Sai Gon depending on the region usually consists of 3 groups:  

Animal meat: Vietnam-style sausage, chicken, cheese, fried eggs, rolls, ham, packaging, butter, onion, etc.

Vegetables: sliced cucumber, pickle, etc.

 Sauces: soy sauce, fish sauce, soy sauce, pepper, sauce, soup, chili, etc.

3/ Some kinds of Banh Mi Sai Gon

The classic version, bánh mì thịt nguội, sometimes known as bánh mì đặc biệt or "special combo," is made with various Vietnamese cold cuts, such as sliced pork or pork bellies, chả lụa (pork sausage), and head cheese, along with the liver pâté and vegetables.

Some restaurants also offer bánh mì chay, a vegetarian option, made with tofu or seitan. In Vietnam, vegetarian sandwiches are rarely found on the streets. They are usually made at Buddhist temples during special religious events.

Another option is" bánh mì trứng," with scrambled eggs served in a baguette. The version eaten more widely for breakfast in Vietnam is eggs fried sunny-side-up ("bánh mì ốp la") with onions, sprinkled with soy sauce or Maggi sauce, served on a fresh (and sometimes buttered) baguette.

4/ The review of Banh Mi Sai Gon

Banh mi Sai Gon was brought to America in popularity.  A very interesting study of the specialist food science department at the University of Leeds (UK), the "meat texture and crispness when the bit is more interesting than the flavors of the meat in banh mi.

A neighboring people, he Wei Chan also love their bread Vietnam, he has studied for many years to get the secrets of the banh mi and opened a store in Singapore. He said, his shop every day to sell more than one hundred banh mi Vietnam. Surprisingly that he enjoys this dish is not from Vietnam, he enjoys this banh mi in Canada while he studied aboard.

March 2011, the Banh MI, to indicate burger meat from Vietnam, were present in the Oxford dictionary. The report recognized that sandwiches Vietnam is one of the street food the world's finest.

Customs and Taboos In Viet Nam

Customs and Taboos In Viet Nam

1. How do people greet each other when meeting for the first time?

Vietnamese people generally greet each other by shaking hands and bowing slightly to each other. When greeting someone, say “Xin Chao” (seen chow) + given name + title. The Vietnamese are delighted if a Westerner can properly say “Xin Chao.” In rural areas, some people bow in traditional style by clasping their hands above their waist and bowing.

1. Are greeting customs different for men and women ? How?

When greeting one another, men gently shake hands and bow slightly. Women bow slightly and nod.

 In urban areas, modernized young men and women shake hands. Hugging is reserved for relatives and some certain cases only.

3.         What are some do’s and don’ts for table manner?

•  The oldest person should be sitten and be served first. 
•  Wait to be shown where to sit.

• You have to invite who older than you before eating. ( Mời cả nhà ăn cơm, mời chú ăn cơm,…)

It means showing your politeness before eating in someone's house, and it is necessary.

• Pass dishes or bowls with both hands. People often hold bowls close to their faces when eating.

• Chopsticks should be placed on the table when chewing foods or breaking to drink or speak. Don’t talk while chewing food.
• Don't place idle chopsticks in a bowl. Chopsticks sticking up from a bowl symbolizes death.  That’s a symbol customary respect the deceased.

•  Hold the spoon in your left hand while eating soup. Don't hold the bowl and slurp what was left in your bowl. But remember to finish all the foods in your bowl.

• Cover your mouth when using a toothpick*. And remember to say "thank you" to host after the meal.

4. What are some taboo conversation topics?

 Avoid discussions about politics, death or sexual matters and don’t make jokes about Ho Chi Minh.

Do not ask personal private questions like: ‘How old are you?’,  ‘Are you married?’,  ‘Do you have children? Why not?  ‘How much money do you earn per month ?’   Especially with women, don’t ask about their weight.

Mid-Autumn Festival in Viet Nam

Mid-Autumn Festival in Viet Nam

The Mid-Autumn Festival is an East Asian harvest festival. It is celebrated by Chinese and Vietnamese people on 15th of the 8th month of Lunar Calendar, the day with a big full-moon at night. This festival is a wonderful holiday shared by the Vietnamese people just after Lunar New Year.

The origin of this festival begun from two folktales “Cuội” and “Hằng Nga,” from then, children lights their lanterns and participate in a procession to show their respect for that story. The festival mainly celebrated by adults for the kids. 

When the Mid-Autumn Festival comes, business places such as schools, churches, hospitals always organize competitions like making mooncakes, making lanterns or organize charity trips to support the kids in difficult condition. In town, the street will be filled with lights and stalls selling mooncakes, teas, electronic-lanterns and traditional lamps. 

The origin of the conventional mooncake was begun from the shape of the full moon at night and included inside with one or two salted-eggs. Vietnamese people believed that mooncake represents fullness and prosperity of life. Furthermore, another important thing is Lion-Dances and Dragon-Dances followed by a lot of kids with their lanterns; this seems like an indispensable thing that gave the kids memories about the origin of the festival. 

During the time of the celebration, family, friends, and relatives usually send mooncakes for each other as a present of luck and wishing for all the lucky things will come for the rest of the year. Families also celebrate the holiday by sitting together, drinking tea, eating mooncakes and watching their kids playing outside under the moonlight.

The Mid-Autumn festival is one of the most indispensable holidays with Vietnamese people because this is the time to give thanks to the harvest and also is an excellent opportunity for family and friends for a reunion. In my opinion, Mid-Autumn Holiday is a special chance for giving love and luck to everybody.

Amazing Vietnamese Child Prodigy Story

PHAN THIEN BACH ANH

Born in 2000, Phan Thien Bach Anh is a junior high school student with nine years of high school at Vietnam National Academy of Music. 

In 2012, she became a phenomenon of the Vietnamese music scene when consecutive successes achieved great success: the Golden Festival of International Music Festival in Korea, the first prize in the International Piano Competition The second prize, the best Vietnamese candidate in Group A, received the Toyota scholarship for the young talented Vietnamese. 

               

Bach Anh officially taught at age 6 and has always been an excellent student in both Academic studying and studying music. In addition to the music awards, she also won the second prize in the national best students, the fourth prize in the international contest Abacus and Intellectual Arithmetic in Malaysia. At the beginning of 2013, he was also honored by the Hanoi Youth Union as one of the ten youngsters of the capital.