Must See: Food Markets in Asia

Posted Thursday, February 15th, 2007 · Permalink · No Responses Yet...

One of my favorite pastimes in Asian towns and cities was visiting local food markets. They’re full of life, full of scents, sights, and sounds. If you really want to see how local people live life in most parts of Asia, I can really suggest doing this. You see so many things that might be strange and new but for them are the most normal things in the world.

Market Fruit, Dalat, Vietnam

The diverse quality of the markets I’ve visited in Asia is astounding. Often they are bustling, fun, and a great place to practice bargaining. In smaller towns they are the center of activity. They can also be truly filthy places where the stench is gut-wrenching. But I’ve always had the pleasure of meeting happy individuals who were as interested in meeting me as I was in meeting them. Click here to keep reading…

Filed under Asia, Must See.

Must See: Bia Hoi in Hanoi, Vietnam

Posted Wednesday, February 7th, 2007 · Permalink · No Responses Yet...

Glass of Bia Hoi, Hanoi, Vietnam You’ve been out all day and you’re tired. Time to relax and have a few cold ones. And when I say cold, I really mean cold! Bia hoi (formally bia hơi, translated literally to beer gas) is the cheapest thing you can find in Vietnam. But don’t be fooled by the price: this stuff is usually pretty good!

Bia hoi is a locally brewed beer type with no preservatives and is very light (about 2-4% vol.). For this reason alone you can always expect one thing: that it is fresh (or so you should hope). And don’t go looking for any fancy labels or logos: bia hoi is specifically a type of beer where the manufacturing method is quick and cheap, usually reserved for independent brewers. There are a few established brewers, such as Tâyâu, but don’t go looking for them because they’re hard to find and there is really no benefit to them. Click here to keep reading…

Filed under Asia, Must See, Vietnam.