The various cuisines of Vietnam

Shaped like a giant ‘S’, Vietnam curls from the lush hills of the north and the capital Hanoi, down the central coast and historic Hoi An, to the southern curve surrounding Ho Chi Minh city.

Home to 63 provinces, Vietnam is bordered by China, Laos, and Cambodia, as well as the East Sea and the Pacific Ocean, creating a land of various climates and culinary inspirations. For an overview of this dynamic nation, read our guide to the various cuisines of Vietnam, from its Northern, Central, and Southern region.

THE CUISINE OF NORTHERN VIETNAM

Northern cuisine strikes a balance between salty, spicy, sweet, bitter, and sour. Essential flavourings include fish sauce and shrimp paste, and black pepper is used in place of chillies to produce ‘spicy’ flavours. Due to its cooler climate, Northern Vietnamese cuisine uses fewer herbs and vegetables than the southern regions, and preferred cooking techniques include stir-frying and slow-braising, to inject more warmth into the meal.

Signature dishes of Northern Vietnam include:

• Bun cha (rice noodle with grilled marinated pork)

• Pho ga (chicken rice noodle soup)

• Chả ca La Vong (rice noodle with grilled fish patty).
• Bun rieu cua (pork, crab and noodle soup)
• Banh cuon (handmade rice noodles filled with pork and wood ear mushrooms)
• Nem cua be (fried crab spring rolls)
• Squid patties

THE CUISINE OF VIETNAM’S CENTRAL REGION

The food in the Central region is characterised by its hot and spicy flavours. The former imperial capital of Vietnam, Hue boasts a culinary heritage that is steeped in the tradition of Vietnamese royal cuisine. Chillies, black peppercorns, and shrimp-based sauces are among the most widely used ingredients, and due to their intensity of flavour, dishes are served in small portions.

Signature dishes of Central Vietnam include:

• Bun bo Hue (spicy beef soup with rice noodles)
• Cao lau (udon-style noodles with pork and herbs)
• Com hen (tiny steamed clams with rice)
• Steamed pork with rice paper
• Banh Hue (savoury steamed cakes)
• Hoi An style chicken rice

THE CUISINE OF SOUTHERN VIETNAM

Southern cuisine has been significantly influenced by diverse food cultures from all directions and factors. Thanks to its warm weather and fertile soil, the south has a bountiful supply of fruits, vegetables, and livestock. Dishes in Southern Vietnam are often seasoned with garlic, shallots, and fresh herbs, and the locals prefer their dishes to have more sugar than in the other regions, which can be seen in the widespread use of coconut milk. Due to its proximity to the coast, seafood plays an indispensable role in Southern cuisine.

Signature dishes of Southern Vietnam include:

• Banh xeo (crispy pancake with pork and prawns)
• Goi cuon (rice paper rolls)
• Pho bo (beef noodle soup)
• Banh mi (Vietnamese baguette)
• Bo la lot (beef wrapped in betel leaves)
• Hu tieu muc (squid noodle soup)
• Com tam (broken rice)
• Caramelised fish in claypot

Read more: The various noodle dishes in Vietnamese cuisine

Source Asian inspirations

Best casinos to try your luck in Macau

No longer regarded as just a Vegas knock-off, Macau has surpassed the famous strip to become the most successful gambling capital in the world. Now home to 40 casinos, which of these glittering gaming dens is the best bet for you?

The Venetian Macao

Macau itself may be small, but not when it comes to casinos. In fact, The Venetian is home to the world’s biggest casino. With 376,000 square feet of gaming space, there’s plenty of room, and chances, for you to place your best bet. There’s no less than 640 gaming tables (baccarat being the most common, alongside blackjack, sic bo and roulette) and 1,760 slot machines.

Furthermore, The Venetian has 3,000 guest suites, more than 30 restaurants – from Michelin-starred fine dining to intimate bars and cafés – four outdoor swimming pools, over 330 retail shops, and even an 18-hole rooftop golf course.

Grand Lisboa

An icon of Macau’s skyline, at 856 ft, Grand Lisboa is the city’s tallest building. Shaped like a giant golden lotus flower, it’s about as attention-grabbing as casinos come. Inside, the gaming space isn’t too shabby either. The casino has over 230 gaming tables and 880 slot machines. Games available include baccarat, blackjack, Carribean stud poker, American Roulette, sic bo, 3 card baccarat and fortune wheel. Bets range from a minimum of HK$300 ($38.35) up to a whopping HK$5 million.

In addition, Grand Lisboa offers 430 rooms and suites, as well as some of the city’s best fine dining restaurants. Among them are the three Michelin star Robuchon au Dome (European cuisine) and three Michelin star The Eight (Chinese cuisine), as well as several other food and beverage offerings, a luxury spa, outdoor swimming pool, and daily entertainment shows.

Wynn Palace

Wynn loves elegance and with this casino it shows. Costing a staggering US$4.2 billion to construct, it delivers on the promise of its name by being nothing short of palatial. In total, the casino itself offers more than 1,000 slot machines and live table games. This includes 350 gaming tables where guests can enjoy playing roulette, blackjack, poker variations and many others.

Wynn Palace is also home to 1,706 rooms and suites, Macau’s largest spa, more than a dozen fine dining and casual dining restaurants, as well as stunning floral creations and artworks. Meanwhile, guests can enjoy entering the resort via air-conditioned Sky Cabs flying over an 8-acre, 325,000-square foot Performance Lake.

MGM Cotai

MGM Cotai opened to the cost of US$3.2 billion in February 2018. The exterior of the glitzy resort is designed to resemble a jewellery box. Inside, it’s no less impressive. The casino features 177 gaming tables (12 for VIP customers) and 1,500 slot machines.

The property offers 1,390 rooms and suites, which include 16 Skylofts and 27 Mansion Villas. Guests can enjoy several dining and drinking options, a luxury spa, and an abundance of art. The star attraction is The Spectacle: 25 LED walls, four-stories high, located in the atrium displaying digital artworks and even visitor-generated content. There’s also more than 300 contemporary Asian paintings and sculptures, as well as 28 Chinese imperial carpets that date back to the Qing Dynasty and once adorned the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Morpheus

As the newest kid on the strip, the US$1.1 billion Morpheus casino (named after the Greek god of dreams) aims to become a new landmark in Macau. Visually striking, with an absence of supporting walls or columns, it’s the world’s first tower to be wrapped in and supported by a free-form exoskeleton. Having opened in June 2018 and designed by renowned Zaha Hadid Architects, Morpheus currently offers 40 gaming tables, but more are expected to be added next year.

The property features 772 guest rooms, suites and villas, an in-house spa, restaurants by star chefs such as Alain Ducasse, and a sky pool that is 130 metres above the ground.

See more: Reasons to add Macau to your bucket list

Source: Internet

Discover Ko Phi Phi, paradise on earth

Regarded as one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand, Koh Phi Phi is also known as heaven on earth. The scenery here can overwhelm visitors with its majestic green cliffs, crystal clear water and numerous kinds of fish and marine animals freely swimming in the golden sunlight.

Ko Phi Phi is an archipelago, which consists of six smaller islands located in Krabi, Thailand. The most well-known islands are Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh both more commonly known as Phi Phi island. The island is always busy with its many restaurants, hotels, tour agents and souvenir shops. The main beach can get crowded and noisy as white sand, clear blue water and beautiful surrounding is popular with tourists. Phi Phi island is quite small and can easily be explored on foot or by bike. Numerous exciting activities are offered here including kayaking, diving and tours exploring caves. Both the sunset and sunrise on the island are absolutely stunning and romantic.

On Phi Phi you can book tours to visit nearby islands with prices ranging from 600 – 1,400 Baht. On these tours, tourists explore beautiful islands and can freely swim in the clear blue ocean. Phi Phi also has an exciting nightlife, which attracts young visitors. There are often parties on the main beach, with drinks, fire dances and great music where you can mingle and enjoy the exciting atmosphere.

Ko Phi Phi is one of Thailand’s most attractive tourism destinations so prices are relatively high. The main street leading to the beach is lined with seafood restaurants, with prices starting from 150 Baht. Accommodation prices for motels, hotels or resorts in Ko Phi Phi are expensive at 800 – 1,000 Baht for a motel room. To reach Ko Phi Phi fly from Vietnam to Bangkok and take another flight or bus to Krabi or Phuket. From here, you can take a canoe or ferry to the island. If you only visit Koh Phi Phi island boat rides from Krabi are your best option.

Read more: The most romantic resorts for a honeymoon in Thailand

Source Wanderlust Tips