I.eat.the.world.: pho sho'

the steamy, tasty broth. the tender meat. the firm noodles. the fresh leaves. the spices. the colors.

pho. i still have dreams of this.

Ho Chi Minh city, i knew if i was only to have one meal in this place, it would be pho. pho sho'. knowing me, one meal is not enough. but might as well start with the best.

Pho Bac Hai, at 25 Ng The Minh Khai, (im feeling generous giving the complete deets today), makes one hell of a bowl. a hole-in-a wall place, filled with locals, no-frills just good pho.

the staff can't speak english so make sure you know already what to order, how to say it in their language, or at least point it on the menu plastered on their wall. their menu is limited, you won't be confused. there's pho' bo (beef) and pho' ga (chicken).

Tony (yes, we're in a first name basis) called this pho, food porn. and he's right. like always.

steamy, messy, hot and will leave you wanting for more. food porn.

my hot Saigon afternoon just got hotter. and gratifying. all that for only 25,000 vietnamese dong, or 50 pesos. it just got even better.

vietnamese pancakes. this is new to me since ive never had them before. never knew what it's made of. or how it tastes. this is a case of, "surprise me".

and surprised me, it did.

Banh Xeo Vietnamese Pancake, at Quan 46A Dinh Cong Trang, is famous for it's, well, banh xeo (veitnamese savoury fried pancakes).

the serving is big, but im not complaining. it's cheap, fresh and flavorful. you can't complain.

rice flour crepe filled with shrimps, bean sprouts and herbs. wrap a piece in mustard or lettuce leaves, and dip it in it's special sauce. take a bite. *sigh*

then there's Ben Thahn market, popular with tourists to buy handicrafts, coffee and souvenirs. be careful with the price hike for tourists, but a must-see if you want to see the hustle and bustle of a traditional vietnamese market.

the only reason i paid it a visit, i want those vietnamese rolls they make right in front of you.

it's definitely worth a visit. not just for the vietnamese rolls (although mainly for it), but to see part of saigon's trading history, interact with the locals, and of course, haggle for souvenirs. if only i drink coffee, i would have joined the haggling.