Vietnam Food Safari
- Mar 14, 2023
- 6 min read

Foodies Guide to Vietnam - DaNang City

Foodies Guide to Vietnam – Let me Introduce you to DaNang City

Vietnam, for many people, is on their bucket list for must do destinations. From foodies, backpackers, adventure seekers, culture buffs and families just wanting to relax, Vietnam has something to offer everyone. And why shouldn’t it be on many peoples must do list? Vietnam is a tourist safe destination with some of the words best beaches, amazing food, fascinating culture, incredible scenery, deep in history and has some of the world’s best hotels. Now we could focus an article on the many of the reasons why Vietnam is an amazing destination for travellers, but for me Vietnam is all about its cuisine and food culture. But I transgress, let me introduce myself, I am the Chef on Safari, I have been a globe-trotting Chef for some time now, and very proud to say had a few nights enjoying eating and drinking in bars, restaurants, and street-side stalls in every place I have visited. And have had just as many mornings awaking to the mother of all hang overs, in locations I’m less proud to discuss. Putting that all aside, (If only briefly) today I will be your personal guide, happy to introduce you to one of my favourite locations in Vietnam, and if not the world, DaNang City. DaNang city has a way of delighting foodies. Spread between green mountains, fast flowing wide rivers and a sun soaked coastline, DaNang draws on culinary traditions from all over Central Vietnam. For foodies, there is a lot to look forward to in DaNang. In recent years, DaNang has gained a reputation for food travellers, and is famous for some of the freshest seafood in the world, its coffee culture, modern bars, fine dining restaurants, and street food that will make your mouth water. But where do we start? Well if you’re like me, the day must start with coffee, to wipe the cobwebs of last night away, or at least reboot the memory. And when it comes to coffee, you haven’t drunk coffee until you try it Vietnamese style. The daily ritual of coffee drinking in Vietnam is like no other in the world. Coffee is more than just a drink in Vietnam; it’s a way of life. Coffee can be found down every alleyway and around every corner, from funky shops to simple roadside stands. Vietnamese iced coffee, also known as cà phê đá or cafe da (, literally "ice coffee") is a common choice for locals. Traditionally cà phê đá is made with Vietnamese-grown coffee with a small metal Vietnamese drip filter (phin cà phê). Filling the filter with coffee, hot water is added, the drip filter releases drops of hot coffee slowly into a cup. This finished cup of dark, condensed strong coffee has a cube of ice added to chill. If you want your coffee white and sweet, then order a cà phê sữa đá, which is Vietnamese iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk added. My favourite, and the style most preferred by most tourists. Now the brain has had caffeine recharge, it must be time for breakfast. There are so many street food options for breakfast in DaNang. Street vendors line the narrow inner city roads advertising their specialties, from Bo Ne (sizzling steak and eggs), My Quang (rice noodles served with pork and shrimp), Cháo Vit (Rice Porridge with duck), Bun Bo (Rice Noodles with beef), and the world famous Banh Mi (Baguette with assorted fillings). But today let us enjoy Banh Cuon, an option I eat at least three times a week. Bánh cuốn (steamed roll) is a steamed rice paper roll traditionally filled with minced pork, mushrooms. And usually served with scallion oil, fried shallots, Vietnamese sausage (Chả Lụa), cucumbers, assorted fresh herbs and Vietnamese fish sauce dipping sauce (Nước Mắm Chấm). Breakfast, done! Now what to do with the rest of the day? DaNang has many options for travellers to undertake. But the day spent under the shadow of a coconut tree, next to crystal clear blue waters, perched on a deck chair overlooking white beach sand, is a great way to pass the day. Oh don’t forget you can order drinks to your chair, so tropical cocktail in one hand whilst sending selfies to your friends showing off your tan is a must! Now do you feel like eating again? Can I drag you from you from your deckchair? Well if you can, let’s enjoy a late lunch. Shall we choose? There are many mouth-watering options on offer, local market stalls serving Com Ga (Chicken and Rice), Banh Can (savory mini pancakes with green papaya salad), or the Danang specialties of, Banh trang cuon thit heo’ (belly pork and vegetables wrapped in soft rice paper or Bun Cha Ca (Rice noodles with fish cakes). But let’s keep up our regime of pure laziness, and just cross the road to one of the many seafood restaurants surrounding the beaches of DaNang. DaNang is world famous for its live seafood restaurants. No matter which restaurant you choose (but I do suggest only going to ones filled with local Vietnamese) it will be filled with glass tanks filled with live seafood. From shrimp, clams, lobster, assorted fish and oysters, everything is live. Pick out the seafood you want, choose either, steamed, charcoal grilled or stir-fried. Brought to the table with a side carton of beers on ice, lets enjoy our early afternoon feast! Having fished that feast, about now you probably want to recharge the batteries before heading out into DaNang’s vibrant nightlife. So let’s suggest a mid-afternoon nap by the pool of your hotel. See you in a few hours. Feeling refreshed? It’s time for dinner! Now we had some big meals today, so let’s just have a few street side snacks, at the DaNang night markets before heading out for some drinks. How about the local style Banh Xeo (sizzling pancakes) filed with pork and shrimp served with rice papers. Or a plate of cánh gà nướng (bbq chicken wings), cooked over a trough of charcoal, why not add a couple of Thịt xiên nướng(Bbq pork skewers) with sweet peanut sauce. Belly full? Let’s get a drink! What is your fancy? You can choose rooftop nightclubs overlooking DaNang City, Beach front bars offering a chilled night in a relaxing setting, live music venues, Speak easy style jazz bars with amazing cocktails, riverfront breweries with views of the twinkling DaNang city lights, or local Vietnamese restaurants filled with friends and family shouting Một – Hai – Ba – dzô”, (it's the way Vietnamese people say “cheers”) with endless supplies of beer. No matter your choice it will be a blast. Are you feeling joyous and the munchies setting in? Time to grab a taxi, and quell those munchies! Let me tell the taxi driver to stop on the side of the road and soak up the night festivities with a bowl of Bun Bo DaNang style, rice noodles, pork balls, slices of beef and loads of fresh herbs, being served by the many night street cart vendors. Hotel bound and it is time for bed, tomorrow is another day. And we have so many more choices for way to spend the day and night in DaNang City tomorrow. I can make a few suggestions; however the choice is up to you.