The Ins and Outs of Quinhon Cuisine

After much debate, I decided that I definitely want to stay in Quinhon until my contract ends. If I quit, I’d still have challenges facing me back at home. I’d have to find housing, a job, and a way to study for the LSAT in the midst of all the changes.  And I’d have lost the opportunity to gain valuable work experience.  So I’m staying (unless I get randomly fired again, which I hope doesn’t happen!).

My modus operandi isn’t to chase a carefree, happy life. I believe in learning to see positives, even in difficult times.  Life is stressful, no matter if you’re living in Quinhon or Anapolis. Fulfilling my contract here will be great practice in stress management, and will also give me an invaluable opportunity to learn about a culture different from my own.

I feel like I’m adjusting slowly, and am in a much happier place than I was last week.  Today, one of the TAs from the language center took me out to lunch with one of her friends, then we got our nails done. Mine look like this:

Just the right amount of tacky.
Just the right amount of tacky.

Anyway, I’d like to share with you some of my experiences eating in Vietnam. I’ve tried a lot of cool stuff. And to be blunt, I’ve had a lot of diarrhea to go with it.

Here are some of my favorite dishes:

 

Breakfast

I usually just eat yogurt from my fridge or some fruit for breakfast, but when I go out it’s so delicious!

Bahn Mi. Typical breakfast food. About fifty cents.
Bahn mi thit. Typical breakfast food. About fifty cents.

 

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The scene at Bookafe, a really popular hangout in Quinhon. Busy and a nice place to study, if you don’t mind literally everyone starting at you, and the employees asking to take pictures with you, haha.

 

Mì xào bò. Noodles with beef. A tasty, filling breakfast for just over a dollar.
Mì xào bò. Noodles with beef. A tasty, filling breakfast for just over a dollar.

 

 

Drinks

Vietnam has a strong mocktail game. (And a weeeak alcoholic beverage game. I hate the beer here.)

There are so many bars and cafes that serve really elaborate, strange concoctions of sugary juices and fruit.

I don’t have any pictures to share of mocktails right now, though, sorry!

IMG_6659Sugar cane juice makes a lovely sweet refreshment.

Carrot lassi. Yogurt drink that tastes like liquid carrot cake.  Mmmm!!!
Carrot lassi. Yogurt drink that tastes like liquid carrot cake. Kinda fancy. I like to have it for breakfast. Mmmm!!!

 

 

Lunch and Dinner

FullSizeRenderCom ga. Or chicken rice. Pretty simple.

 

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Bahn trang nuoc mam. An appetizer. Savory as fuck and so so so so good. Comes with a side of lime flavored sauce. Delicious.

 

Cháo. It's a type of rice porridge. This one had mushrooms, beef, and egg yolks in it. I love you, Cháo.
Cháo. It’s a type of rice porridge. This one had mushrooms, beef, and egg yolks in it. I love you, Cháo.

 

Ga chien man, or fried chicken!
Ga chien man, or fried chicken….

 

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….with a side of peanuts, of course….

 

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….aaaaaannnnnnd I can’t help but play with the chicken head.

 

headlesschickenhero