We took a forty minute drive out of town with our guide to the Cu Chi tunnels
which were built by the Viet Cong. This is an incredible site and at first I questioned the authenticity of bomb craters around the tunnels. I was later assured that the craters were genuine remnants from the Vietnam War. Subsequent reading has given me a greater understanding of the role of these tunnels in the war that was fought in the south of Vietnam.
It is said that the network of tunnels stretch over 200 kilometres and some are up to four layers deep. They housed the Viet Cong and so included medical facilities, kitchens, bedrooms and anything that was vital in their fight against the United States' forces.
Upon our return to Saigon (city) we were phamished so we ask Minh if he'd take us for some phở which he obliged. In retrospect it was the best phở we'd eat in Vietnam - a beef soup crammed full of flavour and respectfully accompanied by a pile of the freshest of herbs. It is frowned upon (rightly so) to waste food in Vietnam so when I over catered my phở with chilli the lovely guide Minh stepped in to eat what chilli I couldn't. I'd say I like my chilli mild-hot but even these yellowish chillies (I was fooled by the colour) set my mouth alight. A good strong sip on a fresh coconut helped to illeviate the pain and then I had to get back down to the task of finishing the dish.
This was my first taste of the saw-tooth herb that Luke Nguyen speaks of and accompanies phở in the south.
Our total bill - 3 (very large) phở, 2 fresh coconuts and 1 tea came to 180,000VD which is equivalent to $9 AUD.
Phở Hòa Pasteur
Address: Pasteur, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Phone:+84 8 3829 7943
Hehe, I've been fooled by those very chillies before! Thankfully I like things burning hot :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're on to them! I like it hot but these were HOT! I bet you're looking forward to your trip!!
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