From March to June, according to Google Destination Insights, Vietnam was the seventh most searched destination and the only country in Southeast Asia to make it into the top 20. The new visa policy implemented in August, increasing the validity period of e-visas from 30 days to 90 days, is expected to boost the number of tourists .
Knott was also a tourist visiting Vietnam this summer. She chose Hoi An as her destination. There, Knott attended Mimi Tran Thi My's Red Bridge cooking class. After visiting the market, she was taken on a 20-minute boat ride along the Thu Bon River to the cooking school, situated amidst 8,000 square meters of fruit trees, herb gardens, and lush tropical flowerbeds.
Mimi says that Hoi An's cuisine is subtly influenced by Japan, China, and the West. This prompted Knott to explore more of the ancient city's dishes. Below is a list of dishes she believes foreign visitors shouldn't miss when visiting Hoi An – 'Vietnam's culinary capital'.
1. Rose-shaped steamed buns
These small, delicate, translucent white dumplings, filled with pork or shrimp and lightly steamed, are a specialty of Hoi An. Served with fish sauce for dipping and topped with crispy fried onions, the dumplings are considered quite delicious, although they can be a bit oily.
2. Cao Lau
Cao Lau is considered the most famous dish in Hoi An. This dish consists of noodles with slices of char siu pork, bean sprouts, and fresh herbs. When it first appeared in the 17th century, Cao Lau was considered a dish for the wealthy. However, today it has become popular with people of all social classes.
Furthermore, Cao Lau is special because its noodles are made with calcium-rich water from the thousand-year-old Ba Le well in the city, renowned for its extreme purity.
3. Quang Noodles
Mì Quảng, with its flat, chewy noodles topped with pork, shrimp, quail eggs, garnished with peanuts and crispy biscuits, and served with fresh passion fruit juice, is a delicious dish that, according to Knott, shouldn't be missed in Hoi An.
4. Chicken rice
Chicken rice is a popular dish in Hoi An, brought to the city by Chinese traders.
Served with shredded green papaya and carrots, and chicken broth, the dish features tender boiled chicken, glossy rice, and a rich chili sauce.
5. Bread
Banh mi is sold all over Hoi An. The late chef Anthony Bourdain, who featured the dish on his television show No Deposits, called banh mi "a symphony of breads." Hoi An banh mi has a crispy crust and a generous, delicious filling.
6. Crispy Fried Wontons
Another dish that appeared was crispy fried wontons. The wontons were topped with fresh shrimp and sweet and sour mango salsa.
7. Coffee/Herbal drinks
Coffee, served hot or cold, with or without condensed milk, along with lemongrass and lemon herbal tea, are two of Hoi An's most popular drinks. Besides coffee, there are also many stalls selling fresh fruit juices and smoothies.
8. Mango Cake
Mango cakes are a popular street food in Hoi An: these small cakes are named as such because they resemble mango seeds. Inside are various nuts, crushed beans, and brown sugar.
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