A content creator couple’s guide to Ho Chi Minh City

Key Concepts:

• Cơm tấm (broken rice): A popular Vietnamese dish, often eaten for breakfast or dinner.
• Cà phê muối (salt coffee): Vietnamese coffee with salt.
• Hột vịt lộn (fetal duck egg): A developing duck embryo that is boiled and eaten in the shell. Also known as Balut in the Philippines.
• Nước mắm (fish sauce): A common condiment in Vietnamese cuisine.
• Rau răm (Vietnamese coriander): An herb commonly eaten with hột vịt lộn.
• Red Dao herbal bath: A traditional herbal bath used by the Red Dao ethnic minority in Sapa, Vietnam, believed to have health benefits.

Cơm Tấm Experience

• Popularity and Timing: Cơm tấm is a staple dish in Vietnam, available at numerous stalls, especially catering to the night crowd but also popular for breakfast. The featured stall closes at 3 PM and is extremely popular, often selling out by early afternoon. Arriving around 1 or 2 PM can mean waiting in line for 45 minutes to an hour.
• Quality and Flavor: The cơm tấm at this particular stall is considered high quality, with thicker cuts of meat compared to other places. The flavor is exceptional, leading to a perceived "addiction" to the dish.
• Eating Style: Josh drizzles nước mắm over his cơm tấm, while Vy has a different approach.

Coffee Culture and Cà Phê Muối

• Cafe as a Relaxing Space: Cafes in Vietnam are seen as places to relax and unwind.
• Cà Phê Muối: Vy enjoys cà phê muối for its refreshing, slightly salty taste and the milk froth.
• Coffee Strength: Vietnamese coffee typically uses Robusta beans, resulting in a stronger brew. Josh prefers Australian coffee due to the strength of Vietnamese coffee. Vy doesn't drink coffee because of the jitters.

Massage and Wellness

• Regular Massage Routine: Josh and Vy visit a massage place at least once a week, sometimes twice.
• Full Experience: The massage place offers a comprehensive experience, including a herbal steam room, a pink rock sauna, a Jacuzzi bath, and a Red Dao bath.
• Red Dao Bath: The Red Dao herbal bath is a traditional practice of the Red Dao ethnic minority from Sapa, believed to reduce fatigue, improve skin, and boost the immune system.

Hột Vịt Lộn (Balut) Consumption

• Availability and Cultural Significance: Hột vịt lộn is a common street food in Vietnam, also known as Balut in the Philippines.
• Preparation and Eating Style: The egg is typically served in an egg holder, but Vy prefers to have it cracked onto a plate. It is eaten with rau răm (Vietnamese coriander) and a special sauce made from salt, pepper, chili, and lime juice.
• Superstition: There's a belief that eating an odd number (one) of hột vịt lộn can turn bad luck into good luck, while eating two can maintain good luck. This is particularly popular among gamblers.
• Vendor History: The vendor at their favorite hột vịt lộn spot has been selling for about 17 years. Vy has been going to this place for about 9 years, and Josh for 5 years.
• Challenge: Josh mentions eating 10 hột vịt lộn in one sitting in a previous video.

Conclusion:

The video showcases a glimpse into Josh and Vy's downtime activities in Vietnam, highlighting their favorite local experiences, including enjoying cơm tấm, cà phê muối, massages, and hột vịt lộn. It also touches upon Vietnamese culture, such as the importance of cafes as relaxation spaces, the traditional Red Dao herbal bath, and the superstitions surrounding hột vịt lộn consumption.