Bun mam nem is a pungent, savory noodle soup unique to central Vietnam. Here's where Da Nang locals actually eat it, how to order, and what makes it different from phở.

Lush Arabica coffee cherries ripening on a tree in Đà Lạt, Vietnam's highlands.

02 · Food & Drink

Ca Phe Buon Ma Thuot: Where Vietnamese Robusta Comes From

Buon Ma Thuot in Dak Lak province grows roughly 30% of the world's robusta coffee. Here's what that means for your cup and how to explore it on the ground.

A woman in a face mask holds a dried squid at an indoor seafood market.

03 · Food & Drink

Muc Mot Nang Phan Thiet: The Half-Dried Squid Vietnam's Coast Obsesses Over

Half-dried under a single sun, squid from Phan Thiet and Mui Ne hits a texture no fresh or fully dried version can match — here's what it is, where to buy it, and how to cook it.

A barn swallow nesting in a mud nest on a building ceiling during spring.

04 · Food & Drink

Yen Sao Khanh Hoa: Edible Bird's Nest, the Real Thing vs the Tourist Trap

Khanh Hoa produces some of the world's most prized edible bird's nests — but the tourist market is full of fakes. Here's how to buy the real thing.

Vibrant street food market stall in Vietnam serving traditional dishes.

05 · Food & Drink

Bun Ca Nha Trang: the Clear-Broth Fish Noodle Soup That Beats Pho in Summer

Nha Trang's "bun ca" is a light, aromatic fish noodle soup that locals eat for breakfast while it's still cool outside — and it's one of the best bowls on the central coast.

06 · Food & Drink

Banh Canh Cha Ca: Nha Trang's Thick Noodle and Fish-Cake Soup

Nha Trang's answer to breakfast is a bowl of thick, chewy noodles in a clear fish broth loaded with handmade fish cake. Here's what to order and where.

Vietnamese noodles with fresh herbs, chili peppers, and fish sauce captured in a market setting in Hue, Vietnam.

07 · Food & Drink

Com Hen Hue: the Baby-Clam Rice That Fills Riverside Alleys

Com hen is Hue's sharpest breakfast: cold rice, tiny clams, crackling pork rind, and a stack of raw herbs — fiery, funky, and rarely costs more than 20,000 VND.

Intricate rock formations inside Avène d'Orgnac, a famous cave in France.

08 · Destinations

Paradise Cave, Quang Binh: The 31km Marble Cave That Beats Phong Nha for Photographers

Paradise Cave runs 31km through Quang Binh's karst and delivers the kind of cathedral-scale formations that Phong Nha's boat tour simply can't match. Here's how to see it properly.

A lone explorer illuminates a vast, mysterious cave in Son La, Vietnam with a torch, showcasing nature's hidden wonders.

09 · Destinations

Son Doong Cave: What the $3,000 Oxalis Expedition Actually Includes

Son Doong is the world's largest cave and only one operator is legally allowed to take you inside. Here is what the permit-only expedition covers and whether it is worth it.

03.

Before you go — practical notes.

Quick reference

Best time

Feb – Aug

Dry season, cooler nights

Climate

Wet · Dry

Highland zones cooler

Currency

VND

~25,400 / USD

Language

Vietnamese

Central accent

Central Vietnam.

Destinations in Central — pick a place to start.

From this region — latest articles.

Before you go — practical notes.

Going to Vietnam?Eat and travel smarter.

Central Vietnam.

Destinations in Central — pick a place to start.

From this region — latest articles.

Before you go — practical notes.

Going to Vietnam?Eat and travel smarter.

Going to Vietnam?
Eat and travel smarter.

Going to Vietnam?
Eat and travel smarter.