Prices
for food and drinks, as well as the general cost of living, are so unbeatably
cheap that Vietnam was recently named the world’s most affordable country for
foreigners. And the best part is: you’ll eat well!
Accommodation,
transport, sightseeing, food and drinks… budget tourism site Price of Travel
has recently estimated a backpacker’s daily expenses in Hanoi at US$18.19.
That’s less than the entrance fee to visit the Tower of London - in pounds!
Online
institution Numbeo estimates that the cost of living in Vietnam is 45.71
percent lower than in the US.
Food
makes up a good part of this. The usual Saigonese office lunch, for instance,
offers a range of local specialities from cơm
tấm to hủ tiếu at VND35,000
(US$1.54), often including a soup as a starter and a small dessert. While
portions are not US-sized, this three-course meal does fill you up; and it is
delicious!
If
you think these bargains are limited to street food, think again. Even more
sophisticated eateries up to Vietnam’s dining temples are highly affordable
compared to international prices. For local fare, you’ll rarely pay more than
VND250,000 (US$11) per dish.
One
simple question arises:
Why Is Vietnamese
Food So Cheap?
Vietnamese
Food Is Inexpensive by Nature
Vietnamese
cuisine is fresh and light in character. Following a deeply rooted food
philosophy that aims at harmonising yin and yang through nutrition, nearly all
Vietnamese dishes perfectly balance out greens and vegetables, proteins and
carbohydrates. Portions are not humongous like in other parts of the world, but
stomach-filling.
Vietnamese women selling cheap eats at a food stand. Image source: Travel + Leisure
The
recipes, on the other hand, have often been passed down from previous
generations who lived a simple life, relying heavily on locally sourced ingredients
you’ll find on pretty much any street market at prices that truly amaze.
A
10-pack of eggs merely puts you back a dollar. You could easily buy a whole
bagful of vegetables like carrots or local greens, or fruits like bananas or
passion fruits and not spend more than US$2.50. And a country with a coastline
of 3,440 kilometres is never short of the freshest and cheapest seafood.
Nature
is so kind to abundantly provide Vietnamese gastronomy with everything it
needs. A trip to the Mekong Delta is enough to understand just how rich and
fertile the Vietnamese soil is. This country is quite simply a food paradise on
earth!
Cheap
Work = Cheap Food
Another
reason for the cheap food prices is the same as for the affordability of life
in Vietnam in general: wages are rising, but still low on an international
scale. Consequently, the labour cost that goes into your lunch is considerably
lower than in other countries, which beats down the prices and also creates a
demand for reasonably priced food. If you earn US$150 per month, you won’t
spend more than a dollar or two on your daily eating. So there are also vendors
who cater to that demand.
A
Lack of Food Safety?
Lastly,
there’s also a downside to the spectacular prices: food safety is not Vietnam’s
strong suit. Paying less attention to hygiene ultimately means a lower cost.
The main problems are the use of pesticides, lack of refrigeration and
insufficient storage systems, as well as hygiene violations during food
processing and cooking.
While
any consumer in Vietnam should keep this in mind, it would be wrong to distrust
the whole industry - and even more wrong to refrain from indulging in all the
goodness offered on the street side! Just use your common sense. If a place
looks dirty or obviously lacks proper hygiene standards, don’t go.
Well-frequented street vendors and restaurants are usually safe.
Eating Well
The
good news is: Vietnam – and especially its urban centres Hanoi and Saigon – gives
you all the options. If you want to have lunch for VND15,000 (US$0.66), you’ll
find that. If you’re willing to pay top prices for top-quality international
fare, you’ll also find that, cheaper than in many other countries. However, the
best choice is, as so often, the happy medium.
A group foreigners eating street food. Image source: uyenluu.com
Vietnam
has plenty of mid-range street restaurants that are fixed in a house or on a
street corner. Prices hover around VND30,000 - 70,000 (US$1.32 - 3.08) per
dish, food quality is good and the taste is to drop to your knees for. And
after all, three dollars for a full-blown, savoury meal is not too bad, is it?
So
do look out for those charming little bún
chả or cơm tấm, cao lầu or bún bò Huế, mì quảng or bánh
xèo places that get crowded at lunch- and dinnertime. This is where you’ll
truly experience the culinary genius of Vietnam’s multifaceted, healthy and
flavour-bursting cuisine.
By Vietnamese
Food Lovers