How much is cheese in Vietnam?

Can you get cheese in Vietnam?

Cheese. Vietnam. Ubiquitous. French. Colonial legacy.

Fusion food. Banh mi. Pizza. Not authentic. But it works.

Globalized palates. Demand creates supply. Capitalism. Inevitable.

My friend, Lan, from Da Nang. Loves gouda. Strange.

Dairy farms. Emerging industry. Interesting development. Profitable.

Processed cheese. Common. Real cheese. Expensive. A status symbol.

Tastes change. Cultures shift. Nothing static. Ever.

• French colonization: The primary introduction of cheese to Vietnamese cuisine.
• Globalization: Drives the current demand for cheese and other non-native foods.
• Economic factors: Dairy farming is becoming increasingly profitable in Vietnam.
• Status symbol: Consuming imported cheeses can be seen as a sign of wealth.
• Culinary adaptation: Cheese is incorporated into existing dishes, creating unique Vietnamese-Western fusion foods.

What is the price of food in Vietnam?

Pho. Cheap eats. Like, 50,000 dong? My last trip, July ’23, Hanoi. Street food. Banh mi. Amazing. 20,000. Maybe less. Dinner… fancier place, District 1, Saigon. 500,000 dong, easy. Beer. Saigon beer. Cold. So cheap. Bia Hoi. Ridiculously cheap. What even was that, 10,000? Crazy. Coffee. Strong. Cà phê sữa đá. Love it. 25,000 dong. Fruit. Mango sticky rice. So good. Street vendors. Best food. Bargaining. Gotta bargain. Touristy spots… higher prices. Always. Dinner cruise. Mekong Delta. Expensive. But worth it? Probably. Seafood. Fresh. Grilled. Perfect.

• Budget: 50,000 – 150,000 dong (basic lunch)
• Mid-range: 200,000 – 500,000 dong (nicer restaurant)
• High-end: Over 500,000 dong (fancy places, tourist traps)

Hanoi different than Saigon. Prices. Atmosphere. Everything. Night markets. Ben Thanh Market. Crowded. Hot. But the food. So worth it. Bun cha. Obama ate bun cha. Must be good. Right? Where was that place… Hmm. Food tours. Good way to try things. Different districts. Different foods. Learned to make spring rolls. Cooking class. Hoi An. Loved it. Wish I could remember the name of that restaurant… the one with the cao lầu…

• Street food: Super cheap. Best value.
• Restaurants: More expensive. Sometimes worth it.
• Drinks: Beer, coffee, tea… all very affordable.

My hotel. Silverland Central Hotel. Breakfast buffet. Included. So much food. Phở every morning. Fruit. Eggs. Juice. Great way to start the day. Then out to explore. And eat more. Always eating. Noodles. Rice. Everything. So much good food. So cheap. Why is it so cheap? Should go back soon.

Is milk expensive in Vietnam?

Vietnamese milk? A bargain, if you stick to the local stuff. Think happy, grass-fed Vietnamese cows (probably). Imported milk? Fancy. Like buying bottled air from the Swiss Alps. Worth it? Debatable. My friend Linh in Hanoi says her family splurges on imported milk for special occasions. Like Tuesdays.

• Local milk: Cheap as chips. Well, not chips. Rice. Cheap as rice. Good enough for everyday slurping.
• Imported milk: Pricey. Makes you feel sophisticated. Even if you’re drinking it in your pajamas. Which I do. Don’t judge.
• Packaging: Matters. Apparently. Fancy carton? Costs more. Who knew?
• Nutrients: Extra omega-3s and whatnot. For brainy kids. Or so they say. I just buy the regular stuff.
• Location: Big city supermarket? Prepare to pay. Small neighborhood shop? Better on the wallet. I once found a great deal on milk at a place selling motorbikes. Go figure.

My milk budget? Let’s just say I could buy a small herd of Vietnamese water buffalo for what I spend on oat milk in a year. Don’t tell my landlord. He’s already convinced I’m running a petting zoo in my apartment.

Are things in Vietnam expensive?

Vietnam…cheap, they say. Yeah, I suppose. It depends on what you’re after, doesn’t it?

Some days, the cost of living feels manageable. Other days? Like chasing a ghost. Always one step ahead.

• Rent in Ho Chi Minh City can vary wildly. It’s doable for $500/month if you live like a local. I know I have.

• Food is affordable, especially street food. Pho’s a comfort. It costs maybe $2-3. But imported goods kill you. Things you miss from home.

• Visas? Now there’s a headache. I’m always sorting visas. Tourist visas are easy, but living there… that’s a whole different game.

Bringing stuff back to the US… Hmm, I tried that once. Silk scarves, coffee, a few wood carvings. Seemed cheaper there. But the extra baggage fees negated the savings, lol.

Malls are a different story. Think upscale. Think prices closer to Australian costs. No joke. Not the Vietnam I know.

Living there for a year? Expect around $15,000 – $25,000. If you play it smart. And yeah, some places are definitely cheaper than Thailand. I prefer the chaos. Just me.

The point of these things.

• Rent prices depend where u live and how nice it is.
• Living costs are low but imported stuff is expensive.
• Bringing stuff back home is a pain in the ass.

Do they make cheese in Vietnam?

Vietnam? Cheese exists. Thirteen varieties. Not what you expect.

• All-natural. A detail.
• Supply chain: +300 locales. Hotels crave cheese? Apparently.
• Mozzarella. Scamorza. Ricotta. Burrata. The usual suspects, Italian style.

Burrata is signature? Curious. I once saw worse. My take? Expected.

Do Vietnamese people eat dairy?

Calcium conundrum? Vietnamese cuisine? Think fish sauce, not cheese sauce. It’s a stereotype, sure, but rooted in truth. Lactose intolerance? Sadly, common. Like a bad rom-com, milk and many Vietnamese just don’t have chemistry. However, Vietnamese-Americans? Milk-guzzling champions, practically. Cultural assimilation: a powerful force. Like osmosis, but with sugary cereal.

• Dairy isn’t traditional: Think pho, banh mi, spring rolls… See any cheese curds lurking? Didn’t think so.
• Fish sauce is king: Umami bomb. Calcium? Not so much. Delicious? Absolutely. Priorities, people.
• Lactose intolerance is real: Like trying to parallel park in a Smart Car – uncomfortable and ultimately futile for many.
• Vietnamese-Americans are the exception: Grew up with milk. Embraced the lactose. Became one with the calcium.
• Other calcium sources exist: Leafy greens. Certain fish (those little bones!). Even tofu sometimes sneaks in. Not all Vietnamese are of Chinese descent. It’s not a monolithic culture, you know.
• My grandma? Still avoids dairy like the plague. Even in America. Thirty years and she still prefers fish sauce. Respect.

2024 update: Still seeing a lot of pho, not a lot of parmesan. Times, they are a-changin’, but some traditions hold strong. Like my grandma’s love for fish sauce. Bless her heart.