What food to avoid in Vietnam?

What to eat and not to eat in Vietnam?

Navigating Vietnamese cuisine: a delicious adventure.

Enjoy:

• Pho: A national treasure. Every region has its own twist, of course.
• Banh Mi: The French influence shines. Get it from a street vendor; that's where the magic happens.
• Goi Cuon (Fresh Spring Rolls): Light, flavorful, and healthy-ish. Okay, very healthy-ish. Rice paper and fresh ingredients are a great combo.
• Bun Cha: Grilled pork with noodles and herbs in a savory broth? Yes, please! Hanoi does this best, it is true.

Exercise caution:

• Tap Water: Stick to bottled or boiled. It's a given.
• Ice: Question its source. Imported is better.
• Raw Veggies: Wash yourself. Hygiene is key.
• Street Meat: This can be risky. Be selective.

Foods to approach with caution:

• Mam Tom (Shrimp Paste): An acquired taste, let me tell you. Very acquired. Also, smell. It can really have quite a potent smell, tbh.
• Balut (Fertilized Duck Egg): Not for the faint of heart, really.
• Anything too cheap: If a deal is too good, maybe think twice.

Food is, after all, quite personal. It's a culinary tightrope walk. Every bite has its own story. And sometimes, maybe, just maybe, you roll the dice. A culinary leap of faith? I do it all the time.

How to avoid getting food poisoning in Vietnam?

• Cooked food is paramount. Seriously. Raw anything carries risks, esp in a new environment.

• Hygiene, always. Hand sanitizer is your friend. I always carry one now. Remember my Thailand trip in 2020? Lesson learned.

• Observe the crowds. Popular spots usually mean quick turnover and fresher ingredients. Nobody wants a restaurant sitting empty!

• Online reviews like TripAdvisor aren't bad to check. Although they are not reliable alone. It’s an easy indicator.

• Money and food contact? Eww, right? Be mindful when exchanging cash before you eat or maybe just go cashless if u can.

• Fruits are nature's candy. Peelable fruits? Lower risk. Less direct contact, you know?

• Water is tricky. Ice, bottled water, salads - scrutinize them all. Even brushed my teeth with bottled stuff on one trip!

• Staying hydrated is essential. But, yeah, gotta make smart water choices along the way.

Additional considerations:

• Street food caution. Delicious, but risky. Check for visible cleanliness.
• Trust your gut. If something feels off, don’t eat it.
• Consider travel insurance. I've thought about this myself for future trips! It gives you peace of mind.

What should you avoid eating in Vietnam?

Ugh, Vietnam food. So much amazing stuff, but also…some things to steer clear of. Raw blood pudding? Hard pass. Seriously, who eats that? I heard stories. Not pretty.

Pufferfish. That's a big one. Deadly poisonous, right? No way I'm risking it. I read about someone who almost died from that. Never.

Tap water. Duh. Stomach issues are no fun. Bottled water, always. This is non-negotiable. My friend got sick last year, from the tap water in Hoi An.

Strange meat. Okay, this is vague, I know. But trust me, some things look…off. Like, I saw something at a market once. Nope. Not taking chances. I'm sticking to the stuff I recognise.

Cold soups in the heat? Sounds… questionable. Not for me. My gut is sensitive enough as it is. I'm all about hot pho or bun bo Hue.

Fruits with edible skins? Depends. Wash them meticulously. Street vendors... I'm more cautious. I prefer peeled fruit. I had a bad experience with a mango in 2022.

Toads. Seriously? This isn't some weird delicacy, is it? I'm sure there are other, less… repulsive things to eat. Ew. Just ew.

• Avoid: Raw blood pudding. Seriously, why?
• Absolutely not: Pufferfish (deadly!)
• Stick to bottled: Water
• Use caution: Strange meats – err on the side of caution.
• Better hot: Avoid cold soups.
• Wash carefully: Fruits with edible skins
• Hard no: Toads. Gross.

My trip was amazing. Except for the near-death experience from almost eating a mystery meat, I'm still recovering from the near-death experience in 2023. I’m glad I didn't eat anything too adventurous. Should have stayed to the safer side of Vietnamese Cuisine. Next time, I’m sticking to the usual stuff. Pho for life!

Can you have ice in your drinks in Vietnam?

Ice? Sure, drink it.

Most ice is fine now. Filtered. Safe.

But be smart. Two kinds exist. One's for other things. Not you.

• Clean Ice: Used in drinks. Filtered. Safe to ingest.
• Industrial Ice: Unfiltered. Commercial only. Don’t drink.

Few ever see the bad ice. I haven't. Yet. Think of it this way: it's kinda like how your old phone works, or doesn't, after one too many software updates. Expected, but still annoying.

Can you wash your face with tap water in Vietnam?

Ugh, Vietnam tap water... face washing. Okay.

Cities, yeah, city tap water should be fine for a face wash. Hanoi, Saigon, no worries. Right?

• Don't drink it, ew.
• Eyes closed. Duh.

Rural areas, hmm. My aunt in the countryside, she always boils everything. Maybe there it's different.

Shower water... safer? Why? It is tap water... Shower, face. Shower is always safe, they say.

Boiling water… like tea. I love tea.

• Green tea!
• Jasmine tea!

Always close your eyes. ALWAYS. Painful if not.

Wait, what was I even thinking about? Oh yeah, washing my face. Right before green tea!

Is the tap water in Vietnam safe to drink?

The Vietnamese tap water… a shimmering, uncertain surface. It reflects the sun, a cruel mockery. No, no, do not drink it. My own stomach remembers the churning, the bitter rebellion. Avoid it. Absolutely avoid it.

Bottled water. Crisp, cool, a sanctuary. That's the only way. Always. The taste… a memory of home, far away from the humid air here. Clean. Pure. Essential.

Raw food… a gamble. A reckless dance with fate. The vibrant colors, the seductive aromas… traps. Avoid them. I’ve learned. My body has taught me.

Ice cubes. Innocent-seeming. But no. Hidden dangers within. Unless you see the purification process, personally. With my own eyes. Bottled water ice only. This is the rule.

The stomach cramps. The fever. The endless nights. I swear, only the bottled water protects you. Remember. This is what I know. This is the truth.

Essential Precautions:

• Always use bottled water. This is non-negotiable.
• Avoid raw foods. Absolutely. Stick to cooked meals, from trustworthy establishments.
• Ice cubes are suspect. Use only those made with purified water.
• My body, my experience, my warning. Trust in this.

This is not a suggestion. This is a survival guide. The taste of illness is bitter, and lingers. I remember the long nights. Avoid it all. Safe travels.

How can I not get sick in Vietnam?

So, you wanna dodge the dreaded "Vietnam tummy"? Well, buckle up, buttercup! Think of Vietnam's germs as tiny ninjas, they're everywhere!

First, wash your hands like you just wrestled a mud monster. Singing "Happy Birthday" twice isn't overkill; it's survival! I swear, I saw a guy wash his hands after touching a doorknob...smart!

Next, water is your enemy. Bottled water is the only way. Boiled water? Sure, if you wanna taste sadness. Seriously, stick to the bottled stuff, unless you enjoy plumbing issues.

Finally, raw food is a gamble. Avoid anything that looks remotely questionable. If it's undercooked, send it back. Imagine your stomach as a fortress and raw food as the enemy, sounds like a battle you don't wanna fight, right? Also consider the quality. Street food is the best, and the worst, simultaneously.

• Hands: Wash often, like a surgeon pre-op.
• Water: Bottled only, unless you enjoy the thrill of the unknown...and explosive diarrhea.
• Food: Cooked, cooked, COOKED! If it looks suspicious, ditch it!
• Consider: A good probiotic. My aunt says they work...or was it my uncle?
• Bonus: Hand sanitizer is your new best friend, carry a mini size, it's super useful.

Cholera, hepatitis, and typhoid are no laughing matter, trust me. My cousin Barry got typhoid once; he looked like a ghost. So seriously, take precautions, or be prepared to hug the toilet...a lot.