So, this is one of the few weeks where I am alone in Vietnam without any of my Singaporean based team members. GH is returning this weekend. Until then, I do not have much time left to venture out on my own. When the end of each day draws near, one thing that I try to avoid the entire day stares at me right in the face. What am I going to do for dinner?

So we had grilled cockles, mussels in ginger soup and steamed crabs (not grilled crabs I was told) on Tuesday with my Vietnamese counterparts. Yesterday, I thought I headed back to the apartment, drop my stuff off and ventured out for street side fare. I didn’t venture very far. Probably less than 10 minutes walking distance and settled for Phở Bò and a Halida draught. Wasn’t much of an adventure really. Somehow, I have this feeling I was slightly over-charged when I paid VND30,000 for the noodles and beer at the street stall. A bowl of noodles and a beer back home would set me back SGD7 at least; almost 3 times the price. So, what the heck.

Well, this evening I headed back to the restaurant where I once had Phở Bò not too long ago. ET and myself stopped by there the night we were out going crazy; asking for directions to the nearest pharmacy. I was perspiring when I stepped in and the waiter was quick to offer me a seat in the middle of the restaurant. One that seemed out of place and the first table you would notice as you walked in. I thought it was an odd place to sit and opted for a table in the corner. The waiter responded as he pointed upwards “yes sir, no problem… I thought because here air-con…” Impressive!

Vietnam (Country Guide): Nick Ray: Books

Well, according to the Lonely Planet - Vietnam, Golden Land comes as a recommended restaurant and is famed for their grilled fish. Naturally, I ordered Chả cá Hà Nội (Traditional Vietnamese Grilled Fish) from the menu. I placed my order and took a sip of my beer to cool off. incidentally, this restaurant is located at 15 Cha Ca Str, Hanoi.

It took about 5 minutes before the waitress came with a tray of vegetables and condiments. As she placed the plate of greens on my table, I can’t help but think that one of the main vegetables of the dish looked like freshly cut over grown grass from a well kept football pitch.

Anyway, she returned less than a minute later. This time with a portable gas stove and a frying pan with pieces of what seemed to be cooked fish. At the twist of the lever, the fire started and she began putting in a portion of the vegetables and sautéed with the fish. In less than a minute, dinner was ready to be served.

I had initially wondered how I was to partake of this dish. That was all solved with the guidance of the waitress. She took my little rice bowl and place a portion of each ingredient into my bowl. As she did this, I was told what was going into my bowl… “rice noodles sir… vegetable… fish sir… some peanuts… some spring onions sir… and coriander… you like chilli sir?” Even if the food was crap, I you will have to give them credit for service. Something that is still lacking in many areas of Hanoi.

When asked what I was to do with the 2 bowls of sauce, she took the teaspoon and “sir, fish sauce… and a little shrimp sauce… have a good dinner sir…” That was it and dinner was good to go. As I allowed my curiousity to take over and tucked into my meal, my friendly waitress went on to cook the rest of my vegetables.

The whole traditional Vietnamese Grilled Fish dish (Chả cá Hà Nội)

All in the bowl and ready to eat

For the friendly service and above average food, it’s well worth the above average menu price. As I paid the bill for dinner, I asked the bartender why he didn’t cook dinner for me as he promised the last time. Immediately I got the a big smile and “Hello sir, nice to see you again sir…” I engaged in small talk with him while the lady was charging the bill to my card. Dinner came up to VND99,000 inclusive of a Hanoi Beer. It’s under SGD10 for dinner at a friendly service restaurant. All in all, it was a good experience.

Tomorrow evening, I’m headed to a pub called ‘Funky Monkey’ I was told by the bartender that that’s a place I should check out. Karaoke night with the team has been postponed till next Friday. Well, I’d just have to see how good this place is for myself don’t I?