VIETNAM CURRENCY

Have you ever travel or planed for a trip to Vietnam? What do you know about our currency? 
Let us share you something that whenever you are in Vietnam you are a millionare!!! Vietnam is not only famous about its beauty, hospitable people and great food, it is also well-known for its currency with lots of numbers. Here, we use THOUSAND  up but not cents or a Dola. Because of that reason so it brings some difficulties for tourists during their first visit in Vietnam. 

In this post, we would like to share and teach you to know more about Vietnamese Dong to be ready to your great time in Vietnam. 

1. The exchange rate between Vietnamese Dong to other main currencies ( July 10, 2018).

- 1 USD = 23,000 VND
- 1 GBP = 30,186 VND
- 1 AUD = 17,020 VND
- 1 EUR = 26,874 VND
- 1 CAD = 17,325 VND

2. How we can realize the different and minimize mistakes when you use VND?

* You can guest quickly it's small money or more value money by looking the materials: All the smallest VND made from paper ( similar with cents you use back home) and from 10,000VND (45 cents) made from plastic.

* You can look at the size of the plastic notes and guess which one is more value: the smaller size is normally the less value then others. For example: 10,000VND note is smaller than 20,000VND one,...

* You shouldn't care much about the last "000" on our money because almost our money starts with thousand VND, so what you do is look at the "0" before the "." on our currency. For example, we have 500.000VND ( $22) so you just count two "0" before the "." so we have 500 means 500 (thousand VND); 50.000VND means 50 (thousand VND).

3. Try remember about the money colors

Here is some pictures of VND:

* 500VND (2,2 cents)

* 1000VND ( 4,4 cents)

 * 2000VND (8,8 cents)

 * 5000VND (21,8 cents)

* 10.000VND (43,5 cents)

* 20.000VND (87 cents)

* 50.000VND ( $2,17)

* 100.000VND ( $4,34)

* 200.000VND ($8,7)

* 500.000VND the biggest VND note ($21,74)

Thank you so much for your interest and we wish you a great trip in Vietnam!!

This post made by A Taste of Hanoi, a tour operator base here in Hanoi. We are running the food walking tours, motorbike tours, one night in Hanoi tour and the Original Craft Beer Tour in Hanoi. For more information about our tour please check our website below:

www.atasteofhanoi.com

LEARN ABOUT HANOI'S CRAFT BEER WITH HOMIE BREWERY

The meeting between Brian & Thanh

Last weekend, we had a chance to meet up with Mr. Thanh, The owner of Homie Brewery, to discuss about craft beer in the past, present and future as well as the way led him to be one of the really first Vietnamese brewmasters in Vietnam. 

During our conversation, Thanh shared that "I used to work as an IT architect for many years until one day in 10 years ago, I lay on the floor, I asked my wife what should I do to try to make a better future. For a while after that he saw Hanoi Beer sign on the TV and I was thinking of an idea  to start up my own business". At first, he learnt about the beer by searching the internet and his foreign friends and then decided to open the Beer Temple. "It is always difficult for the beginning. we worked at the start of opening of the beer temple;  and nearly 6 months to 1 year, we only had a few clients to come to our shop. It was very hard to try to change the people mind but we made it and two years we were starting to be popular. Original shop was just take away, but the Hanoian clients change my shop to now what it is now today. Locals often come here for a company party, birthday party or even a friends meeting."

Beers at the Beer Temple

So the question that we wonder is where did Thanh leant about craft beer?

During 80s-90,  when he grew up, everything that we had in Hanoi is Bia Hoi Hanoi (fresh Hanoi beer) or some imported beer like Czech beer or Czech style and people had no idea about craft beer. follow up our question, Thanh answered: "4 years ago, I travelled to Saigon and met up with friends. They offered me to try some craft beers. For the first taste of craft beer, I felt in love with it from the bottom of my heart.Then came back to Hanoi, I tried to learn as much as I can about the craft beer. A while later, I decided to order the systems to set up the brewing. Almost one year after that I founded my first child Hanoi IPA. To make this first beer I have tried with 5-6 different recipes and finally I made it. This was the most happy day in my life."

The first Hanoi IPA

Thanh shared: "Beer’s in my blood, no seriously. It started out of love. I wasn’t really business-minded with the brewing, it was just something I enjoyed doing. It meant that I am working with my passion and my happiness". 

After 3 years of brewing, Homie always has 2 craft beer on tap: Hanoi IPA- an American IPA and Cam Wit. He also brew some seasonal craft beer like strong beer in the winter time to help curb the cold. 

Thanh spoke in his big smile: "I do think that I'm a lucky guy beacause I always have a big support from my wife (my big boss). She is always by my side, supports and encourages me from the beginning till now and in the future!". 

A Taste of Hanoi would like to say thank you so much to Thanh for such a great sharing! We do hope that you will have such a great development and be successful in their business as well as changing people mind and thinking about craft beer here in Hanoi, Vietnam.

This post made by A Taste of Hanoi, a tour operation base in Hanoi. We are running The Original Craft Beer Tour of Hanoi; Food Walking Tours; Motorbike Tours and One Night Tour in Hanoi. To learn more about our tours please visit:

www.atasteofhanoi.com

https://atasteofhanoi.com/tour/craft-beer-tour-hanoi/

EXOTIC VIETNAMESE FOOD ( Part 1)

We have introduced to everyone about a lot of tasty and lovely Vietnamese food from our A Taste of Hanoi facebook, blog and website,...Today, we bring to you to a different part of our cuisine, something more adventure and unique "Exotic Vietnamese food". If you ever come to Vietnam, please have a try at least one of them because something doesn't kill you will make you stronger!

1. Chả Rươi or Water Worm Cake in Vietnamese

In Vietnam cuisine, Cha ruoi is not available all year round. Ruoi is a type of sand worm that can only be found from the end of September to the middle of October. The short season is why Hanoians regard cha ruoi as a special but expensive gift from nature. The sand worm doesn’t live in Hanoi – it lives in the mangroves and wetlands along the coast. 

In the capital, cha ruoi is a delicacy this time of year – the delicious smell of it cooking is very pervasive, a temptation to passers-by. The combination of fried ruoi and egg isirresistible. It is usually served with vermicelli, salad and fish sauce.

Chả rươi is the meat of a type of worm found close to the shore, particularly in low-tide conditions. They are only available for a month at this time of year, and stalls often pop-up specialising in this before disappearing for the rest of the year. The worms (sometimes referred to as fly eggs) are often cooked into an omellete or mixed with ground pork into a patty and fried.

2. Coconut Worm or Đuông dừa in Vietnamese

Duong Dua is one of the specialties in Vietnam; for many people, however, seeing the fat worms crawling about is enough to give the creeps let alone put into one’s mouth.

Duong Dua is a form of beetle larvae. After the breeding season the beetle usually chooses the healthy coconut, pierces a hole on top and lays the eggs in it. After the eggs hatch, the larvae grow by eating the young shoot of the coconut tree until the tree is pierced through.

Although the coconut is spoiled by Duong Dua, the worms are delicious and are a delicacy in the coconut land of the Mekong River delta. Duong Dua is a harmful species and breeding them is prohibited. Consuming them is believed to enhance men’s sexual abilities. One kilogram of Duong Dua usually costs 500.000 Dong (about 23 USD); out of season the price is even higher.

3. Duck embryos or Trứng Vịt Lộn in Vietnamese

Trung Vit Lon is made from duck eggs when the embryo has developed into shape but not hatched for certain reasons. Trung Vit Lon is processed in many ways such as boil, fried with tamarind. It is one of the most popular dishes in Vietnam and considered a nutritious but scary food when the egg is opened revealing a full small duck with hairy parts.

Trung Vit Lon is sold in every street of Vietnam from rural areas to alleyways. Just a small table, some chairs and a pot of boiled eggs or just by the vendors by walking around and the shop is ready to serve. The Vietnamese have a habit of eating Trung Vit Lon in the morning or late evening.

This is an affordable dish that is delicious and nutritious for locals. For many international tourists, however, it is a horror when they see the Vietnamese eating Trung Vit Lon.

4. Blood Pudding or Tiết Canh in Vietnamese

Tiet Canh is a popular dish of Vietnamese people. It is processed in different ways. Tiet Canh is made from animal blood, fresh after slaughtering, coupled with light fish sauce or salt water, thoroughly stirred with chopsticks and mixed with minced meat, spring onions, and groundnut so that the blood coagulates.

After boiling the meat, the cook cuts some cartilage, gizzard, tripe, chopped into small bits and put in a bowl. The substance on the surface of the blood is brushed off, then some broth is mixed with blood and gently and quickly sprinkled on the dish.

Tiet Canh is popular and can be found easily at road side restaurants in Vietnam. Despite its tastiness it can make you shiver when you see it.

This experience is made by A Taste of Hanoi. Please visit our website and social media for more information about our tours in Vietnam:

 https://atasteofhanoi.com/

https://www.facebook.com/TasteOfHanoi/

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PHỞ HÀ NỘI

PHỞ HÀ NỘI

Today, we will bring you to Hanoi, Vietnam to try one of the most well- known Hanoian dish called " Phở". Most locals here often wake up there new day by a bowl of simple, delicious and healthy Phở. 

Where people go to get the best Pho in Hanoi? 

If you really want to get the best Phở in Hanoi, don't expect to a beautiful and expensive restaurant! Everything you should do is left your hotel and ready to explore some local family own food restaurants, where you can see many people are sitting on little plastic stools and enjoy their Phở.

 Local are having Pho along the sidewalk

People are waiting to order their Pho

What is a good Phở?

-  Firstly: the broth has to cook for many hours together with a load of different ingredients and enough that mount of time. Also, the chief has to take off the foam very often to make the broth as clear as possible but all the flavors have to be there.

- Secondly: the meat is cut in big and very thin slices to make sure that it's really tender 

- Thirdly, the noodle is as smooth as silk and has be daily made from the locals.

Phở is served with fresh spring onion on top... It’s savory, piping, appetizing and flavorful! 

So how the local have Phở?

Before having Phở, we often add some rice vinegar with garlic, some lime and few slices of fresh chilli and then we enjoy our food.

Where we have Phở?

There are some good places that you can try the best Phở in Hanoi:

1. Phở Thìn at 13 Lò Đúc, Ngô Thì Nhậm, Hai Bà Trưng, Hà Nội

2. Phở Bát Đàn at 49 Bát Đàn street, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội

3. Phở Sướng at 24B Trung Yên Lane, Đinh Liệt street, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội

4. Phở 10 at 10 Lý Quốc Sư street, Hoang Kiếm, Hà Nội

If you are ever in Hanoi, stop at one of these Pho place “ Keep Calm and Eat Phở” 

Made by A Taste Of Hanoi

Take Hanoi Original Craft Beer Tour for an Authentic Vietnamese Experience

Everyone loves to drink beer. In fact, drinking beer can help you cool down the thirst on hot summer days – especially if you live in tropical country.

When it comes to Vietnam tour, beers are quite reasonable, and the Vietnamese beer cultures welcome beer lovers from anywhere around the world. There’s a huge availability of beers in Vietnam – from simple lagers to craft beers to choose from.

No matter whatever type of beer you love to drink, craft beer tasting in Hanoi is one of the most exciting things you shouldn’t miss out on Vietnam. More often craft beer tasting in Hanoi is refreshing and perfectly pleasant.

Take a Guided Craft Beer Tasting Tour In Hanoi

Taking a craft beer tour can be a perfect way to explore the real sense of Hanoi with the best craft beer around Vietnam. You will go to the places where you can get the opportunity to taste and learn about the new beers available in Hanoi.

 

A beer tasting tour will offer you a chance to visit some of the unique craft breweries in Hanoi. No matter wherever you visit, you will indulge yourself in the local atmosphere while tasting authentic craft beer varieties – which are far away from the eyes of tourists.

The main reason behind you should take a Hanoi craft beer tasting tour is to experience and learn about one of the most exciting craft beer scenes. This means you will taste amazing craft beers and know a bit of the history of craft beers throughout Vietnam.

Whether you’re a first-timer to taste craft beer or a pro, you will enjoy a guided tour to local microbreweries, and participate in lively beer conversations. Besides, you can take the opportunity to sample the work of local brewmasters in Vietnam. Your tour guide will share their knowledge and enthusiasm for their local craft beer scene.

While exploring Hanoi’s craft beer scene, rest assured that you’ll be driven around in a fully air-conditioned minibus relaxingly, safely through busy traffic. For your convenience, you will be accompanied by English speaking guide with a better knowledge of local craft breweries and craft beer history.

Conclusion –

A Taste Of Hanoi will take you a guided tour for craft beer tasting in Hanoi. You will taste 12 varieties of craft beers including finger foods, while savoring samplings of local brews. Our guided tours to craft breweries depend upon the brew schedule of brewmasters. Rest assured that, you will be driven by our local experienced and friendly drivers on the minibuses or vans. No matter whatever the season is – whether it’s a hot day or a stormy one, we’ll get you covered. What are you waiting for? Contact 84 0974 722 640 right now to make your booking for craft beer tasting tour in Vietnam.

Top 5 Best Food To Try On Food Walking Tour In Hanoi

Introducing Hanoi –

Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam tends to be on the sweeter side amongst all other cities across the country for its unique range of authentic food recipes. The city makes the best use of freshwater ingredients like squids, mussels, shrimps, prawns, crabs and clams. Therefore, while vacationing in Vietnam, taking a food tour in Hanoi is a must.

Though the city stands out as a home to many dishes around Vietnam, diners are always served with platters of herbs and greens as well as the nuoc cham dipping sauce as the quintessential accompaniment. Since a vacation in Vietnam is incomplete without tasting the traditional delicacies on a Food Tour in Hanoi, here is a list of the top 5 must-try recipes in Hanoi:

1. Banh Goi –

Banh Goi is nothing but the Fried Dumplings, shaped like small pillows. Comprising of finely-chopped glass noodles, minced pork, wood ear mushrooms, steamed quail eggs and seasoned within a rice-flour pastry. It’s deep-fried for a crispy taste and is best served with a sweet-sour dipping sauce made with chilly, sugar, fish sauce, and garlic and lime juice.

2. Banh Cuon –

Banh Cuon or the Rolled Cake is a great light breakfast recipe or a midday snack, combined a ground meat (shrimp, pork or chicken), minced wood ear mushroom, steamed beansprouts, onions, Vietnamese ham (cha lua), cucumbers wrapped in a steamed rice flour sheet. In fact, the overall taste of this recipe is very mild in nature, despite of the savory ingredients.

3. Cha Ca –

Cha Ca or the Turmeric Fish with Dill is a unique delicacy for a food walking tour in Hanoi. It’s nothing but the white fish seasoned with turmeric, garlic, ginger and dill served on a sizzling pan. You can get a bowl of rice noodles, peanuts, chopped spring onions, nuoc cham sauce, red chili slices and parsley – all are meant to be mixed together with the turmeric fish.

4. Bun Thang –

Bun thang or rice vermicelli with chicken, egg and pork can be a recipe for any time of the day. However, the clear yet flavorful broth is prepared with 20 ingredients, including dried shrimp, spring onion, ginger, mushroom, beet, fish sauce, vinegar, coriander, shrimp paste and squid.

5. Xoi Xeo

Xoi Xeo or Sweet Sticky Rice is usually coming with staple toppings of green mung bean paste, dried shallots and soy sauce, But you can choose from a variety of add-ins like pate, boiled chicken, cha lua (Vietnamese ham), marinated pork belly, or preserved eggs for enjoying more substantial meal.

Conclusion –

Are you excited for your Food Tour in Hanoi? Start booking your Food Walking Tour in Hanoi with A Test Of Hanoi ahead of time and enjoy tasting unique, fully authentic variety of food recipes like never before. Feel free to contact us today and let us plan your food tour in Hanoi for a fully delicious experience!

Feel free to stay connected with A Taste Of Hanoi on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ social networks!

Why Do You Choose Hanoi Motorbike Tour?

Hanoi is blessed with a gorgeous coastline, beautiful-green mountains, huge national parks, live cities, various cultural interests over the years and above all you find one of the world’s best cuisines.

Most visitors on a trip to Vietnam often love to visit this fascinating country in order to immerse in its exceptional history and vibrant culture. But if you’re keen on exploring Hanoi – the Vietnamese capital city, think about taking a Hanoi motorbike tour and you’ll find that you’re rewarded with a very special eco-tourism experience.

More often, people wonder why to go motor biking tour in Hanoi, but believe it or not, it’s a fantastic way to indulge in the spectacular city and its surrounding areas. Upon choosing a motor biking adventure in the city of Hanoi, you’ll meander around the region on biking routes. Despite of ups and downs in the Vietnamese history, no doubt the capital has thousand years of culture and tradition. However, you’ll really get off the beaten track and explore areas as you can in Vietnam.

Why Do Choose a Hanoi Motorbike Tour:

Discovering the ultimate marvel and delights of Hanoi in the open air by motorbike can allow you to experience the city at its best as well as feel like local. In fact, each and every motorbike tour is designed unique and is special in every sense due to several things and places in Hanoi. Therefore, whether you decide to embark on a personalized private tour or a group tour, exploring Hanoi by a motorbike will give you the independence to experience magnificent sightings, unique tastes, fragrance and sounds of the exciting, culturally rich capital city in Vietnam. Taking a Vietnam motorbike tour is one of the ideal ways to discover Hanoi’s unique lifestyle. Certainly, this kind of tour will make your visit to Hanoi more heightened and delightful.

Again, if you want to experience authentic Hanoi, then choose no other than Hanoi motor bike tour adventure. Covering the most popular street stalls, hidden alleyways and the popular hubs where exactly locals love to hang out with their buddies, you will get to enjoy dinner, drinks and snacks all along the way – especially when you’ll cruise around west lake. Keep in mind that, the best way to travel around west lake area in Hanoi is by scooters, instead of a hot crowded tour bus. Cruising around on the back of motorbike with a professional foodie guide will allow you have a unique and exciting touch of Hanoi combining the wonderful past, present and future. Apart from this, the tour guide will take you also the must-see landmarks which are located away from the tourist areas only a true native Hanoian is aware of. Some of the beautiful sightings include West Lake Sunset, Long Bien Bridge, West Lake, Phu Tay Ho temple and dinner at special restaurant. You can enjoy your tour by taking rest at various comfortable hotels interior places.

Conclusion:

Are you excited to experience the authentic Hanoi on this vacation? Consider booking Hanoi motor bike tour with A Taste of Hanoi and get to explore West Lake hidden gems in 4.5 hours. Check out TripAdvisor reviews as soon as possible and book your motor bike tour in Hanoi right now! 

For latest updates and notifications on Hanoi motor bike tour adventure, stay connected with A Taste of Hanoi on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!