First published August 2020 | Words and film by Vietnam Coracle

INTRODUCTION | LIBRARY | MAP | RELATED POSTS

On this page is a categorized archive of over 30 Vietnam Coracle short films intended to inspire a sense of wanderlust and an urgency to get out there and explore Vietnam. When I first started creating content for this website, I often made short videos to accompany my guides and articles. These days, however, I rarely make new videos to illustrate my guides; mainly because video editing is so time-consuming that it significantly slows my output of written content. My films are amateur – I don’t use GoPros, drones, or any sophisticated video editing software – and my technical abilities are limited. Nevertheless, I still think many of my videos successfully communicate what I set out to convey: a passion for independent travel and a love of Vietnam; the freedom of motorbiking and the open road; a fondness of landscape and the natural world; and a deep attachment to street food and the buzz of Vietnamese city life. My videos are by no means typical of most travel vloggers today: they’re relatively low-tech and I don’t personally feature in them much, if at all. But I hope the amateur quality of these videos lends a certain rustic, honest, handmade (and handheld) charm to them.

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VIETNAM CORACLE VIDEO LIBRARY

The following library of Vietnam Coracle videos is organized by category: Travel & Destinations | Road Trips | Resorts & Homestays | Food & Drink. Each film is embedded on this page, so you can watch it directly, without having to go to YouTube. I’ve also plotted the location of every film on my map. For each video in the library, I’ve included general information, such as date, run-time, soundtrack, and a brief description. Because all my videos are intended to accompany one of my guides, I’ve included direct links to the relevant guide for each film. Remember you can subscribe to my YouTube channel for notifications of new content. For best viewing, watch all videos in HD quality.

*Please note: Most of my videos feature a soundtrack which I specifically chose for it. However, this means that some videos may be muted (or even blocked) in your country, depending on copyright laws. Also, because many of my videos are now several years old, some of the scenes, places & information in the clips may no longer be accurate.

VIDEO LIBRARY CONTENTS:

Click a category or image below to go to a video:

TRAVEL & DESTINATIONS

ROAD TRIPS

RESORTS & HOMESTAYS

FOOD & DRINK

Travel & Destinations:

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Road Trips:

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Resorts & Homestays:

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Food & Drink:

MAP:

Locations of all Vietnam Coracle Videos

Travel & Destinations | Road Trips | Resorts & Homestays | Food & Drink

View in a LARGER MAP

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• DALAT’S WATERFALLS:

• Location: Lam Dong Province, Central Highlands [MAP]

• Date: August, 2014

• Run-time: 2:45

• Soundtrack: Future Islands: ‘A Dream of You & Me’

• Related guide: Dalat’s Waterfalls: A Guide

• Description: Scattered across the countryside surrounding Dalat, in the Central Highlands, are dozens of waterfalls. Many of these cascades are pretty and atmospheric places to visit; and some are truly spectacular. I made this short film while researching for my Guide to Dalat’s Waterfalls.

Watch on YouTube

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• THE SAIGON RIVER:

• Location: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) [MAP]

• Date: March, 2016

• Run-time: 3:58

• Soundtrack: Youth Lagoon: ‘Doll’s Estate’

• Related guide: The Saigon River: A Guide

• Description: Until quite recently, the city of Saigon treated its namesake river as a purely practical phenomenon: a port, a means of transportation and communication, and a dump. Only in the last few years has Saigon begun to view its waterway as a place of recreation and leisure: waterfront parks, walkways, river cruises, luxury riverside apartments, bars and restaurants. As this transformation was taking place, I spent a couple of weeks exploring the waterway which flows through my adopted home city. I made this short film to accompany my Guide to the Saigon River.

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• CON DAO ISLANDS:

• Location: Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province [MAP]

• Date: May, 2013

• Run-time: 3:44

• Soundtrack: Death in Vegas: ‘Girls’

• Related guide: Con Dao Islands: A Guide

• Description: The Con Dao Islands is a remarkable place. It’s one of the most strikingly beautiful, and least-developed coastal regions in Vietnam. The islands are easily accessible but rarely visited by foreign travellers. I’ve revisited the Con Dao Islands every year since 2008 and I have always felt a deep attachment to the place. This film is by far the most-viewed of all my videos and was made to illustrate my Guide to Con Dao Islands.

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• A DAY IN SAIGON:

• Location: Binh Thanh District, Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) [MAP]

• Date: July, 2016

• Run-time: 8:36

• Soundtrack: None

• Related guide: Sketches of Saigon: 5 Scenes

• Description: Local life in Saigon’s hundreds of local neighbourhoods is probably the main reason why I’ve continued to live in this city for more than a decade. There’s a charm, intensity, and human warmth about local life in Saigon – away from the main streets and office blocks – that’s both fascinating and life-affirming. In this film, which, at over 8 minutes, is the longest of my videos, I’ve tried to capture the rhythm of a day in the life of my local neighbourhood. Over the years, I’ve made several attempts to convey local life in Saigon in different formats: this short film, for example, is essentially an animated version of what I try to express in writing in my Sketches of Saigon.

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• HON GOM SANDBAR:

• Location: Khanh Hoa Province [MAP]

• Date: July, 2013

• Run-time: 2:20

• Soundtrack: Youth Lagoon: ‘Daydream’

• Related guide: Hon Gom Sandbar: A Guide

• Description: Stretching thirty kilometres into the East Sea, like a giant causeway to a sunken castle, Hon Gom Sandbar is a deserted, rocky and beguiling peninsular on the south-central coast. A long and rugged finger of land pointing southwards into the ocean, its eastern side is characterized by miles of empty, exposed, wild and windy beach, while, on its western side, fish farms and fishing hamlets shelter in peaceful, protected coves, where the water is as calm as a lake. I made this short film to accompany my Guide to Hon Gom Sandbar.

Watch on YouTube

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• SAIGON’S ALLEYWAYS:

• Location: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) [MAP]

• Date: November, 2013

• Run-time: 1:36

• Soundtrack: Kings of Convenience: ‘Parallel Lines’

• Related guide: Walking Saigon’s Alleyways: A Guide

• Description: An aspect of Saigon that never loses its charm, the city’s tangled networks of alleyways are full of life, food, families, and mystery. This very short video gives a brief glimpse into alley life in Saigon. But Saigon’s alleyways are best explored on foot, wandering aimlessly for hours down the narrow canyons where most Saigonese still live. I made this video to illustrate my Guide to Walking Saigon’s Alleyways.

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• DAI LANH BEACH:

• Location: Khanh Hoa Province [MAP]

• Date: June, 2013

• Run-time: 2:23

• Soundtrack: Beach House: ‘Myth’

• Related guide: Dai Lanh Beach: A Guide

• Description: A broad sweep of sand between two dramatic headlands, Dai Lanh Beach is a strikingly beautiful spot on the south-central coast. The wide bay is framed by lush mountains, with a chalky sand beach between them washed by pale blue waters, and a rustic fishing village nestling at its northern end. A recently opened tunnel now takes most heavy traffic away from the beach, leaving Dai Lanh more serene, tranquil, and attractive than ever before. This video accompanies my Guide to Dai Lanh Beach.

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• SAIGON’S FRESH MARKETS:

• Location: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) [MAP]

• Date: December, 2013

• Run-time: 2:09

• Soundtrack: Django Reinhardt: ‘Brazil’

• Related guide: Saigon’s Markets: A Guide

• Description: Saigon’s markets seem to exist in another dimension to the rest of the city. In downtown District 1 you’d be forgiven for thinking that the traditional Vietnamese ‘fresh’ market no longer exists; replaced by generic shopping malls and international brands. But, outside of the city centre, local markets continue to thrive and remain a daily fixture in most peoples’ lives. Still as bustling, vibrant and fascinating as ever, Saigon’s markets are highly organized, the produce is local and fresh, and the sheer volume and variety of things for sale is remarkable. This very short video accompanies my Guide to Saigon’s Markets.

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• SAIGON’S PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS:

• Location: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) [MAP]

• Date: September, 2013

• Run-time: 1:33

• Soundtrack: Thomas Newman: ‘Any Other Name’

• Related guide: 13 Public Swimming Pools in Saigon

• Description: If you’re looking to escape the heat and clamour of the city, Saigon has plenty of decent and inexpensive public swimming pools to choose from. The pools are scattered all across the city so, wherever you are, there should be a public pool within easy reach. This short video focuses on just five of the 13 public pools listed in my Guide to Saigon’s Swimming Pools.

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• THE NORTHEAST LOOP:

• Location: Cao Bang, Lang Son & Bac Kan provinces [MAP]

• Date: April, 2015

• Run-time: 3:01

• Soundtrack: The Cave Singers: ‘Summer Light’

• Related guide: The Northeast by Motorbike: 5 Routes & Loops

• Description: The three northeastern provinces of Cao Bang, Lang Son and Bac Kan currently offer some of the best on-road motorbiking opportunities anywhere in Vietnam. The landscape is this corner of the country is utterly beautiful – characterized by limestone karsts, unbroken forests, misty mountains, blue rivers, farms, and craft villages. This film features some of the most memorable scenes on my 5 Northeast Routes & Loops. 

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• NUI CHUA COAST ROAD:

• Location: Ninh Thuan Province [MAP]

• Date: May, 2013

• Run-time: 2:46

• Soundtrack: Groove Armada: ‘At the River’

• Related guide: Nui Chua Coast Road: A Guide

• Description: Probably the best coastal route in Vietnam, the Nui Chua Coast Road skims the edges of blue bays, white beaches, pretty fishing villages & a verdant national park. An easy, smooth, highly scenic & rewarding road trip, this film was made to accompany my Nui Chua Coast Road Guide.

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• SAIGON TO HANOI | PART 1: THE COAST

• Location: from south to north [MAP]

• Date: August, 2013

• Run-time: 2:24

• Soundtrack: Jay-Z: ‘Hark Knock Life Ghetto Anthem’

• Related guide: Saigon to Hanoi by Motorbike: 5 Routes

• Description: In 2013, I embarked on a road trip with one of my best friends from the UK, Sam. We rode from Saigon to Hanoi over the course of three weeks. During the first half of our journey, in the southern provinces, we stayed mostly along the coastal back-roads, enjoying the empty beaches, fresh seafood, beach-side accommodation and expansive sea-views. It was a sun-filled, fun-filled, and very easy-going first leg to our journey. The tone of this video is meant to be tongue-in-cheek, and the film features some careless driving practices, which both Sam and I have now outgrown. (There are many alternative riding routes between the south and the north which I discuss in my Saigon to Hanoi: 5 Routes.)

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• SAIGON TO HANOI | PART 2: THE MOUNTAINS

• Location: from south to north [MAP]

• Date: August, 2013

• Run-time: 4:18

• Soundtrack: Steve Reich: ‘Electric Counterpoint (Part 2): Slow’

• Related guide: Saigon to Hanoi by Motorbike: 5 Routes

• Description: The second half of Sam and I’s road trip from Saigon to Hanoi was through the mountains along the border with Laos. The roads here are quiet and spectacular, threading along river valleys and climbing high up into the clouds. Along the way, there are countless viewpoints looking over ridge after ridge of mountains covered in jungle. There are also multiple opportunities for bathing in rivers, lakes and waterfalls. Once again, this film features some careless riding practices, which neither Sam nor I would repeat today. (Find more details about routes from north to south in my Saigon to Hanoi Motorbike Guide.) 

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• DRAGONS’ GRAVEYARD COAST ROAD:

• Location: Ninh Thuan Province [MAP]

• Date: February, 2013

• Run-time: 3:18

• Soundtrack: Eddie Vedder: ‘Society’

• Related guide: Dragons’ Graveyard Coast Road: A Guide

• Description: A sandy, boulder-strewn bluff on Vietnam’s south-central coast, Mui Dinh is home to a new and spectacular coast road. Hiding wild, windy and isolated beaches, the landscape here is striking, arid and deserted: people say this is where dragons came to die, and the earth scorched itself in grief. Previously inaccessible to vehicles, the new road was completed after I made this short film. For full details about this coast road see my Guide to the Dragons’ Graveyard.

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• TWO MONTHS ON A MOTORBIKE:

• Location: from south to north [MAP]

• Date: November, 2014

• Run-time: 6:08

• Soundtrack: Led Zeppelin: ‘The Song Remains the Same’

• Related guide: Motorbike Chronicles: Film, Map & Diary

• Description: In September and October, 2014, I travelled over 9,000km in 60 days by motorbike through Vietnam, covering much of the nation and capturing most of my journey on film. When I returned home to Saigon, I edited the footage from my trip and put it together into this short film. The clips are arranged in the chronological and geographical order in which I travelled during my two months on the road. This film accompanies my illustrated diaries and annotated route map from my Two Month Motorbike Chronicles. 

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• SAND DUNE HIGHWAY: MUI NE TO CA NA

• Location: Binh Thuan Province [MAP]

• Date: July, 2013

• Run-time: 2:55

• Soundtrack: Cold Specks: ‘Winter Solstice’

• Related guide: The Sand Dune Highway: A Guide

• Description: A new, deserted highway leads beyond the famous white sand dunes of Mui Ne, through desolate swathes of arid landscape, towards Lien Huong, where there’s a long stretch of good beach. A little further still is the fishing village of Ca Na. This short video was made before the completion of the new highway: hence, in the film, the road is all red dirt and dust. For full details about the new highway see my Sand Dune Highway Guide.

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• SAIGON TO PHU QUOC ISLAND:

• Location: Phu Quoc Island & the Mekong Delta [MAP]

• Date: April, 2014

• Run-time: 3:00

• Soundtrack: New Order: ‘Age of Consent’

• Related guide: Saigon to Phu Quoc by Motorbike

• Description: Riding between Vietnam’s largest city, Saigon, and the nation’s largest island, Phu Quoc, is great fun. To get from Saigon to Phu Quoc by motorbike requires riding across the Mekong Delta via its waterways, highways, towns and swathes of agricultural land. Phu Quoc is then reached by a ferry across the Gulf of Thailand, after which there are plenty of roads to explore the island and its beaches. This film was made to accompany my Saigon to Phu Quoc Guide. 

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• HO CHI MINH ROAD: CENTRAL SECTION

• Location: Central Vietnam [MAP]

• Date: October, 2014

• Run-time: 2:48

• Soundtrack: Radiohead: ‘Codex’

• Related guide: Ho Chi Minh Road: A Guide

• Description: The Ho Chi Minh Road stretches the entire length of Vietnam. But the central section is by far the most scenic: indeed, it’s one of the best rides in Southeast Asia. This short video is only a simple montage of riding clips, but nonetheless it gives a decent glimpse of the landscapes riders can expect to see on this route. For more details, see sections 4 & 5 of my Ho Chi Minh Road Guide.

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• THE SOUTHEAST LOOP:

• Location: Binh Thuan & Lam Dong provinces [MAP]

• Date: October, 2014

• Run-time: 3:19

• Soundtrack: Grimes: ‘Skin’

• Related guide: The Southeast Loop: A Guide

• Description: I made this film to illustrate one of the first motorbike guides I ever wrote: The Southeast Loop. Within easy reach of Saigon, this route links Ho Chi Minh City with the beach retreat of Mui Ne and the mountain resort town of Dalat via some good roads and through some pretty scenery. Particularly interesting is the dramatic contrast between the coast and the highlands, which are only a couple of hours ride apart.

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• SAIGON TO HANOI: CLIPS

• Location: from south to north [MAP]

• Date: July, 2013

• Run-time: 2:49

• Soundtrack: Steve Reich: ‘Six Marimbas’

• Related guide: Saigon to Hanoi by Motorbike: 5 Routes

• Description: A short montage of clips of riding between Saigon and Hanoi, this video was only intended to be a teaser: a kind of ‘trailer’ before I published my Saigon to Hanoi: 5 Suggested Routes. Nevertheless, the film manages to communicate some of the joy of riding from south to north.

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• OCEAN ROAD: SAIGON TO MUI NE

• Location: Ba Ria-Vung Tau & Binh Thuan provinces [MAP]

• Date: February, 2013

• Run-time: 3:21

• Soundtrack: Andrew Bird: ‘Orpheo’

• Related guide: The Ocean Road: Saigon to Mui Ne

• Description: One of the first videos I ever made, the soundtrack (Andrew Bird’s ‘Orpheo’) reflects the wistful mood I was in when producing it due to the end of a relationship. However, the song complements the slow and pastoral imagery in the clips, and I still enjoy watching this film back, even though it’s rough around the edges. I made this video to accompany my guide to the Ocean Road: Saigon to Mui Ne.

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• HO CHI MINH ROAD: CUC PHUONG NATIONAL PARK

• Location: Ninh Binh Province [MAP]

• Date: September, 2012

• Run-time: 2:51

• Soundtrack: Mychael Danna: ‘The Winner Is’

• Related guide: Ho Chi Minh Road: A Guide

• Description: To the best of my memory, this was the first video I ever made. As a result, it’s exceedingly simple: a 2-minute riding shot taken on a scenic section of the Ho Chi Minh Road in northern Vietnam, as it passes through the jungle-clad limestone hills of Cuc Phuong National Park. The soundtrack (‘The Winner Is’ by Mychael Danna, from the movie ‘Little Miss Sunshine’) is great for a riding shot. (For details about this stretch of road, see section 8 of my Ho Chi Minh Road Guide).

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• HOME STAYS IN PU LUONG NATURE RESERVE:

• Location: Thanh Hoa Province [MAP]

• Date: April, 2014

• Run-time: 2:26

• Soundtrack: Youth Lagoon: ‘Posters’

• Related guide: Homestays in Pu Luong Nature Reserve

• Description: Some of the most dramatically situated, atmospheric, and romantic accommodation in Vietnam, the homestays in Pu Luong Nature Reserve are only about 4 hours southwest of Hanoi, in Thanh Hoa Province. The scenery is sublime: rice terraces cascade down mountainsides into clear rivers, beside which wood-and-thatch homestays perch on raised platforms, with limestone peaks poking above low-hanging cloud. This short film captures something of the magic of staying in Pu Luong and it accompanies my Guide to Homestays in the Nature Reserve.

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• HO TRAM BOUTIQUE BEACH RESORT:

• Location: Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province [MAP]

• Date: February, 2014

• Run-time: 2:55

• Soundtrack: Trịnh Công Sơn: ‘Cuối Cùng Cho Một Tình Yêu’ (Performed by Vũ Thanh Xuân)

• Related guide: Ho Tram Boutique Beach Resort: Review

• Description: A discreet, beautifully landscaped and tranquil resort on Vietnam’s south coast, Ho Tram Beach Boutique is just a couple of hours southeast of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Every little detail is tasteful and understated, and the entire complex blends in perfectly with its natural surroundings. Ho Tram Resort is luxurious without being extravagant, and sophisticated without being pretentious. This film accompanies my independent Review of Ho Tram Boutique.

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• ANA MANDARA VILLAS RESORT: DALAT

• Location: Lam Dong Province [MAP]

• Date: February, 2014

• Run-time: 2:32

• Soundtrack: Andrew Bird: ‘Hole in the Ocean Floor’

• Related guide: Ana Mandara Villas, Dalat: A Review

• Description: With seventeen beautifully restored French colonial-era villas on a pine-studded hillside, Ana Mandara is by far my favourite luxury accommodation in Dalat. Way up in the Central Highlands, at an altitude of around 1,500m, Ana Mandara is surrounded by vegetable gardens and has a year-round temperate climate. I made this film to illustrate my independent Review of Ana Mandara. 

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• IVORY FALLS VILLA RESORT: DI LINH

• Location: Lam Dong Province [MAP]

• Date: February, 2014

• Run-time: 2:33

• Soundtrack: Van Morrison: ‘Country Fair’

• Related guide: Ivory Falls Villa, Di Linh: Review

• Description: Surrounded by coffee farms, tea plantations, rice paddies and fruit trees, Ivory Falls Villa is a quiet, secluded and peaceful place to stay in the mountains and valleys of the Central Highlands. At the time I made this film, the resort was under different management, and was called ‘Juliet’s Villa Resort’. However, this film still gives a good sense of how the resort feels today, as the new management have kept the general aesthetic while also making some significant improvements. (For much more, see my independent Review of Ivory Falls.) 

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• SAIGON’S HIDDEN CAFES:

• Location: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) [MAP]

• Date: November, 2013

• Run-time: 2:24

• Soundtrack: Lou Reed: ‘Pale Blue Eyes’

• Related guide: Saigon’s Hidden Cafes: A Guide

• Description: Hidden down narrow alleyways, tucked away in forgotten colonial villas, or concealed in enigmatic old apartment buildings, there’s a whole sub-culture of ‘indie’ cafes in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). These coffee shops offer a unique kind of ambience, décor, and intimacy that the ever-increasing number of international coffee chains in the city can never compete with. I made this short film to accompany my Guide to Saigon’s Hidden Cafes. (However, please note that this guide has not been updated recently.) 

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• BEEF STEW (BÒ KHO) IN LAGI:

• Location: Binh Thuan Province [MAP]

• Date: March, 2013

• Run-time: 2:17

• Soundtrack: Fleet Foxes: ‘Blue Spotted Tail’

• Related guide: Beef Stew (Bò Kho) in Vietnam

• Description: Vietnamese beef stew (bò kho) is a hearty, spicy, and aromatic broth with diced beef, carrots, and lemongrass. Bò kho is served nationwide, but I have a soft spot for a particular soup house in the fishing town of Lagi on the south coast, which features in this video. (Read more about Vietnamese beef stew in my Bò Kho Guide.)

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• MS THAP’S SOUP HOUSE: NINH BINH

• Location: Ninh Binh Province [MAP]

• Date: April, 2013

• Run-time: 2:21

• Soundtrack: Andrew Bird: ‘Belles’

• Related guide: One of the Best Soups in Vietnam

• Description: Nho Quan is a town of bare concrete buildings, dusty streets and cement trucks roaring to and from nearby quarries: it’s a far cry from the natural beauty of the surrounding area. However, there’s one reason to consider making a detour to this town: hidden among the unappealing sprawl is one of the best soups I’ve had in Vietnam, at Ms Thap’s Soup House.

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• BUN MAM NOODLE SOUP IN SAIGON:

• Location: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) [MAP]

• Date: June, 2013

• Run-time: 1:53

• Soundtrack: None

• Related guide: Bún Mắm: the Mekong in a Bowl

• Description: Bún mắm is a robust Vietnamese noodle soup that’s packed with contrasting flavours, textures, and colours. Pungent, fishy, sweet, sour, dark, vibrant, silky and crunchy, this is a soup that challenges your taste buds. This short video shows bún mắm at a popular Saigon eatery, where I first tried the dish. (For much more about this soup see my Bún Mắm Guide.)

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• COOKING SNAILS IN SAIGON:

• Location: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) [MAP]

• Date: September, 2012

• Run-time: 1:32

• Soundtrack: None

• Related guide: Snails & Shellfish: A Guide

• Description: Eating snails and shellfish (ăn ốc) is a hugely popular pastime in Saigon. The atmosphere is great and the snails come in all shapes and sizes. This is a simple video of some shells being cooked at a popular Saigon snail restaurant. For much more information see my Snails & Shells Guide.

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