![Banh Canh Cua Obsession in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam](/images/icons/icon_food.gif)
![Banh Canh Cua Obsession](/2019/apr/banh_canh_cua/thumbnails/banh_canh_cua.jpg)
Banh Canh Cua Obsession
Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Unsung Hero
HCMC has many culinary offerings. Some are globally known - Pho and Banh Mi. But somehow, I am drawn to a lesser known dish that I could hardly find anywhere else in Vietnam - Banh Canh Cua, a crab-based thick noodle soup similar to the French Bouillabaisse. Often, the soup comes with quail eggs, blood pudding and pork hocks.
![Banh Canh Cua Obsession](/2019/apr/banh_canh_cua/images/banh_canh_cua.jpg)
Here There and Everywhere
Luckily for me, there are plenty of eating places here for Banh Canh Cua - from non-pretentious street push cart to a proper restaurant. Just launch Google Map to your location and search for "Banh Canh Cua" and like magic, all thes eating places show up on the map where you are. Prices range from VND 25-80k. You essentially get what you pay for in terms of serving and ingredients - not necessarily taste. Expensive ones may put bigger shrimp or more shrimps + whole pork hocks. Expensive ones usually don't post their prices. I take my Banh Canh Cua with deep-fried Chinese doughnuts or Banh Quay for a reasonable VND5k.
Exploring New Neighborhoods
To make it even more interesting for me, I would go to a far flung location where I have to take the local bus (VND7k). Google Map is so sophisticated now that it tells me what bus to take, the route and transfer points, and time lines! I sit in front of the bus to simulate a tour bus. This gives me a tourist vantage point. If I see something interesting, I simply mark it on my map and make another trip specifically to that place. It's all about being self-reliant and doing things DIY (do it yourself). Technology is now in place to make that happen - if you are resourceful enough.
Ending Thoughts
There was not a day I wouldn't have Banh Canh Cua for a meal. After a week in HCMC, I think I've had enough. I just love the culinary delights of HCMC. I hope next visit, I can be introduced to another dish I would walk a mile for.
--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
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HO CHI MINH CITY BLOGS
- Hotel Review: Queen Ann Hotel Apr 24-30, 2019
- Banh Canh Cua Obsession Apr 23-30, 2019
- The Fascinating Peoplescape of Ho Chi Minh City Apr 23-30, 2019
- Ho Chi Minh City on a Visa Run Apr 23-30, 2019
- Nomad Travel Buddy Aug 27, 2018
- 20 Days in Ho Chi Minh City Aug 7-27, 2018
- Exploring Binh Tay Market, Ho Chi Minh City Aug 26, 2018
- Pho Beef Soup Exploration of Ho Chi Minh City Aug 7-27, 2018
- Rediscovering the Cafe Tradition of Ho Chi Minh City Aug 7-27, 2018
- Where is the Best Banh Canh Cua in HCMC? Aug 7-27, 2018
- In Search of the best Banh Mi in Ho Chi Minh City Aug 7-27, 2018
- Peoplescape of Ho Chi Minh City Aug 7-27, 2018
- Rediscovering Ho Chi Minh City Aug 7, 2018
- AO Show, Ho Chi Minh City Apr 10, 2015
- Free English Apr 1, 2015
- Teaching English to Vietnamese Apr 1, 2015
- 20 Days in Ho Chi Minh City Mar 22 - Apr 12, 2015
- Discovering Ho Chi Minh City's Cafe Culture Nov 9 - Dec 17, 2014
- Ho Chi Minh City's Fascinating Motorbike Culture Nov 18, 2014
- How Long was the Vietnam War? Nov 10, 2014
- Exploring Ho Chi Minh City (Ho Chi Minh City) Nov 9, 2014
![Google Map](/images/google_tab.gif)
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
![important places in Ho Chi Minh City](/images/icon/municipality.gif)
![Ho Chi Minh City Bus Station](/images/icon/attraction02.gif)
![Ho Chi Minh City Bus Station](/images/icon/attraction03.gif)
![Ho Chi Minh City Train Station](/images/icon/attraction04.gif)
![Ho Chi Minh City airport](/images/icon/airplane.gif)
![hotels in Ho Chi Minh City](/images/icon/hotel.gif)
![Queen Ann Hotel, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City](/images/icon/hotel04.gif)
![Sakura Hostel Cholon, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City](/images/icon/hotel03.gif)
USEFUL INFORMATION
How to Get to District 1 (HCMC) from the Airport (Tan Son Nhat International Airport)
- take the #109 Airport Bus (5:30am to 1:00am, departs every 15-20 minutes, 45 mins, 20k Dong or $1.00) Route: International Terminal - Domestic Terminal (Tan Son Nhat International Airport) - Truong Son - Tran Quoc Hoan - Hoang Van Thu - Nguyen Van Troi - Nam Ky Khoi Nghia - Ham Nghi - Le Lai - Ben Thanh Bus Station - Pham Ngu Lao - 23/9 Park
- get off at 23/9 Park to get to the cluster of backpacker hostels
Ho Chi Minh City Travel Tips
- best money changer rates in District 1 is Ha Tam Jewelry near Ben Thanh (refer to map for location)
- unlike most destinations in Thailand, Cambodia or Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is too big for the major bus companies to provide a drop-off service with their shuttle minivans. If you are coming by bus, you get off either at the Western Bus Station or Eastern Bus Station depending on where you are coming from. From there, you can take the cheap local bus, the Xe Buyt to get you closer to your destination.
- you can get around the city by moto-taxi or rent a motorbike - but be warned that motorbike riding in Ho Chi Minh City is unlike riding anywhere else in Asia!
Ho Chi Minh City Cost Index
Budget price in budget places (US$1 = Vietnam Dong VND 23,255 = Php 53.20 as of Aug 1, 2016)
- VND 10-15,000 baguette sandwich (banh mi)
- VND 25-30,000 noodle soup (pho)
- VND 10-15,000 black filtered coffee
- VND 5,000 sugar cane juice (nuoc mia)
- VND 8-10,000 fresh coconut
- VND 10,000 one beer bottle
- VND 10,000 1.5 liter drinking water
- VND 80,000 bicycle rental, 24 hours
- VND 80,000 cheap lodging
- VND 10,000/kg laundry
- VND 8-10,000/km but flag-down starts at 20,000 motorcycle ride
- VND 20-35,000 rice meals (com tam)
- VND 100-140,000/day motorbike rental
Vietnam FYI / Tips / Dos and Don'ts
- Hanoi Grapevine HCMC Update - for the latest events in Vietnam
- Vietnam establishments will not accept US dollars, unlike Cambodia. You have to use Vietnam Dong (US$1 = Vietnam Dong VND 23,255 = Php 53.20 as of Aug 1, 2016)
- Vietnamese smokers will smoke in air-conditioned establishments, air-conditioned buses packed with people including women, children and babies. They also smoke inside hospitals with no smoking signs.
- Vietnam ranks almost the same as Thailand and Cambodia for cheap price. Laos, Myanmar and Malaysia cost more
- internet speed is generally fast and reliable but during important events like Tet holiday, election, etc., it slows down
- Vietnamese generally do not speak or understand much English. It will be a challenge.
- best to dress appropriately, not revealing too much skin (Saigon is an exception - the ladies there set the trend in very short shorts)
- remove your shoes when entering a home or place of worship
- ask first before taking someone's picture. If they say no, don't persist or offer money
- best to carry your hotel's business card with you when going out. You can just show it to the cab driver or XeOm driver if they don't understand English
- leave your valuables, passport, travel tickets, etc. with the hotel's safety deposit box
- when lying down, don't point your feet or the soles of your shoes to anyone or to a family altar
- carry only enough cash for your needs that day
- don't lose your temper in public - Vietnamese people are warm, generous and polite. They look down on people who lose their composure
- don't take pictures of military installations - you can go to jail
- refrain from taking videos of minority people until permitted to do so
Lesser-Known Vietnam Destinations
- Phu Yen Province - by the beach
- Hoa Binh Lake - locals' alternative to Halong Bay
- Ninh Binh - Trang An Grottoes, Tam Coc, Mua Caves, Bai Dinh Pagoda, Van Long Nature Reserve
General Travel Tips
- arrive early - in case there is a snag (visa snag, documentation snag, transport ticket snag, etc.), you will have ample time to troubleshoot the problem if you arrive early (to the airport, to the bus terminal, etc.)
- put detailed itinerary on the Calendar apps of your smart-phone according to timelines - this is where you do all your thinking and planning. Once written down, you don't have to think anymore while you are on the journey...you just follow the steps. This frees your mind for something else that might happen while you are already en route
- avoiding scams - as a general rule, I ignore the touts or anyone I don't know who call out to me. The calling comes in many forms - "Hi! Where are you from?", "Excuse me! Excuse me!", "Where are you going?". I don't look them in the eye and I remain non-verbal with them. If you reply to them, you just gave them an 'in' to hound you. In order not to look rude, I smile and wave the 'not interested' hand to them, without looking at them.
- power bank - hand-carry your power bank. Do not check it in. You can be called in when you are already inside the plane to go all the way to the loading dock so you can personally remove the power bank...and chances are, you'll have to surrender it to them. And you might delay the plane departure!
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