Bourdain Loves Vietnam, Wants to Move In

By on March 17, 2009 • Topics: Arts & Culture

Bourdain in Vietnam

Bourdain in Vietnam

The Travel Channel’s Anthony Bourdain revisited Vietnam yet again on the last episode of No Reservations.  Bourdain fell in love with Vietnam the first time he visited it and likens his feelings to “when you meet the love of your life for the first time.” Bourdain’s book, A Cook’s Tour, is often called his love letter to Vietnam.

Whether he is serious or not about moving there next year (he seems serious), it really reminds you of how great Vietnam is.  Great food, beautiful scenery, and a rich history.  I find myself feeling very proud when I see Vietnam on a national stage in such good light.  For a long time Vietnam has been over shadowed by stories of the war, but perhaps it’s time for the country’s rich culture and beauty to take the stage.

Speaking of great food, I’ll leave you with some images of Vietnam’s cuisines that will make your eyes hungry.

The Author: James Bao

James Bao is the co-founder and Executive Director of OneVietnam Network, a Ford Foundation funded project to inspire diaspora giving. Previously, James was a financial analyst covering the technology, telecommunications, and media space. James is an alumni of UC Berkeley with a degree in Business Administration. He was born in Da Lat, Viet Nam and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. Find James on OneVietnam.

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  • Carolyn

    I love Bourdain– his take on food (and life) is refreshing and unpretentious. It’s not surprising that such a fearless lover of food would love Vietnam; it’s a country filled with local delicacies, fresh regional cuisine, and streaming authenticity.

    There’s an article pn Concierge.com which details the best street food around the world, and the first entry is essentially an ode to Banh Mi. Check it out:

    http://www.concierge.com/ideas/foodwine/tours/2274?mbid=rss_contf

  • Frank

    That Banh Mi looks delicious!

  • http://www.vnaba.org Uyen Nguyen

    I agree. A bite of one of those Banh Mi’s is like an explosion of flavors in your mouth. Banh Mi along with other Vietnamese cuisines have long gained international recognition. A culinary expert John T. Edge returned from Vietnam in 2007 and was thoroughly impressed with the variety and deliciousness of Vietnam’s street foods.

    Read the NPR cover story:

    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7467719

  • Hoang Bao

    Banh Mi is delicious but I hope less known dishes, such as Banh Khot, will get more of the limelight too. Vietnamese food is too diverse to be represented solely by Pho and Banh Mi.

  • Thuy Nguyen

    i wanna eat Banh Khot….such a long time xD

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