Damon and Selina, a married couple from the U.S., made the bold decision to retire in their 40s, selling off their possessions to travel the world and savor life through food and culture.

During their recent stop in Vietnam, they spent much of their time diving into local cuisine - and their latest adventure took them to Ho Thi Ky Food Street in Vườn Lài Ward, one of the busiest food spots in Saigon.

In a video shared on their YouTube channel, Damon and Selina took viewers through their discovery of vibrant street dishes at Ho Thi Ky, where more than 100 stalls open daily from 3 PM, offering everything from Vietnamese snacks to trendy bites from Cambodia, Japan, Korea, and Thailand.

Among the array of choices, the couple’s attention was caught by a seafood stall where the bestseller was sam - horseshoe crab.

Though unfamiliar and a bit intimidating in appearance, Damon and Selina decided to try grilled sam, one of six popular variations served at the stall.

Horseshoe crab, or sam, is a marine arthropod with a flat, helmet-like shell, four eyes, and 16 legs tucked underneath its body. Its long, pointed tail has a ridge and triangular tip.

In Vietnam, sam can be found in coastal waters across the country, with the most well-known sources being Cat Ba (Hai Phong), Ha Long, and Quang Yen (Quang Ninh). While it’s served in upscale restaurants, smaller-sized sam are also featured on street food menus in cities like Saigon - perfectly portioned for curious first-timers at affordable prices.

At Ho Thi Ky, a single grilled sam costs around 150,000 VND (approximately 5.7 USD), and is prepared to order. Damon and Selina chose the grilled sam with scallion oil and sweet-sour dipping sauce.

“We ordered a horseshoe crab - something we’ve never tried before,” Damon said as their meal arrived sizzling hot.

Upon tasting it, he remarked that the dish had a pleasant seafood flavor, and that the meat and eggs were well-marinated. As he continued eating, he noted it reminded him of crab and was surprisingly light and easy to enjoy.

Selina admitted she was initially frightened by the look of the dish but was eager to try something new.

“Oh, not bad at all. I was scared before eating, but the flavor is really good,” she said, describing it as slightly crunchy with a briny, ocean-like taste. “The meat was tender, chewy, and rich.”

“What’s amazing is that the chef knew exactly how to turn something that looks scary into something so tasty,” she added.

Aside from grilled sam, the couple sampled other dishes at Ho Thi Ky, including grilled quail, skewered meat, pan-fried rice cakes, and one standout: grilled bone marrow seasoned with chili salt and served with fresh herbs.

“We’re exploring Vietnamese street food and tried two dishes that really stood out: horseshoe crab and grilled bone marrow,” Damon and Selina wrote on their YouTube channel, Doc & Bean Eats.

“Seeing these dishes at the night market made us hesitate for a moment, but curiosity got the better of us. The experience was intense, unexpected, and completely different from what we imagined - the presentation, the flavor, everything left a deep impression,” they added.