During the trip, he tried pho (noodles served with beef or chicken), cha ca (Vietnamese fish cake), bun rieu (Vietnamese crab noodle soup), and bun dau mam tom (noodle and tofu with shrimp sauce).

Among them, one dish left a particularly strong impression and became his top recommendation for anyone visiting the capital city - bun ca cham (noodles with fish in sauce).

The American traveler tried the dish at a small sidewalk eatery on Bui Ngoc Duong Street, Bach Mai Ward (formerly in Hai Ba Trung District). He ordered a regular serving of bun ca cham for VND35,000, which included fresh rice noodles, crispy fried fish, and fish cakes. The meal was served with fresh herbs, garlic chili fish sauce, and a side of sour soup with vegetables.

“My first impression was fantastic: the dish looked delicious,” he said.

The broth had a tangy sourness from tomatoes and a natural sweetness from fish bones, he said, adding that when a bit of chili oil was added, the flavor became bolder and more distinctive.

Matthew went on to try the noodles and fried fish. He said the fresh noodles were soft and refreshing. “This piece of fish is even better than I expected. It’s hot, crispy, and when dipped in garlic chili fish sauce, the flavor is incredible. The fish is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a mild sweetness.”

As for the fish cake, he found it tasty, but admitted it wasn't as good as the freshly fried fish. In fact, he was so fond of the fried fish dish he ordered it twice. 

“If you haven't been to Vietnam, I recommend coming here just to try bun ca cham,” Matthew suggested.

At the end of the meal, he rated it as one of the best crispy fish dishes he had ever eaten. He was also impressed with the price, just VND50,000 in total.

Hong Ngan, the owner of the eatery, said the shop only uses fresh fish that weigh at least 1.8kg to ensure firm meat.

“We fry the fish twice, using precise heat control to ensure a crispy exterior and soft interior,” Ngan explained.

Thao Trinh