With information rising rapidly and changing quickly, you might be wondering how worried you should be, and what’s scary about. Here’s what we do (and don’t really know) about this virus and we hope it helps.

What is coronavirus?

Coronaviruses (2019-nCoV) are a large family of viruses that cause colds and other upper respiratory infections. These viruses are zoonoses, which means they are transmitted between animals and people. A coronavirus can potentially spread from humans to humans. Up to now, there is no confirmed cure for this disease. Coronavirus is as severe as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV) which had happened before.

How did the outbreak start?

The new study The Lancet provides more clues to the virus’ origins, and points to bats as the most likely cause. The coronavirus is known to first appear in a wet market in the center of Wuhan city, mainland China, and the market is famous for selling a wide range of dead and living animals without hygiene standards. Some people claim the Wuhan market is the direct cause for outbreak whereas some say bats are not sold at this market but may have infected live animals sold there. This question still remains challenging for us.

What are the symptoms of this virus?

The symptoms can include a cough, fever, shortness of breath, or breathing difficulties. In the meanwhile, there are also some early reports of non-respiratory symptoms. Many people recover within a few days. However, some people, especially children and old people, who tend to have a weak immune system are more likely to get infected. In more severe cases, the infection can cause even deaths.

Why so scary?

Unlike bacterial infections, which can be treated by antibiotics, coronaviruses have no specific treatments. Also, these respiratory viruses can spread more easily from person to person, and potentially lead to an outbreak. The deadly outbreak began in China, and new cases have been reported in 26 countries (updated 2 Feb 2020) including Vietnam with 7 confirmed cases in which 2 of them recovered.  Some countries including the USA, Australia, Russia, and Singapore even closed border to all Chinese arrivals.

People are frightened, recalling the fear of epidemics spanning back to the year of 2003 when SARS happened. However, during the SARS outbreak, China had 5,327 cases and 349 deaths, according to the World Health Organization, whereas China now has over 14,000 Coronavirus cases confirmed, over 300 deaths. The global outbreak of SARS had spread to over 8,000 people worldwide and killed almost 800.

Where to get up-to-date information?

The real-time tracking map from Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering is believed to provide accurate information. Follow the link here. Updated on 2 Feb 2020, there are 14,628 cases confirmed, 305 total deaths, and 348 recovered.

If no cure, then what are the preventions?

There is currently no vaccine to prevent this deadly infection. However, the best way to prevent getting infected is to avoid being exposed to this virus. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends doing the following things.

• “Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Stay home when you are sick.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. “

The Bottom line

We should not panic although we are dealing with a serious and deadly virus. More information available, and preventives well-equipped will help.

The post The new coronavirus and the local fear: What we do and don’t know appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Vietnam – the country of Dusty Travel

“Dusty travel” in a sense of backpacking perfectly fits in the place and context of Vietnam. Vietnam caters everyone’s needs from being known as an oasis of relaxation, famous for epic adventures, to offering all the unique experience, not to mention such delicious feasts for your eyes with a perfect blend or balance of flavors. Vietnam is now a backpacker hub and has become one of the most prominent travel destinations in Asia on account of cheap cost of living, friendly and exciting vibes, a wide selection of off-the-beaten-track spots, and much more. In one word, Vietnam is the “Dusty travel” heaven.

However, (or also) in another sense of “Dusty travel”, its literal meaning is “dusty” or “dust”– “bụi” and “travel” – “du lịch”, which means we travel while breathing the dust in. While a lot of people have been writing about living, working, and traveling in Vietnam regarding all the excellent travel highlights, we rarely get to read articles about one of the most undeniable drawbacks – the air pollution in Vietnam, especially in big cities such as Hanoi, and Saigon (HCMC). The air quality index (AQI) has been very high, normally from 150 – 220, ranking on the top of the world sometimes at over 300.

The air quality gets that worse due to lots of reasons, such as the burning traditions taken from Chinese culture on special lunar days, the breakout of fire in a light warehouse releasing a high amount of fluorescent last year, the excessive amount of pollution resulted from motorbikes (around 7 mill bikes and 500K cars in a big city here!) and cars on the road, the northeastern trade winds carrying all the industrial dirt and dust from China and Hanoi’s neighboring provinces, and much more.

So what’s the solution? 

First of all, it is highly recommended to install AQ tracking apps like Airvisual just so you know on which days the AQI in the city is so high that you can avoid by staying indoors. Especially if you are traveling with a baby, an elderly family member, a pregnant woman or someone that has moderate to severe breathing problems, you should be more careful and well-prepared.

If air pollution does not constitute the number one concern, it is as just moderate as it could be. In Hanoi and Saigon, you may have to learn to wear a mask or have your hand cover your mouth while getting a full exposure to the traffic flow out there. Also, doing some outdoor exercises during the day might not be ideal, either. These tiny particles of pollution can burrow deep into the lungs and cause a range of severe health problems. It may result in occasional coughs, sneeze, sore throat, and even worse, some severe respiratory health problems like bronchitis, or lung inflammation. It’s not a fun reality, but it’s the truth.

If you tend to live here long-term, consider using an air filter indoors. But chances are it is going to take more of a toll on your health. However, just as long as you get out of Vietnam’s two biggest cities, you can see the air quality in Vietnam is getting better. It doesn’t mean you have to head for some remote rice paddy villages to get some fresh air, but you can start thinking about other city options including Da Nang, Hoi An, Da Lat, Can Tho, etc.

Regardless, while air pollution can be a problem in Vietnam, don’t let it hold you back from checking this country.

The post Du lịch Bụi – The joy of backpacking or breathing the dust in appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Learn more about other Vietnam’s cool cultural facts and traditions here

Wearing Pajamas as Day Wear

There’s nothing better than staying in a set of soft and comfy pajamas at home. And in Vietnam, you see women in pajamas literally everywhere! They are on motorbikes, walking down the streets, or serving in food stalls, especially in the rural areas. It’s basically normal, no big deal here; it’s not that they forgot to dress up before going out, it’s that pajamas are a fashion choice here. Pajama sets come in a range of sizes and styles, from matching floral T-shirts and shorts to full-length silk pants and long-sleeved shirts.

Self Ear Cleaning anytime anywhere

You might have noticed many people in Vietnam, especially men, have an incredibly long pinkie fingernail; it is actually linked to the purpose of sel-ear cleaning. Not just that, the Vietnamese use little spoons, chopsticks, tweezers, or even toothpicks wrapped in tissues to scoop out the wax and tickle the skin. You might think it is terrifying but many Vietnamese people love it. Convenient. Anytime. Anywhere.

English songs for Holidays and Anniversaries

‘Beautiful in White’ on Weddings, ‘Merry Christmas’, ‘Last Christmas’ played in shops over the holiday, and Happy New Year – ABBA on the New Year’s Eve – All the good old English songs are all over the place in Vietnam when the right events come. There is no explanation for why the Vietnamese stick with those songs for decades. It becomes an indispensable and unexplainable tradition in this country. If you want to trace back to the holiday vibes in the 20th century, Vietnam seems to be the right place.

Fun fact: The top and most recent comments on Happy New Year ABBA come from the Vietnamese

Bamboo Pipe Smoking

Smoking in Vietnam is highly common, with an estimation of over 15 million tobacco smokers, and over 33 million non-smokers who are heavily exposed to tobacco smoke. Communal smoking started as an integral part of Vietnamese culture in the way men exchanged cigarettes in greetings. A popular and traditional form of smoking in Vietnam is Thuoc Lao, or Dieu Cay – the farmers’ bamboo pipe, which is often passed around after a meal to help with the digestion process. Thuoc Lao are leaves of Nicotiana rustica plant put inside a long pipe in which people can smoke through and just one shot, a flood of high nicotine to the bloodstream pushes even the heaviest regular cigarette smokers down onto the floor, off the limit, with a strong dizziness in the head and a rapid heartbeat out of the chest. Despite the health risks that Thuoc Lao poses, it remains very popular in Vietnam, mainly in the Northern part.

While having some free green tea on the sidewalks, you might be offered some bamboo pipe shots, it’s up to you whether to say no or give it a try. But remember, we give you a warning in advance already!

Foreigners tried smoking the bamboo pipe and the results

Choosing a custom phone number

In Vietnamese culture, lucky numbers play a big part in most people’s life. Numbers like 1, 6, 8, 9 are thought as lucky, and the opposite normally goes to number 4, 13. The Vietnamese also believe a good combination of digits in their phone number can bring them luck. They choose their phone numbers based on their birthday, or just a sequence of “beautiful digits”, most popularly triple, quadruple eight or nine. Some wealthy people pay a lot of money in order to acquire a phone number. For instance, mobile number 0989 999 999 was sold for USD 664,000 in reality in Vietnam. Whereas some people find the joy out of those lucky phone numbers, we find it frustrating to keep double-checking the sequence whenever we try to save contacts.

Phone wallpaper as a picture of themselves

Most Vietnamese peoples phone wallpaper is a picture of themselves. It is not only common in Vietnam but also in Asia where people (mostly women) like setting their phone wallpaper as the picture of themselves. Whether it is a selfie, a picture of themselves traveling around, or an artistic shoot, there is always their face, just there. It has become a trend that we can hardly explain. It’s probaly a very good thing. Imagine … if they lost their phone and you found it, you don’t have to check if it had a lock that they could open to confirm, because just by looking at their wallpaper, you know it’s theirs, just like an ID card.

Coffee Made from Weasel Poop

Traditionally known as one of the best coffees in the world, Vietnam’s weasel coffee is made from the poop of weasels after they eat the ripest and sweetest coffee berries and let the seeds out. These seeds are picked, washed, dried for 3 days under the sun, then ready for roasting, bagging, and selling, just like other coffees. What makes weasel coffee stand out is its great aroma thanks to the interaction between the weasel’s digestive enzymes and beans. The finest coffee can cost you around $100 for 100 grams, and for every 1kg of coffee berries, there is only 0. 3 kg of poop.

If you also have discovered funny, exciting things in Vietnam, please feel free to share us!

The post 7 Weird Things You’ll Only See in Vietnam | An Insight Into Local Life appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Here is the list of all the food destinations that he went to. Some of the owners in those restaurants or food stalls say that their life did take a huge milestone or a 180-degree turn for the better after being featured by Anthony Bourdain.

Bun Cha Huong Lien

What is it? Bun Cha – Grilled pork noodles
Address: 24 Le Van Huu
Opening hours: 9:00 AM – 8:30 PM
Note: You should come as early as possible to avoid the crowd and the queue. Also, if you come late, Bun Cha will run out. Only vermicelli and spring rolls available – which happened to us once. We got there at almost 8:00 PM and we ended up eating vermicelli and spring rolls without Bun Cha in a Bun Cha restaurant.

Bun Cha Huong Lien is the most famous destination in the list since it is where U.S. Former President – Obama and Bourdain ate. You can navigate your way to Le Van Huu street which is located in the Old Quarter and drop by a small restaurant fully packed with scooters on the front and lots of people coming in and out. You would know you’re in the right place by seeing all the framed pictures of Obama and Bourdain on the wall. After their visit, the restaurant amended its own menu with the addition of “Obama combo” which literally means “this is what Obama ordered” including Bun cha, beer, and seafood spring rolls, one each. Bun Cha is a bowl of grilled pork, crunchy papaya, and carrots with fish sauce accompanied by rice vermicelli and fresh herbs. Just dip some vermicelli into the bowl then take a pork bite and eat! It’s easy, just mix and take bits of everything together and eat. It’s DELICIOUS!

Cussing Noodles

What is it? Bun doc mung – Noodles with pork and taro stems
Address: 41 Ngo Sy Lien, Hanoi
Opening hours: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Cussing noodles restaurant is well-known among Hanoians. Some people from other provinces of Vietnam often make jokes about the name of this restaurant and some might even be afraid of it. They make lots of questions about not only the restaurant but also the people of Hanoi, whether they are rude or not, whether they are always cussing or not, and alike. The name of this restaurant is just after the name of the dish – Bun doc mung; however, the owner always cusses at her staff, customers, and even not any specific one, which makes people call her shop “cussing noodles”. This bun doc mung shop started to become famous thanks to the word of mouth as people have been always curious “why cussing noodles? what cussing?” and they just wanted to check it out. It became more and more famous thanks to Bourdain’s visit and that it was featured on CNN, viral all over the world. But the question is how about its quality?

Bun doc mung is a bowl of noodles (same strings of Bun Cha noodles) with pork, tomatoes, and taro stems. The best thing about it is its broth made of pork knuckles and snouts. Cussing noodles shop has been doing a great job in this. People love its broth, so no matter how long the queue is and no matter how much cussing they think they would get, they still come. What’s funny is some customers even “volunteer” and desire to be cursed by the owner that they tried to make fun of her or whatever way they could think of to piss her off.

Bun Oc Pho Co

What is it? Bun Oc – Snail noodles with broth
Address: Giang Bun Oc Pho Co, 36 Luong Ngoc Quyen, Hanoi
Opening hours: 7:30 AM–3 PM, 5–11 PM

This is one of the first dishes that Bourdain had in Hanoi. Although Bun Oc is not as famous as Pho in Vietnam, it is still worth trying at least once. The broth is special; the flavor and the smell are very good. Take a seat on a little plastic stool, swirl the chopsticks around and slurp some Bun Oc like a local.

Bia Hai Xom (Beer)   

What is it? Beers
Address: Bia Hai Xom chain is everywhere. But Bourdain went to 22 Tang Bat Ho, Hanoi.
Opening hours: 10 AM–11:30 PM

Beer is everywhere in Vietnam and the number of beer consumers in Vietnam ranks on the up-top in the world. If you can drink or even can’t but want to see some party vibes and Vietnamese ways to clink the glasses, just come check out Bia Hai Xom – the most popular beer shop chain in Vietnam. You will see all the people around shout out cheerfully like crazy, counting from 3 to 1 and “Dzo”. You say “Cheers”. The Vietnamese say “Dzo” and “Uong” – “Drink”.

Banh Xeo Dinh Cong Trang

What is it? Banh Xeo – Vietnamese pancake
Address: 46A Dinh Cong Trang, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, HCMC (Saigon)
Opening hours: 10 AM – 2 PM / 4 PM – 9 PM

This Banh Xeo shop has become popular since Anthony Bourdain’s first visit which literally changed the shop’s destiny and life forever positively. Banh Xeo Dinh Cong Trang offers a perfect version of Vietnam’s Southern pancake – Banh Xeo. The fried crust is made of rice flour, water, and turmeric powder, while what’s inside is full of pork, shrimp, herbs, scallions, and bean sprouts. If you are a vegetarian, you can tell the owner to exclude all the meats. Banh Xeo Dinh Cong Trang uses firewood to make the pancake, which makes the crust crunchy and the whole cake itself smell and taste better. You can eat Banh Xeo with your hands or chopsticks. Dip your Banh Xeo into a bowl of fish sauce and take a bite!

Bun Bo Hue The Lunch Lady

What is it? Bun Bo Hue – Hue style noodles
Address: 23 Hoang Sa Street, Phuong Da Kao, District 1, HCMC (Saigon) or Hem D Chung Cu Nguyen Dinh C, Da Kao, District 1, HCMC (Saigon)
Opening hours: 11 AM – 3:30 PM

One of the most famous street food stalls in Saigon belongs to the legendary, also the street food celebrity – the Lunch Lady or Nguyen Thi Thanh. Anthony Bourdain found her stall and had some delicious noodles that he featured on his show No Reservations. It made this food stall become famous and popular all over the world day by day just after his visit; however, her name was and is still always well-known for her noodles and broth among the locals in Saigon. What’s interesting about this food stall is the way the Lunch Lady rotates her menu which serves only one type of noodle soup or broth every day just because she is an expert in that. Seven days in a week, she can walk you through a maze of noodles’ collection from Bun Bo Hue, Bun Thai (Thai’s noodles?), Bun Mam (Fish sauce noodles) to Banh Canh Cua (Crab noodles). If you visit on Friday, you will be served Bun Bo Hue in which you slurp some clear broth with a meaty flavor and chew on thick noodles while eating some meats, herbs, and rolls.

Cao Lau Hoi An

What is it? Cai Lau – Hoi An Noodles without broth
Address: Central Market in Hoi An

Cao Lau is a Hoi An signature that nobody should ever miss it when they are in Hoi An. Bourdain had Cao Lau in the Central Market, Hoi An where there are a large number of food vendors and restaurants offering delicious Central Vietnam cuisine. Cao Lau has thin slices of pork, thick Quang noodles, and all the fresh herbs and vegetables. If you travel to Central Vietnam without eating Cao Lau in Hoi An and My Quang in Da Nang, you’re not really in town.

Others

The above list is just to map out some signatures. To check the full food list by Anthony Bourdain, you can check the gallery below. Click on the photo for a bigger size and use the arrow to navigate. Feel free to give us your thoughts or feedback on these food destinations!

More articles about Food in Hanoi and Food in Saigon. 

The post Recreate Anthony Bourdain’s Food Adventure in Vietnam appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Fast Food: KFC, Lotteria, McDonald’s, and Burger King

Such famous fast food restaurant chains as KFC, Lotteria, McDonald’s, and Burger King in Vietnam still open over Tet Holiday to serve all fast-food lovers. IN Vietnam, Lotteria and KFC are the most popular brands of all the mentioned giants. Korea’s Lotteria is well-known for its signature soybean chicken whereas American KFC offers its crispy spicy chicken. Let’s have some fast food in Vietnam and see how different it is from what you eat in your home country! All the spices are actually changed when the franchise moves into a new country to meet the locals’ taste buds.

Highway 4

The chain of Highway 4 restaurants offers Vietnamese cuisine. It is where you can eat the local food even though it happens during the Tet Holiday. They also often offer lucky money for the very first customers coming to their restaurants at the beginning of the Lunar New Year.

Pizza: Al Fresco’s, Pizza Hut, Pizza Domino and Pizza Inn

When it comes to popular foods to choose from for a franchise business, pizza would always appear on the top of the list. There are many franchise options – but pizza continues to be loved by families everywhere – anytime! Al Fresco’s, Pizza Hut, Pizza Domino and Pizza Inn are the best pizza franchises in Vietnam.

Gongcha Milktea

Gong Cha is a Taiwanese drink shop franchise. It expanded to Vietnam in 2014 and it has been doing a great job in the country, becoming one of the top milk tea brands. Gong Cha serves a total of more than fifty different drinks that can be divided into different types: signatures, brewed tea, milk tea, “Creative Mix”, coffee, “Healthy Series”, etc. They also offer drinks in medium and large sizes.

Cộng Coffee

Cong coffee chain is famous among both locals and expats in Vietnam. The coffee shop is explicitly designed in Viet Cong style, or we call The Vietnam Communist design. It recalls the days of state ownership and all communism and propaganda themes. Seen through Westerners’ eyes, Cộng‘s style is quite provocative but still worth a visit after all. The best drinks in Cong Coffee is their signature Coconut Coffee. Don’t miss it!

Starbucks Coffee

Starbucks open over Tet Holiday to serve people craving for some arabica coffee! Let’s have a cup of espresso in any of the last few days of the year or the first few days of the New Year!

The post What’s open in Vietnam during Lunar New Year – Restaurant and Coffee Chains and Franchises appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

You might read one of our articles about Flirting phrases before – check here. That article received lots of attention, and the readers have been sending us tons and tons of messages, asking the same question: “How about Foreign girls flirting Vietnamese guys? How to do that?” This article will answer it all. This is a Full Guide to Flirting in Vietnamese. Both men and women can use it. You will flirt like Pro!  

P/S: Even if you have no intention to flirt with any Vietnamese, this article still helps you get more productive conversations with the locals. The flirting part is the bonus. 

 

Before getting started, we’ve got a note for you. The Vietnamese language goes beyond two pronouns “You” and “I” since it has a bunch of pronouns in all conversations. But in this article, we would mention “Ban” (You) – “Toi” (I), or “Anh” (Indicates a Man) – “Em” (Indicates a Woman, or Man if that’s the case for some ). You can choose to use one of the two pairs. The first pair sounds friendly while the second sounds cute and a bit flirty. Normally, “Anh” is used when the man is older than the woman; however, when it comes to flirting, it does not matter. Just go for it, man, call her “em” and you are “anh” no matter what your age is.

Meeting Someone in Person

Pick up lines are lame, and mostly they do not work at all. Instead, you just say hello and have fun.

 

Say Hello …

“Hi, I am ….”

– Chào (em), anh là … (If you’re a man talking to a woman)

– Chào (anh), em là … (If you’re a woman talking to a man)

How to pronounce: 

/Ciao/ ~ like in Italian – /em/ or /n/ – /la/

“Nice to meet you! ”

– Rất hân hạnh được gặp em (If you’re a man talking to a woman)

– Rất hân hạnh được gặp anh (If you’re a woman talking to a man)

How to pronounce:

/Rat/ – /han/ – /hank/ – /duck/ – /gap/ – /m/ or /n/

Then, the question you might be undoubtedly asked when you’re out of the town is:

“Where are you from?” – Anh/ em đến từ đâu?

How to pronounce:

/n/ or /m/ – /dense/ – /too/ – /dou/

* den sounds like /dense/ but without /s/

You can respond with:

“I’m from the USA/England/Canada/etc.” – Anh/ Em đến từ Mỹ/ Anh/ Canada/ etc.

“I really like …Hanoi…, especially its …food….” – “Anh/em rất thích ..Hà Nội .. Đặc biệt là ..đồ ăn..”

If you meet someone after reading this article, you owe me a drink.

The post Flirting in Vietnamese like a Pro – A Perfect Guide to Flirting appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Be well-prepared before traveling

Here are the most important pieces of advice before you plan to visit Vietnam.

• Notify your doctor about traveling with your particular food allergy in Vietnam. Your doctor may give you some advice about the foods in the areas you are going to, and write you a letter explaining your conditions. You may use it later to show the flight agency, and restaurants’ staff.
• Don’t forget to buy a travel insurance that covers your food allergy.
• Always pack your medications. Extra Epi-pens are always needed!

Peanuts at 10,000 meters

Peanut allergy is one of the most severe food allergies, yet peanuts are always served as in-flight snacks. Many airlines no longer serve peanuts; however, it is still essential to notify the flight agents of your peanut allergies and request for peanut-free snacks instead. Even if you want to make sure all the peanut dust and particles are removed in your seat, just speak to a gate agent before your flight and ask to pre-board in order to cleanse immediate seating area.

Pack your snacks more than you need

It is important and easy to bring your own food just in case you there is a lack of restaurants that accommodate special diets and other hiccups.

Create a translated card

If you are not fluent in Vietnamese, you should create a translated card beforehand so that you can present at restaurants or food vendors. The card should cover the list of ingredients you need to avoid, together with a brief explanation of your allergy. Translated cards are useful to avoid cross-contact, too. Since we are fluent in both Vietnamese and English, please feel free to reach out for help with translation. Contact us on Facebook here.

Cook your Own Food

When all the snacks you pack run out, cooking your own food is another solution. If it is too difficult to find safe food at restaurants, you better cook your own food. Lots of marts or supermarkets are scattered in Vietnam, so it’s not hard to collect the food then cook on your own at the homestay, hotel or hostel. Just deal an access to their kitchens and there is no big deal!

Ask the Right Questions

When you go eating out with a severe food allergy, your question doesn’t end up with only “Does this food contain any peanuts, gluten, etc.?” Your questions should be very specific and detailed as much as possible. For instance, if you are allergic to peanuts, you have to ask such questions: “What kind of oil is used to fry this food?” or “Are you sure there is no peanut in my bowl?” Sometimes the oil that was used to cook something is peanut-based.

Stick with Western Restaurants

Vietnam is the biggest threat for travelers with food allergies, especially gluten and peanut allergies. The Vietnamese people have peanuts as snacks in all gatherings, put lots of peanuts onto the top of noodle dishes, have Banh My made of wheat every single morning, and some even have no idea what gluten is. Therefore, to stay and to feel safe at the highest level, you can stick with Western-style restaurants such as McDonald’s, KFC’s, Burger King’s, Starbuck’s, 4P Pizza, Mediterraneo, and lots of Argentinan and American steakhouses on the way that all have excellent services. They have staff that can speak English and they have comprehensive knowledge about the nature of food allergy’s threats.

Book a Tour

If you Google “The Best Countries in The World for Food”, Vietnam never fails to appear on the list. Vietnam’s cuisine is famous for its simplicity of fresh but great ingredients in every single dish that can capture the essence of  Vietnamese gastronomy. If you are interested in Vietnamese food adventure to have some good dishes in the food stalls on the sidewalks or taste some perfectly crafted dishes in century-old restaurants, but you are still afraid of your food allergy, booking a tour is the best solution now. The tour companies have staff who speak English fluently, and they fully understand the implications of traveling with food allergies. You can put trust in them in order to try the Vietnamese foods safely without any worries.

View this post on Instagram

Many thanks to our awesome customers – Nathan, Christian, Robert, Jee and our great guide – Nha! Local. Unique. Fun. Authentic. Original. Thanks for choosing us! Hope you had a great time! *From Maze Vietnam with lots of love! <3 #mazevietnam #localtour #saigon #vietnamtour #privatetour #locallife #saigontour #booking #authentic #customizedtour #asia #southeastasia #localfood #streetfood #love #friends #travel #travellife

A post shared by Maze Vietnam (@mazevietnam) on Aug 28, 2018 at 2:24am PDT

We offer excellent tours in Vietnam, and keeping you healthy and safe is always our first priority. It is a must. You can check out our tours offered here.

Foods to Eat/Avoid

For Gluten-free Eaters:

What you can eat: Fish sauce, Banh Xeo – Vietnamese crepes, Banh Khot, Goi Cuon, Mi Quang, Mien, Goi Cuon, Pho, Bun, Banh Canh, Com Tam, Com Hen, Banh Trang, Banh Trang Nuong, and Banh Trang Cuon.

What you cannot eat: Nui, Mi – yellow noodles, Banh Mi, and Cha Ca La Vong.

For People allergic to peanuts:

What you cannot eat: Peanuts, My Quang, Bun Bo Nam Bo, etc. Peanuts are usually used as some garnish on top of foods and easy to detect. Oil peanuts are used here but not much. It’s best to carry a translated notes in all cases though.

For People allergic to soy:

What you cannot eat: Soya, Soybean (curd, granules), Soy sauce, Tofu, etc.

For Lactose-free Eaters:

What you cannot eat: Pastries, Cookies, Caramel, etc. Lactose-free eaters have not so many challenges while traveling in Vietnam since the signature local dishes here are naturally lactose-free already.

If you are a food expert who already has lots of experience in finding the good foods with cautious alerts of the food allergy, please feel free to share your advice or tips in the Comment! Or submit an article here. 

Find the Local Hospitals 

You should spend some time finding local hospitals in the destinations that you are going to visit in Vietnam, then note down all the hospitals’ address and telephone number, and keep them in your pocket. You could ask your travel insurance provider to recommend some hospitals on the way. Also, feel free to contact us for help with finding the closest hospitals nearby. We have personal assistants always willing to help you out 24/7, too.

Hopefully, you now learn that it is possible to travel well with food allergies! If you follow our tips and advice and speak to your tour operator and airline, we are sure that there would be no problem while you are traveling in Vietnam. Nothing can hold you back!

Contact us for instant help: mazevietnam.info@gmail.com or facebook.com/mazevietnam

Happy Travel!

The post 10 Tips for Traveling to Vietnam with Food Allergies appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Early this year, Vietnam rocked throughout Asia, proving as the ‘Asian Tiger’ of Southeast Asia on the World Football map. In all the cities and towns of Vietnam, even in the areas known as the oases of calm, the chaos reached a fever pitch as Vietnam’s under-23 soccer team headed to the final of this year’s Asian Football Confederation Cup held in China. Although Uzbekistan won in an extra-time defeat there, all the Vietnamese people had already granted their national team members hero status. They all deserved so because of their first-time as the runners-up and their strong determination to beat the game. They are the heroes for their strength and resilience.

The AFC-U23 Championship went by, and then, another tournament comes by. The Asian Games, Asiad, held every four years among athletes from all over Asia, catches lots of attention from Vietnamese people, especially in the field of football. Vietnam national team made it to the semifinal on 29 August at 4:00 PM (Local time). This unexpected and promising event made by the national team has brought about a high demand for Indonesia tours, followed by a significant rise in prices – up to 10 times higher. However, going to the stadium to see it live is not the only option. Coffee shops, bars, beer clubs, and restaurants equipped with big-screen televisions will be all crowded with supporters clad in red with the national flag in hands and some flag stickers right on their faces. Thousands of Vietnamese create a symphony of motorbike horns and kitchen utensils to cheer the football players on all the streets – that is how they call “Go Storm” – “Đi bão”, which is a Vietnamese slang.

Some suggestions of the local places with awesome vibes for the football-watch:

Hanoi

1. Góc Khán Đài Football Coffee & Live Music – 85 Trích Sài, Tây Hồ, Hà Nội

2. Rio cafe Bar – 25 Ngõ Thái Hà, Láng Hạ, Quận Đống Đa, Hà Nội

3. Win Win Cafe – 94 đường Láng, Thịnh Quang, Đống Đa, Hà Nội

4. NOC Coffee – 210 Xã Đàn, Quận Đống Đa, Hà Nội

5. Cafe 56 Bóng Đá K+ – 56 Phạm Huy Thông, Quận Ba Đình, Hà Nội

6. Café Bắc Kỳ –  114D1, Đặng Văn Ngữ, Phường Trung Tự, Quận Đống Đa, Hà Nội

7. Swing Cafe & Restaurant – Tràng Tiền – Floor 2, 21 Tràng Tiền, Quận Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội

Saigon

1. Quán Cafe sân vườn Miền Thùy Dương  – số 222/2 đường Bùi Đình Túy, phường 12, quận Bình Thạnh, TP. HCM

2. La Rose Coffee –  N2 Trường Sơn, P.15, Quận 10, TP. HCM

3. Mu Coffee – 001 CC Bàu Cát 2, Vườn Lan, P.10, Quận Tân Bình, TP. HCM

4. Full House –  32A Thạch Thị Thanh, P. Tân Định, Quận 1, TP. HCM

5. KASA Coffee – Đồng Nai, Quận 10 – 1 Đồng Nai, Phường 15, Quận 10, TP. HCM

6. Mimosa Coffee – 171A Hoàng Hoa Thám, Phường 13, Quận Tân Bình.

The post Vietnam on the Soccer Map – Follow ASIAD and Find places to Watch the Football appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Read full our travel guide to Vung Tau here.

This photoblog captures some of the most authentic slices of life in Vung Tau with the hope to get the readers, more or less, some sense of this remarkably civilized-looking coastal city.

How to get to Vung Tau?

Popular Destinations in Vung Tau

Suoi Nghe sheep farm – sheep field in Ba Ria – Vung Tau is one of the best photography destinations rated by the Vietnamese. Suoi Nghe sheep field is the residence of 3 herds of sheep, 150 sheep each. At first, the sheep were raised here just for meat and fiber. However, since more and more people visit the herds for sightseeing and photo-taking, they then raise the sheep to serve as a photography spot for the tourists.

Cha Va River is home to fishermen. This place is where you can find the fishing villages within the country life.

Explore the East of Vung Tau

Last but not least, Vung Tau is well-known for its beaches. Here go the top five beaches in Vung Tau.

Photos by Lam Cao
Words by Chi Le

Visit our Flickr album here

The post The Best Vung Tau Destinations You Haven’t Visited Yet | Photos Featured appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

As you approach Hanoi, you are undoubtedly surprised at the city’s flow traffic, the fast-rising glittering towers, but up close you might want to dig a little bit deeper to uncover the creative side of Hanoi.

There’s so much to say. However, we will offer some local knowledge and a few pointers to get you started.

Arts Hubs

If you are interested in exhibitions, art talks, and even art courses, you better visit these suggested hubs. Each hub has special features, besides exhibitions and art talks

Heritage Space

Website: http://heritagespace.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ heritageSpace
Address: 1st floor Dolphin Plaza 6 Nguyen Hoang st., W. My Dinh 2, D. Nam Tu Liem, Hanoi
Special features: Music shows, library, and arts&fashion boutique

Manzi

Facebook: www.facebook.com/manzihanoi
Address: 14 Phan Huy Ich Street, Hanoi
Special Features: performance, art shop, and café

Blackbox

Facebook: www.facebook.com/blackboxvn
Address: 56 Nguyen Khuyen Street, Hanoi
Special Features: Theatre, rehearsal rooms, music shows, art workshops, arts and dance classes.

Nha San Studio – Nha San Collective

Facebook: www.facebook.com/nhasancollective
Address: 24 Ly Quoc Su Street, Hanoi
Special Features: Art studio, art performances, art festivals, and cafe

Music Hubs

Freelance musicians often go to Hanoi’s live music cafes or some music hubs mentioned below.

The Best Places with Live Music in Hanoi

Hanoi Rock City

Website: hanoirockcity.com
Address: 27/52 Tô Ngọc Vân, Tây Hồ, Hanoi
Special Features: Bar, music shows, and cultural events

Cama Atk

Website: www.cama-atk.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/camaatk/
Address: 27/52 Tô Ngọc Vân, Tây Hồ, Hanoi
Special Features: Bar, music shows, and events.

Multi-Media Hubs

Multi-media hubs gather film-makers, photographers, videographers, and graphic designers.

TPD Movie

Website: www.tpdmovie.com.vn/
Address: 51 Tran Hung Dao Street, Hanoi
Special Features: Film classes and workshops

Hanoi Doclab

Website: http://hanoidoclab.org
Address: 56-58 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hanoi
Special Features: Multi-media classes and workshops, Film and Photography talks

Co-working Spaces

Co-working space in Vietnam involves a shared workplace, often an office, where start-ups work together and join networking events.

Click Space

Website:  clickspace.vn
Address: 76 To Ngoc Van Street, Hanoi

Hatch Co-working Space

Website: hatch.vn
Address: Room Apartment 195, Floor 14, Đội Cấn, Ba Đình, Hanoi

Hub.it

Facebook: www.facebook.com/hubitasia
Address: Tung Shing Square, No.2 Ngo Quyen, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Special features: consultancy programs, apps-focused start-ups

Craft Hubs

If you are interested in traditional craftworks, Hanoi’s craft hubs are your destinations. Craft hubs in Hanoi promote the Vietnamese craft products and give an authentic insight into the craftwork to the local and foreign guests.

Hanoi Design Center

Website: hanoidesigncenter.com
Address: 91 Au Co Street, Tay Ho, Hanoi
Special features: Studio and showroom of Vietnamese craft products

Zo Project

Facebook: fb.com/zoproject
Address: 124 Au Co Street, Tay Ho, Hanoi
Special features: Shop and workshop of Vietnamese products made from Vietnamese Do paper

Others

Lots of other hubs in Hanoi that you can drop by are Chula – a showroom of contemporary fashion with music performance and film screenings, Workroom four – an art, fashion, and design studio and classes blended in exhibitions, and cultural events, and much more.

Feel free to share us your suggestions, tips, and advice to fulfill the guide to Vietnam’s creative hubs! 

The post Explore the Hubs of Culture and Creativity in Hanoi appeared first on Maze Vietnam.