I left Vietnam with a complete love for the country and also a huge love for Hot Pot!
What is Hot Pot?
You receive your own camping style cooker between 2 people and receive meat and veggies, and sometimes also receive bread & sauces. You then cook your own meat to your own style along with the veggies and eat up!
Hanoi Hot Pot
In Hanoi we were also given bread rolls to eat the meat and veggies in once cooked. This was the absolute bomb because we had already fallen in love with Vietnamese Banh Mi for lunch, so this was essentially getting to ‘Creat Your Own’ Banh Mi Baguette.. Brilliant!
Taste bud heaven!
This kind of meal is extremely cheap, as with most things in Vietnam & you can basically eat as much as you want.
Hot Pot Mekong Delta style
After having Hot Pot in Hanoi, there was certainly a desire to have one last hot pot before we left Vietnam so on our last night in Can Tho, we went walking to what we read was the best and most authentic hot pot place.
After getting lost and using google translate on my phone to ask for directions, we wound up meandering down a quiet alleyway, until we reached the cutest most backyard style ‘restaurant’ I’ve ever come across.
It basically felt like we walked into this ladies driveway which had been decorated with lanterns, and were interrupting a family gathering.
Shortly after we sat down, a young man took a shine to us and decided to help us order. We were clearly in need of a little guidance and stuck out like sore thumbs..
Hot Pot came differently, with a soupy broth that we were meant to cook everything in!
As you can see, we got raw meat but we also got loads of green plants that we didn’t know the names of, and so our new friend came over and showed us how to cook the meal.
- First you must choose your plant.
- Then you must shake it to remove any bugs..!!
- Then you must break into smaller pieces and throw into the boiling broth.
- Then you watch it until it’s “ready”.
For me – I absolutely loved this experience of eating with the locals in a back alley in Can Tho! Even though we had no idea what was going on, we were able to work it out via actions and had a yummy meal – nothing like I’ve ever had before!
Of my 2 Hot Pot experiences, I can’t pick a favourite. Both were delicious and both were a great time! I need more hot pot in my life!
Have you had Vietnamese Hot Pot in Vietnam or better yet, in London? If so – tell me about it!
Australian expat, married to a Dutch guy, living in Amsterdam. Previously lived in London for 3 years, too! Lover of travel, coffee, brunch, beaches, fresh flowers, and family. Now a new mum, navigating life with a baby!
