We went on a Vietnamese food tour in Hanoi when we first got there. It was essential in order to get a grasp on the different foods available and how to order them. We discovered all sorts of delicious noodles, dumplings, dessert of coconut sticky rice and egg coffee. It was three hours of being led about with our wonderful tour guide, Candy, and trying all sorts of food.
During the war a Vietnamese chef wanted to create a cappuccino, but there was no milk. So he created the Egg Coffee, a delicious, creamy coffee made with two egg yolks and sugar. It tastes like cream and is so good! Really genius.
Everywhere there are people who gather on the sidewalks, sitting on very small plastic stools, crowd around very small tables. Candy explained that people used to travel from the fields and had to bring their table and chairs, and that is why they are so small. Also, she said that Vietnamese people are used to very small spaces and being close together brings about close friendship and goodwill.
Bochner Family Adventure 