Good Evening Saigon
So where was I? Oh yes I was in Ho Chi Minh City seeing the sights and eating the food. The weather was hot and sticky and I was in a state of constant fullness with all of the food that we were eating. But complain? You won’t hear a peep of it from me! 
Would you like to come out to dinner with me? Sure, well follow me! Our next stop is a chic restaurant and bar a few minutes away from where we are staying at the Hotel Majestic. The Ly Club is a beautifully furnished club in the style of French Colonial that evokes poolside glamour. Named after the 1009-1225 Ly Dynasty which was one of Vietnam’s periods of cultural and artistic development, the decor reflects this with whites, shimmering pools, outdoor bars and interesting lighting fixtures. We have a special group menu but their regular menu is very well priced with mains ranging from $6.50US to $19US.
We sit down and the food comes out quickly and without delay without feeling too rushed-a good thing as some of us are still on Sydney or NZ time and it is creeping towards 2am.
Blue crystal scallop soup
The blue crystal scallops are delicious, not perfectly round scallops that are thinner than Canadian scallops and thicker than Australian ones. They sit in a creamy, thick and perfectly seasoned spinach soup.
Vietnamese delights plate
The Vietnamese delights plate is a three parter consisting of a green mango salad with crispy squid – not bad although it is a bit sweet for my taste. There is also a spongy soft shell crab in crispy batter that is full of soft crab meat and my favourite, two tender, slender batons of lemongrass scented beef wrapped in piper lolot, which is similar to a spinach.
Baked river prawns with cheese, garlic rice
The river prawns are enormous with very tender, soft meat inside and a savoury baked cheese crust on top. And although this looks like a really lovely place I can’t help but suck all the flavour from the shells as there is so much there. There is a round of dry cooked garlic rice on the side.
Sago pudding in coconut cream, coconut ice cream
I’m a crazy lover of coconut desserts-give me coconut cream and I can be assured of almost licking the bowl clean. This one has a scoop of coconut cream ice cream in a bed of pandan and coconut sago, soft and slightly grainy. I have to really stop myself from finishing it.
Chinatown and the Binh Tay markets
The next day we make it to Chinatown for the Thien Hau Pagoda and Binh Tay market which as Saigon’s largest market, it is bustling and we take a quick tour. We weave through the narrow corridors and we look at the unusual produce on offer as well as displays of gleaming stainless steel kitchenware. Water chestnuts sit in a giant bowl on a block of ice and pre carved carrots are for sale.
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