Originally published Sunday, April 20, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Ask Travel
How safe is street food in Saigon?
Q: We're planning a possible three or four days in Saigon, and everyone tells us to try food from street vendors, as it is one of the highlights...
Q: We're planning a possible three or four days in Saigon, and everyone tells us to try food from street vendors, as it is one of the highlights of traveling in Vietnam. However, as we were getting our pretravel vaccinations, the nurse was adamant about avoiding all street food. Should we just be extra careful (avoid anything raw, or cooked on an unclean surface), or is this advice to be taken without exception?
A: This depends, of course, on the vendor, and your general tolerance. There certainly are no guarantees and no hard rules that will prevent you from getting sick, so in that respect you're taking your chances, but many people also get sick eating in five-star hotels. The general rule of thumb is to absolutely avoid anything raw, uncooked, and unpeeled fruit, salads, etc. as well as drinks made with water. Cooked foods are less risky.
Look for vendors whose stalls look clean and busy. Food courts inside shopping malls or hawker centers are excellent places to try traditional "street" food in a sanitary environment.
In Saigon, the best place to sample street food without actually eating on the street is Quan Nn Ngon, 138 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia www.quananngon.com. I ate its Hanoi branch last year with a Vietnamese friend. It was excellent.
Carol Pucci, Seattle Times Travel writer
If you have a question about Travel, ask us. You can do that at seattletimes.com/travel (search the right side of that page for "Ask Travel"). You can ask about the Northwest or the rest of the world, and we'll do our best to get you an answer or a resource.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
How to save money, energy on Thanksgiving road trip
Southwest's "bags fly free" policy is landing new customers
Snow globes? TSA will likely just say 'no'
Finding youthful spirits on elder-filled cruise
Unions urge Obama to fix ailing airlines

Opening day at Crystal Mountain
Skiers crowded the slopes at Crystal Mountain for one of the resort's earliest openings.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- Homeless man, 46, arrested in Greenwood arsons
- KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
- Steve Kelley | ESPN's Bill Simmons gets us: He hates Clay Bennett, too
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
- Seattle U. Men's Hoops | Big recruit goes from Huskies to Redhawks
- Mariners sign Jack Wilson to 2-year contract
- Razor found in muffin an accident, 'mortified' baker says
- Suspect's family shaken by slaying of police officer
- Mountlake Terrace woman reports razor in muffin
- Man says he will protest city's gun ban by carrying gun into community center
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
635 - OSU game thread
622 - Seattle man to pack a pistol into community center to protest mayor's ban
356 - GOP clueless as families struggle with health care
196 - NYC trial for 9/11 suspects poses risks
132 - Band of advocates, activists now McGinn's likely insiders
98 - Wright State game thread
97 - Licata looks at boosting traffic-ticket revenue
87 - Kent man challenges Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels' gun ban
79 - Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
70
- Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
- Homeless man, 46, arrested in Greenwood arsons
- Ivar's undersea billboards a hoax devised as marketing ploy
- Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
- Steve Kelley | ESPN's Bill Simmons gets us: He hates Clay Bennett, too
- An 802.11n upgrade could make a big difference
- KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
- Washington in race for federal education funds
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
- Goodwill's Glitter Sale is Nov. 14-15





