Nhu Lan Bakery and Restaurant

Everyone loves to sample Vietnamese food, and some of the best is to be found at roadside food vendors.

Well, Nhu Lan offers the best of all worlds. Tasty food, served quickly, prepared fresh at prices around a $1-1.50.

There are two locations on Ham Nghi, and another at the high end of Hai Ba Trung (District 3) but the one we are discussing is at 50 Ham Nghi. It has been at this address since 1968 - during the American War in VietNam.

The menu, conveniently printed in English and Vietnamese, lists over 50 menu items from the ubiquitous pho, to beef steak(let)s through fish and vegetarian dishes.

An added feature is a simply fascinating list of fresh fruit drink combinations that are prepared to order which number over 54.

Curiously, to Foreigners, is the fact the Nhu Lan has been certified as meeting ISO: 2001 standards.

For those intent on walking the city, the bakery counters offer a wide range of products to satisfy your hungers.

Nhu Lan also has a delicatessen which offers a wide choice of cuts: beef, port, chicken fish and duck, to name but a few.

The unspoken benefit, apart from ISO certification, is the fact that a fixed restaurant offers cleaner, safer food than the street vendors.

The staff, mainly Vietnamese speaking, are easily able to interpret your wishes because of the bilingual menu. I challenge you to find a happier, more obliging staff who seem happy to have the opportunity to serve you.