@ Pho 24
After a 5-hour bus ride, I’m back in Saigon. We were dropped off at Sinh Café, near where I checked in. Rested for a minute and I was out again in the streets of Pham Ngu Lao.
Hungry, I opted for some Vietnamese food. I was drooling for Vietnam’s most famous dish, ‘Pho.’ This time, I decided to try out Vietnam’s Pho 24 as recommended in Lonely Planet. When I found the place, I was hesitant to go in. It was just too posh with its dimmed lights, artful decor, uniformed waiters, and air conditioning! -- Just the complete opposite of my first ‘Pho’ encounter.
Since I was at their doorsteps already, I might as well try it.
Pho
When I got in, the aroma from the pho bowls was overwhelming; it made me starved. Ordered a bowl and when they served it, it came with a plate of chili, onions, lemon, bean sprouts and herbs that I didn’t recognize. It was delicious! Though it’s quite pricey than the pho at hawker stands, Pho 24’s broth was just so mouth-watering.
After finishing my bowl, a couple of Pinoy guys arrived and we began chatting, which ended up with an invitation for a cup of coffee. Since I’ve already tried Highlands and Bobby Brewers, Saigon’s famous coffee shops, they brought me to Fanny’s, which is in old French colonial building. When I got their menu, it was all ice creams! So, where’s the world-famous Vietnamese coffee? I was longing for some drip-brewed coffee and these guys took me to an ice cream parlour! Not ‘fanny’. Anyways, their ice cream looked delicious so I ordered one with a cute Vietnamese hat on it.
After that ‘Fanny’ experience, we gulped down a bottle of Saigon beer at some bar in Bui Vien Street and called it a night.
