Interview with a Local: Discovering Hidden Vietnamese Treasures

Interview with a Local: Discovering Hidden Vietnamese Treasures

G’day, mates! Aussie Mates here, coming to you from the bustling streets of Vietnam where I’ve been lucky enough to call home for nearly two decades now. Tracy and I have spent years exploring every nook and cranny of this beautiful country, but we’ve learned that the real gems are often discovered through the eyes of locals. Today, I’m sharing a ripper of a conversation I had with my mate Nguyen, a Hanoi local who’s shown us places that never make it to the tourist brochures.

[IMAGE:vietnamese-local-guide]

Meeting Nguyen: A Friendship Born Over Phở

It was about 15 years ago when Tracy and I stumbled into a tiny phở shop in the Old Quarter. The place was no bigger than our bathroom back in Australia, with plastic stools that barely held our Aussie frames. The owner, Nguyen, laughed at my attempt to order in Vietnamese and took pity on us. “You eat, I teach,” he said, and that was the beginning of one of my most treasured friendships in Vietnam.

Nguyen wasn’t just any local; he was born and raised in Hanoi but had family scattered throughout Vietnam. His knowledge of hidden spots was encyclopedic, and over countless bowls of phở, he gradually revealed his country’s secrets to us.

Beyond Halong Bay: The Untouched Islands

When I mentioned to Nguyen that Tracy and I were planning another trip to Halong Bay, he scoffed. “Too many tourists now. Not real Vietnam anymore.”

Instead, he drew a rough map on a napkin and circled an area off the coast of Hai Phong. “Go here. Bai Tu Long Bay. Same karsts, same water, no people.”

He wasn’t wrong. When we ventured to Bai Tu Long Bay, it was like stepping back in time. The limestone karsts were just as majestic as their famous neighbors, but we shared them with only a handful of other travelers. We spent three days on a traditional junk boat, kayaking through caves that hadn’t been widened for tourist boats and swimming in waters unspoiled by tourism.

[IMAGE:bai-tu-long-bay]

“Australian people like adventure, yes?” Nguyen had asked. Too right we do, mate! And this was adventure in its purest form.

The Food Trail Less Traveled

Any Aussie who’s been to Vietnam knows the food is bloody fantastic. But Nguyen taught me that what most tourists eat is just the tip of the culinary iceberg.

“You try bún chả?” he asked during one of our catch-ups.

“Of course,” I replied, somewhat offended. “It’s grilled pork with noodles. Had it dozens of times.”

Nguyen just smiled that knowing smile of his. The next day, he picked Tracy and me up on his motorbike (yes, all three of us on one bike – this is Vietnam, after all) and took us to a nameless eatery down a lane so narrow we had to walk sideways to reach it.

The bún chả here was nothing like what we’d tried before. The pork was marinated in a family recipe passed down for generations, the broth was clear yet complex, and the accompanying herbs were picked from the owner’s garden that morning.

“Real Vietnamese food is in homes, not on streets where tourists walk,” Nguyen explained. This began our education in authentic Vietnamese cuisine, leading us to discover:

• A roadside stall in Hue where the bánh bèo (steamed rice cakes) were so good that locals would queue for an hour
• A family in the Mekong Delta who made caramelized fish (cá kho tộ) in clay pots buried in smoldering rice husks
• A mountain cafe in Da Lat where the coffee was grown, roasted, and brewed all within 100 meters

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The Highlands: Vietnam’s Best-Kept Secret

One sweltering summer, when Tracy and I were complaining about Hanoi’s heat, Nguyen suggested we head to the Central Highlands.

“No beaches there,” I pointed out.

“No tourists either,” he countered.

The highland town of Kon Tum became our escape. At an elevation of 500 meters, the climate was a welcome relief from the coastal humidity. But it wasn’t just the weather that captivated us; it was the distinct culture of the Bahnar and Jarai ethnic minorities.

Nguyen had arranged for us to stay with a local family in a traditional rong house (communal house on stilts). We spent evenings drinking rice wine through impossibly long bamboo straws directly from clay pots while our hosts played traditional instruments and shared stories through a translator.

“This is the Vietnam that is disappearing,” Nguyen had warned. “See it now before it becomes like Sapa.”

Having witnessed how tourism had transformed the once-quiet town of Sapa into a backpacker hub, Tracy and I understood the urgency in his words.

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Coastal Villages: Beyond the Resort Towns

Vietnam’s coastline stretches over 3,000 kilometers, yet most tourists confine themselves to Nha Trang, Da Nang, or Mui Ne. When I mentioned this to Nguyen, he shook his head in typical Vietnamese fashion – not a full shake, more of a sympathetic wobble.

“Vietnamese people don’t holiday in these places,” he explained. “We go where the seafood is fresh and the beaches are clean.”

On his recommendation, Tracy and I discovered Ly Son Island, a volcanic outcrop off the coast of Quang Ngai province. Known for its garlic farms and stunning underwater scenery, the island was predominantly visited by domestic tourists. We spent a week there, diving among coral reefs by day and feasting on garlic-infused seafood by night.

“You see Vietnam now,” Nguyen said proudly when we reported back. “Not Vietnam for tourists.”

The Lesson Learned

After nearly 20 years in Vietnam, the most valuable lesson Tracy and I have learned is that the true essence of this country lies in its people. The Vietnamese are incredibly proud of their homeland and eager to share it with those willing to step off the beaten path.

Nguyen taught us that behind every popular attraction lies a less-known alternative, behind every famous dish lies a home-cooked version, and behind every tourist experience lies an authentic encounter waiting to happen.

As I write this from our home in Vietnam, I can’t help but feel grateful for friends like Nguyen who’ve shown us a side of Vietnam that no guidebook could ever capture. It’s these personal connections that have made this country not just a place we visit, but a place we call home.

[IMAGE:friendship-vietnamese-australian]

Tips for Finding Your Own Nguyen

If you’re planning a trip to Vietnam and want to discover your own hidden treasures, here’s some advice from an old Aussie who’s been around the block:

• Learn a few Vietnamese phrases – even terrible attempts are appreciated and often lead to laughter and friendship
• Stay in family-run guesthouses rather than international hotels
• Eat where the locals eat (look for plastic stools and no English menus)
• Take the local bus instead of tourist transfers when possible
• Bring photos from home to share – Vietnamese people love learning about Australia

Most importantly, come with an open mind and a willingness to detour from your planned itinerary. Some of Tracy’s and my most memorable experiences in Vietnam have happened when we said “yes” to unexpected invitations.