Cuc Gach Quan or depending on who you ask, "Brick" is an old converted French villa designed by Vietnamese architect Tran Binh. It's not easy exploring the local grub in a country like Vietnam. Sometimes it takes a place like Brick to highlight what the Vietnamese cuisine is all about- flavor in unusual places. With a menu the size of a hotel bible it is impossible not to find something that you would enjoy. Brick has all ways been an excellent first dinner in Saigon for friends and family. From cactus grilled with garlic to soft shell crab with lemon grass to manila clams in a fennel broth to caramelized pork in clay pot, there isn't a time that I haven't left with a smile and a full happy belly. Cuc Gach Quan 10 Dang Tat, Q1 0838480144

When it comes to food the more colorful the better. Southeast Asia, Vietnam in particular, has some of the brightest and tastiest looking dishes. Benh Thanh Market, Saigon, Vietnam

It’s been said that when the Buddha was on his deathbed, his followers stood by ready to turn his remains into relics to spread throughout the world. The Xa Loi Pagoda houses one such artifact. Visit on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. to join a prayer session. 89 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan, District 3. Photo by Odrick De Ocampo Jr. This appeared in the January/ February 2011 issue. 

Ben Thanh Market in the city center of Ho Chi Minh, is one stop shopping for pretty much everything under the Vietnamese sun. It's arranged in sections according to categories, from textiles and souvenirs, to fresh produce. Be sure to consult the maps at the entrances to scout out your route and arrange a meeting place for when you inevitably get lost. Also bring your game face and be prepared to haggle a bit- the prices are marked up considerably- feel free to cut their initial offer in half and they'll work with you. When you need a break, there are quite a few little food stands run by business savvy Vietnamese women who will gladly grab you if you get close enough, and press you down into one of their seats for some amazing Bahn Mi and iced coffee.

Whole animal butchery and cooking is one of the trends du jour in high-end Western restaurants that have the space and a sensitivity to sustainability. But it's old hat in rural America and throughout the world, even in the largest of cities. The Ben Thanh Market in high on the list of must-see destinations for visitors to Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon, Vietnam, and this stall's offal display sees a lot of camera action, if not a lot of purchases by tourists used to eating a little higher on the hog.

The term Banh Mi actually refers only to the bread, a light airy white baguette brought to Vietnam by French colonists. But colloquially, a banh mi is a sandwich with any number of fillings. This lady stuffed her banh mi with grilled pork patties, fresh crispy cucumber and cilantro and pickled carrots. After she squirted siracha sauce on top she charged 18,000 dong, which sounds like a mind-blowing amount until you do some tricky conversion math and realize it's about 86 cents. Bon Appetit!

While visiting Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, I decided to swing by the Reunification Palace. I figured that if the city planners did such a great job with the layout, and the parks were impeccably designed, that a building with such a name would be awe-inspiring. What I discovered was a rather nondescript office building, set on nicely manicured lawns, with a huge fountain in front, and a few deactivated tanks. I was not expecting this, but I kept exploring the grounds. I did find this magical-looking tree residing on a side lawn to be a perfect representation of what I had in mind regarding the historical significance of where I was standing: the place where the Vietnam War ended on April 30th, 1975. This tree looked as if it was unifying the earth and the sky. It looked like it had been there forever, and it had seen more history and had more tales to tell than anyone I had ever known. With roots firmly entrenched it the earth, and branches thrust towards the sky, I thought this tree captured the spirit of the city I was visiting: Firmly rooted in its cultural past, yet constantly moving forward to an ever bright future.

Nestled about the chaos of the city is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s great escapes, Shri. The city has a dozen or so rooftop restaurants but what sets this one apart from the rest is the location just outside District1 in neighboring D3. It’s outside the center of the city just enough to get a good look at how everything is laid out. Quiet, off-the-beaten-path treasures have always been a joy and a quest of mine. This small rooftop secret has it in spades. Shri 72-74 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai | 23rd Floor, Centec Tower, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

On our last day in Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon, we hooked up with Geoffrey Deetz, an expat from Oakland, CA, who runs the Black Cat Cafe and has lived in Vietnam for 12 years. He led us through an ever-narrowing maze of streets and alleys in the city's District 4 to this f00d stall. We balanced ourselves on kindergarten-size plastic stools and feasted on bun khot--spongy dollar-size rice-flour pancakes topped with shrimp and minced pork (in the turquoise laundry basket on the left). On our way out of the maze, we picked up some ultra sweet and creamy, freshly squeezed corn milk.

Want a place to meet some locals? Try the cosmic bowling on the fourth floor of the Diamond Plaza Shopping Centre. A lot of this crowd speaks English, so there are plenty of folks to talk to.

Quan An Ngon: It's an open air restaurant surrounded by food stalls and served by waiters. The various stalls represent different regional fare from around the country. Sitting at communal tables surrounded by the stalls you really feel part of the action as a variety of customers stream in and out: locals, lovers, expats but not too many tourists. Some Chinese next to me were filling up on chicken heads. Mmmmm. And Heineken. Plus Quan An Ngon is close to the Hanoi Hilton where John McCain "stayed" as a POW, so if you're visiting that sight, Quan An Ngon is a 'must' lunch or dinner stop. 18 Phan Boi Chau Str., | OR 1st floor, 25T2 Hoang Dao Thuy Str.,, Hanoi, Vietnam See more here: www.DontForgetThePepto.com

banh mi can sandwich chicken, pork, beef, tofu, etc.--usually there's a list, however brief, to choose from. at banh mi huynh hoa, aside from a single sign, a menu (in writing) was out of sight. ladies in floral and patterned do bo attire purchased 10 or 15 bahn mi at a time. with that evidence and the menu's sole item clearly not in need of company, we secured our two very own--and we then quietly savored the spicy combustion. 26 le thi rieng, district one

In January 2010, I traveled to Saigon with Vietnamese-born New York chef, Michael "Bao" Huynh. He took me to some of his favorite restaurants, including Minh Duc, an eatery that has a very unique feature: the kitchen is across a busy street from the dining room, forcing waiters to play Frogger with the bustling Saigon traffic. In the above photo, my lunch managed to get to me without being run over by a car or a motorbike. Phew.

Nothing better than the Night Food Market in Ho Chi MinH City, Vietnam. A blast of colors and flavors. People are pulling plastic chairs to the streets, grab a bowl and eat great local food. Not to Miss

Whether I’m at the beach or in the city, sunset is by far one of my favorite times of day. There are few better things in life than taking the time to enjoy a cool cocktail while watching the sun set over a sultry city skyline or glimmering ocean. A city that’s slowly evolving, Saigon is still a quaint mix of old-school establishments like Rooftop Garden at Rex Hotel which came to prominence as a watering hole for journos and US Military officers during the Vietnam war, mixed with sexy new places like the uber-cool ‘dress to impress’ bars like ‘Chill’. As someone who lived and worked in Vietnam for 13 years, I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve tried a fair few of the drinking establishments in Saigon. So, if you’re headed to Vietnam and would like the views of an ‘insider’, you can check out my latest blog to see the best of the well-know rooftop bars (as well as some of the lesser-known ones) and my tips for where to go for that heavenly sunset drink in HCMC.

Bến Thành market has been around Saigon in one form or another for over 300 years. At some points it neighbored bodies of water including a small lake. It is a monster, overwhelming at first. If you come to Saigon and you love to shop, this is the one-stop shop you are looking for. Personally nothing is more thrilling at Bến Thành than the art of "The Barter.” It’s a strategic game of wits of where you pit product desire against pocketbook ability and the house always wins. It's not always easy, in fact it’s never easy. Hot, stagnant air ripe with the smell of fish and squid always seems to hang in the air right over that gift you can't live without. You’re constantly walking that fine line between feeling like you got ripped off or feeling you’re further oppressing the local population. Bến Thành is the stadium packed with hundreds of thousands of pieces of clothing, jewelry, and art- and they’re all yours to play for.

There’s a reason there are no McDonalds in Saigon- they can’t compete with this lady. Her product is simple; fried and scrambled eggs, jerky, cilantro, cucumber and Chin Su chili sauce in a hot French baguette that was made just hours prior. Douse the whole thing in of soy sauce and you have a breakfast ready to feed the passing masses on motorbike. The price is a knockout at a mere 60-cents. Even in a country that has a no tipping culture, it's impossible not to give a little something more for grandma's cooking. Experiencing a simple yet complex breakfast and her smile is a great way to start your day.

The roof top bar at the Sheraton is Saigon is probably the best place to catch the sunset and some amazing panoramic views of the city - but come in early, the amazing views, and two for one happy hour cocktails, make this a very popular sunset bar

Whenever I get the urge to complain about my lack of space in the US, I remember the efficiently packed tight way that almost everyone else in the world lives. For instance, SE Asians are the masters of balancing their wares on bicycles. They also manage to make a utilitarian functional effort look very artistic.