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Nowadays, as Vietnamese living standards are improving, people are demanding ever-increasing varieties of culture, entertainment, clothing, and particularly, food. |
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Along the thousand miles of coastline and the hundreds of interior lakes, one finds many different kinds of fish in Viet Nam. This diverse wealth is the strength of the Vietnamese fishing industry. Freshwater fish is especially popular among Vietnamese. Fish is prepared many different ways including: steaming, frying, cooking in hot pots or making sour fish soup with many kind of flavors and herbs—this brings a very special taste! In addition, many different fish are used to make a popular fish sauce (which many foreigners don’t like), typically necessary for many kinds of Vietnamese dishes. Meat (pork) used to be the main course for special occasions like dinners or parties, and was rarely on the routine menu of families’ meals. In the past, housewives did not spend as much time preparing food as they do now. They cooked simply and economically, usually using fish sauce. As life has become more comfortable in Viet Nam, people are enjoying food more. Many people seem to prefer high protein, low-fat foods, including fish. Also, men expect to enjoy complex and special tastes, making the job of housewives and cooks harder! They have to create new dishes from simple ingredients. Thus, Vietnamese women spend a lot of their time preparing dishes. To please their families, one of the cooks’ tips is to buy the best fish—which must be alive until cooking. Many different sauces are prepared for different kinds of food, according to the Yin-Yang and Hot-Cold principles. And finally, to ensure good taste, the cook should give their culinary creations beautiful names and present the dishes as a work of an art. This expresses the delicious taste and the beauty and love of the Vietnamese people. |
| The following recipe presents one of these dishes made with love: Have a try and enjoy yourselves! |
