Bia!

Based on official CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) tasting notes and relying on the taste buds and vast experience of our esteemed judging panel, Oi is getting to the bottom of Vietnam’s local beers. MEET THE PANEL   Adam Zakharoff Director of Operation for Boomarang Bistro Saigon, Adam has been in Vietnam for nearly three … Read more

Happiness is Eating Chinese Food

There’s a Vietnamese saying that “happiness is eating Chinese food, having a Japanese wife and living in a Western house.” Our insider tips will start you on your journey to eternal bliss… IN CHO LON, the air is alive with the smell of suckling pig, steaming bowls of aromatic soups and chrysanthemum tea. Whether there … Read more

The Soup of Love

Discover the five elements of a balanced dish… This delectable dish from central Vietnam sustained me through those fuzzy sleep-deprived mornings that newborns have such a knack for creating. Darling Man (my husband) had found a Mì Quảng seller near our house in Binh Thanh District and every time we had a particularly horrendous night … Read more

A District Apart

Ho Chi Minh City is much, much more than just District 1. Venture over to neighborhoods like An Phu and you’ll be surprised by what there is on offer… “The main draw here is the more relaxed pace of life, and since it’s close to the river the air feels cooler,” says Alex, the owner … Read more

Made of Iron

Far from his native Chicago, a chef carves out a career and life in Saigon with the help of a few choice words from his mother… GABE BOYER’S MOTHER once said to him: “A love of food is a love of life.” That simple phrase guided him throughout his career as a chef. “It’s the … Read more

1 Man, 365 Meals

An airline pilot turned accidental foodie undertakes an epic gastronomic adventure and survives to tell his tale… “So What’s the food like over there?” This simple question from friends and family firmly entrenched in our Western world of steaks and pizza back home in the United States always leads to a not so simple explanation. … Read more

6 Secret Spots in District 7

Think District 7 is only fast food chains and modern apartment blocks? Think again – a closer look reveals some surprising spots that will help you see another side of this southern suburb… Although Nguyen Thi Thap Street is best known for LotteMart, nestled in the shadow of the retail monolith are actually some great … Read more

French Flair

Our diner discovers a brasserie evoking memories of bygone times Nothing speaks French cuisine quite like the brasserie, that generous collision of the laid-back and the high-class that has become an institution on the streets of Paris. All smart, playful grandeur set off by a dash of art nouveau, the brasserie both captures and celebrates … Read more