Gà Quê
15 Ngô Tát Tố
Bình Thạnh District
Quán Phong Lan
54 Cửu Long
District 10
0988 818 971
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There we were, on an almost deserted street of Saigon at 4:30 am just outside the Saigon Zoo (already closed for the Tet holiday) doing our extremely early jog/power-walk (inspired by jetlag), when the celestial message appeared!
Hai and my first full day back in Saigon this year started with a sign from the heavens that our 2019 Vietnam journey would likely be a good one.
Peeking through the giant tamarind trees lining Nguyên Binh Khiẹm street were the brilliant crescent moon and three brightly glowing planets (planet names please from any astronomer reading this?!) inspiring us to consider doing this every morning (not a very likely scenario). But, certainly it was a sign that delivered a celestial thumbs-up for our being in Saigon at this time.
Another positive signal from the gods of Saigon was the fact that I was able to get my new Mobiphone sim card (phone & data plan) this morning, even though I had forgotten to bring my USA passport to the Mobiphone shop (as required by government regulations – required because??) Seems those government security rules allow for a photo of a passport on one’s phone to suffice (though a hard photocopy of the passport would not) What? Why?
In any case, my iPhone sim is now fully loaded for Google-mapping, Saigon bus-routing, restaurant reviewing, Eating Saigon! posting, and messaging friends around the world – all from the streets of Saigon and/or, later in our trip, from the mountains and gorges of the northern Vietnam/Chinese border! Just 300,000 vnd ($13 USD) for 3 months of high-speed internet access and lots o’ local phone calls!
We did have a minor setback today when the restaurant that both Hai and I had decided would be the best first-breakfast to enjoy this visit, Cơm Tấm 43, turned out to be already closed for the Tet holiday … crushing disappointment!
But, the Lord works in mysterious ways. As it turned out, in our desperate search for a second-choice breakfast, strolling down a dim alley before daybreak, we stumbled upon a group of women preparing early morning breakfast delights – bánh quẩy! A yummy doughnut-like snack that would hold us until we found a suitable breakfast.
There!
Hai saw it first. A new-for-us bánh canh cua eatery, Gà Quê. And, just a few blocks away from our apartment at the Bon Bon Residence!! (Read more about our wonderful prior stays at BonBon Residence 1 and BonBon Residence 2.)
The bánh canh cua at Gà Quê was the perfect way to start the day after our mini-marathon run this morning. We order our delicious and meaty soup đầy đủ ( with “a little bit of everything”) – crab meat, pork slices, mushrooms, huyết (congealed pigs blood … I know, I know), all in a rich flavorful broth. A good value at 35,000 vnd/bowl ($1.50 USD). And very very yummy.
After breakfast, one more “first day in Vietnam” errand – a haircut and ear-cleaning, Vietnamese-style. That would involve stainless scalpels and sharp picking utensils for poking/cleaning around one’s ear-drums! Gotta look respectable for Hai’s Vietnamese relatives during our upcoming Tet celebrations and feasts.
Now, after such a busy morning, it’s off to work.
It’s my job to confirm that our prior Eating Saigon! street food discoveries are still worthy of recommendation to our readers.
Since it was just a short walk from the barber shop through my old neighborhood park, Công Viên Lê Thị Riêng, I decided I would perform my day’s work by having lunch at Quán Phong Lan.
OMG, still amazingly delicious! The bún cá rô đồng soup immediately catches your attention with its light, flavorful and refreshing broth that features hints of dill throughout. The large bowl of rice noodles swim in that wonderful broth among three forms of countryside river fish, cà rô đổng. Deep-fried fishcakes, grilled fish fillets, and boiled fish balls. One of my favorite soups in all Vietnam!
Eat here for sure!
Well, my work is done. Time to return home and recover from a very full first day in Saigon.
I boarded Saigon Bus No. 30 at Công Viên Lê Thị Riêng (runs every 14 minutes today), paid my 6000 vnd (26 cents USD), and was home at BonBon 1 within 30 minutes.
A good first day in Saigon. And we still have the evening and dinner to look forward to!
Life is good … as the celestial signs had promised!
Gà Quê
15 Ngô Tát Tố
Bình Thạnh District
Quán Phong Lan
54 Cửu Long
District 10
0988 818 971