Asides the heavy morning traffic and waking up to the sound of my alarm, what I came to love from living in Ho Chi Minh City was the sight and scent of food that leaves me wanting for more. The cost of living in HCMC is comparatively lower than in Singapore, which makes things so much easier! Splurging on food has never felt more enjoyable given that a bowl of noodles along the streets will never hit more than 3 USD/4 SGD.
So, what is the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions Vietnam? That’s right, it’s phở! Phở is a Vietnamese dish that is made up of broth, rice noodles, spices, and mainly with either beef or chicken as the meat. Instead of using chopsticks, was wondering if the twist fork product idea could work on Phở 🤔
Through recommendations from our Vietnamese colleagues, we went to try out Phở Hòa Pasteur that is located in district 3 – a stone’s throw away from our Vietnam office!
We ordered Vietnamese tea which was perfect for a tea lover like myself. It reminded me of this promotional gift idea I read on ODM’s blog which I found unique. Speaking of tea, I frequently purchase Fuze Tea in HCMC and also got a chance to write about their promotional POS display as it caught my attention in the convenience store.
Next up, my friends and I came across this stall selling crab noodles and more along district 5 – also known as Saigon’s Chinatown – during the weekends. The noodles used was Bánh canh – a thick Vietnamese noodle made tapioca flour or a mixture of both rice and tapioca flour. While savouring the crab, I thought that crabs designs would totally make good promotional items for summer as it reminds one of the ocean. Inspiration is surely everywhere! Overall, life here in HCMC has been pleasant so far and I can't wait to see what more will the future unfold.
