Vietnam Dietary Concerns

Predominantly Buddhist Vietnam is vegetarian- and even vegan-friendly, at least in the broad sweep of things. In practice, vegetarians and vegans may have to be vocal about their eating preferences, especially in smaller cities. Often due simply to misunderstanding, roadside stall owners and restaurant servers will occasionally provide faulty reassurance that a dish contains no animal fat, or (for example) that a huge chunk of beef is actually a vegetable in disguise. Be patient, be persistent, and always double-check. Try writing t®i kh®ng n th¢t (“I don’t eat meat”) on a notecard and showing it to food vendors. All of Vietnam’s staple dishes have vegetarian and vegan counterparts, which are delightfully inexpensive.

The travel section of the The Vegetarian Resource Group’s website, at www.vrg.org/travel, has a comprehensive list of organizations and websites that are geared toward helping vegetarians and vegans traveling abroad. For more information, visit your local bookstore or health-food store, and consult The Vegetarian Traveler: Where to Stay if You’re Vegetarian, Vegan, Environmentally Sensitive, by Jed and Susan Civic (Larson Publications; US$16). There are also resources on the web, such as www.vegdining.com and www.happycow.net.

Travelers who keep kosher should contact synagogues in larger cities for information on kosher restaurants. Your own synagogue or college Hillel should have access to lists of Jewish institutions across the nation. If you are strict in your observance, you may have to prepare your own food on the road. A good resource is the Jewish Travel Guide, edited by Michael Zaidner (Vallentine Mitchell; US$18). Travelers looking for halal restaurants may find www.zabihah.com a useful resource.