Right in the middle of one of Saigon’s busiest intersections sits a strange, slightly surreal landmark. Locals call it Ho Con Rua, or Turtle Lake, even though the turtle that gave it its name has not actually been there since the 1970s. The lake itself is more of a fountain than a body of water….

Walk past any school gate or busy sidewalk in Ho Chi Minh City in the late afternoon, and you will likely spot a small cart surrounded by teenagers, all waiting for the same thing. That thing is banh trang tron, Vietnamese rice paper salad, tossed together right in front of you in a big metal…

Ask any local in Ho Chi Minh City what dish best captures the easygoing, generous spirit of the South, and banh xeo is almost always near the top of the list. Unlike its smaller, more delicate cousin from Central Vietnam, the Southern version of this Vietnamese sizzling pancake is bold, oversized, and meant to be…