Saigon Street Food at its Best

It’s true!  I think Mì Vịt Tiềm serves Saigon Street Food at its best.

Tonight, the weather in Saigon was beautiful.  After a heavy rainstorm this morning, the air was clear and clean.  A few stars were bright, even in the city’s lights.  And a  steady, balmy breeze made it clear that we had to eat outside on the street tonight. So we did!

Hai and I jumped on his motorbike in District 1 about 8 pm after the gym and headed over the bridge to District 4 to enjoy one of our favorite street food adventures. I ordered my usual Mì Vịt Tiềm (braised duck noodle soup.)

With a very generous-sized, meaty duck leg and thigh and a large bowl filled with rice noodles (sometimes called “Chinese noodles”), there was plenty to eat.  The duck meat was moist, delicious, and just fell off the bone as I tugged at it with my chop stick/spoon combo.  But, what made the meal here heavenly for us was the dipping sauce. The sauce pictured above, tương ớt, is excellent and delicious. But, we discovered the special “secret” sauce that put this meal over-the-top.  Ớt sa te. [You must ask for this specifically – it’s not usually served].  Strong and very spicy hot, it’s absolutely delicious. Dip your duck meat into this amazing sauce and enjoy a major taste treat. But, be prepared, the “kick” it offers is as intense as it is delicious.

I usually put the duck skin aside.  It’s a bit too fatty for my cholesterol count, but Hai loves it (as do most Vietnamese friends here I know.) Still, I get at least my daily minimum requirement of meat fat that floats in the very tasty soup broth.  I’m certain the crunchy, dark green-leafy vegetables in the soup balance things out nutritionally  🙂

I finished my bowl of soup along with the hefty duck leg and thigh and was ready to jump on our bike and head back home. But, as often is the case, Hai was still hungry. And what luck that he was.

He order one more item – a bowl of cật, gan vịt (duck kidney and liver). It was yet another wonderful Vietnamese dish that we both loved. The broth here was even more flavorful than the soup broth.  And the kidney and liver were cooked to perfection and delicious. The taste of mild fresh organ meats – not at all too strong – yummy for sure.

 

 

 

If you’re on a  Street Food Adventure here in Saigon, definitely you must try to make it to Mì Vịt Tiềm.  Perhaps a tad pricy at 100.000 vnd, but certainly worth the price.

UPDATE – January, 2016:  Always Hai’s #1 favorite street food (and one of mine as well), we re-visited here last week to confirm all was as we recalled … and to have a truly delicious dinner.  It did not disappoint! Still yummy and a “must visit” in Saigon!

UPDATE – February, 2018: Again we came here hoping for the same incredible duck noodle soup  dish that we’ve loved here for years.  And again, it didn’t disappoint. Still a delicious, must try favorite. And the price hasn’t changed – still 100.000 vnd.

Mì Vịt Tiềm
03 Hoàng Diệu Street
Ward 12, District 4
HCMC

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