© Christina Choi/CNN
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- renowned /ri-NOUND/
- date /deyt/
- congregate /KONG-gr-geyt/
- dill /dil/
- blanch /blanch/
[adjective] – famous for something
The new restaurant in town is renowned for its desserts.
[verb] – to say how long something has existed or when it was made
It’s a tradition that dates back to the 14th century.
[verb] – to gather together in a large group
More group of people are congregating at cafes these days.
[noun] – an herb whose seeds and leaves are used to flavor foods in cooking
Please don’t add dill on the dish. I don’t really like it that much.
[verb] – to put vegetables or similar foods into boiling water for a few minutes to make them white, remove the skins, get rid of strong flavours, or prepare them for freezing
Blanch the spinach in boiling water for 30 seconds.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation./div>
Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country renowned for its world-famous pho, a rice noodle soup consisting of broth, herbs, and meat, sometimes chicken. They are served in households, restaurants, and street stalls — not to mention already available overseas. But there’s more to the country’s capital city when it comes to food. Check out five other amazing dishes every Hanoi visitor must try.
Cha Ca
Cha ca is a noodle dish with turmeric-spiced fried catfish served in a pan with herbs. Hanoians consider this meal to be so exceptional that a road in the capital is named after it — Cha Ca street. The dish dates back to more than 130 years and was first created by the Doan family, who served the meal to troops during the French colonial rule.
Banh Tom
Hanoi-style banh tom, or shrimp cakes, have limited ingredients: flour, sweet potato, and freshwater crayfish or shrimp from West Lake. The fried seafood is served whole, with lettuce leaves as wrapping and chili, lime juice and fish sauce as dipping. Banh tom is considered to have existed in the 1930s when small street vendors congregated along Thanh Nien street, a road in between West and Trúc Bạch lakes.
Bun Ca
Lunch time in Hanoi is never the same without Bun Ca. A fish noodle soup that consists of fried fishcakes, dill, green onions, tomatoes, and perilla, a mint-like herb, this dish can be found just about anywhere. Mark Lowerson, founder of Hanoi Street Tours, points out that adding lime, vinegar and herbs to the dish will give customers a balance of salty, sour, sweet and spicy.
Bun Rieu Cua
Crab meat and blanched tomatoes are the star of this seafood noodle soup. The broth gets its sourness from tamarind paste, while tidbits of fried tofu contribute to the dish’s crunchiness. Bun rieu can also come topped with beef, pork, fish, or snail depending on the region.
Ca Phe Trung
Why have egg and coffee separately? You can have them both combined in Hanoi. Ca phe trung — which literally translates to “egg coffee” — is a local favorite and Hanoi specialty of beaten egg yolk with condensed milk perched on Vietnamese coffee. The coffee has cold (which is more of a flavored ice cream) and hot versions, so feel free to take your pick.
Cha Ca
Cha ca is a noodle dish with turmeric-spiced fried catfish served in a pan with herbs. Hanoians consider this meal to be so exceptional that a road in the capital is named after it — Cha Ca street. The dish dates back to more than 130 years and was first created by the Doan family, who served the meal to troops during the French colonial rule.
Banh Tom
Hanoi-style banh tom, or shrimp cakes, have limited ingredients: flour, sweet potato, and freshwater crayfish or shrimp from West Lake. The fried seafood is served whole, with lettuce leaves as wrapping and chili, lime juice and fish sauce as dipping. Banh tom is considered to have existed in the 1930s when small street vendors congregated along Thanh Nien street, a road in between West and Trúc Bạch lakes.
Bun Ca
Lunch time in Hanoi is never the same without Bun Ca. A fish noodle soup that consists of fried fishcakes, dill, green onions, tomatoes, and perilla, a mint-like herb, this dish can be found just about anywhere. Mark Lowerson, founder of Hanoi Street Tours, points out that adding lime, vinegar and herbs to the dish will give customers a balance of salty, sour, sweet and spicy.
Bun Rieu Cua
Crab meat and blanched tomatoes are the star of this seafood noodle soup. The broth gets its sourness from tamarind paste, while tidbits of fried tofu contribute to the dish’s crunchiness. Bun rieu can also come topped with beef, pork, fish, or snail depending on the region.
Ca Phe Trung
Why have egg and coffee separately? You can have them both combined in Hanoi. Ca phe trung — which literally translates to “egg coffee” — is a local favorite and Hanoi specialty of beaten egg yolk with condensed milk perched on Vietnamese coffee. The coffee has cold (which is more of a flavored ice cream) and hot versions, so feel free to take your pick.
Comprehension Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What does pho consist of?
- According to the article, what else can bun rieu be topped with?
- Who first created cha ca?
- What are the four ingredients of ban tohm?
- What is ca phe trung?
Discussion Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What is your opinion about ca phe trung?
- Which among the five listed food in the article are you willing to try and why?
- Have you ever been to a Southeast Asian country? If so, where? If not, which country would you like to visit and why?
- What do you think is the importance of knowing a place’s famous dishes?
- Do you agree that a place’s trademark dishes represent the country’s culture? Please explain your answer.