SO WHAT DID WE EAT?

Day 2, Hanoi, Moon Garden, All inclusive cost.

Various Vietnamese dishes.

Comments: Good 'home cooked' food, eaten in an ancient hall, on tables for two!

Day 3, Luang Prabang, Dyen Sabai, $20.

Mum: Fish steamed in banana leaf, steamed rice, stir fry vegetables.
Dad: Chicken stir fry, stir fry vegetables, steamed rice, beer

Comments: Value and tasty food in a laid back restaurant/bar on the quiet side of the banks of the Mekong.

Day 4, Luang Prabang, Apsara, $28.

Mum: Fettuccine with sausage, fennel, sesame seeds, coconut ice-cream
Dad: Slow cooked buffalo cheeks, mixed herb salad with peanuts and sweet chilli dressing, coconut ice-cream, beer

Comments: Restaurant quality food, eaten al fresco, next to the Mekong river.

Day 5, Luang Prabang, Joys restaurant, $22.

Mum: Steamed fish with steamed vegetables, mango and sticky rice
Dad: Chicken & lemon grass balls, fried vegetable rice, mango and sticky rice.

Comments: Small and quiet restaurant, Joy's home made cooking.

Day 6, Luang Prabang, Blue Lagoon, $36.

Mum: Breaded fish with potato and vegetable, mocha ice cream
Dad: Fish in banana leaf, sticky rice, coconut & mocha ice cream, beer.

Comments: Up market restaurant, crawling with waiters.

Day 7, Siem Reap, Square 24, $35.

Mum: Chicken kebabs in peanut sauce, steamed rice, pistachio coconut ice-cream
Dad: Khmer set menu chicken with glass noodles, amok (fish curry), banana leaf basket of steam vegetables, chicken in noodles mocca and coconut ice cream

Comments: Very modern Khmer food with excellent presentation of food and service.

Day 8, Siem Reap, Pizza house $18.
Pizza ham, mozzarella, tomato for both of us

Comments: Bog standard cheap (but value) pizza bar.

Day 9, Siem Reap, Marum $20.
Shared tapas dishes for both of us comprising steam rice, smoked chicken in orange and oyster sauce, smoked fish with noodles, banana fritters with tea and galangal ice cream.

Comments: 'Street children restaurant' (difficult to find!), served by kitchen apprentices but closely monitored by their elders, 'Al fresco'

Day 10, Siem Reap, Blue Pumpkin $15.

Mum: Sphagetti Carbonara
Dad: Spaghetti Bolognaise

Comments: Fair Italian food served in a very chilled upstairs room, whilst reclining on settees.

Day 11, Phnom Penh, Anise hotel restaurant, Complimentary.
Mum & Dad: Stir fry chicken and vegetables in hoi sin sauce with cashews.

Comments: Free meal on the hotel veranda, average quality Vietnamese food.

Day 12, HCMC, The Temple club $30.
Mum: Steamed fish in lemon (spicy) sauce with steamed rice
Dad: Five spice pork with steamed vegetables and rice.

Comments: Old world, colonial decor and atmosphere. Average food. Served on high table, sat on bar stools

Day 13, HCMC, Nha Hang Ngon $11.

Mum: Cold gristly chicken and cold rice
Dad: Bahn mi no me (steak,egg and chips with bread!), beer.

Comments: Maniacally busy restaurant on two floors, sat on wooden benches. Poor quality food despite price. Probably needed to order more!

Day 14, HCMC, Large lunch (part of itinerary) Le Longanier, Inclusive
Mum & Dad: Mixed vegetable soup, fried spring rolls, Fried elephants ear fish, caramelized pork, steamed rice, steamed banana cake with coconut cream.

Comments: Stylish restaurant in French colonial villa. Excellent taste.

Day 15, Hoi An, Ha Nhi $15.
Mum: Fish cooked in banana leaf with steamed rice, fresh fruit (dragon fruit, pineapple and mango)
Dad: Deep fried wantons with sweet chilli sauce, cao Dai (local speciality of thick noodles, pork and thin squares of rice crackers and handles of mint), fresh fruit .

Comments: Friendly local restaurant with excellent tasting and value food. Served by a charming host.

Day 16, Hoi An, Ha Nhi $15.
Mum: Vegetable stir fried rice
Dad: White rose (prawns in white dumplings), chicken and cashews, beer

Comments: See above. It was so good we went back again.

Day 17, Hoi An, Ha Nhi $15.
Mum fish in a claypot with steamed rice, Fresh fruit (pineapple and dragon fruit)
Dad: Deep fried wantons with sweet chilli sauce, Five spice beef with steamed rice, fresh fruit, beer.

Comments: See above. It was so good we went back again...and again.

Day 18, Hoi An, Good Morning Vietnam, $22.
Mum and Dad: Vegetable risotto

Comments: Modern name, Ancient Vietnamese interior, serving Italian food. Lovely risottos nonetheless.

Day 19, Hoi An, Ha Nhi $15.

Mum: Fish cooked in banana leaf with steamed rice, fresh fruit (dragon fruit, pineapple and mango)
Dad: Deep fried spring rolls, chicken and cashews, fresh fruit.

Comments: See above. It was so good we went back...and once more!.

Day 20, Hue, Risotto $15.
Mum: Tagliatelle with pesto sauce
Dad: Spaghetti Bolognaise, (Free bruschettas, free melon and passion fruit)

Comments: Simple and small but value Italian restaurant.

Day 21, Hue, Nina's cafe, $14.
Mum: Chicken in honey with steamed rice by
Dad: Set menu, comprising chicken kebabs rolled in rice paper with beanshoots, mint, lettuce and a sweet chilli sauce, pork and banana flower salad, also chicken and honey with steamed rice, banana fritter with co coconut ice cream, beer.

Comments: Well thought of, family style restaurant, tucked away down an alleyway. A pile of food, tasty and excellent value.

Day 22, Hanoi, Essence hotel $31
Mum: Fish in batter with an orange sauce, steamed rice, vegetable broth
Dad: Set menu of strips of beef, lettuce and mint salad with chilli sauce, chicken pieces cooked in banana leaves with steamed rice, passion fruit ice cream.

Comments: Small restaurant, part of but at the back of the hotel. Artistic presentation of food, but over attentive attention of waitress.

Day 23, Hanoi, Le Tonkin $30
Mum: Fish in plum sauce, steamed coconut rice, cinnamon and vanilla ice cream
Dad: Chicken, vegetables and cashew nuts, coconut steamed rice, vanilla and coconut ice cream.

Comments: Good, middle of the road Vietnamese cooking, but worthy of the name 'Tonkin'?

Day 24, Ha Long Bay, on boat victory star, all inclusive
Mum & Dad: 5 courses, pumpkin soup, need salad with prawn ravioli, tiger prawns with dips, sea bass with passion fruit sauce plus potatoes and green beans, cake (pastry)

Comments: Excellent presentation and tasty food, a little 'nouveau cuisine' but made up by having 5 courses.

Day 25, Hanoi, Cha Ca, $20.

Mum and Dad: Fried fish, rice, nuts, mint, vegetables, chilli. (signature (only) dish of the restaurant.)

Comments: Average restaurant, made unique by the fact that you cook your own dish at the table on a portable grill.