One of the first things I noticed as I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City is the completely different eating culture. No matter where you are in the city you see one Street food stall after the other. There are also classic restaurants, but so far, I have had the impression that these are intended more for Western guests or that locals only use them on special occasions. Many Vietnamese eat their meals on the infamous little plastic chairs at the side of the road. Previously, this was difficult for me to imagine, as in my culture, eating usually takes place indoors or in quiet areas. Here, however, I immediately felt comfortable enjoying my meal at the side of the road amid the constant traffic noise. I think you just have to put your habits aside and be open-minded, then you'll have a wonderful experience.

The food itself is very varied and, I would say, healthy. Almost every meal comes with lots of vegetables, which you can add to your soup for example or simply eat them as a side. Also if you go to the right restaurants, you can also always expect the food to be fresh and served very quickly. You can mostly even watch your food being cooked due to the kitchen being outdoors. In terms of waiting time for food, I noticed a clear difference from the customs in my home country within the first few days when a waitress already apologized beforehand several times because I had to wait 10 minutes until my food was ready. It became clear to me that expectations are very different in my culture, you could almost say that waiting is part of the dining experience. Here, the focus is more on speed and efficiency. So far, I would say that I prefer this, but I am curious to see how this will change during my stay here.

However, compared to Austria, the food culture here does not only have advantages. I think the biggest criticism is probably hygiene. Rats and cockroaches are a common sight on the streets, and street food stalls are no exception. You see them scurrying by, get a little scared, but then continue eating as before. With the hygiene standards we have in Austria, such an experience would be almost impossible. Hygiene is considered a basic requirement for every restaurant there. Here, the focus is more on affordability and the freshness of the ingredients, with hygiene taking a back seat. That's why eating here has a lot to do with trust. When you look at street food stalls or small restaurants, it's usually impossible to judge whether they are hygienic enough or whether the ingredients are fresh. You tend to look at the seller or cook and decide for yourself whether you want to trust them. Often, you also simply follow the locals, who of course know which food options are hygienic enough.

All in all, I would say that the food here is a cultural challenge, especially if, like me, you come from an European background and are very used to hygiene and formalities. However, when you think about it, the differences make sense, as HCMC is a very young city where everything happens at once, so it is logical that efficiency and speed are also important when it comes to eating as it’s a big part of day to day life. I have learned here that eating is not just about the food itself, but also about trust and, above all, adaptability. I always took many things, such as high hygiene standards, for granted, although I now realize that they are not. But I wouldn’t worry as I realized that food can be damn good even if the kitchen isn't sparkling clean!