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5
Take a leap
of fate
Modern Vietnamese
society holds on to a lot
of superstition. From growing mole
hairs that are said to guarantee financial
wealth if left uncut, to fake $100 bills
burnt as a way to keep ancestors
rich in the afterlife, the country has a
lot of beliefs that have been shaped
over thousands of years. While the
younger Vietnamese may take these
with a pinch of salt, traditions die hard.
Fortune-tellers get rich by predicting
financial fates and developments in their
customers’ love lives. In fact, romantic
aspirations are often left in the hands
of the gods. Single Vietnamese flock to
the pagodas to pray for love. Be warned:
the temples can get crowded around
Tet (Vietnamese New Year), so visit on a
regular day if you want Buddha to hear
your requests more clearly.
Cebu Pacific flies to Ho Chi Minh City
and Hanoi from Manila.
www.cebupacificair.com
4
Minglewith
the
ca phe
society
Café culture in Vietnam
is one of the strongest in the world,
and tends to be more interesting.
The country is the second largest
coffee producer in the world, and
its two main cities boast a range of
places to get a caffeine fix. Thankfully
Starbucks has yet to take over, so it
is homegrown chains such as Trung
Nguyen and Highlands that cater to
those craving consistency. But for a
more rewarding experience, head to
one of the independent cafés. These
can be anything from a dimly lit room
full of elderly gentlemen and back-alley
vendors surrounded by plastic chairs,
to sophisticated live music venues, and
peaceful hideaways full of greenery and
koi ponds. Try a Saigonese
ca phe sua
da
(iced coffee with condensed milk) for
a sweet kick, or spend a little extra on
ca phe chon
, which is made with beans
harvested from the feces of a civet cat.
PHOTOS
LESTER LEDESMA
E S S E N T I A L I N D O C H I N A