Month: July 2019

In a vast sea of mundane restaurants and overwhelming choices, NGON Villa offers what all tourists and food enthusiasts yearn for authenticity. NGON Villa serves as the gateway to culture, to eat well is to experience all the unique aspects of a country’s history, values, and traditions. Here at NGON Villa, Vietnamese food is more than a passing meal, it is an expression of Vietnam’s diverse culture.

NGON’s food is a fusion between the intricacy of French cuisine, mixed with the simplicity of Vietnamese culinary. Fresh ingredients are sourced from local markets, cultivated by salt of the earth, Vietnamese farmers and fisherman. It is NGON’s top chefs’ mission is to highlight the endless possibility of Vietnam’s food, pushing the limits of Vietnam’s culinary. Nowhere else can one find the simple act of eating to be a cultural experience.

Every NGON Villa is equipped to serve iconic food from all regions across Vietnam. From Hanoi’s famous Banh My, to Da Nang’s fresh and diverse choices of seafood, ending with Saigon’s must-have Che deserts, NGON captures the essence of Vietnam through its mastercraft menu. For the vegetarians, Vietnamese food with its deep roots in Buddhism offers a limitless choice of salads and rice cakes. You will find NGON Villa to be an inclusive place for all customers, both in our food and hospitality.

With an all-you-can-eat approach to dining, NGON encourages its customers to try out as many different styles of Vietnamese food as possible. Although each region of Vietnam offers a unique taste palate, through NGON’s excellent menu and our chefs’ experience in handling Viet’s ingredients, the full spectrum of possibility with Vietnamese cuisine is laid bare for all to experience.

Enjoying another culture’s cuisine can be a daunting task. With a variety of unique condiments, difficult to master utensils, and table etiquettes, the simple act of eating can be a performance in cultural appreciation.  Understanding the basics of a traditional table setting will bring you closer to
the essence of Vietnam.

Rice bowl on a small plate.
Unlike Indian cuisine, where rice is mixed directly with meat and sauce, Vietnamese cuisine prefers separating the rice into a smaller bowl. Having many dishes of different choices of foods on the table at once, you will have to grab the food you want into your rice bowl. This unique setting creates a culture for sharing and community, as the whole table join in together, while still keeping a sense of privacy.

Chopsticks
Typically made from bamboo or wood, chopsticks are used in every meal. Sometimes adorned in elaborate decorations, a pair of chopsticks can be a prized possession. Vietnamese favor chopsticks for the convince, chopsticks are the perfect utensil for any situation. Chopsticks might seem difficult
at first, but after a few drops of food, you’ll understand why Vietnamese have been using them for generations.

Spoon
For a traditional Vietnamese meal, spoons are as essential as chopsticks. Because soups are a vital component of an authentic menu, Vietnamese spoons are usually short and flat. Dishes like Bun Cha or Nem Lui, which have fish sauce as a condiment, use spoon to spill the sauce over the main
dish. Spoons can also be relied upon for those inclined to use chopsticks.

Glass of water or wine

The elderly used to say wine helps with digestion, which is why a glass of it is always nearby. Vietnamese rice wine is served in shot glasses, while Western wines are served in tall glasses. Because of influences from Indochina and French culinary, most Vietnamese cuisines are well complemented by wine.

Toothpicks
An essential for any Vietnamese restaurant, whether street-side or lavish, toothpicks can always be found on the dining table. Toothpicks are simple and cheap, and almost everyone uses them after a hearty meal. A perfect end to a meal, toothpicks signal the end of eating and the beginning of conversations.