Posted November 29, 2011 by Ryan Huling
We’ve all heard it. Friends or family members saying, “I would love to go vegan, but it’s just SO hard to do in [insert city/country].” Yawn.
Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m not convinced that animals care whether they’re being killed for food in Alaska or on the island of Zanzibar—they don’t want to die anywhere. That’s why I don’t change my ethical beliefs based on where I happen to be in the world.
Enter my latest trip, traveling north to south in Vietnam. In a country perhaps best known for guerrilla warfare and having dogs smuggled across its borders to be sold in the local meat trade, if ever there were a place to put up the white flag, maybe this would be it.
But, boy, am I glad I didn’t. Otherwise I may have missed out on the extraordinary range of vegan options that I discovered in this historic Southeast Asian country. I’m talkin’ about veggie versions of pho (traditional rice noodle soup—the national dish), banh mi (baguette sandwiches, stuffed with tofu, cilantro, jalapeños, and veggies), and more exotic fruits than you can shake a stick at, including dragon fruit, jackfruit, and durian.
Getting hungry but not able to travel 10,000 miles away? Well, you’re in luck because vegan versions of pho, banh mi, and spring rolls are also widely available here in the West. Check around at local Vietnamese restaurants in your area (here’s a listing for many major cities) to see what they can offer. Homemade vegan Vietnamese recipes can also be found online here.
Chúc m?i ng??i ?n ngon mi?ng! Enjoy!
peta2 Street Team Coordinator + lover of vegan food, cats, animal rights, Dawson's Creek, and Harry Potter.
Hello! My name is Nina, and I am a musician-in-training, and I play 7 instruments. I am a liberal, an LGBT activist, avid reader, composer, singer, and poi spinner. I am vegan, and a strong supporter of animal rights.
Born and raised in Mexico. I love vegan food and animals!
I was born in Canada and love peta2. I table every month and meet new people:older and younger. I love music and play the recorder. I'm a 6 year spelling bee champion. Again I love peta2!
I'm tall, I love sewing, fashion and the environment, also I'm vegetarian (wannabe vegan.) Obviously, I love animals! :)
Jersey girl now I'm all country.
565 days ago
0
* i meant should
565 days ago
0
Maybe China and Japan,lean towards vegan ism.In Japan they are literally eating the Blue fin Tuna to extinction.
567 days ago
0
Woah! That’s awesome
568 days ago
0
Why does “Vegan in Vietnam” sound like a song title?
568 days ago
0
I really want some foraign fruit now!
568 days ago
0
cool! i want to travel all over and eat lots of vegan food!
568 days ago
0
If you can be vegan in vietnam, you can be vegan anywhere. (However, the only animal not eaten in Cambodia is vultures)