for the fish fanatic fantabulous fi fie foe fan, cha ka la vong in hanoi is a must-go. walk right through the doors like you haven't had fish for the longest time, sit yourself down and let the experts feed you. i don't have much visual evidence except for the above picture. but here's how it works:
- waiter comes with charcoal stove ( the one mum still uses to boil soup on), plonks battered metal pan on top. pan is sizzling with oil and fish chunks.
- waiter returns with what looks like an amazon forest in a bowl of dill and other greens, few saucers of peanut halves, thin rice noodles and bowls of fish sauce.
- waiter demonstrates how you should eat the dish; shake greens into hot pan, toss well with fish chunks. put own portion of thin rice noodles into own bowl. scoop too much of fish into bowl till it almost over flows, sprinkle peanuts, pour a little fish sauce, mix more thoroughly and slurp it all up.
- waiter comes at regular intervals to top up your forest bowl, pours your hanoi beer, returns to table behind you, crosses and shakes his leg and smokes his local ciggie.
