Are We In France?

If nothing else, the French occupation had a delicious influence on Vietnamese bakeries. Roaming the streets at 9pm, we found that no restaurants were open, even on a Friday night and dreading having to eat chips or cookies we relentlessly searched for an alternative. We wandered into Saigon Bakery, and although the display cases were empty, our timing was impeccable. The enormous walk-in oven door opened and the smiling Vietnamese man rolled out a baker's cart full of breads and pastries, filling the air with a comforting and delicious sweet smell. We left with a bag full of steaming hot croissants, braided sugar coated sweet breads, and a sweet and salty loaf stuffed with raisins. On our walk home, a family dining on the floor in front of their open door invited us in for a beer and dried fish (not suitable for our taste buds), but we had to give it a shot.