Best Mekong Delta Street Snacks You Must Try

Mekong Delta is one of the richest cultural areas in Vietnam. It takes place about 40,500 square kilometers and it is home to more than 17 million people. When traveling to this area, you will be given a chance to experience that wealthy traditional culture and food. So how can you go to the Mekong Delta?

The bus is considered the most popular and easiest means of transport for a long road trip. The best thing when traveling by bus is that you can avoid the dirt and the air pollution of your long journey as well as the blazing hot of Vietnam.

The moving prices and the distances to go to Mekong Delta depend on where you are staying and where you’re going to go:

From	To	Distance	Duration
Ho Chi Minh city	Can Tho	160km	4 hours
Ho Chi Minh city	Rach Gia (Kien Giang)	235km	5 hours

To go to other provinces of the Mekong Delta, we suggest you book a bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho then booking a bus or renting a motorcycle to go.

*Attention!

It is optional for you to bring snacks along. However, a standard trip can last at least hours. Most bus trips have scheduled break times where passengers can go to the bathroom and grab something to eat, yet, you never know when you may arrive the stop and you may even sleep through a scheduled stop.

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You may never be sure whether the standard or quality of food being served at your scheduled stops is good or not.

As a result that you may have to go hours without food. to make sure that you can “survive” throughout that period of time, we suggest you prepare something to eat for your bus trip.

Prepare vehicles for the journey:

• Car Rentals in Can Tho
• Scooter Rentals in Can Tho

Steps to make a food plan

Planning your trip meals

When planning your road trip meals, there are a few things you should take into account.

First, you will want to make sure that you have enough food to last the entire trip. This means packing enough snacks and easy-to-prepare meals for you and your partners in case you go with someone else.

Second, you will want to consider the types of food that will be easy to make and eat while on the road. Anything that is highly messy or requires a lot of preparation should be managed to avoid. You only have so much space to pack all your gear, so avoid having to add a lot of cooking and food prep tools too.

Preparing

Preparing snacks is very reasonable because you can prepare anything you like. A small snack, usually a banh mi, is enough to satisfy your stomach and ‘super-duper” easy to make.

If you expect to be hungry, then bring more food or buy some well-prepared food. 

Packing and storing

Pack individual meals in stackable, compact food containers. For snacks, consider getting a snack container to store different snack items. This is perfect to protect your snacks from heat and outside elements.

Snacks that you should bring

Options for long-trip snacks are infinite. Most snacks you enjoy at home can easily be enjoyed during your road trip. In saying that, snacks that do not require any extra preparation and are minimal mess are preferable.

1. Banh Mi

Banh Mi is a portable and flexible choice for passengers. Bread provides protein, fat, and complex carbohydrates that can increase energy levels. This makes them an excellent choice if passengers need to stay alert and active during the trip. Meat like pork or chicken provides a source of protein.

2. Fruits 

Fruit contains plenty of fiber, natural sugars, and vitamins to keep you awake and energized during the trip. Dried fruit can also be an excellent option if whole fruit is not available. 

3. Boiled peanuts

Boil peanuts can be one of the best snacks that you can bring on your long trip. It’s not only healthy, delicious, easy to make, and captivating to your kids.

4. Fast food for long trips

In case you have no time to prepare your snacks in advance, you have various options to fill your stomach. 

If your trip is in the early morning, it will be a great chance for you to experience Vietnamese fast food. You can choose to eat Banh mi, which is the easiest food to find because they are on every corner of the street. 

If you want to explore other types of food then go to the market because it is the paradise of fast food in the morning. You can buy many types of cakes like bánh da lợn (steamed layer cake), bánh khoai mì nướng (cassava cake), chuối (khoai) chiên (crispy fried banana/sweet potato) or sticky rice. 

The price for such cakes is reasonable. They range from 10.000 – 25.000 VND (about 1 USD).

In case you are not accustomed to Vietnamese markets, you can buy fast food at supermarkets or convenience stores in your area. In supermarkets, there are hamburgers or sandwiches which are ready for taking away.

The price for fast food in supermarkets or convenience stores is a little bit higher than in the markets. They are from 20.000 – 50.000 VND (about 2 USD).

5. Healthy food for trips

There is no problem if you choose to bring fast food along on your long trip because they’re fast making. However, bringing healthy is considered a healthier option for you and your family.

Therefore we recommend some snack ideas you can try:

• Raw vegetables. Baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, and celery are nutritious, portable, and readily available. They last for several hours even at room temperature – and they’re good for your health too.
• Mixed nuts. Nuts are rich in fiber, healthy fats, and protein – the perfect healthy snack for your trip. They taste great even when unsalted. Just remember to get the unshelled king – you wouldn’t want to make a mess.
• Homemade chips. If you’re not a fan of those greasy chips with loads of calories, you’re not alone. You can try baked potato chips, carrot chips, sweet potato, zucchini, or even those made from taro. To make them last longer, simply store them in an airtight container or a Ziploc bag.
• Pitted and peeled fruits. Nutritious and vitamin-rich Clementine and apples are some of the best fruits for your snacks. They don’t easily get smashed and can be stored easily.

6. Drinks for long road trips

When you are doing a long drive, it is essential to keep up your water intake the whole way.

Sitting in a bus or car with air conditioning or heating can cause dehydration. Sitting for long periods can also make us forget to get our daily recommended water intake too. So be sure to bring water bottles for each member of the family.

In general, drinking tap water is not advised in Vietnam. Water tainted with pathogenic organisms is a significant source of illness.

Price (0.5L bottle): VND 10,000 – 20,000 (about $ 0.5 – 1)

Worst snacks that you should not bring

When you are going on a long trip, there are some snacks that you definitely should not bring with you. Here is something for long-trip snacks that you shouldn’t do:

Snacks that can easily be spoiled

Food like milk, hot meat, mayo, or any other food that will require refrigeration is a big no-no for long trips.

Unless you are fine with eating spoiled food, then it would be better to leave your perishable food in your fridge at home.

Snacks that cannot be eaten with just your fingers

A snack that requires a fork, a knife, and a table isn’t a snack – it is a meal. And just remember: it is a trip, not a date.

Pre-making food (or ingredients)

If you are planning on packing a sandwich, prepare it at home. A bus ride with food that requires complex assembly is just a recipe for disaster –  both for you and the bus.

Snacks for kids on long road trips

Bringing along kids on a long bus trip with you is one thing. But hungry kids on a long bus trip will certainly be a nightmare both for you and everyone on board. So here are some tasty kiddie snacks that you should bring with you.

• Snack box. In an organizer, you can put different kinds of crackers, fruits, and bite-size cookies. This is a box that will not only make your kids full but also entertained them with different kinds of food.
• Juice box. Easy to bring and a no-mess snack. They are best for kids of all ages and sizes. But remember to choose a healthy drink so they stay healthy and hydrated.
• Dried fruits. With dried fruit, you can get all the benefits of fruit without the waste and the hassle to prepare.

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