Hello, 

Newbie traveler and chef.
First time to Ho Chi Minh. I'll be staying here 3 weeks.

It's been a many years passion to learn HK style Cantonese BBQ, so I end up watching quite a videos on roasting. 

One of my friends sent me this video of a roasted chicken:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dap6HDjFIn5/?igsh=MWhtd3U1eWNxNTZpYw==

I've done a lot of cooking and watched my share of food videos,

But I've never quite seen these results before
The meat looks extremely juicy and the skin is clearly incredibly crispy.

The duck and pork look equally as good.

Duck
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTJwJRSkswB/?igsh=dDhvZTlnamo1eHNh

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZxHgsQEs7y/?igsh=Y2Q1bDUydng3OWZt

Pork
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Daxis-MDd6t/?igsh=NjFhbGx5MmYwMTYw

I think the chef is somewhere north of here?  I had difficulty finding the restaurant. Maybe somebody can help me out with that?
I’m assuming it’s too far to get to.

Is there something very similar to this style in Ho Chi Minh? 

The pork is a good indicator of the style I'm looking for, shiny, glassy skin. 
I don't want the Hong Kong style blistered skin for the pork.

Does this style of roasting have a name?  It looks very different to the other BBQ shops I’ve seen.

Thank you!

Hello, 

Newbie traveler and chef.
First time to Ho Chi Minh. I'll be staying here 3 weeks.

It's been a many years passion to learn HK style Cantonese BBQ, so I end up watching quite a videos on roasting. 

One of my friends sent me this video of a roasted chicken:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dap6HDjFIn5/?igsh=MWhtd3U1eWNxNTZpYw==

I've done a lot of cooking and watched my share of food videos,

But I've never quite seen these results before
The meat looks extremely juicy and the skin is clearly incredibly crispy.

The duck and pork look equally as good.

Duck
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTJwJRSkswB/?igsh=dDhvZTlnamo1eHNh

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZxHgsQEs7y/?igsh=Y2Q1bDUydng3OWZt

Pork
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Daxis-MDd6t/?igsh=NjFhbGx5MmYwMTYw

I think the chef is somewhere north of here?  I had difficulty finding the restaurant. Maybe somebody can help me out with that?
I’m assuming it’s too far to get to.

Is there something very similar to this style in Ho Chi Minh? 

The pork is a good indicator of the style I'm looking for, shiny, glassy skin. 
I don't want the Hong Kong style blistered skin for the pork.

Does this style of roasting have a name?  It looks very different to the other BBQ shops I’ve seen.

Thank you!

Hello,

I just arrived in Ho Chi Minh City. I'm brand new to this city, newer to traveling in general, and brand new to nomading. So please bear with me while I'm learning the local customs, as well as how to efficiently travel.

I'm renting an apartment for 3 weeks.

I prioritized location (D1) and a decent sized desk as working space.

What I forgot to also consider was the TV. My apartment doesn't come with one.

I'm not looking to sit around and watch TV while I'm here, it's for work.

I already travel with a portable monitor.

While I can do my work with 2 monitors, get a 3rd screen having a 3rd greatly benefits the ease of my work.

I'm in D1, near Tu Du Hospital. I looked at the computer shops in my area, and a new 4k monitor was about 6.5M VND.

I'm wondering if you all have suggestions on what my best approach is here?

Option #1:

I'd be happy to rent something, I couldn't find any rental service for a TV (maybe I needed to look harder?).

I do not wish to buy new and abuse a local computer shop's return policy.

I find that unethical. I absolutely refuse to go down that route.

Option #2 and #3:

So I think that leaves me with buying new or 2nd hand and sell it at a loss during my final 2-3 days here.

I won't recover all my money, but I can eat the loss and treat it as the cost of renting it.

Just to clarify,

I'm OK with a TV or a monitor.

It doesn't need to have any fancy specs (IPS, refresh rate, USB C, etc), it can be totally garbage entry level.

As long as it's 4k, I'm happy.

What do you think is my best options are?

Thanks for help 🙏

I'm just at the tail end of my first visit here in Seoul.

As a skincare newb and a guy from Canada who spends his life indoors, I must admit I'm pretty new to sunscreen. I usually just grab whatever from the local supermarket to use on the occasional beach day.

However, I've got another 2 months in Asia as a tourist and I should be wearing sunscreen.
I grabbed one of these from Olive Young.

[Shingmulnara Mild Face & Body Sun Cream 150ml | OLIVE YOUNG Global](https://global.oliveyoung.com/product/detail?prdtNo=GA250229031)

However, I've caught myself avoiding using it.
I don't like that it's sticky, and even showering with very hot water, it seems to still leave a residue. I just don't feel clean even after showering.
I keep giving myself little excuses like "you're going to be in the metro the whole time" or "I'm only popping in and out of buildings quickly".
All terrible excuses really.

I did find an article with some "non sticky" alternatives,
but they're not exactly cheap.
[The Best Korean Sunscreen for Oily Skin – Matte Effect Without a Stick](https://kbeautyforyou.hu/en/blogs/korean-beauty-care/the-best-korean-sunscreen-for-oily-skin-with-a-matte-effect-and-no-sticky-feeling)

But I'm hoping you all might have some suggestions that are a little bit more budget friendly?

p.s.
Coming during the summer... yikes.
I'll probably do winter next time.

I'm just at the tail end of my first visit here in Seoul.

As a skincare newb and a guy from Canada who spends his life indoors, I must admit I'm pretty new to sunscreen. I usually just grab whatever from the local supermarket to use on the occasional beach day.

However, I've got another 2 months in Asia as a tourist and I should be wearing sunscreen.
I grabbed one of these from Olive Young.

Shingmulnara Mild Face & Body Sun Cream 150ml | OLIVE YOUNG Global

However, I've caught myself avoiding using it.
I don't like that it's sticky, and even showering with very hot water, it seems to still leave a residue. I just don't feel clean even after showering.
I keep giving myself little excuses like "you're going to be in the metro the whole time" or "I'm only popping in and out of buildings quickly".
All terrible excuses really.

I did find an article with some "non sticky" alternatives,
but they're not exactly cheap.
The Best Korean Sunscreen for Oily Skin – Matte Effect Without a Stick

But I'm hoping you all might have some suggestions that are a little bit more budget friendly?

p.s.
Coming during the summer... yikes.
I'll probably do winter next time.

Hi,

I'm new to nomading, I have just over 2 weeks left here in Seoul. Next is Ho Chi Minh, then Taipei.

I always heard some things were cheaper in Asia, but I had reverse sticker shock of seeing the price of quality glasses frames.

This reminded me that I'm overdue for a new suit.

I'm a shorter, slim Asian guy. 5'-6", 150 lbs. (168cm, 68kg).

I figured all the office workers here means it shouldn't be difficult getting a decent made-to-measure suit here. If I'm lucky enough time for a 2nd fitting?

Should I be looking for a suit in Seoul or Vietnam?

I'm looking for sort of entry level, bang for buck.

I remember seeing on TV travel shows people getting a suit in Vietnam, but that was ages ago, is it still a good option?

Any thoughts or recommendations?

If you've got specific shops to recommend, even better. (I've got to admit, nomading and doing research is fun, but I'm not used to it and it gets a little exhausting).

Hello, I'm back again for thread #2!

Today marked the official start of month 2 in Seoul. I managed to squeeze a few days in Busan as well. I really liked that the street food (north of Jalgachi Station) didn't give off an ounce of tourist trap vibes. I'm pretty sure there were more locals that tourists eating at those seafood carts.

I'm planning a trip to Majang Meat Market, will be bringing my Korean-speaking friend (a visitor like me). Instead of going in completely blind with my friend, I decided to go on a scouting run first. I figured I could slip into my figurative chef hat, figure out the the Korean butchery cuts, the pricing, and how they package the combos. Also, to familiarize myself with how they label the grading system.

I already did a similar dinner at a nearby butcher where you buy, and they take you upstairs to the neighboring restaurant. That was Korean pork (not Jeju) and the beef was very well marbled, but hybrids, not full blood Hanwoo. At Majang, most stalls were selling 1++ (9), a small minority I think were 1++ (7) and (8)'s. I'll trust my chef senses for that.

From another thread, I noticed a few people were recommending 88 Gold Beef, if I don't see anything else that catches my eye, I'll default to what other people have recommended.

팔팔황금한우 ㅣ 마장동한우, 한우선물세트, 팔팔한우 (@88goldbeef) • Instagram photos and videos

When I was doing my scouting run, a few vendors were offering me discounts to buy, with the option to eat there. They were weren't huge discounts 5-10% or so, just enough to sweeten the deal.

What really raised questions in my head was when one of the vendors (lady boss, north side) said she'd throw in some free items, sashimi + chadolbaegi (brisket point).

Is negotiating for freebies part of the experience? I'm not here to rip the vendors off, but if they're already factoring in a bit of discount and some freebies, I don't mind having a piece of that pie.

Does that mean each vendor has their own partnership with local restaurants? Maybe perhaps their own family-owned restaurants?

So far what I've noticed that really makes the difference with the BBQ restaurant experience is 3 things:

- Adequate charcoal heat so meat can get a proper sear (without overcooking)

- Open wire grates, so you get that smokey charcoal flavor

- Sauce and banchan. I had a fantastic sauce made with cutlass fish guts, a total surprise.

So does this mean when I select a butcher to buy the meat from,

I'm essentially shadow-selecting the restaurant as well?

If you scroll 3/4 of the way down the page, you'll see the grill plates they are using. They're non stick coated where the meat has no direct access to the fire. In fact, I've got a similar grill plate at home and that's exactly what I don't want to end up with.

[Majang] Palpal Golden Korean Beef | Recommended Butcher Shop at Majang-dong Livestock Market, Bought with My Own Money | Revisiting the Fox House | Majang Station Bingsu Cafe Black Monkey: Naver Blog

This is where I went the other day, if you skim through their photos, they have open wire and steel grates to the charcoal.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/qRtvjqQsVXno3xDGA

But I've really only got 1 shot at this with my friends, so I want to make sure we end up at the best restaurant option, even if I'm having to splurge just a bit more on the meat.

Sorry if I rambled a bit much.

I'm a chef, I know how to pick meat. But those 3 criteria above can really make the experience I think, and I've got to turn to you guys for advice and recommendations cause I'm I don't know where to start.

Hello all,

This is my first time in Korea. I'm staying for 2 months. I've been here for 2 weeks and I'm blown away by the experience.

I've got a ton of questions, in order to keep things organized, I'll try to keep them in separate threads. This is thread 1 of many.

-----------------------------------

I'm here with some friends and they are looking to splurge (a small amount) on some cutlery and tableware. It's a souvenir for themselves to cap off their year in Korea.

They are looking for BIFL items (buy-it-for-life) cutlery and tableware (chopsticks, spoons, ceramics).
They are pragmatic people, so something they can use every day, not just to sit on a shelf collecting dust. Though they are open to the idea of some extra special items for special occasions, but let's consider that a side quest.

I think they want something to remind them of their Korea heritage, and also embrace that Korea as a nation still has an industrial and artist's backbone. I feel that's a bit of the vibe they want to take home with them.
So made-in-Korea is a must.

If I was on my home turf, answering the same questions, I would steer away from department stores, send them to look at Williams Sonoma or Sur La Table, then maybe local artists.

My friends aren't rich, but if it's heirloom quality they can pass down to the next generation, they'll take that into consideration price-wise.

Thanks all!!