Our second day in Vietnam began early. We woke up before sunrise and took turns performing the Fajr prayer. Afterward, we headed to the accommodation where Groups 1 and 3 were staying because we had planned to cook breakfast together.
Everyone pitched in, taking turns helping in the kitchen. Once my friend and I had finished our part, we realized there was still some time before breakfast would be ready. Since our stomachs were already rumbling, we decided to look for a quick snack nearby.
We walked back to the accommodations of Groups 3, 4, and 5 to grab our wallets. However, the moment we stepped inside, the weather suddenly changed. Heavy rain began pouring down, leaving us with no choice but to wait.
As soon as the rain finally stopped, we hurried back, hoping breakfast was still waiting for us.
Unfortunately, we were too late.
Everyone had already finished eating, and there wasn't any food left. With no other option, the four of us decided to head out and find breakfast elsewhere.
Luckily, there was a local dish we had been wanting to try. One of our friends couldn't stop talking about how delicious it was, so our expectations were already pretty high.
The shop wasn't far away. As soon as we arrived, we placed our order without hesitation.
We ordered Bánh Mì Gà Xé Phô Mai, a crispy Vietnamese baguette filled with shredded chicken and melted cheese. It cost 35,000 VND, which was roughly IDR 27,000.
Fresh out of the oven, it was still warm when it arrived at our table.
And honestly,
it lived up to all the hype.
The bread was perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, while the combination of shredded chicken and melted cheese was surprisingly delicious. We finished our sandwiches in what felt like no time at all.
Before leaving, we took a quick photo in front of the shop and then returned to our accommodation to rest. After cleaning up, praying, and taking a short nap, it was already late afternoon.
Around 4:00 PM, we headed out again. Some of our friends hadn't tried the bánh mì yet, so we brought them to the same place.
After that, we split into two groups. Some stayed behind to enjoy their sandwiches, while the rest of us—including me—continued searching for another local Vietnamese dish to try.
That's when we remembered a small restaurant we had passed earlier that day. It had been packed with customers, which usually seemed like a good sign.
After taking our seats, we used a translation app to ask the owner whether the food contained pork.
He simply smiled and replied,
"No. Beef."
That was all we needed to hear.
The next challenge was the menu. Everything was written in Vietnamese, and we couldn't understand a single item.
Thankfully, a man who was dining alone nearby noticed our confusion. He spoke English fluently and kindly offered to help us place our order.
While waiting for our food, we started chatting with him.
His name was Bình.
He shared stories about life in Vietnam, introduced us to a bit of Vietnamese history, and even taught us a few local words. At one point, he explained that the name "Bình" means peace in English and that every Vietnamese name carries its own meaning.
Curious, he then asked each of us about our names and what they meant.
It was such a simple conversation, yet somehow it became one of the most memorable moments of the day.
Not long afterward, our meals arrived.
We were served fried rice with beef, accompanied by a separate bowl of soup.
The fried rice reminded me of Indonesian fried rice, although it had a distinctive aroma and flavor that made it unmistakably Vietnamese. The beef had a slightly tangy taste, probably because it was cooked with vegetables, while the soup was warm, rich, and full of beef flavor.
I'd give the meal a solid 7 out of 10.
For only 45,000 VND, it was definitely worth trying.
As the day came to an end, we returned to our accommodation, took showers, washed our clothes, prayed, and I transferred the photos and videos from my camera to my laptop.
With everything finally done, we called it a night, looking forward to whatever adventures the next day would bring.