“They’ve been doing it since 1938. It better be good.”

This Lunch Walk starts as a food mission and ends up sending me even further down the rabbit hole of my own neighbourhood.

I’m joined by my friend James Green, who lives nearby, as we walk through the streets around Saigon Podcast Studio in search of bánh mì vịt quay, or roast duck bánh mì. But before we even get to lunch, we uncover a few stories hiding in plain sight.

We talk about how Pasteur Street was once a canal, discover that one very old-looking cafe façade is actually much newer than it appears, and stop outside the building that once housed the first American Embassy in Saigon.

Then we finally reach the main event.

The roast meat shop says it has been operating since 1938, and this time I’m able to ask the family directly. The woman serving us tells us her Cantonese grandfather started the business, her mother took over after him, and she is now the third generation. Her grandfather came to Saigon from Hong Kong around the 1920s, creating another direct link between this neighbourhood and the generations of immigrants who helped shape it.

And the food absolutely delivers.

Crispy roast duck, juicy meat, bánh mì, chilli, lemongrass and sauce quickly turns into us ordering even more duck because one sandwich simply isn’t enough.

The more of these Lunch Walks I make, the more I realise how much history is sitting right outside the studio, on streets I’ve been walking and driving through for nearly a decade.

Key Takeaways

• Exploring the neighbourhood with my friend James Green
• Discovering that Pasteur Street used to be a canal
• Why some of Saigon’s “historic-looking” buildings aren’t actually historic
• Visiting the former American Embassy in Saigon
• The Cantonese influence on this part of the city
• Finding a roast meat shop that has been operating since 1938
• Meeting the third generation of the family running it
• How her grandfather came from Hong Kong to Saigon in the 1920s
• Trying an incredible roast duck bánh mì
• Why these Lunch Walks are becoming as much about Saigon history as Vietnamese food
• My growing idea for an off-the-beaten-path walking tour around the neighbourhood

Timestamps

00:00 Lunch Walk with James
02:00 Pasteur Street used to be a canal
04:00 The historic-looking building that isn’t historic
07:00 Saigon architecture and neighbourhood stories
10:00 The former American Embassy
13:00 Cantonese immigration and our lunch destination
15:00 Finding the 1938 roast meat shop
22:00 Meeting the third generation of the family
25:00 Trying bánh mì vịt quay
30:00 Ordering even more roast duck
31:00 Could this become a Saigon walking tour?
42:00 Wrapping up the Lunch Wal

"Send me a message!"

Book your free tour of Saigon Podcast Studio!

Support the show

🎙️ Recorded at Saigon Podcast Studio!

👉 www.saigonpodcaststudio.com

🎙️ Start Your Podcast Today!

👉 Book a FREE Discovery Call with me and let’s bring your idea to life!

🎥 Edit Videos Like a Pro with Descript!

👉 I use Descript to create my content—try it for FREE here:

🔒 Protect Your Privacy with NordVPN!

👉 Get 70% OFF their 2-year plan and enjoy a secure, ad-free internet!

These are affiliate links, and I’ll earn a small commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.

✅ Subscribe for More!

If you enjoy content about life in Vietnam, food adventures, and great conversations, hit that subscribe button.

📸 Follow Me on Instagram 🌐 Visit My Website 🎉 Join Our Community!