• 2
• some tasty food but an exercise in frustration

I took a stroll out here from the main tourist centre - about 15 mins. The restaurant was half full, I was given an English menu, which, glancing at the 'local' menus seemed about a third of the size. The menu items were general titles and had no real description to be of much use. However, I was READY! I had downloaded a few choice phrases via Google Translate! "Do you have hot noodle soup?" "What do you recommend?" "is this spicy?" that sort of thing. When I mentioned the word 'noodle, the staff looked at me as if they'd never heard that word before, discussed with each other, and then pointed to the word 'noodle' randomly throughout the menu. It was hilarious but frustrating. any further prompting was met with blank stares. In the end, to spare everyone embarrassment, I just pointed to the pho, ate in silence and left. Phew! I noticed that everyone who arrived at the restaurant was being given a large mug of iced tea as soon as they sat down, and without being asked for it. Apart from me that is. In the end, I pointed to the tea that the waiter was taking to the table next to mine and asked for one. What a shock it seemed to be! It was just annoying that little things like this, a little hello, or pointing to a table where I could sit when I arrived, while other people were being greeted and shown to tables and given tea. No language proficiency is really needed for these acts of hospitality, I think... The soup was fine, the tea was actually free for everyone, as my small bowl of pho cost 25000 (!!), but the whole experience was an exercise in frustration and as such was not an enjoyable visit, I doubt I'll go back, especially when there are cheaper, friendlier and tastier alternatives...