Around that time, Vietnam began actively encouraging foreign visitors and tourists to experience the culture and craft, the magnificent unspoilt landscape and beaches, and the huge 'undiscovered' regional food. We gradually began receiving warm welcomes and listened to the many personal tales from returning travellers who'd come to visit us, and for them to re-experience the flavours that had been so exciting.

Alongside traditional thin, crispy, vietnamese spring rolls (the expert will roll it with lettuce), and the refreshing Fresh herb rolls bursting with thai basil and prawn, 'Pho' remains the signature dish: a noodle soup famed for its fantastic broth (and difficult to do well).