Vietnamese Bistro Propaganda

I ain’t no street food lover

Are you one of those people who love street food and local experiences? I’m not, as most of you know by now.

Being a very fussy, picky eater, with diabetes and a delicate health, it’s not for me.

On top of that I’m not that adventurous, plus comfort and decor are important to me.

If necessary I can and will go local in a basic way, but you don’t do me a favour by putting me in that kind of situation. When I’m uncomfortably sitting on a small plastic stool, on the streets, in a messy, dirty, smelly environment I’m not having a relaxed, fun time. No matter how good the food may be. Or how cheap.

I guess that that’s also why I always hated camping, even as a small child. Sand getting everywhere, with your toilet roll in your hand to a public toilet area, meeting strangers in their undies, etc etc…yayks.

I’m very sensitive to the setting in which I eat or drink. I really enjoy a good seat, an interesting view and a cool decor. If the staff is friendly too and the food and drinks are good then that’s even better, hahaha.

Vietnamese Bistro Propaganda

So I was keen to have dinner at Vietnamese Bistro Propaganda.

To eat authentic Vietnamese food in a groovy, art-y setting, minus all the discomfort of street stalls.

Enjoying Vietnamese Bistro Propaganda.

Ofcourse quirky, cool and/or hip restaurants are always way more expensive than there street-counterparts. But that’s more than worth the money for me.

Frits also liked his meal at Propaganda.

Groovy colourful decor

Propaganda is housed in a charming shophouse next to a parc.

The decor is awesome!

Propaganda art has been and still is a big thing in Vietnam. You come across it on billboards and such.

How awesome are these walls?!

Click here for tips in case you want to purchase your own (replica) propaganda posters while in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Bistro Propaganda had artists do up the walls with retro-propaganda-esque murals, but replacing political slogans for slogans like “Every day we choose a new dish”, inspired by poets and singers.

Fantastic!

The restaurant looks very pretty with the floor to ceiling glass french doors, the colourful walls and the same propaganda images on fabric napkins and cushions.

You can even buy some products, like these napkins. Maybe I should have…..

Delicious local food

On top of that, yes…drumroll….the food was very tasty.

Menu of Propaganda.

I had a delicious salad, while Frits took pho, a well-known local dish (beef noodle soup).

My salad.

Frits’ pho.

You’re supposed to add in/on these ingredients yourself (to the pho).

As a matter of fact, during our Back of the Bike Tour we also had pho, remember? Only then in a very local setting. Not on the streets, but it came close. The broth was yummy in that local place as well, by the way.

If you had a choice between a cheap, 5-star (review-wise) meal on the street or a more expensive, 4-star meal in a charming restaurant, which would you choose?