I had every opportunity to go to Vietnam back when the handsome hubs was crisscrossing Asia for a multinational confectionery giant. Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia on rotation, quarter after quarter. I told myself it made sense. Why chase heat and humidity when I already lived in the Philippines? Better, I reasoned, to save our money for places with colder air and heavier coats. That logic feels thin now. What I really skipped wasn’t just a destination , it was a moment in time, a version of travel that doesn’t come back. Street food eaten on plastic stools, motorbikes blurring past, the particular chaos and comfort of Southeast Asia unfolding at street level. Vietnam waited patiently while I stayed home, convinced I was being practical. Now the regret has a flavor to it—sharp, unmistakable. I want to be on a plane to Hanoi yesterday. Until then, I’ll settle for consolation prize : a Michelin Bib Gourmand bowl of Em Hanoi, eaten slowly, imagining the city it came from, and promising myself not to make the same mistake twice.
What is Michelin Bib Gourmand?
It is a Michelin Guide award giving recognition to restaurants with outstanding food quality at a great value, or reasonable set price.
A proxy for Vietnam
So for now, I make do with Em Hanoi, a Michelin stand-in for the trip I never took. And surprisingly, it works, at least a little.
From the ochre walls representing royalty, prosperity, to the scarlet flag with its lone yellow star, the place transported me to my imagined land of pho.
A warm bowl of pho ga lands on the table, comforting and fragrant.
There’s the crunch of Nem Ran (fried spring rolls) the familiar satisfaction of a good banh mi. For a moment, Hanoi feels close enough to touch.
The vibe is cozy, almost homey, though the spell breaks slightly with the service. Efficient, yes, but the servers move through the room as if joy didn’t flow in them.
Still, the food does its job. The handsome hubs leaves impressed, already plotting a return to work his way through the rest of the menu. As for me, I leave with a clearer resolution: next time Vietnam comes calling, I won’t stay home pretending practicality tastes better than regret.
Em Hanoi is located at the ground floor F1 Hotel 32nd Street, cor Lane A, BGC
Pigoutmanila 