“I really love enjoying Saigonki” said Beata, a local customer

Spring rolls, one of the most famous Vietnamese dishes, have become more popular among people and visitors in Poland after many ups and downs over the past few years.

The 1990s were considered as the Golden Period of Vietnamese restaurants throughout Poland, with more than 300 Vietnamese restaurants in Warsaw capital alone.

At that time, Vietnamese spring rolls were called by a special name: Saigonki. According to the owner of Bong Sen (Lotus), a Vietnamese restaurant in Warsaw, Saigonki in the local language means the Vietnamese dish with three spring rolls.

Vietnamese spring rolls were very popular with local people and visitors. Several tourism magazines, published in English, also introduced this special Vietnamese dish.

These magazines carried the message that “Visiting Warsaw, if you want to enjoy Asian cuisines, please come to Vietnamese bar with excellent Saigonki at Konstytucji Square”. By some extent, Vietnamese spring rolls were believed to have helped attract more tourists to the area.

In fact, the traditional Vietnamese dish became one of the most favorite international dishes in the country at this time. Many Polish people believed that Saigonki reflected the dynamic and warm-hearted people of Vietnam living in their country.

However, in first years of the 21st century, these Vietnamese restaurants with Saigonki faced a lot of difficulties. Many of Vietnamese people who earned their living by running this type business had to return to the homeland seeking ways to start a new life.

The appearance of many new dishes from other countries, such as the Kebab of Turkey, made business for Vietnamese restaurants and bars harder and harder.

However, some Vietnamese restaurants tried to maintain their business waiting for the time to come again with a strong confidence that the Vietnamese culinary arts would have a bright future in the country and that Saigonki would certainly gain back its position as before.

Most recently, the number of visitors to Vietnamese restaurants has increased rapidly. Customers now, are again, becoming interested in the Saigonki of Vietnam.

Source: TT

Translated by Duy Minh