Kaohsiung Insider

I can't answer your question and know I'll get el smacko downo for stirring, but why is it that so many people in Anglo nations are diagnosed with all types of food allergies and conditions, yet people in the developing world eat poo off the street without a care or negative reaction? Is it just whitey's curse? Or something even spookier?

Baffling.

My mum is also a ceoliac, and my parents are currently travelling around Vietnam. So far they have had no problems, and have been eating at small resturants and as well as some street food. My mum has friends who are on a Gluten Free diet who have travelled here extensively with no problems too.
My mum has a card in Vietnamese explaining what she can and can't eat - basically yes to rice and fish sauce and no to soy sauce and anything with wheat in it, I've also coached her on good and bad types of noodles! I'm not sure how well it would work, and as you suggest there are always hidden ingredients, but if you are interested in getting a copy just PM me!

I had 18 beers the other night, and felt like shit in the morning. Just goes to show even the fitest of us are allergic to wheat and barley.

I'm Coeliac myself, and have lived here for 7 months with no problems.
All pho etc and noodles in street kitchen's are all rice noodles. Just get the "pho" and not "my" type noodles e.g. pho xao vs. my xao.

If you will ever cook for them, the only place I have found some gluten free products like pasta, even flour, cake mix etc is Veggy's on Xuan Dieu.

When I first came to Vietnam I travelled with a card written in Vietnamese saying what I can't eat, but somehow they assumed I couldn't eat meat, either, so sometimes I went vegetarian. Just make sure it's specified that meat is ok.

Haven't found any gluten free bread around unfortunately though.

And Atomic, I totally agree with you.
I have ridiculously horrendous reactions to some foods, but some people around the world eat food cooked in unhygienic conditions. Maybe it's that live-in-filtered-air-housing-and-get-asthma-when-you-are-an-adult theory. We try so hard to avoid "bad things" but it comes back to bite us in the ass.

There is a shop at 99 Xuan Dieu, Tay Ho. There are many healty food. You may call them first at (04)37194630. I visit this shop in HCM but not here. Any I called them (in Hanoi) just now to make sure that the shop is still there.

I don't know too much about the allergy but I have an Aunt who can't eat anything with gluten as well. She loves going to Vietnamese restaurants in the States because of the lack of gluten in their food.

Don't know if that helps you to get out there and be brave. :)

Also Annam in Syrena, Xuan Dieu has alot of gluten free mixes.

Vietnamese food is some of the easiest for Coeliacs. No worries at all. As CatAttack says, just avoid the 'my' noodles and everything else (pretty much) is fine cause it's mostly made from rice. I would think that eating out (Vietnamese food) will be far easier for your Ma than trying to find gluten free foods to cook with.

The Coeliac society in Australia provides the cards that people are referring to - not sure if they do the same in your country, but I would guess so.

Enjoy!