Lantern Vietnamese Restaurant — Restaurant in Quảng Bình Province

A friend in Phong Nha recommended Lantern Vietnamese Restaurant if I wanted authentic Vietnamese food, but I ended up going for the European options instead. The first impression wasn’t great when the server showed us to our table; the tablecloth was dusty, and there were still bits of food scattered around from the last guests. We had to wipe it down ourselves before settling in, which was a bit of a letdown. On the bright side, the staff were really friendly and eager to help, so props to them. Beyond that, here’s my take on the rest: The place feels dusty and worn, not in a charming, rustic way, but more like it’s just been neglected, with grime clinging to everything. The menu’s a jumble of Vietnamese and European dishes, but nothing stood out as a must-try, and the staff didn’t really point us toward any signature items either. One highlight, though the fruit juice was fresh and tasty, was a nice surprise. Price-wise, it’s decent enough for a tourist spot like this, though still a tad higher than what you’d expect around Phong Nha. I’d suggest the staff take a moment to recommend the house specialties; it’d help give the place some identity for visitors. Honestly, I didn’t come in with sky-high expectations since the general standard here is pretty modest, but for a restaurant smack in the middle of town, billed as a local highlight, I’d hoped for a bit more flair or at least a stronger sense of what makes Phong Nha special. Would I come back? Maybe for a quick bite some comfort food to fill me up when I’m hungry and on the go. But as far as leaving a lasting impression worth raving about? Not really....

Disappointing and borderline offensive experience.

My interaction with the waitress was one of the strangest I’ve ever had. It started off fine - she repeatedly asked if I was Vietnamese to which I replied yes in both English and Vietnamese. I ended up having to go through my family history to explain how I’m Australian but ethnically Vietnamese. She still seemed pretty dumbfounded by the end of this. She then asked whether my husband and I had children and exclaimed “why?!” when I said we didn’t. I didn’t reply and she then thought it was appropriate to ask me how old I am. These questions might be normal culturally, but still not normal enough to ask a stranger who’s just sat down for a meal.

At this point I just wanted to order food and looked at the menu while she stood staring at us. I started ordering dishes with the Vietnamese rather than English names as I always do and she burst out laughing. My speaking skills are more Vietlish than Vietnamese, but I don’t think there’s ever a reason to laugh at anyone trying to speak another language.

The bun thit nuong (bbq pork bowl) was sickening as it came out slathered in sweet chilli sauce. I’ve not had this dish with sweet chilli sauce instead of nuoc mam (fish sauce) and I wonder if they’ve tried to westernise it (bit ironic).

Some redeeming points: The banh xeo was good despite not having any nuoc mam and they were super generous with the filling. The mango...

I really like the vibe of this place. I came here twice on a Sunday, once in the morning for breakfast, then in the evening for a few hours. I really liked the lighted-up lanterns in the morning and the calm, peaceful vibe during breakfast. There was no one else at breakfast. I had a bowl of muesli with fresh milk and yogurt. It was really refreshing, especially with the mango, and very delicious. The omelette with cheese and fresh warm baguette was good as well. In the evening, the place started to fill up after 6 PM with foreign tourists. I had the special Banh Xeo and it was pretty good. The fried noodles with chicken were decent. I liked their drinks as well. The B52 was no-nonsense. I had the chocolate smoothie with Baileys, as well as the hot chocolate with Baileys as well, and they were both really good. The prices are not very high and the service is great. The servers are very friendly and welcoming. Would definitely...