TNH

When we first arrived in town (oh, so many moons ago), this was a spot we frequented on a regular basis -- probably because it was conveniently located and cheap. It has since been mostly forgotten, but is occasionally thrown into the rotation -- which it was yesterday (hence the review!).

I would agree with the reviews written below: the service is not always with a smile (although Hien has always been lovely to us), the decor is dated, and the food is not top notch. However, it's a good place to throw into the mix every once in a while because it's a change from the usual.

While calling itself a vegetarian restaurant, it also does serve meat -- which might appeal to the carnivores out there. Not being one myself, I can only speak about the veggie dishes. There is a wide selection of mock meats; I think they only use the packaged dehydrated ones because they tend to be quite tough -- probably need a bit longer to soak. It's worth trying the set menus, as mentioned below, because that way you can sample a number of different dishes.

The food is cheap, and the appeal is the advertisement that this place is all natural: no MSG, no preservatives, etc. Just knowing that I'm not going to be rolling home with a belly full of MSG is reason enough to eat here every once in awhile.

The hygiene is poor. The staff are reserved. The mock meat is ridiculous. But if you can get past the hygiene, put a bit of effort in with the staff, and absolutely stay away from the pseudo-meat, then you will find this is a fine place to down a quick bowl of pho or grab a great value vegeterian set meal.

30,000VND will nab you steamed rice, a small omelette, five vege spring rolls and some stir fried vegetables. Not a bad option for a full and balanced cheap vegeterian meal - although it certainly isn't of the highest quality.

My secret reason for the affinity I have for this restaurant is a cerain egg and vegetable soup. The principle ingredient for the broth is tomato, and the egg floats through it divinely - the only thing that makes it better is the addition of some pho noodles, which the staff will do gladly.

If you're vegeterian and in the area, give the soups or set menus a crack!

Despite a positive sounding rap in the latest lonely planet , I have to say Whole Earth was dismal in my book.
The setting was grotty western and the staff appeared to resent my very presence, with completely surly service.

Apparently the speciality of this place is the mock meat. I had the mock satay chicken. It resembled nothing so much as tough, dried up, thin bits of tofu with a vaguely peanut like garlic sauce. Not a winner.

Chicken satay plus rice plus mango fruit shake cost 50,000 VND. Save your money.

What appealed to me most about this place, quite perversely given the hygiene implications, was the mildly manky cat seeming quite content curled up on a chair in the 'restaurant'.

It gets two stars only because it doesn't appear to have given me food poisoning and the cat looked happy.