Impulse over a not-so-expensive Soup

Per-nal: zeraynwrites.blog

It’s more about the impulse and less about the food. ☺

We visited a place in northern Vietnam about 4 years ago. It is known for its stunning location with a majestic mountain and cold, foggy weather creating a perfect tropical experience. The local cuisine was a delight, but one delicacy stood out, ‘Sturgeon Soup‘. It is believed to be liked by many. While a typical meal with various side dishes cost around $3 (if my memory serves me right), this renowned soup was a whopping $32 for two people. It looks “expensive” compared to regular meals.

With high expectation for the unique flavors of this not-so-expensive dish, we waited eagerly for our order to arrive. When the waitress brought out a large steaming bowl filled with 2kg of chopped sturgeon fish, herbs, and vegetables, we were eager to dig in. Since the price is quite high, I thought this soup is promising. But when I took the first bite, the texture seemed funny. We tried to finish it anyway. Despite our best efforts, neither of us finished the soup. Like I said at the beginning, they say it’s good for many. Don’t get me wrong. I guess it’s not for me. We made our way out of the restaurant, confused.

I learned that before you spend for something, you must know what you are paying for. If we had taken a moment to learn more about what we were ordering, we would have been more satisfied with the outcome. That’s why, before spending a significant amount of money on anything, it’s essential to educate myself and make sure I know what I’m getting myself into.

Even though we were disappointed with the soup, at the end of the day, it was our decision to order it. Our spontaneous spending didn’t align with our level of satisfaction.