@Shyam

I kow you may think I am some jaded pessimist, but I will tell you that any such food as Vietnamese or Thai will be "Kunmingized" (the same as with Cantonese food) and will hardly resemble the food it is claiming to be. After 6 1/2 years in KM I have never found a Thai restaurant that I would call authentic. Okay, so enough of my legendary nihilism. I will tell you what you will need to do. You will need to take a trip down to Laos or Vietnam itself. The food alters drastically once you cross the border.

Even in the borders towns it is simply different. I do not know why. But the last time I had those wonderful Vietnamese/Laotian style spring rolls (in the clear wrap with a peanut sauce) was in Laos. If you're willing to settle for anything and say to yourself "well, umm, this is good enough" then you'll be okay. I do not gather you will be upset, but you seem to enjoy food and know a real burrito from a wanna be burrito. My issue is I have been in KM too long and had too maybe unsettling adventures in the food/price/service department. Maybe I am not the right one to advise you, but be cautious of all those exciting posts telling you there is a Vietnamese restaurant here. If there is really is then get back to me and I will try it. I have tried a few claiming to be and the food was not Vietnamese at all.

I am also dying for some good Vietnamese food so please report back on your findings. Would be nice to have this type of food in KM with reasonable quality.

Thanks Bill...there's nothing pessimistic about your assessment. I've been here long enough to know that the Kunming/Chinese flavor seeps into everything from ice cream, to chocolate, to Western fast food.

But, there is a bright side to this search. I think I've found most of the ingredients needed to make real Vietnamese pho. I'll give it a go and report back.

Vietnamese grilled beef is tougher because I'd need grape leave, lemongrass, and an open fire to cook them.

Ban Mi sandwiches are also tricky. While I can find decent bread, roast pork, and the pickled veggies (which I can make), the liverwurst, headcheese, and the roasted meats are tougher to do.

@Magnifico "there's no market for it. most chinese people could care less about experimenting with foods from different countries."

Totally agree and I feel this goes for western food as well. Last time I went to Pizza Hut I was only one eating anything Italian. Everybody around me had fried rice, noodles and other weird snacks.

@Shyam

I think I am regarded as a bitter naysayer here but I am a little worn out is all. Trying to get new shoes and a jacket here lately. Cannot get a coat! been to so many places I am burned out. Yes places have coats that were XXXXL (yes 4 X's) but they do not fit me, though I have a small light jacket bought in China that is only XL. I have tried on shoes that claim to be up to size 48 (Bozo shoes) and yet when I show the sales girl they are smaller than 43's by holding them together she is unfazed. "No, no, no, the tag says 48 so they are 48." So I am in one of the coldest winters on record here and no winter coat. Just a sweater. Trying Taobao now but that is no guarantee. And people will say this place or that place has my size, but they do not. They have coats and shoes with tags that my size but they are just running a deliberate scam. Sadly that seems to apply to some of the food trade here as well.

So when I freak out over food now and then there is more to it. It is the "broken shoe lace" effect. Where one has held back his rage for weeks and suddenly while trying his shoe (if the even fit) the shoe lace breaks and he goes bonkers.

The truth is, as I found out, if you want certain things you will have to try and make it yourself because most places here can't, though you will be paying those western prices regardless. The best lasagna and pizza and Mexican food and grilled cheese sandwiches I have had in Kunming were homemade. Good luck man!

There's a decent Vietnamese restaurant on the B1 floor of Qi Cai Me Town (七彩俊园).

Thanks. I will check it out the next time I'm in Kunming.

There is a so-called "Vietnamese-French Fusion Cuisine" restaurant in Wanfujin. Although I am pretty sure it was not authentic, some of the food was pretty good. But beware of the foie gras, which comes from a can, and is served with flavored Pringles potato chips!

I went past the Vietnamese place on 七彩俊园 today. I looked at the menu and saw that it is basically hot pot (100-200 RMB per meal). In the same mall there is a "Southeast Asian" restaurant which has a couple Vietnamese items but is primarily "Yunnan-Thai" food. That place was reasonably priced and the food was acceptable (I'd say 3 stars).

I just back from two weeks in Bangkok and cannot figure out why China cannot make decent food. I mean decent Chinese food, much less Thai or Vietnamese food. They just do not care here. And I paid basically on average 15 to 20 RMB for super great food, and them get back here and see the pot by opper saying how some place is charging 100 to 120 for Vietnamese hot pot!. What crap. I hate the whole hot pot culture here. Sucks. Money grubbing Chinese restaurant owners with no cooking ability or vision.

:D Oh, if u like, i can give u some Vietnamese spring rolls, because I'm Vietnamese ^^