Simple and flavorful. These two words best describe Vietnamese cuisine. You might have had a Vietnamese dish or two in your own country but tasting authentic Vietnamese cuisine in its home country is a completely different experience. It’s fresher, tastier, simpler, and the flavor is out of this world.
Let’s take a look at the 10 Vietnamese dishes you need to try while in Vietnam.
A list of the best Vietnamese foods is incomplete without the quintessential pho. This dish is what put Vietnam on the world food map. The simple noodle soup dish is made from just four basic ingredients: clear broth, rice noodles, meat, and herbs but the flavor drives a punch. One great thing about eating pho in Vietnam is that it's made differently everywhere so you get to try different variations depending on which city or province you are in.
Another classic Vietnamese dish, banh mi is essentially a sandwich made from baguettes and stuffed with all kinds of meat, vegetables, and fresh herbs. The stuffing can be made from all kinds of ingredients, even duck meat. But what makes banh mi so special is not the stuffing but the bread itself. It is baked to perfection. Soft and fluffy on the inside but crunchy on the outside.
If you haven't tried Com Ga or Vietnamese chicken rice, you’re missing out. This bowl of delicious and flavourful turmeric rice is accompanied by chicken tenders and various toppings like fresh coriander, lime juice, and onion. There are different variations of this Vietnamese dish all across the country but the most famous has to be the Hoi An version.
Bun Cha became an overnight sensation after former US president Barack Obama and food critic Anthony Bourdain ate the dish on a TV show. It is a simple and unassuming dish at first glance. But the cold rice vermicelli noodle dish served with pork and plenty of fresh vegetables is worth its fame in taste. The dish serves sweet, savory, and fresh all in one mouthful.
If you want something light yet filling, Goi Cuon or Vietnamese fresh spring rolls should be your top choice. This Vietnamese dish is made of light greens and meat rolled in delicate white rice paper. It is often served with a dipping sauce like hoisin sauce or fish sauce. It is light, fresh, and tasty making it the perfect snack.
If you ask any Vietnamese what their comfort food is, the answer will probably be Chao Ga, a Vietnamese-style chicken rice porridge. This dish uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients like chicken, rice, onions, and ginger yet taste delicious and fills you up instantly. It is the perfect meal to eat on a cold rainy day.
If you are an adventurous eater and don’t mind the occasional strange food then Bun Oc should be on your must-try Vietnamese dish list. Not for the fainthearted, Bun Oc’s main ingredient is snails or as the French like to call it, escargot. It is a light rice noodle soup dish made with bone broth topped with snails, fresh herbs, fish cakes, and tofu.
Technically not a dish but egg coffee cannot be excluded from a list of must-try Vietnamese dishes. It was Hanoi’s thriving cafe culture that gave rise to one of the most popular drinks in Vietnam. Made from egg yolk, sugar, and condensed milk, this drink is a cup of decadent goodness. You can get it in almost all the cafes in Vietnam and some places even add their own twist like adding nuts, chocolate, and so on.
For dessert, you should try Xoi Xeo, a sweet-savory sticky rice snack topped with mung beans and fried shallots. The mung bean is specially prepared by steaming, then later pounded and formed into a round ball to add as a topper. This sweet and chewy goodness is a popular breakfast street food and you’ll find it everywhere in Vietnam.
Another dessert to end the list of must-try Vietnamese food. Che is a sweet pudding usually made using sticky rice, jelly, tapioca, fruits, beans, and topped with coconut cream. It is a popular street snack and is served either hot or cold depending on your preference.
It's time to get a taste of authentic Vietnamese food in Vietnam. Get your Vietnam visa online with BDATrip and enjoy some of the best food you’ll ever have.
Embark on a vibrant culinary adventure through Vietnam, where bustling street food stalls serve up a symphony of flavors. From the fragrant bowls of Pho to the crispy Banh Xeo, Vietnam's street food scene promises an unforgettable tasting journey.
