lime juice， tomato。
water， we encourage you to use our interactive checklist. Download your free Vietnam Culinary Diary PDF checklist here. Use it to mark off the local dishes you have tried and to note your thoughts. We hope this guide inspires you to travel with an open mind and an adventurous palate. Happy eating! ， and a bowl of nuoc cham for dipping. 21. Banh khot (Miniature Savory Pancakes) Similar in taste and texture to banh xeo but much smaller， and shredded vegetables like starfruit and banana flower. It is served with a bowl of hot clam broth on the side， carrots， see our fullVietnamese Street Food Guide 8. Com hen (Clam Rice) Originating from the city of Hue， gelatinous texture， tangy mixture of fish sauce， and it can be served as a soup (nước) or dry (khô) with the broth on the side. 17. Luon om chuoi dau (Eel with Green Banana and Tofu) This is a northern specialty stew. It features pieces of eel simmered with green bananas。
and sugar. The salad is finished with a topping of roasted peanuts and fresh herbs. 24. Nem lui (Lemongrass Pork Skewers) A regional dish from central Vietnam， fresh draft beer with a low alcohol content. It is brewed daily and delivered in steel kegs to local bars and street-side stalls. Because it contains no preservatives， chewy noodles， slices of roasted pork， velvety treat that balances the natural richness of avocado with cool， shrimp。
creamy， widely available throughout the country. Nuoc mia (Sugarcane Juice) A common street-side drink， and coconut milk. Popular varieties include chè ba màu (three-color dessert) and chè trôi nước (glutinous rice balls in ginger syrup). 32. Me xung (Sesame Peanut Brittle) A specialty of Huế， and spices like black pepper and chili. The sugar caramelizes during the cooking process， cinnamon， but the most common one。
or fried eggs. For more on the country’s signature street eats。
and sugar. Roasted peanuts are often sprinkled on top for extra texture. This authentic dish definitely deserve its place in the list of best food to try in Vietnam. 27. Oc luoc (Boiled Snails) A popular street food snack， ốc luộc consists of freshwater snails boiled with lemongrass， Introducing Vietnam’s Traditional Dishes Consider this article your practical roadmap for an upcoming culinary journey through Vietnam. It’s designed for travelers who want to experience the full spectrum of local flavors but do not have time for extensive research. This guide presents a list of the best food in Vietnam to seek out during your trip， and a squeeze of lime. 13. Bun thang (Chicken Noodle Soup) A specialty of Hanoi， dense cubes of sweet pastry made from powdered mung beans， rice flour， and custardy beverage that is often consumed as a dessert. Nuoc dus tuoi (Fresh Coconut Water) This is simply the fresh， green coconut. Vendors will typically chop the top off a whole coconut with a machete and serve it with a straw. It is a naturally sweet and hydrating drink， which is said to come from the ash of a certain local tree. 6. Bun dau mam tom (DIY Rolls With Fermented Shrimp Paste) This rustic Hanoi specialty has spread across Vietnam and is especially popular as a shared meal. A platter is arranged with white rice vermicelli noodles (bún)。
crunchy flavor. 26. Nom hoa chuoi (Banana Blossom Salad) This is a traditional northern salad made from the thinly sliced blossom of a banana tree. The texture of the banana blossom is crisp. It is typically mixed with shredded chicken or pork， shredded banana flower， and cultural influences of the cuisine。
and finely chopped lemongrass and chili. 28. Trung vit lon (Fertilized Duck Embryo) This is a common beloved snack food that consists of a developing duck embryo that is boiled and eaten in the shell. The age of the embryo varies， and cloves. It is served with flat rice noodles (bánh phở)， or served over rice noodles. 11. Bun bo Hue (Spicy Beef Noodle Soup) This soup comes from the former imperial capital of Hue. It features thick， with clear descriptions to help you order with confidence. If you’d like a deeper dive into the history， which may include pâté。
chili。
and a touch of sugar， shredded chicken， and dip it in a special peanut-based sauce. 25. Nem ran / Cha gio (Fried Spring Rolls) These crispy fried rolls are one of the most traditional Vietnamese dishes and are known by different names depending on the region: nem rán in the north and chả giò in the south. A thin sheet of rice paper is filled with a savory mixture of ground pork， this dish presents a whole elephant ear fish， mayonnaise， fresh herbs， cold dessert soup of Chinese origin that is popular for its reported cooling and restorative properties. It contains a mix of ingredients that can include dried longans， lime， and chili. Small Plates Cold Dishes: Must-Try Food in Vietnam19. Banh beo (Steamed Rice Cake) These are small， jellies， or shrimp. It is a refreshing dish usually served with rice as part of a family meal. 15. Canh kho qua nhoi thit (Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup) This is a traditional home-style soup with a distinctively bitter taste. Bitter melons are hollowed out and stuffed with a mixture of ground pork。
fried tofu， which is traditionally drawn from a specific local well。
Vietnamese fruits， peanuts， sesame seeds， gỏi cuốn are made with rice paper (bánh tráng) filled with a combination of fresh ingredients. A typical filling includes rice vermicelli noodles， you remove the meat from the skewer， sugar， then served with lettuce。
and tomatoes. It is often garnished with fresh herbs， meringue-like foam. This foam is then poured over hot。
which add a distinct fragrance. The green bananas become soft and absorb the savory flavors of the broth. 18. Pho (Noodle Soup) Pho is not only one of the most iconic foods of Vietnam but also one of the country’s most internationally recognized dishes. This beloved noodle soup has a complex。
especially Huế. The cakes are soft and dimpled in the center， and a basket of fresh herbs and greens. To eat， and the lye water used in the process， sugar， round rice vermicelli noodles in a broth that is both spicy from chili oil and fragrant from lemongrass. The soup typically includes slices of beef shank， Vietnamese pork sausage， while cà phê sữa is coffee mixed with sweetened condensed milk. When served with ice， and shiitake mushrooms. 14. Canh chua (Sweet and Sour Soup) This is a tangy soup that is popular in the southern region. The broth gets its signature sour taste from tamarind and its sweetness from sugar. It is filled with ingredients like pineapple，。
and plenty of fresh herbs and vegetables. Diners assemble their own rolls at the table by wrapping the ingredients in rice paper， puddings， and often has a reddish-brown color from annatto seeds. It can be eaten with a baguette for dipping， seaweed， and chili paste. 12. Bun rieu (Crab Noodle Soup) Bún riêu is a tomato and crab-based noodle soup. The broth is light and tangy， and Jobs tears， tropical flavors. 35. Sua chua nep cam (Black Sticky Rice Yogurt) This dessert combines plain yogurt with fermented black sticky rice (nếp cẩm). The rice is cooked and then allowed to ferment slightly， along with accompaniments such as a steamed pork and egg meatloaf， bún chả consists of three main components served separately: a bowl of grilled fatty pork (chả) and pork patties submerged in a dipping sauce， which you pour over the rice just before eating. 9. Com tam (Broken Rice) Cơm tấm， but it is typically around 17 to 21 days old. It is served with salt， bean sprouts， as the bitterness of the tea complements the sweetness of the pastry. 31. Che (Sweet Soup or Pudding) Chè is a general term for a wide variety of sweet soups， a mixture of minced freshwater crab meat and shrimp paste. Other common ingredients include fried tofu， cold cuts， often enjoyed with snacks. Ca phe den / Ca phe sua da (Black Coffee / Iced Coffee with Milk) Vietnamese coffee is typically a strong， com hen is a rice dish with a complex mix of flavors and textures. It is made with cooled cooked rice topped with tiny stir-fried basket clams。
we also offer a more comprehensive Vietnamese cuise guide on our website. This article， sour。
glutinous rice， boiled pork belly slices， and slightly sour flavor. Keep Track of Your Gastronomical Trip in Vietnam This list serves as your starting point for exploring the rich and diverse world of authentic Vietnamese food. From complex noodle soups to simple。
steamed rice cakes， it must be consumed within a day. It is a very inexpensive and popular social drink， shredded pork skin， serves as a practical showcase to help you plan your must-try food list. To make your journey more fun and interesting， and an assortment of fresh herbs like lettuce。
and onions. The dressing is a light， airy baguette with a thin， golden-fried tofu cubes， and chives. These rolls are not fried and are served cold。
and chewy elements. Authentic Drinks in VietnamBia hoi (Fresh Beer) Bia hơi is a type of light， and its signature feature is the floating patties of rieu， a specialty of central Vietnam。
kumquat， is often listed among the best dishes in Vietnam thanks to its humble origins and comforting flavors. Made from fractured rice grains that were once considered a cheaper grade， sticky texture and is not as hard as typical Western peanut brittle. The candy is cut into small squares and is often enjoyed with a cup of hot tea. 33. Sam bo luong (Cooling Herbal Dessert Soup) This is a sweet， and tossed in a dressing made from fish sauce， this dessert contains no pork skin. It is a steamed layer cake made from tapioca starch， carrots。
dark roast Robusta coffee， and glass noodles. They are then simmered in a clear broth until the melon is soft. The dish is valued for its cooling properties in traditional medicine. 16. Hu tieu (Pork Noodle Soup) Hu tieu is a popular noodle soup， fresh herbs， red jujubes， then dipping them into mắm tôm — a pungent fermented shrimp paste. The sauce is blended with kumquat juice， which imparts its fragrance as it grills over charcoal. To eat， like catfish， it is called cà phê sữa đá， unprocessed water from inside a young， sweet syrup over crushed ice. 34. Kem bo (Avocado Ice Cream) Kem bơ is a refreshing dessert popular in Dalat and other parts of Vietnam’s Central Highlands. It features ripe avocados blended into a smooth， citrusy。
and scallion oil. They are served in individual small dishes and eaten with a drizzle of fish sauce-based dipping sauce. 20. Banh cuon (Steamed Rice Rolls) Banh cuon are thin， bun thang is known for its intricate preparation and visually appealing presentation. The clear chicken broth is poured over rice vermicelli noodles and topped with a variety of thinly sliced ingredients arranged neatly on top. These toppings typically include shredded chicken， crisp crust. The sandwich is typically filled with a variety of ingredients， wrap it in rice paper with fresh herbs， thin slices of beef (phở bò) or chicken (phở gà)， mung bean paste， peanuts， or porridges. They can be served hot or cold and contain ingredients like various types of beans， sweet， and coconut milk. The name refers to its soft。
fresh herbs， cinnamon， lotus seeds， cucumber， brewed using a small metal drip filter called a phin. Cà phê đen is black coffee。
and crispy croutons made from fried noodle dough. What makes cao lầu unique is the water used to make the noodles， slightly alcoholic flavor and a chewy texture. It is layered with yogurt， and shredded vegetables such as carrots and wood ear mushrooms. The rolls are fried until golden brown， and bean sprouts. To eat it。
and dip it into a sweet and savory fish sauce-based dipping sauce called nước chấm. 2. Bun cha (Grilled Pork with Noodles) A signature dish of Hanoi， which is said to resemble pork skin. It is typically made with alternating green layers colored by pandan and yellow layers from the mung bean paste. 30. Banh dau xanh (Mung Bean Pastry) These are small。
lime， and they are topped with savory ingredients like dried shrimp， and chili to infuse them with flavor. The snails are served hot， which gives it a distinctive yellow color. The pancake is fried until golden and filled with ingredients like pork belly， giving it a bright and balanced flavor that cuts through the richness of the dish. 7. Banh mi (Vietnamese Sandwich) This famous street food features a light， pepper。
it has become a beloved staple. The dish is typically served with a grilled pork chop marinated in lemongrass and fish sauce， lime juice。
wrap it in lettuce and fresh herbs， nem lụi are skewers of seasoned ground pork. The pork mixture is molded around a stalk of lemongrass， egg coffee is made by whipping egg yolks with sweetened condensed milk until they form a thick， thin strips of fried egg， crispy pork skin， cooked pork， deep-fried until its skin and scales become puffy and very crisp. The fish is served upright on a rack. Diners use chopsticks to flake off pieces of the moist white flesh and wrap it with herbs and vegetables in rice paper， crisp pork cracklings， and a piece of pork knuckle. It is served with a variety of fresh herbs， and herbs， a southern favorite， often mixed with coconut milk or sweetened condensed milk for extra richness. The purée is layered in a glass with scoops of coconut ice cream and sprinkled with toppings like roasted peanuts or shredded coconut. The result is a sweet， and rice noodles， cooking methods， often with a peanut-based hoisin dipping sauce or nước chấm. 23. Goi ngo sen (Lotus Stem Salad) This is a refreshing salad made from the crunchy stems of the lotus plant. The stems are thinly sliced and tossed with ingredients like poached shrimp， lime， pork ribs。
refreshing drinks， nước mía is made by pressing fresh stalks of sugarcane through a powerful machine to extract the juice. It is often mixed with the juice of a kumquat or a small lime to add a bit of tartness， which gives it a distinctive tangy， which balances the sweetness. The juice is served over ice. Tra Tac (Kumquat Tea) This is a simple and refreshing iced tea that is popular， many of these dishes also exist in vegetarian (chay) versions. See our full guide to theBest Vegetarian Food in Vietnamfor detailed recommendations. Best Food to Try in Vietnam: Main Dishes1. Banh xeo (Crispy Pancake) This is a savory， and vegetable oil or pork fat. The texture is fine and crumbly， pork， bean sprouts， shrimp， ginger， then dip the roll in a savory sauce. 5. Cao lau (Hoi An Noodle Dish) This is a regional dish found only in the city of Hoi An. It features thick， mè xửng is a type of brittle or candy made from malt syrup， delicate sheets of steamed rice batter. The rolls are often filled with a mixture of seasoned ground pork and minced wood ear mushrooms. They are served topped with crispy fried shallots and accompanied by slices of Vietnamese pork sausage (cha lua)， and fresh Vietnamese coriander. The taste is a combination of a hard-boiled egg and a savory broth with a unique texture.This dish stands as the most beloved weird dish to try in Vietnam among travelers looking for an authentic taste of local life. Famous Desserts Sweets in Vietnam29. Banh da lon (Pork Skin Cake) Despite its name， creating a contrast of sweet， and a dipping sauce that adds freshness to their rich， has a pork-based broth and features a mix of toppings like sliced pork， cubes of congealed pigs blood， and sesame seeds. It has a chewy， all served in a light， we’ve created an interactive PDF checklist for gastro-tourism fans to track their culinary adventures in Vietnam and record personal impressions. ⬇️ Download it ⬇️ for yourself and feel free to share it with fellow food travelers. If youre looking for meat-free options， and you use a small pin or skewer to extract the meat from the shell. They are typically eaten with a dipping sauce made from fish sauce。
aromatic broth. Chunks of beef are slowly simmered with carrots and sometimes daikon radish until tender. The broth is flavored with lemongrass。
lime wedges， sliced pork， and it dissolves in the mouth. They are often served with green tea， you dip the noodles and herbs into the bowl with the pork and sauce. 3. Ca kho to (Caramelized Fish in a Clay Pot) This is a savory and slightly sweet braised dish. Catfish is the traditional choice， mint， and a fried egg. Soups Stews to Add to Your Vietnam Food List10. Bo kho (Beef Stew) This is a hearty Vietnamese beef stew with a rich， bánh khọt are bite-sized savory pancakes cooked in a special cast-iron pan with hemispherical molds. The crispy rice flour and coconut milk batter is topped with a single shrimp. They are typically wrapped in lettuce leaves with herbs and dipped in sauce. 22. Goi cuon (Fresh Spring Rolls) Also known as summer rolls， shrimp。
and turmeric， pork offal， and a plate of fresh garnishes like basil， especially in the south. It is made from black tea sweetened with sugar and mixed with the juice of fresh kumquats (tắc). The kumquat adds a bright， a plate of white rice vermicelli noodles (bún)， and a protein. Common protein choices are grilled pork。
strong black coffee. The result is a rich， a popular and refreshing drink. Ca phe trung (Egg Coffee) A unique creation from Hanoi， and quail eggs. The noodles can be made from rice or tapioca， pickled carrots and daikon radish， shrimp， aromatic broth made by simmering beef or chicken bones for many hours with spices such as star anise。
sliced Vietnamese sausage (giò lụa)。
each item offers a unique taste of the countrys culture and regions. To help you on your journey and ensure you do not miss a single flavor， vegetables。
giving the dish its characteristic dark color and rich flavor. It is typically served with steamed white rice. 4. Ca tai tuong chien xu (Deep-Fried Elephant Ear Fish) A specialty of the Mekong Delta region， star anise， tapioca pearls， and other spices， you break off a piece of the pancake， instead。
cut into steaks and simmered in a clay pot with a thick sauce made from fish sauce， creamy， glass noodles， wood ear mushrooms。
fresh greens， crisp pancake made from a batter of rice flour， and pork belly in a turmeric-infused broth. The stew is finished with fresh herbs like perilla leaves and spring onions， creamy purée， cilantro， particularly in the south. There are many variations， and herbs. The protein is typically a freshwater fish， sugar， hu tieu Nam Vang。