In the recent years, Vietnamese cuisine has been becoming more and more popular around the world. Some Vietnamese specialities such as pho and banh mi are in the favourite list of many food lovers. Vietnamese food is highly regarded as one of the healthiest cuisines in the world thanks to the ingredients like noodles, rice, fresh vegetable, as well as herbs used in locals’ daily cooking.
Here is a useful guide which introduces you some Vietnamese delicacies, along with where to eat each dish in Vietnam. In addition to that, some information about Vietnamese eating style, Vietnamese food culture, together with Vietnam Food tours will be provided. Hopefully, the below suggestions will not only help you when you plan your trip in Vietnam but also guide you during your dream vacation. Eat Vietnam In Your Way!
When you think about what to eat in Vietnam, there may be a list of food you have read somewhere but Banh Mi can be one of the top lists.
The iconic sandwich ranked as one of the best sandwiches in the world, Banh Mi is a crunchy French-style baguette, stuffed with an incredible combination of pork, pate, butter, pickled vegetables, fresh cilantro, chillies, and sauces. Originated from France in the late 1800’s, this type of Vietnamese sandwich is the perfect option when you are in need of a quick meal.
Originated from the capital city, Hanoi, Bun Cha is grilled pork served with a bowl of a fish sauce-heavy broth, a basket of fresh vegetable and a plate of rice vermicelli noodles. It is the local dish that Barack Obama ate during his night out with the famous chef Anthony Bourdain on his official visit to Vietnam at the end of May 2016. Nowadays, when you visit Vietnam you may visit and eat Bun Cha in the restaurant named Obama Bun Cha Restaurant as it is easy to remember this name compared to the original name of the restaurant where Barack Obama ate.
Note Bun Cha for your lists of things to eat in Vietnam and try it when you have a chance.
If you have been tasting too much of the fried food in Vietnam, try Goi Cuon which is the fresh spring rolls. Goi Cuon comprises thin vermicelli noodles, shrimp, pork slices, and herbs, rolled up in rice paper. Dipping the roll into peanut sauce to make it more flavorful, you try to take a bite and feel the light and fresh taste.
Banh Xeo which is quite similar to a kind of crepe is made of rice flour, turmeric, and coconut milk, stuffed with shrimps, chicken, pork or beef slices, sliced onions, mushrooms, and bean sprouts, served with fresh lettuce or rice papers. To enjoy one like a local, wrap it in lettuce leaves, mustard leaf or rice papers, dip in fermented peanut sauce, and taste it. \
Refers to any Vietnamese sweet soups or pudding, Che can be either hot or cold, depending on the seasons. Also, it can have a wide range of ingredients like red beans, mung beans, fruit and tapioca beads.
There is no doubt to say that Pho is most famous for Vietnam food which most of travellers should try once when you visit Vietnam. Pho is the noodle soup which you can try with beef or chicken. Pho is the noodle soup but that is different from other noodle soup you may know and eat in Vietnam or other countries. Pho consists of Banh Pho or flat noodle and that is different from Bun ( round noodle). To have a good Pho you will need a good broth for Pho which makes the difference among the Pho restaurant. To have the good broth for Pho the beef bone or chicken bones are cooked in the large pot which is mostly bigger than any other broth pots. A few herbs are put inside like cinnamon, cardamom, onion and there are some secret herbs each restaurant put them in to make sure they are different from others. Normally, the secret ingredients and recipes are kept the secret inside the family to make sure they are not copied from others.
Hanoi Beef Pho
Pho is one of the best things to eat in Vietnam. For Vietnamese, Pho is eaten mostly for breakfast or at night time when people do not have much time for cooking at home. Most of the Vietnamese cook for their meals at home so Pho is a good option when they are busy and do not have enough time for cooking.
Pho is mostly not cooked at home because to have a good Pho you need a large pot of bones and you need good ingredients and recipes so Pho should be eaten in the Pho restaurant.
One more good advice for travellers for eating Pho is eating chicken Pho in the Pho Restaurant where they serve chicken only and eating beef Pho in the Pho restaurant where they serve beef only.
There is no doubt, list Pho number 1 for things to eat in Vietnam.
Hanoi Chicken Pho
Vietnamese food is renowned for its diversity and each region is famous for its own dishes. Definitely, you may sample the local specialities throughout the country but also, there is one place in Vietnam you should try one dish rather than the other ones.
For instance, you may venture to Hoi An to savour the stunning Cao Lau or visit Hanoi to eat delicious spring rolls. Banh Xeo in Saigon is the best of the country. It is also advisable to relish a cup of egg coffee in the capital city, Hanoi and taste the world-famous Banh Mi in the ancient town of Hoi An. Hue, the old capital city is renowned for its bun bo Hue and some types of Vietnamese sweet soup - Che.
Like many other countries in Asia, Vietnamese people tend to dine in “family style”. All the dishes are normally put in the middle of the dining table at the same time, each person gets a bowl of rice, then shares with the others the bowls or plates of food.
In Vietnamese daily meals, the dishes consist of rice, a vegetable dish, a meat or seafood dish, Vietnamese – style soup and fermented fish sauce for dipping. Vietnamese use fish sauce not only as a seasoning but also as a dipping sauce. At the dining table, a bowl of fish sauce is well placed in the centre so everyone can reach it.
In addition to that, local dishes are boiled or steamed, other than fried or stir-fried so they are rather fresh and light. Also, Vietnamese people consume more vegetables than meats so it can be said that vegetables are the standard diet in most local households.
Family Meals in Vietnam
Vietnam is very proud of having one of the most diverse and healthy gastronomies in the world. Mentioning about Vietnamese food culture, we can say that Vietnam is a typical wet rice country. In Vietnam, many main dishes and snacks are made from rice such as boiled/ steamed rice, rice porridge, famous Banh Chung (square cake), along with uncountable made-from-rice delicacies from every region. Even the legendary pho is made from rice as well.
Banh Chung (square cake)
Next, it is very clear that fish sauce appears in every meal of Vietnamese. In the centre of the tray or the dining table, there goes a bowl of fish sauce which is used by all the eaters. Nowadays, Vietnam has hundreds kinds of sauce, used for different dishes and different regions and even different seasons.
Boiled Pork with Fish Sauce
Another great culture feature in Vietnamese food is snack paradise of sweet potato, cassava, peanuts, and so much more. If you dare, try to venture to the street vendors on the sidewalks to taste these snacks.
Last but not least, Vietnamese food offers the great diversity. Vietnam is a long country which is divided into 3 parts (North, Central, and South). Each region has got some specialities which should be proud of. Whilst Hanoi offers the most authentic food experience, Hue provides some royal dishes and Ho Chi Minh City boasts about its various street food.
Travel to Vietnam, travellers want not only to visit the most beautiful places of Vietnam but also eat the best and the most popular food in Vietnam. Enjoying the best food is the need for all travellers besides visiting the beauty and learning about the Vietnam culture.
Saigon is one of the top ten cities in the world that is renowned for its street food. Participating in one of Saigon Street Food Tours allows you not only to sample some of the world’s best street food but also to delve into the history, culture, and food of this bustling metropolis. During the tour, the tour guide will take you to the best, authentic small restaurants or street vendors which only locals know to taste the city’s specialities. On the tour, you may ask your guide about the dishes’ ingredients as well as historical backgrounds of Southern food. It is interesting if you pull up a plastic stool to dine on the sidewalks as locals do.
Saigon Street Food Tour comes with two options which are walking tour or motorbike tour. Join in a Saigon Street Food Tour and that can be one of the best Vietnam Food Tour.
Hoi An Cooking Class allows you to learn some famous delicacies of Central Vietnam. It also gives you the chance to visit a local market, as well as explore a tropical vegetable garden which can help to know more about the ingredients used in the locals’ daily cooking. On the class, you will be instructed how to cook Central Vietnam’s typical dishes, along with short food carving session. At the end of the class, you will be sitting down to enjoy the food you made and be handed the recipes of the dishes.
So if you visit Hoi An and you are interested in Vietnam Food do not miss the chance for this best Vietnam food tour place.
Hanoi Cooking Class is quite similar to the cooking session in Hoi An as you will also start the tour by visiting a local market, learn some local dishes, together with receiving the secret recipes of Vietnamese cuisine from the chef.
Each region of Vietnam has got its own specialities. Joining in the cooking classes in different cities gives you the opportunity to learn the popular dishes of each region. It is also what to differentiate a cooking class in Hoi An and one in Hanoi.
Above are 3 best places you may choose one or even 3 of them for your Vietnam Food Tour.
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