Vietnamese food is renowned for its exquisite balance of flavors, freshness, and nutritional benefits. It combines fragrant herbs, delicate broths, and a harmonious mix of savory, sweet, sour, and spicy elements. Each dish is unique and will give you a total different vibe. Here are the top 10 dishes which you should try atleast once in your lifetime.
1. Pho (Rice Noodle Soup)
Pho is a very popular dish in Vietnam which you are going to feel just after the landing in vietnam as there you are going to see the poster of Pho in everywhere. Due to its popularity, it has been reached to the different corner of the world also. It is a wholesome dish consist of chicken/beef broth, fresh herbs, and rice noodle and your choice of meat (beef/chicken/ pork).
The freshness of natural herb gives it a very satisfying taste. In early era, this was tha main breakfast menu of farmer who used to go early to the field. It is still popular at morning as the broath is prepared overnight and served freshly at morning. Pho has its different version according to the area like at northern side Pho is served with the breadstick whereas the breadstick usually not served at southern side but they provide other side dishes. However, it is cheap and full of nutrition!
2.Cơm tấm (Broken Rice)
One of the most recognizable signs you will see around the bustling city of Saigon is for ‘Cơm tấm.’ These signs are a common sight on street food carts and local restaurants throughout the city. Cơm tấm, or broken rice, has its roots in the Mekong Delta and was traditionally considered a food of the poor.
Broken rice grains, which were seen as inferior to whole grains due to poor handling during the farming process, were not sold but instead consumed by farmers to avoid wasting a valuable commodity. In its early days, the dish was simply cooked broken rice. However, as Vietnam has developed, so has Cơm tấm. Today, it includes various proteins such as grilled pork and Chả Trứng Hấp, a minced pork and mushroom meatloaf topped with an omelet
3.Xoi (Glutinous Rice or Sticky Rice)
Xôi is a traditional Vietnamese dish made from glutinous or sticky rice. It’s a versatile and beloved food in Vietnam, enjoyed by people of all ages. Xôi can be found in various forms, often served as a main dish, snack, or even a dessert. There are two types of Xoi.
a. Xôi Mặn (Savory Xôi): This variety is typically topped with savory ingredients such as shredded chicken, pork, sausage, dried shrimp, and boiled quail eggs. Often, it’s garnished with fried shallots and a sprinkle of green onions.
b. Xôi Ngọt (Sweet Xôi): Sweet versions of xôi include ingredients like mung beans, coconut milk, and sugar. Popular variations include xôi lá dứa (pandan-flavored sticky rice) and xôi gấc (sticky rice cooked with baby jackfruit).
4.Bánh cuốn (The Vietnamese Rice Pancake)
Bánh cuốn is a beloved Vietnamese dish consisting of thin, delicate rice flour crepes filled with a savory mixture of ground pork, minced mushrooms, and shallots. Often served with a side of steamed bean sprouts, fresh herbs, and a dipping sauce called nước chấm, bánh cuốn is enjoyed for its light, flavorful, and refreshing qualities.
The crepes are typically topped with fried shallots and cilantro, adding a delightful crunch and aromatic flavor. This dish is a popular breakfast item in Vietnam and showcases the elegance and simplicity of Vietnamese cuisine.
5.Bún thịt nướng (Cold Vermicelli Noodles Topped with Grilled Pork)
Bún thịt nướng is a popular Vietnamese dish featuring cold vermicelli noodles topped with grilled pork. The dish typically includes marinated and grilled pork slices served over a bed of thin rice vermicelli noodles. It is often garnished with fresh herbs like mint, cilantro, and Vietnamese basil, along with shredded lettuce, bean sprouts, cucumber slices, and crushed roasted peanuts.
Bún thịt nướng is commonly dressed with nước chấm, a tangy and slightly sweet fish sauce-based dressing, which adds a depth of flavor to the dish. This refreshing and flavorful meal is enjoyed throughout Vietnam, especially during hot weather, and showcases the balance of textures and tastes that Vietnamese cuisine is known for.
6.Mực Chiên (Fried Calamari)
Mực chiên, or fried squid, is a popular Vietnamese dish known for its crispy texture and savory flavor. Fresh squid is typically coated in a light batter or seasoned with salt, pepper, and other spices before being deep-fried to golden perfection.
The dish is often served with a side of fresh herbs, lettuce, and a dipping sauce such as nước mắm chấm or a tangy lime and salt mixture. Mực chiên is a favorite appetizer or snack, enjoyed for its crunchy exterior and tender, flavorful squid inside, reflecting the delicious and diverse nature of Vietnamese seafood cuisine.
7.Gỏi cuốn (South) / Nem cuốn (North) (Vietnamese Spring Roll)
Gỏi cuốn (in the South) or nem cuốn (in the North) are Vietnamese fresh spring rolls that are both healthy and flavorful. These rolls are made with rice paper (bánh tráng) and typically filled with fresh herbs, vermicelli noodles, lettuce, shrimp, and slices of pork or other proteins.
They are often served with a dipping sauce such as hoisin-peanut sauce or nước chấm, a fish sauce-based dip. Known for their light and refreshing taste, gỏi cuốn/nem cuốn are a popular appetizer or snack that showcases the vibrant and fresh ingredients characteristic of Vietnamese cuisine.
8.Bún bò Huế (Vietnamese Rice Noodle)
Bún bò Huế is a flavorful and aromatic Vietnamese soup originating from the city of Huế in central Vietnam. This dish features a rich and spicy broth made from beef bones, lemongrass, and fermented shrimp paste, with a hint of chili oil. It includes tender slices of beef, pork knuckles, and sometimes pork blood, served over thick, round rice noodles.
Garnished with fresh herbs, lime wedges, bean sprouts, and sliced onions, bún bò Huế offers a perfect balance of spicy, savory, and tangy flavors, making it a beloved and iconic dish in Vietnamese cuisine.
9.Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese Rice Pancake)
Bánh Xèo is a popular Vietnamese dish known for its crispy, savory rice pancake filled with a variety of ingredients. The batter, made from rice flour, turmeric powder, and coconut milk, is poured into a hot skillet to create a thin, golden-yellow pancake.
Typically stuffed with a filling of shrimp, pork slices, diced onions, and bean sprouts, bánh xèo is folded in half and served with fresh herbs like lettuce, mint, and perilla leaves. To enjoy, it’s dipped in a sauce made of fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and chili. This dish is loved for its crunchy texture, fragrant aroma, and the interplay of flavors that highlight the diversity of Vietnamese cuisine.
10.Bánh mì (The Vietnamese Sandwich)
Bánh mì, Vietnam’s iconic sandwich, is a delicious fusion of French and Vietnamese culinary traditions. This sandwich features a crispy, airy baguette filled with a variety of proteins such as Vietnamese pork sausage (chả lụa), grilled pork or chicken, pâté, cold cuts, or fried eggs.
Fresh and pickled vegetables like carrots, daikon, cucumbers, cilantro, and jalapeños add crunch and flavor, while condiments such as mayonnaise, soy sauce, or chili sauce enhance the taste. It is widely available from street food stalls to upscale restaurants.