WHAT TO EAT IN VIETNAM?

1. PHỞ

When it comes to Vietnamese food, Pho is probably the name that people always think of first. Pho is made from rice noodles, broth, beef or chicken, and other spices. There’s vegetarian Pho as well.

2. BÁNH MÌ

The distinctive and delicious taste of Banh mi is from the crispy bread crust and the variety of flavors and filling.

The filling varies from an omelet, roasted pork, or chicken to fish balls. Banh mi is usually added with cucumber slices, white radish, pickled carrots, cilantro, coriander, and spicy chili.

Banh mi is known as one of the best Vietnamese street food.

3. HỦ TIẾU

A bowl of Hu Tieu usually includes broth, shrimp, pork, minced meat, noodles, and served with lettuce, chives, and fresh herbs.

Besides pork and shrimp, diners can enjoy Hu Tieu with other ingredients such as crab, squid, etc.

4. GỎI CUỐN

Spring roll with meat and shrimp is one of the most common versions of Goi Cuon

The dish consists simply of a slice of boiled pork belly, shrimp, vermicelli, a lettuce leaf, and chives wrapped carefully in rice paper.

5. BỘT CHIÊN

Made from rice flour, Bot Chien is a fried rice cake topped with eggs and scallion. Bột chiên attracts food lovers with the golden crispy fried cake outer but still soft inside.

6. CƠM TẤM (BROKEN RICE)

Com tam is the rice dish cooked from broken rice named Tấm.

Grilled ribs, eggs, and pigskin are served together with the rice. The ribs are spiced with a rich flavor, providing an aromatic taste, with a crispy outer layer but soft and juicy inside.

The rice dish is topped with geese onion, cucumber and tomatoes slices, and pickles made from carrots and radishes. Like other dishes, Com tam must be served with sweet and spicy fish sauce.

7. BÁNH CANH

Banh Canh is a simple but delicious dish, including thick noodles, tasty broth made from bones or seafood, and other ingredients such as boneless fish, fish balls, pork rolls, shrimp, or meat.

The thick noodles are made mainly from rice flour, tapioca flour, or the mixture between both.

8. MÌ QUẢNG

Mi Quang (Quang noodles) is a tasty noodle dish from Da Nang – Quang Nam region. Quang noodle is usually made from finely grated rice flour and thinly sliced approximately 2 mm thick.

Under the noodles are raw vegetables, and on the top of the noodles are lean pork, shrimp, and broth stewed from the bones.

9. BÚN BÒ HUẾ

Bun Bo Hue, or bun bo, is a delicious Vietnamese soup that originated from Hue.

The soup is also exceptional.

You can taste spicy, sour, salty, and sweet all at once. Along with the beef noodle bowl, you can find a plate of vegetables, including bean sprouts, basil leaves, sliced banana flowers, lemon, and chili slices.

The dish is colorful with the green of vegetables, the red of chili, the yellow of crab, and the white of noodles.

10. BÚN RIÊU

Bun Rieu is a typical Vietnamese noodle dish with crab base soup and tomatoes.

The main ingredient of Bún riêu cua is the minced crab, tomatoes, and fried tofu. Some places also offer pork leg or pork as an additional ingredient for your soup.

11. BÁNH XÈO

Banh xeo is a Vietnamese version of the crispy pancake

The word “xeo” represents the sizzling sound when pouring the mixture into the hot skillet. The yellow color of Banh Xeo outer layer comes from the turmeric powder in the rice powder mixture.

The best way to enjoy Banh xeo is to eat with your hands. You should wrap Banh xeo with Banh Trang (rice paper) and vegetables, then dip it in Nuoc mam (fish sauce).

12. BÁNH BÈO

Banh Beo, or water fern cakes, is a special dish from Hue. Wandering around Hue, you can find women strolling with lightweight bundles serving Banh Beo.

Made from a combination of rice flour and tapioca flour, this dish is topped with green bean paste and minced shrimp.

Its deliciousness comes from minced shrimp filling and the special sauce. The fish sauce is rich in taste as it’s mixed with sugar, garlic, chili, and cooked fresh shrimp.

Source: Expatolife