VietnamWhat to eat in Vietnam: top 10 dishes
Traveling to Vietnam? These are the ten dishes it is best known for, from everyday staples to festive classics, with a short background and a tip on where and when to eat each one. Ranked by how widely they are known around the world.
01Pho
Pho (Vietnamese: phở [fɤ˧˩˧] ) is a Vietnamese soup dish consisting of broth, rice noodles (bánh phở), herbs, and meat – usually beef (phở bò), and sometimes chicken (phở gà).
Travel tip Eaten at any time of day, especially for breakfast, at street stalls and specialist shops. Add the herbs, lime and chili to your taste, but taste the broth first.
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02Bánh mì
Bánh mì is a renowned Vietnamese staple food. It is a short baguette with thin, crisp crust and a soft, airy texture, usually made with mixed rice flour and wheat flour.
Travel tip Sold from street carts and small bakeries, popular as a quick breakfast or lunch. Pick your fillings and ask for chili on the side if you prefer less heat.
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03Bánh xèo
Bánh xèo is a crispy, stuffed rice crepe popular in Vietnam. The name refers to the sound (from xèo – 'sizzling') a thin layer of rice batter makes when it is poured into the hot skillet.
Travel tip Served at specialist restaurants, often with a platter of lettuce and herbs. Wrap a piece in a leaf and dip it in the sweet and sour fish sauce.
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04Bun cha
Bún chả is a Vietnamese dish of grilled pork and noodles, which is thought to have originated from Hanoi, Vietnam. Bún chả is served with grilled fatty pork (chả) over a plate of white rice noodles (bún) and herbs with a side dish of dipping sauce.
Travel tip A Hanoi classic usually eaten at lunchtime at small shops that grill pork over charcoal. Add noodles and herbs to the dipping broth bit by bit.
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05Bún bò Huế
Bún bò Huế or bún bò (English: ) is a Vietnamese rice noodle (bún) dish with sliced beef (bò), chả lụa, and sometimes pork knuckles. The dish originates from Huế, a city in central Vietnam associated with the cooking style of the former royal court.
Travel tip A specialty of central Vietnam, served in noodle shops and often eaten for breakfast. It tends to be spicy, so ask for chili on the side if you are unsure.
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06Egg roll
The egg roll is a variety of a deep-fried appetizer served in American Chinese restaurants. It is a cylindrical, savory roll with shredded cabbage, chopped meat, or other fillings inside a thickly wrapped wheat flour skin, which is fried in hot oil.
Travel tip Mostly known as an appetizer at Chinese restaurants in North America rather than a dish of Vietnam. In Vietnam, look for chả giò instead.
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07Chả giò
Chả giò, or nem rán (Vietnamese: [neʲm˧ ʐan˧˥]), also known as fried spring roll, is a popular dish in Vietnamese cuisine and usually served as an appetizer in Europe, North America, and Australia, where there are large communities of the Vietnamese diaspora.
Travel tip Served as a starter or part of a noodle dish at family restaurants and street stalls. Roll it in lettuce with herbs and dip it in fish sauce.
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08Bánh chưng
Bánh chưng, banh chung or chung cake is a traditional Vietnamese dish which is made from glutinous rice, mung beans, pork, and other ingredients.
Travel tip Made for Tet, the Lunar New Year, and shared among family and friends. It is often cut into slices and eaten at home during the holiday.
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10Gỏi cuốn
Gỏi cuốn, nem cuốn, salad roll, summer roll, fresh spring roll, or rice paper roll is a Vietnamese dish traditionally consisting of pork, prawn, vegetables, bún, and other ingredients wrapped in bánh tráng.
Travel tip Served cold as an appetizer or light meal, with a peanut or fish sauce for dipping. Find them at restaurants and street stalls, and eat them fresh.
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