Vietnam’s street foods offer more than just a list of typical Vietnamese meals sold on the streets; they also convey the beauty of Vietnamese culture, lifestyle, feelings, and thoughts. Here are some of the best dishes you should not miss on your trip to Vietnam.
Bun Cha – Grilled Pork Noodle Soup
Originating in Hanoi, the birthplace of Vietnamese cuisine, Bun Cha is a local favorite for a light and pleasant lunch. It is a rice vermicelli dish topped with grilled pork belly, meatballs, fresh herbs, and a bowl of sweet-savory fish sauce with pickles. When all the ingredients come together, the meal enchants anybody who tries it for the first time. Even President Barack Obama, who was visiting Vietnam, had to take a few minutes out of his hectic schedule to eat some Bun Cha. Why don’t you?
Pho – Rice Noodle Soup
What list of street foods in Vietnam would be complete without Pho? It is a Vietnamese soup made with broth, rice noodles (bánh phở), herbs, and meat – generally beef, but occasionally chicken, duck, or goose, depending on the customers. The rice noodles used in this dish are not the same as the ones used in Bun Cha; they’re flatter and bigger.
Banh Mi Vietnam
Vietnamese baguette sandwiches, known as Banh Mi, are becoming more and more prevalent along with Pho. The originality of Banh Mi resides not only in the light and crispy baguette but also in the range of Vietnamese Banh Mi tastes to bring out the most extraordinary sensations.
This baguette sandwich with greens and a variety of toppings, including pâté and freshly prepared omelet, is so pleasant that it is replicated all over the world. Chefs keep to the fundamentals of carbohydrates, fat, and protein—bread, margarine, and pate—but in the south, your banh mi may have a more colorful blend of cheese, cold cuts, sausage, fried eggs, pickled vegetables, fresh cilantro, and chili sauce.
Xoi – Sticky Rice
Xoi, a traditional Vietnamese dish, is easily found at street vendors in the morning. In Vietnam, sticky rice is a common breakfast item that provides you with an added boost of energy. The dish initially included only steamed sticky rice colored by turmeric, fried shallots, and some mung bean paste. Nowadays, Xoi consists of diverse types of meat, sausages, and eggs.
Goi Cuon – Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls
Goi Cuon is one of the must-try street foods in Vietnam. This dish contains salad greens, a sliver of meat or seafood, and a layer of coriander. All are neatly rolled in transparent rice paper and dipped in Vietnam’s favorite condiment – fish sauce. Goi Cuon tastes fresh and nutritious, and you can eat as much as you want without gaining weight.
Che (Vietnamese sweet soup)
Vietnamese cuisine is renowned for its far-famed taste, from substantial bowls of Pho to flavorful Banh Mi, and it’s impossible to mention the distinctive dessert recipes. On top of that is a sweet soup called Che—a perfect combination of beans, rice flour, coconut, and cornstarch. There are hundreds of different types of Che waiting for you. Come and enjoy them!
Ca Phe Trung – Egg Coffee
Egg Coffee was invented over a century ago by a barista working at the Metropole Hotel in Hanoi. This coffee, made with an egg yolk, coffee, condensed milk, and cinnamon powder, is more of a dessert than a drink. Egg Coffee is so creamy, sweet, and aromatic that it could be the best drink in Vietnam.
Banh Trang Nuong – Grilled Rice Paper
Banh Trang Nuong (also known as Vietnamese Pizza) is a new creation of street vendors by grilling a piece of rice paper and filling it with eggs, sausage, beef jerky, fried shallot, scallion oil, cheese, chili sauce, and mayonnaise. The dish is so crispy, full of flavor, and rich in all the ingredients that make you addicted to it right after the first bite.
Banh Xeo – Crispy Vietnamese Crepe
Banh Xeo means sizzling cake in English due to the noise it makes when cooking. This pancake consists of crispy crepes bulging with pork, shrimp, bean sprouts, and fresh herbs. To taste Banh Xeo authentically, wrap a piece in a lettuce leaf with some fresh herbs, dip it into a bowl of the sweet-savory fish sauce and take a big bite. It is an ideal snack for a hot summer afternoon.
Com ga Hoi An
Com Ga Hoi An is a distinctive cuisine of the residents of Hoi An, a peaceful ancient town in the heart of Vietnam. The rice is prepared with chicken broth, like other chicken rice in Singapore or Malaysia. However, in some places, Com Ga additionally includes a trace of turmeric in the rice, making it slightly brighter yellow than other chicken rice in the region. Of course, fresh greens and herbs are added on the side, giving the dish a healthy and uniquely Vietnamese flavor. Don’t forget to try it when you visit Vietnam.
These are just ten of the best-rated street foods in Vietnam that you should try when traveling here. If you wander around, you will see something even more fascinating. Let Viland Travel help you plan a wonderful vacation with the most extraordinary culinary experiences in the S-shaped country!
