After having travelled to many countries in Southeast Asia, Vietnamese cuisine remains one of my favorite cuisines. It’s a refreshing, varied cuisine, which is in no way similar to that of its neighboring countries.
If you are preparing a trip to Vietnam, don’t miss to taste these 5 dishes! These are only the most popular dishes. You will find variations of each of these dishes in the different regions and cities of Vietnam. If you travel between the North and the South, you will certainly notice a big difference between the two: from my experience, the further south you go, the more variety you will find in the choice of herbs.
- Pho
- Banh Mi
- Ca Phe
- Bun Bo Nam Bo
- Banh Xeo
1. Pho
Pho is the dish par excellence of Vietnamese cuisine. It simply consists of a large broth of chicken or beef, rice noodles, meat and aromatic herbs such as Thai basil, mint or coriander that is added at the last moment in the soup. There are two very popular versions: Pho Ga (chicken) and Pho Bo (beef).
The name Pho comes from the name of the rice noodles found in the soup and does not refer to the soup itself.
In Vietnam, Pho is mainly eaten in the morning or at lunchtime. Most street kitchens that offer Pho are unfortunately closed after 2pm.
Adresses :
Ho Chi Minh :
Pho Hung, 243 Đ. Nguyễn Trãi, Phường Nguyễn Cư Trinh, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Hanoi :
Pho 10, 10 Lý Quốc Sư, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
2. Banh Mi
The Banh Mi is a sandwich made from a small baguette. It is usually topped with meat and herbs such as coriander, mint or Thai basil.
The baguette, the main component of the Banh Mi, was introduced to Vietnam by French settlers, as was the pâté, which has remained one of the most popular fillings. Thus, the Banh Mi pâté is the most common version of this sandwich.
In Vietnam, Banh Mi stands can be found on
almost every street corner. Because of its shape, Banh Mi is easy to carry around and is for many Vietnamese a perfect snack for eating on the go.
Adresses :
Hanoi :
Banh Mi 25, 25 Hàng Cá, P, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Hoi An :
Madam Khanh – The Banh Mi Queen, 115 Trần Cao Vân, Phường Minh An, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam
Bánh Mì Phượng, 2b Phan Chu Trinh, Cẩm Châu, Hội An, Quảng Nam 560000, Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh :
BANH MI HUYNH HOA, 26 Lê Thị Riêng, P.BT, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
3. Ca Phe
Be careful when ordering coffee in Vietnam!
Although coffee is a part of Vietnamese culture, Vietnamese Ca Phe is extremely concentrated. And, unless you are used to very strong coffee, it is drunk with sweetened condensed milk. In the end, it is almost a dessert!
Ca Phe is often served with a glass of tea. Nothing better to fill up on caffeine before starting a day of sightseeing!
It can be drunk hot or iced. Personally, I
prefer to drink it iced!
4. Bun Bo Nam Bo
Bun Bo Nam Bo is a salad based on rice pasta and beef. It is accompanied by soy sprouts, finely chopped carrots,
aromatic herbs and a sauce based on fish sauce or Nuoc Mam.
Adresses :
Hanoi :
Bun Bo Nam Bo, 67 Hang Dieu, Hanoi 10000 Vietnam
5. Banh Xeo
The Banh Xeo is a pancake made from rice flour and turmeric. The Banh Xeo is usually garnished with shrimps, sprouts and soy and sometimes meat. It is accompanied by aromatic herbs such as coriander, mint and Thai basil and salad leaves that are rolled into the pancake.
Adresse :
Ho Chi Minh :
Banh Xeo 46A, 46A Đinh Công Tráng, Tân Định, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam