Vietnam is as varied in its culture and cuisine as in its landscapes and topography. Tuck into stuffed Bahn Mi against the bustling backdrop of Ho Chi Minh City; slurp on steaming bowls of Cao Lau among the vibrant lanterns of Hoi An’s Ancient Town; and master your chopstick skills while sampling Hanoi’s speciality dish of Bun Cha. Flavourful, fresh and filling, Vietnam’s cuisine promises to punctuate your trip with memorable foodie moments and fuel your exploration of this compelling country. If you’re craving a taste of this Southeast Asian nation’s rich culinary customs, read on for our guide to traditional food in Vietnam.
Bahn Mi
One of Vietnam’s most well-known delicacies, bahn mi are baguette-style sandwiches brimming with chả lụa (Vietnamese sausage), coriander, cucumber, pickled daikon, ham, red chilli, mayonnaise and pâté. The fresh and crunchy baguette combines perfectly with these flavour-packed fillings. Introduced to Vietnam by the French in the 19th century, baguettes fast became a staple food throughout the 20th century. Bahn mi are most closely linked with Ho Chi Minh City, where the much-loved street food was first formulated; now found nationwide, many travellers seek out the sandwich as their first taste of the country.
Phở
Often served as the first meal of the day – a far cry from a British full English or French pastry - phở is a brothy noodle soup made with meat, rice noodles, herbs and broth. The most common varieties are beef or chicken, although the steaming soup can easily be customised to include different types of stock or spices. Likely originating in the city of Nam Định in the 20th century, the exact provenance of phở is widely debated, although its popularity has earned it ‘national dish’ status.
Cao Lau
Another brothy noodle dish, cao lau comes from the coastal city of Hoi An. Its name originates from the Chinese character for ‘steamed high’, and true cao lau must be made using water from a local well in the city, along with pork, thick noodles, crispy wonton crackers, broth and herbs. The thick, smoked noodles have a distinctive flavour, while the crackers provide a crunchy contrast to the tender pork slices. Found predominantly in Hoi An, this comforting dish is a must-try during a stay in the atmospheric and lantern-lit city.
Bun Cha
Hanoi’s signature dish, bun cha, offers an original dining experience as you combine your own selection of cold vermicelli noodles, grilled pork meatballs, chopped herbs, leafy vegetables and dipping sauce or broth. Traditionally eaten as a lunchtime dish, dedicated bun cha restaurants are dotted across the northern Vietnamese city. Enjoy it like a local by using your chopsticks to dip the pork into the broth and experimenting with various combinations of the ingredients in each bite.
Bánh Bao
Despite not originating in Vietnam, bánh bao are now a staple snack sold by street food vendors and corner shops across the country, placing them firmly on our list of traditional food in Vietnam. The steamed buns are stuffed with a variety of fillings, and some of the best include pork, chicken, Chinese sausage or hard-boiled eggs. Introduced to Vietnam by Chinese immigrants, the ball-shaped buns are based on the Cantonese tai pao or da bao.
Ca Phe Trung
Although technically not a traditional food in Vietnam, ca phe trung (or ‘egg coffee’) is an integral part of the country’s culinary tradition (and arguably does resemble more of a dessert than a drink). Made with fluffy beaten egg yolks, sweet condensed milk and coffee, the sugary drink is bound to give you a boost for a busy day of exploring Vietnam’s dynamic cities.
Written by Luisa Watts
