Vietnam Traditional Food – Journey To Vietnamese Cuisine

When it comes to exploring the rich tapestry of Asian cuisine, Vietnam stands out as a treasure trove of flavors, aromas, and culinary traditions. From fragrant herbs to mouthwatering street food, Vietnam’s traditional food scene is a vibrant reflection of its history, culture, and geography.

In this article, we’ll take you on a delectable journey through the fascinating world of Vietnam’s traditional cuisine.

Top 15 Most Famous Food In Vietnam

1. Talk about traditional food in vietnam

Vietnam is a country known for its rich culinary heritage, offering a wide variety of flavors and ingredients. Traditional Vietnamese cuisine is characterized by fresh ingredients, balanced flavors, and vibrant colors. Vietnamese cuisine is a reflection of the country’s cultural and historical diversity. From fragrant soups to delicious herbs and spices, every bite of Vietnamese food tells a story. It is an experience that truly immerses you in the flavors and traditions of this charming country.

2. Top 15 popular foods in vietnam

2.1 Pho – The Iconic Vietnamese Dish

Talking about traditional food in Vietnam, we must mention rice noodle soup with beef, which is a famous dish in Hanoi. It has two main ingredients: noodle soup and broth and is made from plain rice flour, thinly rolled, and cut into fibers. Fragrant broth from grilled ginger, cinnamon, anise, and cardamom combined with sweetness from simmered pork bones, thinly sliced beef in a bowl of pho and herbs.  Rice noodle soup with beef is our culinary value, our proud culinary feature. Anyone who comes to Hanoi wants to enjoy a hot bowl of rice noodle soup with beef

2.2 Banh Mi – Fusion of French and Vietnamese Flavors

Banh mi is a Vietnamese dish, with the outer layer being a loaf of toast with crispy skin, soft intestines, and a filling inside. The main ingredients for making bread are animal meat processed into sausages, sausages, shumai, roasted pork, liver pate, minced meat stewed with spices, sausages, and so on. There are also eggs, sardines, and sardines. shredded chicken, onion fat, cold meat, butter, v.v. It can be seen that bread is also an easy-to-carry and convenient food to enjoy on the go. Vietnamese bread has been and continues to be recognized by the world, as a harmonious combination between the quintessence of national cuisine with world cuisine, and the pride of the whole country.

2.3 Goi Cuon – Fresh Spring Rolls Bursting with Freshness

In recent years, Vietnamese cuisine has quickly been affirmed to have a worthy position in the rich culinary cultural treasures of mankind. Spring rolls is a dish that tourists love and want to explore. Spring rolls  originating from Southern Vietnam include ingredients such as lettuce, basil, perilla, dried shrimp, herbs, boiled meat, and fresh shrimp, all rolled in a rice paper shell. The most popular salad roll dipping sauce is still pureed soy sauce mixed with garlic, chili, a little sugar, salt, and monosodium glutamate to taste, adding crushed roasted peanuts to make them crispy and fatty. This dish helps the body light and is easy to digest. If you have the opportunity, you can come to Vietnam to enjoy delicious Vietnamese dishes, especially spring rolls.

2.4 Hue beef noodle soup (Bun Bo Hue)

Hue beef noodle soup is a specialty of Hue cuisine and is also a famous food in Vietnam. The special flavor of this dish is mainly in the pungent taste and the characteristic lemongrass smell of the broth. It is an unmistakable Hue flavor and that is what makes people remember this dish forever. A bowl of Hue beef noodle soup will include noodles, beef, pork blood, crab cakes, and broth.

The raw material for making vermicelli is rice flour mixed with filtered flour in a standard ratio so that the noodles have moderate toughness. The selected beef is the front calf, encrusted with bright red beef or corn, and light yellow beef fat. Eye-catching yellow-orange crab cakes are made from bricks and pureed crab meat with a natural fatty and fleshy taste. The “soul” of Hue beef noodle soup is the broth. The broth is simmered from beef bones, so it has a rich sweet taste.

In addition, people also add a little fish sauce and lemongrass to the broth to create an attractive aroma. Hue beef noodle soup is not only a specialty of the dreamy Hue country, but also one of the dishes representing Vietnamese cuisine in the eyes of international friends. Come to Hue now to discover famous tourist destinations and enjoy a bowl of hot beef noodle soup, full of Hue’s love!

2.5 Bun Cha – Savoring Grilled Pork Noodles

Kebab rice noodles Hanoi is a traditional dish and specialty of the Hanoi capital, Vietnam. This dish consists of two main ingredients: vermicelli and spring rolls. Kebab rice noodles Hanoi is famous, especially thanks to its cooking method. Meat rolls are made from wild pork and grilled over charcoal to create a unique flavor. The meat is usually soft and attractive. After grilling, the meat is usually cut into small slices. This dish is often served in street restaurants.

When eating, people often add some raw vegetables such as lettuce, herbs, perilla leaves, and rock sugar to increase the feeling of interest and flavor. Spicy and sour fish sauce is specially spiced for this dish. It has been rated as one of the culinary icons of Vietnam, attracting a lot of tourists and locals. With its unique taste, long-standing reputation and has become an indispensable part of Vietnamese cuisine.

2.6 Cao Lau – Hoi An’s Unique Noodle Delicacy

Cao Lau is a famous dish of Hoi An city, Vietnam. This dish is made from yellow noodles, especially made from rice flour with a rich taste. Cao Lau is usually made with pork, shrimp, squid, and raw vegetables. The Banh Canh balls are thinly sliced and placed on a plate, mixed with the characteristic brown water from fish sauce and pork bones.

The dish is often garnished with raw vegetables such as laksa leaves, onions, and bean sprouts. Besides, the Cao Lau dish also has smoked pork, burnt shrimp, and deep-fried squid to create a special flavor. Cao Lau has a rich, attractive flavor and is an important part of Hoi An cuisine. This dish is often served with fish sauce, soy sauce, or chili salt to add flavor. Cao Lau is a traditional and very unique dish of Vietnam.

2.7 Broken rice (Com Tam)

Broken rice is a traditional Vietnamese dish made from broken rice and other ingredients such as meat, eggs, tofu, raw vegetables, and spices. This dish is rich in flavor, varied, and nutritious. Broken rice is often served with many dishes such as chicken, egg and many sauses like sweet, sour, and salty fish sauce and a little garlic to add flavor. Vietnamese broken rice is a popular dish, often enjoyed for lunch or dinner at eateries, restaurants, or at home.

2.8 Quang Noodle (My Quang)

My Quang is a traditional dish specializing in Central Vietnam. This dish is mainly made from chopped noodles, pork, shrimp, eggs, pork rolls, and raw vegetables. Noodles are cooked with broth from pork bones, creating a rich flavor. Quang noodles also added spices such as salt, pepper, sugar, fish sauce, and chili sauce to create a unique and strange taste. This dish has a variety of colors with ingredients such as raw vegetables, chili colors, eggs, and pork rolls creating a very beautiful image. It has become a famous specialty, loved and sought after by Vietnamese people and foreign tourists when coming to Central Vietnam.

2.9 Vermicelli with grilled pork (Bun Thit Nuong)

Vermicelli with grilled pork is a typical Vietnamese dish, mixed with ingredients as diverse as vermicelli, grilled meat, raw vegetables, spices, and sauces. Grilled meat vermicelli often has a delicious, attractive, and diverse flavor with layers of spices blended such as fish sauce, sugar, garlic, chili, pepper… Barbecue is made from pork, beef, and chicken. or lean meat and grilled to golden brown on both sides. This dish is often enjoyed with raw vegetables such as raw vegetables, lettuce, tomatoes, and peppers. Vermicelli with grilled pork is a popular and very popular dish in Vietnamese cuisine.

2.10 Sweet soup (Che)

Vietnamese sweet soup is a famous street dessert in Vietnam. The sweet soup dish originated from this sunny and windy land with many varieties of tea such as green bean, lotus , corn, jelly , pomegranate seed, and mixed … all of that made from natural ingredients. Natural ingredients such as green beans, glutinous rice, coconut milk, some fruits, and added sugar create a sweet taste. Vietnamese sweet soup has a variety of colors, and different flavors and is often enjoyed during the holidays, or simply to enjoy on hot days. It is not only delicious but also imbued with the culture and traditions of the Vietnamese nation.

2.11 Lemongrass skewers (Nem Lui)

Lemongrass skewers is a popular food in Vietnam and also a specialty of the Central region. It is made from fresh pork, pureed and processed with traditional spices such as garlic, onions, chili, and some other spices. Pork after processing will be rolled on a bamboo stick and grilled over charcoal to make the meat cooked and delicious. Spring rolls are usually served with rice paper, raw vegetables, and sweet and sour fish sauce. Lemongrass skewers are not only delicious but also ensure hygiene and safety for users.

2.12 Pancake (Banh Xeo)

Pancake is one of the most famous foods in Vietnamese. This dish is made from rice flour and various ingredients such as shrimp, meat, bean sprouts, onions, and some other vegetables. Pancake is shaped like a cake with a golden color and delicious taste. It is often served with sweet and sour fish sauce and raw vegetables such as herbs, lettuce, and lettuce. It is a popular dish in the daily meals of Vietnamese people.

2.13 Sticky rice (Xoi)

Sticky rice is a traditional food in Vietnamese. It has many different types such as  rice, banana leaf , sticky rice, etc. It is usually made by soaking rice in water and cooking it, then mixing other ingredients such as sugar and green beans, sesame , meat, onions… to create a unique flavor. Sticky rice is served with many other dishes  often sold in sticky rice shops with many attractive flavors. Vietnamese sticky rice is often popular and present in people’s daily meals.

2.14 Fried ѕpring roll (Nem Ran)

Vietnamese fried spring rolls are a famous dish, made from ingredients such as pork, shrimp, mushrooms, fat, and vegetables.This dish has a thin, soft outer shell and an attractive golden color. Inside, the ingredients blend to form a signature delicious mixture. It is often served with sweet and sour fish sauce and raw vegetables such as herbs, fresh vermicelli, and bean sprouts. This dish is often used at parties, family gatherings, or on fun walks. Vietnamese fried spring rolls are not only delicious but also full of the country’s traditional flavors and are a famous culinary icon of Vietnam.

2.15 Wet cake with grilled meat (Banh uot thit nuong)

Wet cake with Vietnamese grilled meat is a typical dish of the central region of Vietnam. This dish consists of a wet cake, a thin and chewy cake made from rice flour, and grilled pork. The cake is tightly rolled into small rolls, placed on a plate, and seasoned with sweet and sour fish sauce, green onions, and roasted peanuts. Grilled pork is an important part of this dish, usually made from tender pork loin, marinated in spices, and grilled evenly over charcoal.

When the meat is cooked, it creates an attractive aroma and delicious tenderness. Barbecue wet cake is often served with raw vegetables such as lettuce, herbs, and cucumber for added flavor and freshness. This dish is often served for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and is loved for its distinctive taste. With a combination of soft and fluffy wet cake, delicious grilled pork, and fresh vegetables, grilled meat wet cake offers diners a unique and wonderful culinary experience of Central Vietnam’s culinary culture.

3. Staples That Define Vietnam Traditional Food

Vietnam’s culinary culture is influenced by regions, contributing to the diversity of ingredients in each regional dish. Although each area has its own characteristics in terms of processing, in general, the basic characters are the same in staples that define Vietnamese cuisine.

3.1 Rice – The Heart of Vietnamese Meals

Vietnam is one of the leading rice-producing agricultural countries in the world, rice plays an important role in Vietnamese meals, becoming the main source for making many types of cakes: stuffed sticky rice cake (banh chung) , xeo cake, rice noodle soup with beef (pho) . .. and it is an indispensable dish in every Vietnamese meal. Used in all regions, all ethnic groups and all different dishes of Vietnamese people.

3.2 Fish Sauce – The Ubiquitous Condiment

Fish sauce – the soul of Vietnamese dishes In Vietnamese cuisine, the unique flavor and speciality of the dish depends on the way of mixing traditional spices such as garlic, chili, ginger, sugar,… One of the secret ingredients that surprises many professional chefs and food lovers is fish sauce. This is an essential ingredient to create a unique flavor for delicious Vietnamese dishes. With a special saltiness mixed with a little sweetness, this dipping sauce has an incredible unique character. It is served with many dishes such as xeo cake ,  loc cake…

3.3 Herbs and Freshness

Vietnam has a tropical climate therefore, it is possible to grow fresh vegetables all year round, so dishes with clean vegetables become familiar in every Vietnamese meal.With a delicate blend of herbs, fresh vegetables, meat and a selective use of spices, Vietnamese food is not only unlike any other in Southeast Asia, but is also considered a one of the healthiest cuisines in the world.

4. Vietnam famous street food

Vietnam is a culinary paradise, with restaurants and street vendors serving up fresh locally sourced dishes. Street food in Vietnam is not simply a list of traditional Vietnamese dishes sold on the street, it also represents a part of the beauty in the culture, lifestyle, feelings, and thoughts of the Vietnamese people.Some street food such as banh mi, sticky rice, mixed rice-paper… all of that is sold all day and you can easily find it on any street of Vietnam or Night Markets In Vietnam

5. Cooking class in Vietnam

Visitors who want to experience the culture and cuisine of Vietnam, participating in a cooking class is an opportunity to learn about Vietnamese cuisine. At the Cooking class, you not only learn to cook under the guidance of a professional chef, but you also participate in a journey from redients and spices for the lesson.

Especially, if you travel to Hue city, you couldn’t miss cooking class by Madam Thu Restaurant.  This is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking an authentic Vietnamese dining experience

In this culinary class, you will learn about the rich and diverse cuisine of Hue, specifically the flavors and techniques of Hue cuisine. You also have opportunities to work with our experienced instructors who will introduce  you to Hue cuisine and cooking techniques. You will have the chance to prepare and cook several traditional Hue dishes from a trip to big local market to buy the ingredients used in Hue cooking and select fresh produce and other ingredients for your class, and then you will instructed how to make cakes such as Vietnamese sizzling crepes( Banh Khoai), lemongrass skewers (Nem Lui) , spicy beef noodle soup ( Bun Bo Hue ), steamed rice cakes (Banh Beo), fresh spring rolls (Goi Cuon),… 

The restaurant’s popularity is confirmed by very good customer reviews on many review channels such as tripadvisor, google review. This is a 5-star restaurant rated by customers, with more than 2 thousand good quality reviews and a score of 4.5 / 5 for the restaurant and top 4 out of 346 famous restaurants in Hue. This is a must-visiting place  for  tourists when traveling to Vietnam.

Vietnam’s culinary culture is considered one of the things worth experiencing for tourists. The dishes are not only beautifully decorated and delicious, but also contain meaning in each dish. Besides, traveling in the country, enjoying the delicious food of each region will help you understand more the beauties in the culinary culture of Vietnam.