10 Traditional Vietnamese Foods

Vietnam is a foodies paradise, especially when it comes to experiencing authentic street food tours. Traditional Vietnamese food takes influences from across Sout-East Asia but is particularly distinctive in its own right.

Signature dishes such as ‘Nuoc Mam’ (fermented fish sauce, in citrus fruit and chilli peppers) often rely on a combination of salty, sweet and sour flavours.

Meanwhile, grilling meats with herbs and spices give Vietnamese food a delicate flavour. As well as making it one of the healthiest cuisines in the world.

10 Traditional Vietnamese Food

Have a look at our selection of traditional Vietnamese food that every foodie should try when visiting Vietnam:

Goi Cuon

These are luminous spring rolls stuffed with greens, coriander and various types of minced pork or shrimps. The southern variation uses barbecued strips of pork wrapped up with green banana and star fruit. Before eating it is smothered in a rich salty peanut sauce – and it tastes as good as it sounds.

Banh Mi

This is basically a baguette that is filled with salad greens and a choice of either paté, pork or beef. It is really filling and a good food choice to enjoy if you are on the go!

Banh Xeo

These are very cheap but super big and filling Vietnamese pancakes that are stuffed to the brim with shrimp, pork, onions, bean sprouts and egg. They are lightly fried and wrapped in rice paper and soaked in the famous fish sauce (Nuoc Mam) before being eaten.

Bun Cha

This is a Hanoi speciality, that you will see at most food stalls and street eateries across the city. The pork is barbecued on an open charcoal fire and served with cold white rice noodles and a mixture of herbs and served with salad or a broth.

Pho

Pho (pronounced ‘Fuh’), is Vietnam’s national staple dish. It is a basic noodle soup that can be eaten at any time of day but more often at breakfast time. The dish consists of a light beef or chicken broth that is flavoured with ginger and coriander. Broad rice noodles, spring onions and slivers of chicken, pork or beef are then added.

Cao Lau

Another of Hoi An's tasty classics is a mouth-watering bowl of Cao Lau, which is thick rice-flour noodles, bean sprouts, pork-rind croutons in a light soup served with mint and star anise. Before being eaten, it is topped with tiny slices of pork and sprinkled with crispy rice paper.

Cha Ca

Cha Ca is one of the more famous Vietnamese seafood dishes, and is known to have been devised in Hanoi. It is white fish that is sautéed in butter with dill and spring onions, and then served with rice noodles and sprinkled with a few peanuts.

Mi Quang

This is a delicious and affordable Hanoi special dish. The ingredients can vary in the restaurants, but more often than not it is a classic bowl of meat noodles cooked in various flavoursome oils, fresh herbs, shrimp, peanuts, mint and quail eggs.

Nom Hua Chuoi

All you vegetarians out there will be very happy! Nom hua chuoi, or a banana-flower salad, is a fantastic meat-free option.
Lime and chili are the key factors, adding a refreshing zest to the shredded salad.

Com Tam

Com tam (broken rice), is a street food favourite amongst the locals. The recipes can vary slightly from cart to cart. However, it is rice served with barbecued pork or beef and a topped with a fresh fried egg.

Food and Drink Experiences in Vietnam

To give you the very best food and drink experiences in Vietnam, tabl.com has partnered with local experts to give you tailor-made tours that are packed with the freshest and most authentic cuisine. Book food and drink experiences in Vietnam, street food tours and even cookery classes, ready for an iconic adventure.

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