1. Phở (Hanoi)
Phở, originating in Hanoi, is Vietnam’s quintessential noodle soup. This aromatic dish features a flavorful broth simmered with beef bones, star anise, and cinnamon, served over rice noodles with thinly sliced beef or chicken. Fresh herbs, lime, and chili add a refreshing kick. Common ingredients include beef bones, star anise, cinnamon, rice noodles, beef or chicken, fresh herbs, lime, and chili. To eat Pho, garnish it with lime, chili, and fresh herbs, and enjoy it with a side of bean sprouts.
Famous Spot: Pho Bat Dan, 49 Bat Dan Street, Hanoi.
2. Bánh Mì (Ho Chi Minh City)
Banh Mi is a delicious fusion of French and Vietnamese culinary traditions. A crispy baguette is filled with a variety of ingredients such as pate, cold cuts, pickled vegetables, cilantro, and chili, offering a symphony of flavors and textures in each bite. Ingredients include a crispy baguette, pate, cold cuts, pickled vegetables, cilantro, and chili. Banh Mi is typically eaten by taking a bite of the sandwich to enjoy the combination of flavors and textures.
Famous Spot: Banh Mi Huynh Hoa, 26 Le Thi Rieng, Ho Chi Minh City.
3. Bún Chả (Hanoi)
Bun Cha is a Hanoi specialty consisting of grilled pork patties and slices served with vermicelli noodles, fresh herbs, and a tangy dipping sauce made from fish sauce, vinegar, and sugar. The smoky flavor of the grilled meat pairs perfectly with the light noodles and fresh herbs. Ingredients include grilled pork patties, vermicelli noodles, fresh herbs, fish sauce, vinegar, and sugar. To eat Bun Cha, dip the grilled pork and noodles into the tangy sauce.
Famous Spot: Bun Cha Huong Lien, 24 Le Van Huu, Hanoi.
4. Gỏi cuốn (Ho Chi Minh City)
Goi Cuon, or fresh spring rolls, are made with shrimp, pork, fresh herbs, vermicelli, and rice paper. These rolls are light, healthy, and often served with a peanut dipping sauce. The combination of fresh ingredients makes for a refreshing appetizer. Ingredients include shrimp, pork, fresh herbs, vermicelli, and rice paper. To eat Goi Cuon, dip the roll into the peanut sauce.
Famous Spot: Quan An Ngon, 160 Pasteur, Ho Chi Minh City.
5. Cao Lầu (Hoi An)
Cao Lau is a specialty from Hoi An, featuring thick, chewy noodles made from local water, slices of juicy pork, fresh herbs, and crispy croutons. The dish is layered with flavors and textures, representing the unique culinary heritage of Hoi An. Ingredients include thick noodles, pork, fresh herbs, and croutons. Cao Lau is eaten by mixing the noodles, pork, and herbs together.
Famous Spot: Cao Lau Ba Le, 45/3 Tran Hung Dao, Hoi An.
6. Bún Bò Huế (Hue)
Bun Bo Hue is a spicy beef noodle soup from Hue, known for its bold flavors and rich broth made with beef bones, lemongrass, and chili. The soup is served with slices of beef, pork, and occasionally congealed pig blood, making it a hearty and spicy delight. Ingredients include beef bones, lemongrass, chili, beef slices, pork, and pig blood. To eat Bun Bo Hue, garnish it with herbs and lime.
Famous Spot: Bun Bo Ba Tuyet, 47 Nguyen Cong Tru, Hue.
7. Cơm Tấm (Ho Chi Minh City)
Com Tam, or broken rice, is a popular dish in Ho Chi Minh City. It is typically served with grilled pork, a fried egg, and pickled vegetables. The unique texture of the broken rice grains adds an interesting twist to the meal. Ingredients include broken rice, grilled pork, a fried egg, and pickled vegetables. Com Tam is eaten by mixing all components together.
Famous Spot: Com Tam Ba Ghien, 84 Dang Van Ngu, Ho Chi Minh City.
8. Chả Cá (Hanoi)
Cha Ca is a famous dish from Hanoi, featuring fish marinated in turmeric and dill, then grilled and served with vermicelli noodles, peanuts, and fresh herbs. The aromatic turmeric and dill give the fish a unique and memorable flavor. Ingredients include fish, turmeric, dill, vermicelli noodles, peanuts, and fresh herbs. Cha Ca is eaten by mixing the fish with noodles and herbs.
Famous Spot: Cha Ca La Vong, 14 Cha Ca Street, Hanoi.
9. Mì Quảng (Da Nang)
Mi Quang, a specialty from Da Nang, is a noodle dish featuring turmeric-infused noodles with pork, shrimp, and fresh herbs, all in a small amount of savory broth. The dish is garnished with peanuts and toasted sesame rice crackers for added crunch. Ingredients include turmeric-infused noodles, pork, shrimp, fresh herbs, peanuts, and rice crackers. Mi Quang is eaten by mixing the ingredients together.
Famous Spot: Mi Quang Ba Mua, 19-21 Tran Binh Trong, Da Nang.
10. Bánh Xèo (Ho Chi Minh city)
Banh Xeo are crispy, savory crepes filled with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts. These crepes are often wrapped in lettuce and herbs before being dipped in a tangy sauce. The crispy texture and flavorful fillings make Banh Xeo a popular street food. Ingredients include crepe batter, shrimp, pork, bean sprouts, lettuce, and herbs. To eat Banh Xeo, wrap a piece in lettuce and herbs and dip in the sauce.
Famous Spot: Banh Xeo 46A, 46A D Dinh Cong Trang, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
- Hủ Tiếu (My Tho)
Hu Tieu is a clear noodle soup from My Tho in the Mekong Delta, made with pork, seafood, and a variety of fresh herbs. The light and flavorful broth makes it a favorite breakfast dish. Ingredients include clear noodles, pork, seafood, and fresh herbs. Hu Tieu is eaten by mixing the ingredients together in the broth.
Famous Spot: Hu Tieu My Tho Tien, 359 Le Van Sy, My Tho.
12. Bánh Cuốn (Hanoi)
Banh Cuon are delicate steamed rice rolls filled with a savory mixture of ground pork and mushrooms. They are topped with fried shallots and served with a tangy dipping sauce. This dish is a popular breakfast option in Hanoi. Ingredients include rice flour, ground pork, mushrooms, and fried shallots. Banh Cuon is eaten by dipping the rolls in the tangy sauce.
Famous Spot: Banh Cuon Gia Truyen Thanh Van, 14 Hang Ga, Hanoi.
13. Xôi (Hanoi)
Xoi is glutinous or sticky rice that can be served sweet or savory. Common toppings include mung beans, fried shallots, or pork. The versatility of Xoi makes it a staple in Vietnamese cuisine. Ingredients include sticky rice, mung beans, fried shallots, and pork. Xoi is eaten by mixing the toppings with the rice.
Famous Spot: Xoi Yen, 35B Nguyen Huu Huan, Hanoi.
14. Bún Thịt Nướng (Ho Chi Minh City)
Bun Thit Nuong is a dish of grilled pork over vermicelli noodles, served with fresh vegetables and a savory sauce. The grilled pork adds a smoky flavor, while the fresh vegetables and herbs provide a refreshing balance. Ingredients include grilled pork, vermicelli noodles, fresh vegetables, and savory sauce. Bun Thit Nuong is eaten by mixing the pork and vegetables with the noodles.
Famous Spot: Bun Thit Nuong Chi Tuyen, 175C Cao Thang, Ho Chi Minh City.
15. Bò Kho (Ho Chi Minh City)
Bo Kho is a fragrant beef stew slow-cooked with lemongrass, star anise, and cinnamon. It is typically served with bread or noodles. The rich and aromatic broth makes it a comforting dish. Ingredients include beef, lemongrass, star anise, and cinnamon. Bo Kho is eaten by dipping bread into the stew or mixing it with noodles.
Famous Spot: Bo Kho Ganh, 511 Su Van Hanh, Ho Chi Minh City.
16. Bánh Canh Cua (Ho Chi Minh City)
Banh Canh Cua is a thick, chewy noodle soup featuring crab meat, shrimp, and a rich broth made from pork and crab shells. The dish is garnished with scallions, cilantro, and a dash of lime juice. The thick noodles and savory broth make this a comforting and hearty meal.
Famous Spot: Banh Canh Cua 87, 87 Tran Khac Chan, Ho Chi Minh City.
17. Canh Chua (Can Tho)
Canh Chua is a sour soup from the Mekong Delta, made with fish, pineapple, tomatoes, and tamarind. The tangy and slightly sweet flavor of the soup is a refreshing contrast to the hot climate of the region. Ingredients include fish, pineapple, tomatoes, and tamarind. Canh Chua is eaten by mixing the ingredients in the soup.
Famous Spot: Luong Son Quan, 31 Luong Dinh Cua, Can Tho.
18. Bánh Tráng Nướng (Da Lat)
Banh Trang Nuong, often referred to as Vietnamese pizza, is made with grilled rice paper topped with ingredients like quail eggs, dried shrimp, and green onions. The crispy texture and diverse toppings make it a popular street food in Da Lat.
Famous Spot: Banh Trang Nuong 112, 112 Nguyen Van Troi, Da Lat.
19. Nem Nướng (Nha Trang)
Nem Nuong are grilled pork sausage skewers that are often served with rice paper, herbs, and dipping sauce. The combination of smoky sausage and fresh herbs provides a delightful contrast of flavors and textures.
Famous Spot: Nem Nuong Ninh Hoa, 2-4 Phan Boi Chau, Nha Trang.
20. Bún Riêu
The interplay between crab and tomato makes bún riêu a truly standout dish. A hearty soup bursting with acidity, the components of this meal include slippery bún, fresh crab meat, blocks of tofu and stewed tomatoes. Cooking an authentic bowl of bún riêu is a labour-intensive process. After the crab meat is separated from the body, the shell is then pulverized using a mortar and pestle and then strained through to form the base of the broth. Floating around the bowl are pillowy clusters of minced crab combined with ground pork and egg that melt in your mouth.
Famous Spot: Bún Riêu Cua Thanh Hồng, 42 Hòa Mã, Ngô Thì Nhậm, Hai Bà Trưng, Hanoi
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