Vietnamese cuisine

Vietnamese food culture is affected much by the country’s geography. Some factors like topography and climate result in the variety of ingredients in regional food. Each region has its unique features in ways of cooking and enjoying dishes. Even though hills and mountains account for three-quarters of the entire country, the amount of seafood is still available in Vietnamese meals. With the influence of Chinese Northern Vietnam food is mainly characterized by Hanoi cuisine, and Hue cuisine is typical for food culture in the Central, while Mekong Delta cuisine remarks for the Southern cuisine with the influence of French and Cambodian. Although being affected by many food cultures, Vietnamese cuisine differs region by region, but it has something in common between the three regions. First, all three regions appreciate the freshness of food, many kinds of food are cooked briefly to keep their nutrition, especially meats; vegetables are often boiled or stir-fried, even eaten fresh. Second, in all Vietnamese dishes, the presence of herbs is very important, which makes food more attractive and delicious. Third, some kinds of broths and soups are widely used in all three parts of the country. Finally, the flavoring in each Vietnamese cuisine makes meals more attractive.

Some of the best food that you must try when you visit Vietnam:
 

Phở includes rice noodle, stock and beef or chicken or even ground pork. It sounds easy to make, though to have a delicious bowl of Phở made is not that easy. Broth must be made from cow bones and it will be at best quality when it is pure and sweet. Rice noodle must be soft but not doughy; and the meat must be fresh. Additives are also important to make Phở tasty. There should be some vegetables, onion, pepper and a slice of lemon.  Phở is best to be tasted when it is still hot and there is some “quẩy” (a special kind of cake made from wheat flavor, sugar and eggs). Each shop may have its own secret recipe with some special additives to make its own Phở different from others.

 

• Address: 10 Ly Quoc Su street, Ward Hang Trong, District Hoan Kiem.

• Price: 60,000 – 80,000 VND

• Address: 49 Bat Dan street, District Hoan Kiem.

• Price: 50,000 – 70,000 VND
 

The dish consists of grilled pork strips and balls or chả served over a bed of rice vermicelli noodles or bún. It typically comes with a plate of fresh Vietnamese herbs and a bowl of dipping sauce.  Pickled vegetables, like cabbage, carrots, onion or green papaya served with additional meatballs on the side.

The sauce is made of the famous Vietnamese fish sauce or Nuoc Mam combined with vinegar, lime, sugar, garlic and chili.

Bún Chả Hương Liên

• Address: 24 Le Van Huu Street in Hai Ba Trung District

• Hours: Everyday from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm

• Prices: About 40,000 VND to 50,000 VND ($1.77 USD to $2.21 USD)

Bún Chả Hàng Mành – Đắc Kim

• Address: 1 Hang Manh Street

• Hours: Everyday from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm

• Prices: About 60,000 VND ($2.65 USD)
 

 

 

Chả Cá (Turmeric Fish with Dill)
 

A distinctive Hanoi delicacy, cha ca is white fish seasoned with garlic, ginger, turmeric, and dill served on sizzling pan. Diners also get a bowl of rice noodles, peanuts, chopped spring onions, parsley, nuoc cham sauce, and red chili slices, all of which are meant to be mixed together with the turmeric fish. Cha ca is so popular amongst locals that there’s a street in Hanoi Old Quarter named after it, though the best (and affordable) places to enjoy this seafood delicacy is at Cha Ca Thang Long in Duong Thanh Street.

• Address: 19 – 21 – 31, Duong Thanh, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

• Hours: Everyday from 11:00 am to 9:30 pm

• Prices for Cha Ca: 120,000 VND per person, (approximately $5.29 USD)
 

Although it is not a food, it is like food. Egg coffee or Cà Phê Trung is the most famous coffee in the north of Vietnam. It is a thick dark coffee topped with egg yolk whipped with condensed milk into an airy froth. Rich in taste, it can be likened to tiramisu dessert.

There are several coffee shops and places to enjoy a silky Vietnamese egg coffee. One place that offers the best view in Hanoi is a hidden and difficult to find coffee shop called Café Phố Cổ.
 

• Address: 13 Dinh Tien Hoang street, Hà Nội

• Hours: Everyday from 8am until 11pm.

• Prices: About 25,000 VND for a cup of egg coffee ($1.1 USD)

• Address: 39 Nguyễn Hữu Huân, Hàng Bạc, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội

• Hours: Everyday from 7am until 10pm.
 

A popular Vietnamese street food, nem chua be (crabmeat rolls) are sold in street markets and local restaurants within Hanoi – a good choice is Bun Cha Nem Cua Be Dac Kim in Hanoi Old Quarter. This crispy snack is shaped like a square and cut into bite-sized pieces, containing generous fillings of minced crab, pork, mushrooms, and various spices. Eat like the locals do by pairing nem chua with fresh herbs and lettuce, as well as dipping it in nuoc cham sauce.

• Opening Hours: Daily 11:00 – 19:00

• Address: 67 Duong Thanh Street, Old Quarter, Hanoi
 

Bánh Mì (Vietnamese Sandwich)
 

The Bánh Mì sandwich is truly the best Vietnamese sandwich to fall in love with. While its origins are French, the Vietnamese have made it distinctively their own. Generally speaking it is an airy Vietnamese baguette made with a combination of wheat and rice flours with a thin crispy crust.

It is stuffed with pork, pâté, cured ham, a mélange of Vietnamese herbs and vegetables like coriander, cucumber, carrot, slices, radish and more depending on what part of the country you are in. A wealth of textures and flavors, you will savor spicy, salty, savory, sweet, and aromatic tastes in each bite.

• Address: 25 Hàng Cá, P, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

• Operating Hours: 7AM-9PM, daily

• What to Order: Mixed banh mi with pate, barbecued pork, ham, and sausage

• What We Paid: VND 20,000-40,000 per banh mi
 

 

Bánh xèo – also known as crispy Vietnamese pancake, crepe or sizzling cake – is a famous street food which is widely believed to originate from France during its occupation of Vietnam. The word xèo depicts the sizzling sound when pouring the rice batter into the hot skillet.

 

This “Vietnamese pancake” has a yellow outer layer and is filled with boiled pork strips, shrimp, bean sprouts and spring onion. Though some people might prefer to use chopsticks to directly eat bánh xèo, the best way to enjoy it is eating with your hands. First, take a piece of bánh xèo and put it on the rice paper. Add fresh vegetables that are always served with the dish (there’re a lot of vegetables to choose, but lettuce, Vietnamese perilla, basil and bean sprouts are the most common) and roll them tightly. With each bite, don’t forget to dip the roll into the sauce.

Address: 21 Trương Định, Ward 6, District 3, HCM city

Price from: 30.000 VND – 165.000 VND ( about 1,3 USD – 6,5 USD)