10 Must-Try Vietnamese Dishes

Experiencing Vietnam’s food scene is reason enough to visit the country. Best described as fresh and light, Vietnam manages to create a variety of innovative and delicious recipes out of largely similar ingredients. And the best part? A hearty, memorable meal will likely only set you back a few dollars.

1. Bún chả

A specialty of Hanoi, bún chả consists of grilled pork, rice noodles, a heaping pile of fresh greens, and a tangy dipping sauce or broth. Be sure to find a vendor that is stooped over their grill, charring up the pork to perfection upon order.

2. Bún bò Huế

This dish comes from the city of Hue—former capital of Vietnam and keeper of its ancient complexes. The bún, or rice noodles, are thick and round, and the broth a flavorful concoction of chili, lemongrass and lime. The bad news is this delectable dish is only found in and around Hue. The good news is that Hue attracts plenty of tourists who have come to explore The Citadel, the palace complex modeled after China’s Forbidden City.

3. Cao lầu

Hoi An is often considered to be Vietnam’s most beautiful city. It’s also keeper of the many silk shops that offer custom-tailored clothing at mind-boggling low prices. When you’re not getting fitted for a new suit, sit down to a bowl of cao lầu. For this dish, think wide rice noodles, thinly sliced pork, fresh lettuce and herbs, and a heaping pile of bean sprouts, topped off with crispy, deep-fried dough and fresh squeezed lime. It’s light but flavorful, with the perfect blend of crunchy, crispy, and slightly chewy.

4. Nem cuốn

Nem cuốn, Gỏi cuốn in the south, are Vietnamese spring rolls. You’ll find numerous variations, but often they consist of pork, shrimp, rice noodles, and greens, wrapped together in rice paper. The only problem with spring rolls is that once you have them in Vietnam, they’ll never quite compare anywhere else.

5. Bánh xèo

These are like deep-fried, Vietnamese-style crepes. And you guessed it—they’re lip-licking delicious. Find a vendor set up on the side of the road, frying the “sizzling cakes” on the spot.  The fried rice batter pancakes come served with rice paper and of course an abundant serving of greens. To look like a savvy local, hold the rice paper in one hand while using your chopsticks to fill it with the pancake and greens, roll it all up, then give it a generous dip in some peanut sauce.

6. Bánh mì

A gift from the French, bánh mì are baguettes, filled with Laughing Cow cheese spread, tomatoes, and egg. Alternatively, opt for a more Vietnamese-style sandwich of liver pâté, pork, pickled vegetables, greens, cucumbers and spices.

7. Bánh cuốn

Another specialty of Northern Vietnam and Hanoi, bánh cuốn translates to rice rolls. To prepare the light and delicate dish, rice batter is spread out over a round cloth above boiling water. It only takes a few moments for the thin batter to cook to perfection. The rice rolls are often filled with ground pork, minced mushrooms, and shallots, and served with a light dipping sauce.

8. Bún riêu

Bún riêu is a tomato and crab soup featuring eggs, veggies and vermicelli noodles, and sometimes a bit of meat or tofu. Of course, there’s also tomato and crab thrown in there! If you fancy a bit of extra crab flavor, trying ordering the soup “bun rieu cua,” which means you would like it topped with crab meatballs.

9. Nộm hoa chuối

When you tire of eating noodles and soups, opt for nộm hoa chuối, or banana flower salad. This dish is light and zesty; if you’ve ever tried Thailand’s famed papaya salad, then you’ll notice some similarities. In banana flower salad, banana flowers are mixed with lime, vinegar, fish sauce, salt, sugar and roasted peanuts.

10. Phở

No Vietnamese food guide would be complete without mentioning phở. It’s arguably Vietnam’s most famous dish worldwide—and for good reason. Flat rice noodles, steaming broth, shaved pieces of beef or chunks of chicken, and a handful of herbs constitute this simple but savory dish. Locals consider the dish to be a breakfast staple, though you can often find it at all times of the day.

Vietnamese cuisine changes throughout the country, but many northern dishes are still available in the south, and vice versa. If you’re feeling feisty, try requesting a dish other than phở at your local Vietnamese restaurant—it always puts a confused smile on the owners’ faces. Happy eating!