Vietnam is famous for its diverse and delicious cuisine. Vietnamese dishes always have a balance of spices but still ensure diversity and attractiveness for diners. Stretching across the country of Vietnam, each region has delicious dishes, imbued with its cultural impression.
1 - Pho (Noodle soup) - top 15 best Vietnamese food
Pho soup - Source: Vntravellive
Originating from Hanoi and Nam Dinh, Pho is considered one of the most famous foods in Vietnam and the best delicacy in the world. Pho has many variations depending on Vietnam's regions, but the three most famous are Pho Hanoi (Northern), Pho Hue (Central) and Pho Saigon (Southern).
One bowl of Pho soup usually has rice noodles and broth along with thinly sliced beef or chicken, accompanied by spices such as soy sauce, pepper, fish sauce,... This delicious food in Vietnam brings out the rich, aromatic flavor of fragrant broth along with vegetables and slightly chewy and fleshy noodles. It is so mouth-watering that just looking makes you want to quickly taste it to satisfy your cravings.
Price: 35,000 - 60,000 VND / bowl ($1.54 - 2.65)
Some places to try:
- Pho Gia Truyen Bat Dan - No.49 Bat Dan Street, Cua Dong Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi)
- Pho Lien - No.25 Le Loi Street, Minh An Ward, Hoi An City)
- Pho Le (No.413-415 Nguyen Trai Street, Ward 7, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City)
2 - Bun bo Hue (Hue style Beef Noodles)
Bun bo Hue - Source: Knorr
Bun Bo Hue is always at the top of the best things to eat in Vietnam. Each bowl of Bun Bo Hue is hot and full of small noodles, tender beef, sweet and fragrant broth which is made from bone stewed for hours so that it would taste well.
This prominent specialty of Hue is often served with crab rolls, fresh vegetables, a little salted red onion, chili and satay, making the dish more flavorful and attractive. The spicy taste and the lemongrass aroma are what make Hue beef noodles so popular even in hot weather.
Price: 20,000 - 50,000 VND / bowl ($0.88 - 2.2)
Some places to try:
- Bun Bo Hue O Phuong (No.24 Nguyen Khuyen Street, Phu Nhuan Ward, Hue City)
- Bun Minh Hue (No.450 Hai Ba Trung Street, Cam Son Ward, Hoi An City)
3 - Banh mi (Vietnamese bread) - one of the best Vietnamese food to try
Vietnamese bread - Source: Zing
Vietnamese bread is known as “the best bread in the world”, not only captivates locals but also foreign tourists, making them fascinated by the taste of bread filled with meat, pate, vegetables, and dipping sauce. Vietnamese people have turned bread into many really attractive dishes, ranging from Pate Bread, Omelette Bread, Roasted Pork Bread, to Dragon Fruit Bread, Butter Bread, etc. The fillings are also very diverse for you to choose such as spring rolls, mixed fillings, bacon beef cheese roll,... which is very eye-catching for newcomers.
Banh mi is definitely one of the most popular dishes in Vietnam. The loaf of bread has the freshness, deliciousness, chewiness, crunchiness and aroma, covered in sauce, filled with different meat and vegetables, creating a delicious flavor that you can never forget.
Price: 10,000 - 50,000 VND / bowl ($0.44 - 2.2)
Some places to try:
- Nguyen Sinh Bread (No.17-19 Ly Quoc Su Street, Hang Trong Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi)
- Old Quarter Bread (No.38 Dinh Liet Street, Hang Dao Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi - 100m from Hoan Kiem Lake)
4 - Pho cuon (Rolled Pho)
Pho cuon - Source: Bep Quyen
Different from the traditional Pho soup, Rolling Pho, also featured in the list of the best Vietnamese food, attracts diners by its freshness and richness. Fragrant stir-fried minced beef mixed with some herbs and vegetables, wrapped in rice paper and dipped in sweet and sour fish sauce creates one of the most healthy and tasty foods for summer. Similar to other Vietnamese dishes, Rolling Pho also has many variations, but perhaps the most authentic and delicious one is only available in Hanoi.
Price: 20,000 - 55,000 VND / serving ($0.88 - 2.43)
Places to try:
- Pho Cuon Hanoi (No.33 Van Bao Street, Lieu Giai Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi)
- Pho Cuon Huong Mai (No.25 Ngu Xa Street, Truc Bach Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi)
5 - Nem ran (Vietnamese spring rolls) - top popular dishes in Vietnam
Spring rolls, also known as salad rolls, originate from China but are now very popular in Vietnam. The easy-to-find ingredients include shrimp, meat, carrots, vegetables, eggs, kohlrabi,... and some common spices of Vietnamese cuisine such as scallions, pepper, fish sauce. Fried spring rolls are simple to make and eat - you chop the ingredients and roll them in rice paper, deep fried in oil and dip with spicy and sour sauce. The hot fried spring rolls have a crispy crust, a rich and attractive filling, and a sweet aroma, making you unable to resist.
Price of this Vietnamese delicacy: 30,000 - 55,000 VND / serving ($1.32 - 2.43)
Some places to try:
- Co Dung - Do Cuon 3 Mien (No.46 Tran Xuan Soan Street, Ngo Thi Nham Ward, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi)
- Da Nang (No.79 Trung Hoa Street - Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi)
6 - Cha muc (Grilled squid)
Grilled squid is one of the dishes in the top 50 Vietnamese specialties recognized by the Vietnam Record Book Center. This dish is made from the main ingredient of crushed or pureed squid meat, shaped into a round cake and then fried.
Cha muc is one of the best Vietnamese food that you should not miss - Source: Kenh14
The process of pounding squid to blend with traditional flavors is done entirely manually to give it the softness that no machine can replace. Grilled Squid has that delicious, rich, and crunchy flavor, showing you the essence of Vietnamese cuisine in general.
Known as home to a variety of extremely attractive seafood, Ha Long City is famous for its Grilled Squid, as the squid there has a sweeter taste than other regions.
Price: 20,000 - 50,000 VND / bowl ($0.88 - 2.2)
Some places to try this popular food in Vietnam:
- Fishing Village Grilled Squid (Next to Ha Long Market 1, Bach Dang Ward, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province)
- Grilled Squid Hien Nhung (Kiosk 228, 230 Next to Ha Long Market 1, Bach Dang Ward, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province)
7 - Banh cuon (Vietnamese Steamed Rice Rolls)
With a long-standing origin, Banh Cuon is a famous food made from steamed rice flour, thinly coated, rolled, and stuffed with meat or/and vegetables. This idyllic specialty is eaten with dried onions, spring rolls, a few sprigs of coriander, basil, and dipped in fish sauce to enhance the taste.
Banh cuon is one of the best foods in Vietnam that are loved by many travellers - Source: Vietnammoi
The sweetness of rice flour and the filling, the aromatic taste of fried onion, along with the little sour, spicy taste of fish sauce,... will always make you impressed and remember forever.
Price: 20,000 - 30,000 VND / bowl ($0.88 - 1.32)
Some places to try:
- Banh Cuon Ba Hanh (No.16B Tho Xuong Street, Hang Trong Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi)
- Banh Cuon Thanh Van (No.12-14 Hang Ga Street, Hang Bo Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi)
8 - Com hen (Mussel Rice)
Com hen is a good food in Vietnam to try - Source: Cooky TV
Mussel rice is a cuisine originating from Hue, which is a combination of cold rice mixed with soft sweet mussels eaten with many other ingredients. The special thing that makes the mussel rice dish attractive is probably the unique aroma from fried onions, laksa leaves, raw onions, roasted peanuts,... reducing the slight fishy smell of the mussels. Raw vegetables served with mussel rice include many rustic ingredients such as banana flower, laksa leaves, star fruit,... Mixing a bit of satay into this Vietnamese good food will give you the mild spicy taste that goes extremely well with the sweetness of mussels, leaving you speechless.
Price: 10,000 - 50,000 VND / dish ($0.44 - 2.2)
Some places to try:
- Ba Cam Mussel Rice (No.49 Tung Thien Vuong Street, Vy Da Ward, Hue City)
- Hoa Dong Mussel Rice (No.64/7 Ung Binh Street, Vy Da Ward, Hue City)
- Nguyen Hue Mussel Rice (No.98 Nguyen Hue Street, Vinh Ninh Ward, Hue City)
9 - Bun cha - top most famous & best Vietnamese food
Originating from the North of Vietnam, Bun Cha is made up of simple ingredients of vermicelli and pork, creativity in cooking and a wonderful combination of Vietnamese spices. This Hanoi's specialty includes vermicelli and a bowl of dipping sauce, some minced garlic and chili, served with a variety of fresh vegetables such as lettuce, coriander, perilla, … making the flavor more complete.
You can put rice noodles in a bowl of dipping sauce or put everything in a separate bowl and enjoy. When you eat this Vietnamese best food, the vermicelli is sweet and soft, mixed with the richness of meat, the freshness of vegetables, along with fish sauce seasoning carrying the aroma of the sea, creating a unique flavor that will make it hard for anyone to forget.
Price: 20,000 - 50,000 VND / bowl ($0.88 - 2.2)
Places to try:
- Bun Bo Hue O Phuong (No.24 Nguyen Khuyen Street, Phu Nhuan Ward, Hue City)
- Bun Minh Hue (No.450 Hai Ba Trung Street, Cam Son Ward, Hoi An City)
10 - Banh xeo (Vietnamese crispy pancake) - top best foods in Vietnam
Banh Xeo or Vietnamese pancake is made of fried turmeric flour, stuffed with ground pork, shrimp, bean sprouts that have been lightly marinated with fish sauce, salt and spices. The crispy crust and full-flavorful fillings are wrapped in rice paper with fresh vegetable & herbs and dipped in sweet & sour fish sauce, creating an excellently balanced taste.
Banh xeo must be eaten while still hot to be delicious, and you should only use your hands instead of spoons or chopsticks. To enjoy one of the most popular foods in Vietnam, besides using the sense of smell and taste, you must also use touch and hearing. Hot and crispy, banh xeo is suitable to eat in the rainy season, with vegetables, bean sprouts, and seasoning sauce, bringing an unforgettable taste of homeland.
Price: 40,000 VND / serving ($1.76)
Places to try:
- Banh Xeo Chi Be Da Nang (No.172 Doi Can Street - Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi)
- Ta Quang Buu (No.107 E5 Ta Quang Buu Street, Bach Khoa Ward, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi)
11 - Mi Quang (Quang Noodles) - top Vietnamese delicacies in the Central
Mi Quang - Source: Vanh Khuyen Le
Quang Noodles is a typical dish of the Central region, namely Quang Nam Province and Quang Ngai Province. Made from ground and slightly minced rice flour, a bowl of noodles is served with bone broth made from bones stewed with dry roasted peanuts, scallions, herbs, and red peppers. There are also shrimp, chicken, herbs, peanuts and especially baked rice paper, increasing the greasy, sour, and spicy taste, making the bowl of noodles even more attractive.
Price of this popular food in Vietnam: 45,000 VND / bowl ($1.98)
Places to try:
- Mi Quang Vi Quang (No.35 Tran Hung Dao Street, Cua Nam Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi)
- Quang Noodles Mrs Tam (No.103 Ngoc Khanh Street - Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi)
- Quang 85 (No.85 Tran Quang Dieu Street, Ward 13, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City)
12 - Cha ca Hanoi (Hanoi grilled fish)
Cha Ca is made of fish with salt, water, flour and eggs. The combined product is then shaped, cooled, machined and breaded, then usually fried in oil.
La Vong Grilled Fish is surely one of the best Vietnamese food - Source: Kenh14
This dish has a rich, delicate flavor of cooked yellow fish combined with the specific taste of dill, galangal,.. to help you feel the softness and tastiness of this yummy food.
Not only delicious and attractive, this Vietnamese rustic dish also combines many traditional and typical beauty of Hanoi people. There are many places selling Grilled Fish throughout Vietnam, but the best is La Vong Grilled Fish in Hanoi.
Price: 150,000 - 200,000 VND / serving ($6.6 - 8.8)
Some places to try this Vietnamese best food:
- La Vong Grilled Fish (No.14 Cha Ca Street, Hang Bo Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi)
- Thang Long Grilled Fish (No.19-21-31 Duong Thanh Street, Cua Dong Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi)
13 - Bun thit nuong (Rice noodles with barbecue)
The ingredients to this dish are nothing special, mainly pieces of pork shoulder or belly, grilled on hot charcoal and handmade, small and soft rice noodles. To present this food, rice noodles are put in the bowl first, then a few slices of grilled meat, raw vegetables, sour papaya fiber, then the light yellow-colored sauce, slightly viscous, fragrant with peanuts and sugar. The unforgettable taste of this Vietnamese best food that you cannot deny tasting moreThe sweetness of the sauce, the aroma of the meat, the spiciness of chili, and the aridity of raw vegetables all make an unforgettable taste that you cannot deny tasting more.
Price: 5,000 - 30,000 VND / dish ($0.22 - 1.3)
Some places to try:
- Mrs. Suong Grilled Meat (On the sidewalk of Kazik Park, No.138 Tran Phu Street, Cam Chau Ward, Hoi An City)
- Bucha King (No.6 Vuon Cam Street, Me Tri Ward, Tu Liem District, Hanoi)
14 - Lau ca linh bong dien dien (Linh Fish and Riverhemp Flower Hotpot)
The next food in the list of the best Vietnamese food is Linh Fish and Riverhemp Flower Hotpot. Linh fish is an ingredient that is processed into many dishes by people in South Vietnam, including the delicious and extremely famous Linh fish and riverhemp flower Hotpot. Besides the two main ingredients only appearing from the July lunar month, there are other ingredients: coriander, minced garlic, fish sauce, coconut water, cooking oil and spices such as sugar, monosodium glutamate, chili horn, pepper.
Having a simple and sweet taste with a faint scent of the wind in the river region, this food is also rich in nutrition and good for health. Eating this delicious food in Vietnam in the cold weather is an ideal choice.
Price: 250,000 - 350,000 VND / pot ($11 - 15.4)
Some places to try:
- Ba Tam (No.53 Pham Huu Lau Street, Ward 4, Cao Lanh City, Dong Thap Province)
- Family restaurant 39&79 (Group 66, Area 9, Hung Phu Ward, Cai Rang District, Can Tho City)
15 - Bun mam (Vietnamese Vermicelli with fish sauce)
This is one of the typical Southwestern Vietnam foods originating from Cambodia and top famous food in Vietnam. Made from various types of fish sauce such as Oncorhynchus fish sauce, choke fish sauce, Prahok sauce, Bun Mam has a typical scent and a rich taste.
In this delicious Vietnamese food, the bottom is raw vegetables, followed by fresh vermicelli, the topping is roasted pork, sour rolls, spring rolls, cucumbers, etc. You take the amount according to your taste, mix it well and enjoy the crispy peanuts, the sweetness of the roast pork, the coolness of the cucumber, the slightly sourness of the spring rolls, and the salty taste of fish sauce.
Price: 40,000 VND / serving ($1.76)
Places to try:
- Bun Mam Mrs Sen (No.40 Vinh Khanh Street, Ward 8, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City)
- Bun Mam Ba Du (No.19 Tran Khac Chan Street, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City)
These are the top 15 best Vietnamese food that you should not miss when traveling to Vietnam.
— Quan Nguyen
