American blogger Kiersten Rich, who has traveled to over 70 countries around the world over more than 10 years, is excited when talking about Vietnamese cuisine.
Considered one of the world's healthiest cuisines, Vietnamese food stands out with its harmonious combination of natural ingredients such as rice, vermicelli, herbs, fish sauce, vegetables, and diverse protein sources. The overall effect is a light, balanced flavor that is still rich and satisfying.
Here are 10 outstanding suggestions from Kiersten.
Spring rolls
Spring rolls are an almost "oil-free" option, consisting of rice vermicelli, shrimp, meat, and fresh vegetables wrapped in rice paper. They are usually served with sweet and sour fish sauce or peanut sauce, creating a balance between light and rich flavors. Simple yet memorable. Simple, refined, and incredibly appealing – this is definitely a dish that every diner will remember forever.
Spring rolls. Photo: Loan Tran
Cao Lau
During your exploration of Hoi An Ancient Town (Da Nang), Cao Lau is a must-try specialty for tourists. With its unique combination of sliced pork, crispy rice crackers, a variety of spices, and a rich broth at the bottom of the bowl, the noodles, with their distinctive texture and color, create a harmonious whole unlike any other.
Southern-style beef noodle soup
Southern-style beef noodle soup (Bún bò Nam Bộ) is a harmonious blend of flavors, from the soft, smooth noodles and fresh green vegetables to the rich, lemongrass-marinated beef. An indispensable highlight of this dish is the crispy roasted peanuts, fragrant fried onions, and a side of fresh herbs like cilantro, basil, perilla, and mint. All these elements combine to create a perfectly balanced dish, leaving an unforgettable impression on diners.
Broken rice
A widely popular traditional Vietnamese dish, broken rice (com tam) is a favorite choice for many, especially for breakfast and lunch. This dish is distinguished by its characteristic broken rice grains and is typically served with fried eggs, grilled meat (such as shrimp or beef), along with fresh vegetables and pickled cucumbers.
Broken rice dish. Photo: Mai Chau
Banh mi
Vietnamese banh mi has a crispy crust, a soft interior, and a variety of fillings such as pate, meat, vegetables, and pickles. Although it originated from the French baguette, banh mi has been adapted to suit local tastes and has become a popular street food.
Vietnamese banh mi is among the top 3 best sandwiches in the world. Photo: Kiki Phung
Pho
This traditional specialty conquers even the most discerning diners with its perfect blend of soft, smooth rice noodles, tender and sweet meat, and fresh herbs such as bean sprouts, coriander, basil, mint, sliced onions, and fresh lime.
Many people like to enhance the flavor of the broth by adding a little chili sauce or green chilies, but according to some discerning diners, bowls of pho with authentic broth don't need anything extra, as it's already well-seasoned, according to Kiersten.
Pho is always the top choice for tourists visiting Vietnam, not only because it's a delicious dish, but also because it represents the cultural essence of a country with a thousand years of history. Photo: Trang Vu
Bun cha
From small meatballs made from minced pork marinated with spices to slices of meat grilled directly over charcoal, bun cha awakens all the senses with its captivating aroma and irresistibly appealing colors.
Vietnamese savory pancake (Banh Xeo)
Shaped like a golden crepe, banh xeo (Vietnamese savory pancake) is made from rice flour mixed with turmeric powder, with a thin, crispy crust and a generous filling of pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts. This combination creates an appealing sweet and savory flavor along with a refreshing and delicious taste. Many diners prefer to enjoy banh xeo by wrapping it in fresh lettuce leaves and dipping it in sweet and sour fish sauce.
Southern-style Vietnamese savory pancakes (Bánh xèo) are usually large in size. Photo: Hàn Lâm
Bun bo Hue (Hue- style beef noodle soup)
Bun bo Hue is a perfect combination of rich, savory beef broth, seasoned with lemongrass, shrimp paste, sugar, and chili oil. All of this blends together with rice noodles, various meats, a slice of fresh lime, and aromatic herbs. Bun bo Hue is truly a symphony of flavors, where sour, spicy, salty, and sweet all come together in one bowl of soup.
Beef stew
In the culinary journey of Vietnam, diners can hardly miss beef stew. Beef stew is a dish of beef simmered with lemongrass and spices, which can be eaten with bread or noodles. Many people liken this dish to the Vietnamese version of the famous French beef stew (Boeuf Bourguignon).