There are famous Vietnamese dishes that have left an unforgettable feeling for foreign guests who once set foot here. Street food in Vietnam is not too fussy or complicated but still captivates people, it is that simplicity that creates the flavor of Vietnam.
Pho
An indispensable dish when talking about Vietnamese cuisine. Walking along any neighborhood in Vietnam, you will almost certainly encounter a crowd of people sipping pho at some sidewalk pho stall. This simple dish is made from pho noodles, salty broth, herbs and a few slices of chicken or beef.
Pho attracts eaters because the broth has a sweet, refreshing and nutritious flavor, the noodles are soft and chewy, and go with thinly sliced beef or chicken. Pho is served with spices such as soy sauce, pepper, lemon, fish sauce, chili...
Pho is delicious and juicy not only when enjoyed but also attractive because of the writings of many famous writers such as Thach Lam, Nguyen Tuan, Vu Bang... Pho can be used as breakfast, lunch, afternoon or dinner.
Vietnamese Pho is cheap, delicious and can be served at any time of the day, making it a favorite dish of Vietnamese people.
Bun cha
Right after pho, bun cha is the second dish in the list of famous street foods mentioned by CNN. According to CNN, although pho is considered the most famous dish in Vietnam, it is bun cha that is the top choice for lunch. Every time after 11 am, people see thin smoke from bun cha restaurants all over the streets.
The steaming smoke from roadside shops when they grill pork on charcoal stoves is the most characteristic identification point of Bun Cha restaurants. After being grilled until slightly charred and crispy, the meat pieces will be presented with a bowl of dipping sauce, a basket of raw vegetables and a plate of vermicelli. A full set of bun cha includes grilled meat, vermicelli, served with herbs and dipping sauce. In some places, this combination will be even more perfect if you add a delicious plate of crab spring rolls. That is also what Former President Obama enjoyed with chef Bourdain in Hanoi.
Banh gio
Banh gio is a typical snack that you cannot miss. In Hanoi, there is a delicious banh gio restaurant on Thuy Khue street. Already larger than other bakeries, the spring rolls here are still soft and flexible without being crushed, and always have a light scent of rice flour. The filling is made from minced lean shoulder meat with rich wood ear mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms.
Banh gio is the perfect morning or afternoon gift, giving you a filling meal. Many people like to eat banh gio with a little chili sauce or pepper.
Tofu
This is one of the most popular summer cooling dishes in the North. Nowadays, young people also create extremely attractive mixed tofu dishes instead of just eating tofu as usual. A bowl of mixed tofu ranges in price from 6,000 - 10,000 VND with a unique combination of the cool sweetness of sugar, the slightly nutty taste of fresh coconut and the chewy, crunchy texture of buffalo leg seeds.
Cao lau
The name Cao Lau also appears in the list of the 10 most delicious street foods in Vietnam. This famous special dish in Hoi An is made up of noodles that are neither pho nor vermicelli but more similar to Japanese udon noodles, served with pork and crispy fried wontons like Chinese but with broth and herbs. completely characteristic of Vietnam.
And it's not suddenly that mentioning Cao Lau makes people remember Hoi An and vice versa. Because only in Hoi An can you eat the most delicious portion of Cao Lau thanks to the trio attached - Ba Le well water, Cu Lao Cham wood ash and Tra Que vegetables, things that only Hoi An has.
Banh xeo
Banh xeo is one of Vietnam's famous dishes, loved by Vietnamese people as well as international friends.
Banh xeo is filled with golden brown color, crispy skin, fragrant with turmeric powder and coconut milk. The filling of shrimp, meat, and bean sprouts is fresh and has a very sweet taste. The sweet and sour fish sauce is very delicious, eaten with a little carrot salad, kohlrabi, or papaya. Vietnamese people often enjoy this dish by cutting banh xeo into slices, rolling it with spring rolls and raw vegetables and dipping it in a bowl of extremely special dipping sauce.
Spring roll
Another dish that also appears on this list is spring rolls. This is a perfect choice for you to change your taste if you are tired of greasy foods. A carefully wrapped spring roll with both meat and vegetables, and a little sweet dipping sauce can help make dates with your friends more fun.
Spring rolls are a combination of many different ingredients: vegetables, meat,... which are both rich in nutrients and very easy to make. You can make a "snack" dish or a main dish on the daily menu.
In particular, spring rolls are also very suitable for receptions, festivals, and parties because they have the advantage of not being greasy, so there is no feeling of boredom, thereby stimulating people's appetite to eat better.
Shrimp and meat spring rolls have a combination of many different colors so they are extremely eye-catching. The price for each book is from 5,000 - 10,000 VND.
Banh trang tron (Mixed rice paper)
Mixed rice paper is just a simple dish but is increasingly popular and has become an indispensable gift for every gathering.
A portion of mixed rice paper includes rice paper cut into fine fibers, mixed with the flavors of cashew oil, shrimp salt, dried beef, dried squid, onion fat, roasted peanuts, fried onions, laksa leaves, and quail eggs. ... A package of mixed rice paper is very cheap, about 10,000 - 20,000 VND/part.
Walking along the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, it is not difficult to see women carrying ingredients to make rice paper on their shoulders. This dish can even be considered a typical feature of Saigon street food culture.
Egg coffee
Appearing last on the list, egg coffee is the dish mentioned by CNN with endless praise. Although it is a drink, you can absolutely use egg coffee as a dessert.
This is a dish that foreign tourists whisper to each other that they must try when coming to Hanoi. Egg whites are whipped smoothly, covered with a cup of rich coffee with typical Vietnamese flavors. Although only found in small alleys in Hanoi, egg coffee shops are always extremely crowded. The aromatic taste of egg yolks, the strong aroma of coffee, all create a passionate duo. What can you resist?
