Vietnamese food - 20 classic dishes you must try

Writer: Helena Bergström

Vietnamese food is known for its fresh flavours, fresh herbs and perfect balance of sweet, sour, salty and spicy. You'll find everything from noodle soups and street food to tasty barbecues and exciting desserts. In this guide, we take a look at what to eat in Vietnam - and list 20 classic Vietnamese dishes you won't want to miss.

What to eat in Vietnam? - a quick overview

We have previously written about Filipino food and food in Sri Lanka, and now we're focusing on Vietnamese food! In Vietnam, food is often light, fresh and flavourful. Here are some typical examples of food in Vietnam:

• Noodle soups: Pho and bun
• Street food: Banh mi and spring rolls
• Meat and barbecue: Pork, chicken and beef
• Fish and seafood: Common along the coast
• Sweet: Tropical fruits and desserts with coconut

We got married in Vietnam many years ago, travelling around the country on our honeymoon. We were very are fond of Vietnamese food - especially the fresh spring rolls! - and are happy to eat in Vietnamese restaurants even in Europe.

Unfortunately, we don't have many of our own photos of Vietnamese food, so we have to supplement with photos from other sources.

Typical Vietnamese food - 20 classic dishes

Here we list Vietnamese dishes that are interesting to try, including small dishes, street food, sweets and drinks.

1. Pho

Vietnam's most famous dish - a filling noodle soup with broth, rice noodles, herbs and usually beef or chicken. Can be varied in many different ways!

2. Buncha

Pork meatballs served with rice noodles, herbs and a sweet and sour sauce, which can be spicy. This is a classic from Hanoi, which we have tasted in Sweden.

3. Com tam

A classic Vietnamese rice dish often served with grilled pork, eggs and vegetables. All topped with a flavourful fish sauce.

4. Com Ga (Chicken rice)

A classic Vietnamese chicken dish served with rice cooked in chicken broth and turmeric. It is often topped with fresh herbs and served with a tangy dipping sauce.

5. Cao lau

A regional speciality from Hi An, with thick noodles, pork and crispy croutons. This particular dish became a favourite for us when we hung out in Hoi An during our trip. Simple, cheap and always good!

6. My name is

A noodle dish from central Vietnam characterised by wide yellow-coloured rice noodles. The dish is usually topped with meat, for example, or seafood and crispy rice paper.

7. Vietnamese hotpot (Lau)

Meat, seafood and vegetables are cooked in hot broth, much like Chinese hotpot. Delicious and enjoyable!

8. Banh mi

A Vietnamese baguette filled with meat, vegetables, coriander and chilli sauce. Perfect and delicious street food!

9. Goi cuon (fresh spring rolls)

Rice paper rolls filled with prawns, herbs and noodles. Served with dipping sauce. This is one of our absolute favourites, which we like to order in Vietnamese restaurants, also in Europe. Deliciously flavoursome and fresh!

10. Cha gio (fried spring rolls)

Crispy spring rolls filled with meat and glass noodles. We love fresh spring rolls, but the fried version is also very tasty.

11. Banh xeo

A crispy Vietnamese pancake (or crepe perhaps) filled with prawns, pork, bean sprouts or similar.

12. Nem nuong

Grilled pork skewers, often served with rice paper and herbs. Can be bought as street food.

13. Banh khot

Small crispy mini pancakes, often with prawns. Simply a delicious little snack!

14. Bun bo Hue

A spicy noodle soup from Hue, made with beef and pork bone broth, flavoured with lemongrass, chilli oil and shrimp paste. The noodles are slightly thicker and the soup contains both beef and pork.

15. Mix xao

Fried egg noodles mixed with crispy vegetables and meat, seafood or tofu, for example. The dish is flavoured with soy, oyster sauce and garlic.

16: Che

A sweet dessert often made with cooked beans, coconut milk and sometimes fruit or jelly. This colourful dessert can be served hot or cold, in slightly different variations.

17. Banh flan

Vietnamese version of creme caramel - a dessert influenced by French food culture.

18. Mango with sticky rice

Rice mixed with coconut milk and palm sugar is served with mangoes. A pretty common (and tasty) dessert!

19. Vietnamese iced coffee

Strong coffee served cold with condensed milk and ice cubes. In other words, refreshing!

20. Fresh juices and smoothies

Often made with mango, dragon fruit or papaya, for example. Fresh, sweet and delicious!

Vietnamese food culture and traditions

During our trip to Vietnam, we were fascinated by the flavour, freshness and variety of the food. Moreover, food has a social significance.

• Meals are often shared in the family
• Fresh herbs are an essential part of every dish
• Street food is a big part of everyday life
• Balance of flavours is key

Eating in Vietnam is a socialising experience - often sitting on small plastic chairs along the street eating freshly cooked food. A cookery class can be a fun way to learn more. We were also lucky enough to be invited to the home of a Vietnamese family, to share a meal with them.

Food in different regions of Vietnam

Vietnamese cuisine varies greatly depending on the region.

• Northern Vietnam (Hanoi): Milder flavours, pho and bun cha
• Central Vietnam (Hue, Hoi An): Stronger and spicier food
• South Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City): Sweeter flavours and more variety

We mainly visited the north and centre of Vietnam during our trip, and have yet to discover the southern parts. Maybe we will go there in the future, who knows!

More about food in other countries

Here you can find more stories about food in different countries:

• Thai food - 20 classic dishes
• Sri Lankan food - 15 dishes to try in Sri Lanka
• Filipino food - 15 Filipino specialities
• Chinese food - 20 Chinese dishes
• Malaysian food - 15 Malaysian dishes