Vietnam - a country of natural beauty and diverse culture, is also a paradise of wonderful traditional dishes. With the country stretching from the North to the South, Vietnam boasts a unique culinary system according to each region. The combination of many herbs and spices makes Vietnamese dishes different from those of other Asian countries. Vietnamese cuisine is increasingly attracting tourists from all around the world to discover the variety of Vietnamese dishes. Join us on this journey to find out about “Best dishes by region in Vietnam to try absolutely”.

What to know about Vietnamese cuisine 

Vietnamese cuisine is extremely diverse and flavorful. The uniqueness of Vietnamese cuisine lies not only in the combination of herbs and spices found nowhere else, but also in the typical Vietnamese cooking methods and eating habits. Although less known than other Asian cuisines such as China, Japan or Thailand due to the fact that Vietnamese food often values taste rather than aesthetics, Vietnamese cuisine is gaining popularity and crossing borders, becoming increasingly popular around the world.

In particular, street food plays an important role in Vietnamese cuisine and is an integral part of the country's culture. Even street food in Ho Chi Minh City is ranked in the top 5 best street food in the world, according to a survey by the American magazine CEOWORLD. You will miss a part of the country's culture if you don't sit down with the locals and enjoy with them a specialty like pho or some traditional food in Vietnam such as fried spring rolls or snails, on small plastic tables. 

You won't find the same specialties throughout the country, nor the same flavors. For example, Northern cuisine such as Hanoi is often more delicate, less in sauces, and less sweet than Southern cuisine such as Ho Chi Minh City, where the addition of coconut milk is common. Central cuisine is famous for its spicier and richer flavor, using many products from the sea, and famous for its way of sculpting vegetables.

1. “Must-try” food In North Vietnam:

Northern Vietnamese cuisine mainly uses vegetables, seafood, and fish that are easily obtained from saltwater areas (freshwater shrimp, crab, fish, clams, squid, etc.), along with with some meat dishes. Most dishes are seasoned with diluted fish sauce. This is an ancient cuisine and is famous for its unique flavors, which are highly dependent on a combination of soups, stews, and baked dishes.

Pho 

One of the most famous Vietnamese dishes is Pho, originating from the North of the country. Pho is pronounced similarly to the French word "feu" which means stewed pot, it is a delicious pot of broth made from bones, ginger, anise, spices, cloves, and fish sauce with white vermicelli, meat can be thinly sliced chicken or beef and a variety of herbs. Pho is available on every street corner, across the country. There are some disputes about "the best Vietnamese pho soup, pho Hanoi or pho Saigon". However, there is no doubt that the North of Vietnam is where you can enjoy the best Pho.

Vietnamese people often enjoy Pho at any meal, whether it is breakfast, lunch or dinner. So it's very easy for you to taste this dish. This signature dish even has its own anniversary, which is Vietnam Pho Day, on December 12.

Some recommended addresses:

● Pho Bat Dan, 49 Bat Dan Street, Hanoi

● Pho Thin, 13 Lo Duc Street, Hanoi

● Pho Ly Quoc Su (3 Ly Quoc Su, Hang Voi and Hoang Minh Giam streets), Hanoi

● Pho Vui, Hang Giay Street, Old Quarter, Hanoi

Bun cha

Another iconic dish of North Vietnam is Bun Cha, which attracts many tourists by its unique flavor and grilled pork over charcoal fire. This dish consists of grilled pork shoulder and pork shumai served with rice vermicelli, herbs and raw vegetables.

One interesting fact about this dish is Former US President Barack Obama used to try Bun Cha during his visit to Hanoi in 2016.

Some recommended addresses:

● Bun Cha Huong Lien, 24 Le Va Huu, Hanoi (the restaurant where Barack Obama ate)

● Bun Cha Bach Mai, 213 Bach Mai Street, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi

● Bun Cha Hanoi, 34 Hang Than Street, Ba Dinh, Hanoi

Banh Cuon

As a specialty of the North of Vietnam, Banh Cuon is a cake wrapped in ground pork and black fungus. In Vietnamese culture, this dish is often enjoyed for breakfast or lunch, especially at the time of the transition of the phases of the Moon (full moon, new moon...). The way to prepare Banh Cuon also has slight differences depending on the city where it is prepared.

Some recommended addresses to try:

● Banh Cuon Phuong in 68 Hang Cot, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.

● Bánh cuốn Thuy Khue, Lane 29, Thuy Khue, Tay Ho, Hanoi.

● Bánh cuốn Ba Hanh, 26B Tho Xuong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.

2. “Must-try” food in Central Vietnam

Central Vietnamese cuisine is different from other regions because people use pepper and chili a lot in their dishes. Do not forget to inform the restaurant chef so that you can enjoy spicy dishes according to your preferences, in case the level of spicy makes your taste and taste buds burn.

Bun Bo Hue

Bun Bo Hue is a typical soup of Hue, the ancient city of Vietnam. It's a delicious and spicy soup of rice noodles garnished with thin slices of beef calves, oxtail pieces and pork shanks, all seasoned with cilantro, small scallions, thinly sliced onions, and scallions or banana flowers.

Famous chef Anthony Bourdain also said that "Bun Bo Hue is the best soup in the world that I have ever tasted". This is a must-try Vietnamese dish not to be missed when you come to Hue!

Some recommended addresses:

● Bun bo ba Tuyet, 47 Nguyen Cong Tru Street, Hue

● Bun bo Di Bup, 68 Tran Quang Khai Street, Hue

● Bun bo ba Nga, 103 Xuan 68, Hue

● Bun Bo Ong Vong, 5 Nguyen Du Street, Hue

Cao Lau

Cao Lau is a specialty dish of Hoi An, the city of lanterns. It's a delicious noodle soup that you can enjoy with slices of pork, soybeans, and biscuits, all spiced up with herbs. Cao Lau is a dish that dates back many centuries, derived from the culinary influence of the communities that lived in Hoi An, such as the French, the Chinese and the Japanese.

Famous addresses to try this dish:

● Hoi An Central Market, the entrance to the food court is at the intersection of Tran Phu and Nguyen Hue streets

● Cao Lau Ba Thanh Hoi An, No. 26 Thai Phien Street, in Hoi An city center.

● Cao Lau Khong Gian Xanh, in 687 Hai Ba Trung, Minh An Ward, Hoi An

Banh beo

Banh Beo is a specialty of Central Vietnam, made from rice cakes and tapioca flour, fried pork skin, shrimp and scallions mixed in onion oil, served in small bowls. This is one of the most popular street food in Vietnam, especially in Hue.

Famous addresses to try this dish:

● Hoa Hong Trang (White Rose) Restaurant, 533 Hai Ba Trung Street, Hoi An

● Banh Beo Nam Loc Ba Do, 8 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Hue

● Quan Pho Co - Banh Beo - Nam - Loc, 03 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Hue

● Banh Beo Nam Loc Me Le - Kim Long, 17/9 kiosk 104 Kim Long group 7, Hue

3. “Must-try” food in South Vietnam

Southern Vietnamese cuisine has a sweeter flavor than the North due to the influence of Chinese, Cambodian and Thai cuisine. We can see that the use of coconut and coconut milk is quite common in Southern Vietnamese dishes. In addition, the South also has many dishes made from dried fish and seafood from the deep sea, which is different from the North with seafood from the salt water.

Hu Tieu

Hu Tieu: Among the typical dishes of South Vietnam, we can mention Hu Tieu, known as Saigon soup, a specialty of the city of My Tho. What makes it different is its rice dough, which is made from wheat flour bound with tapioca starch. Originally from the Mekong Delta, it is the most popular soup in the Saigon breakfast. 

Some recommended addresses to try:

● Hu tieu Tylum, 93 Huynh Man Dat Street, Ho Chi Minh City

● Lien Hua Hu Tieu, 312 An Duong Vuong Street, Ho Chi Minh City

● Hu Tieu Hong Phat, 389 Vo Van Tan Street, Ho Chi Minh City

Ta Pin Lu

Known as “Lẩu” (hotpot)  in the North of the Country, Ta Pin Lu is the Vietnamese specialty of South Vietnam. This is a meal that the Vietnamese particularly like when they go out in groups. The dish consists of a broth that is left to boil quietly on a hot plate and in which we dip different ingredients according to individual taste: beef, chicken, squid, shrimp, carrot, ginger, kohlrabi, rice vermicelli, these are just the most popular ones. 

Some recommended addresses to try:

● Lau Dau Ca Dan Ich, 99 Chau Van Liem, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City

● Quan Lau Dong Xuyen, 407 Nguyen Chi Thanh, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City

● Restaurant 13, 13 Ngo Duc Ke, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Some tips for the best Vietnamese food

● If you want to experience street food to enjoy some authentic Vietnamese food, ask and choose the stalls that the locals frequently come to eat. Usually, this means good food, reasonably priced, and safe.

● Avoid eating raw foods and make sure to wash fruits and vegetables if you intend to eat the skins.

● Avoid eating seafood on the street, because it does not always follow the safety food preservation. You should enjoy seafood at sea resorts or fishing villages or buy from the market.

Conclusion

From street food to high-end restaurants, from breakfast to dinner, Vietnamese cuisine will constantly captivate food lovers’ hearts around the world. Through this “best dishes by region in Vietnam” topic, we hope you save the opportunity to discover and experience the special flavors of Vietnam. These dishes not only bring great taste but also bring people together, each meal can become a meaningful cultural experience and a way to connect with Vietnamese people.

If you are looking for a tour that can discover all famous dishes of Saigon by a special way - on motorbike, just check out this ideal : 

=> Top 20 best dishses in Vietnam