Vietnamese cuisine is not only about eating but also about a country’s history and culture. Vietnam has been renowned for its food diversity, and every dish promises to be a unique experience. Don’t know what to try first? Here are our recommendations for 20 must-try Vietnamese dishes, in no particular order:
1. Banh Mi
Originating from France, the banh mi (Vietnamese baguette) is made from a long list of ingredients that might make you feel overstuffed when you first hear of it, but the harmonious combinations will change your thoughts. The crispy-crusted baguette is filled with pate, butter, various meat types, and fresh vegetables.
While the most popular version of the Banh Mi has pork sausage and ham inside, you can choose other versions with roasted pork, shredded chicken, fried fish patty, or fried eggs to have diverse tastes. Cilantro, cucumber, tomato, fresh chili, julienned pickled carrot, and radish are also added to balance the taste of Banh Mi. As the last step, a spoonful of soy sauce is added to it. Banh Mi is a convenient, economical Vietnamese dish found on many street corners nationwide.
2. Pho
There are still many arguments about the origin of Pho. Some believe it is an original Vietnamese dish, while others think we got it from the French and flavored it with herbs similar to Chinese cuisine. No matter where it came from, it has become an important part of Vietnamese culture. Nowadays, this dish has several variants. The basic recipe includes flat white rice noodles called Pho or Banh Pho, thin slices of beef or shredded chicken, and beef broth seasoned with different herbs and Asian spices.
Pho is Vietnam’s national dish. For more details about It, check out our guide on the Best Places to Eat Authentic Pho in Ho Chi Minh City.
3. Com Tam
Com Tam, or Broken Rice, is a Vietnamese dish you should not miss when visiting Vietnam. It is a filling choice for an energetic breakfast or lunch. This dish is displayed in a very eye-catching way thanks to its ingredients. It has milky white fractured rice grains topped with scallions and oil, shiny brown grilled pork chops, yellow sunny side up egg or steamed egg, thin slices of yellowish-brown fried pork skin, and for nutritional balance, red tomatoes, green cucumbers, and pickles. Everything is served with a fish sauce as a compliment on the side.
Considered a signature of Saigon, the smell of Com Tam makes your mouth water, while the taste makes you fall in love. It is sold in many corners in Saigon, from small food carts to classy restaurants. Some addresses that you can find a lush plate of broken rice:
Com Tam Thuan Kieu
Address: 26 Ton That Tung, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1
Opening hours: 10 AM – 8:45 PM
Price: VND 29,000 – VND 90,000 (depends on the topping options)
This restaurant has been established in Saigon for more than 40 years. The price is quite high, but the quality makes up for it.
Com Tam Ba Muoi
Address: 294/35 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh, Ward 21, Binh Thanh District
Opening hours: 9 PM – 4 AM
Price: VND 25,000 – 40,000
This place is so famous that some celebrities have been spotted coming here for a midnight meal.
4. Banh Cuon
Vietnamese Steamed Rice Roll, which originated in Northern Vietnam, is a good choice for a light but healthy meal. It is an extremely thin, almost transparent rice sheet filled with seasoned stir-fried pork and wood ear mushrooms. When served, crunchy fried shallots, bean sprouts, and chopped vegetables are added to enhance the taste.
Vietnamese usually eat Banh Cuon with several types of pork sausages and dip them in fish sauce. At some places, besides lime juice and chili, the seller mixes the sauce with the essence of Ca Cuong’s (Lethocerus indicus), a big water bug living in the southwest provinces of Vietnam, for a stronger flavor.
Banh Cuon in Saigon is similar to the original one in the North, except that the sauce is quite sweeter to fit the locals’ regional taste. We get a list of clean, qualified stalls to get Banh Cuon right here.
5. Banh Da Cua
Banh Da Cua is a specialty of Hai Phong, a coastal province in Northern Vietnam. Banh Da is the noodle used in this dish, and Cua is the Vietnamese word for crab. In a bowl of Banh Da Cua, you will get a lot of “toppings” such as crab roe, Bo Nuong La Lot (grilled beef in piper lolot herb), shrimp, and vegetables. The crab roe and the pork broth create a distinctive taste. Here is a famous place to have Banh Da Cua in Saigon.
Banh Da Cua Di Ly
Address: 103 Dong Khoi, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
Opening hours: 8:30 AM – 11 PM
Price: VND 69,000
This family-owned restaurant is known for various food selections and reasonable prices for a delicious dinner.
6. Bun Cha
Bun Cha is a signature of Hanoi cuisine. Bun is the Vietnamese word for thin rice vermicelli, and Cha, in this case, is grilled pork. Bun Cha resembles Bun Thit Nuong, although the fish sauce that goes with this dish is quite different. Bun Cha’s sweet and sour sauce is much bland so you can dip all of the noodles, meat, and vegetables into it to enjoy.
Although you might be impressed with the seasoned pork goodness, the grease can make you feel full after some pieces. To solve this problem, pickled green papaya and carrot are put in the fish sauce for balance.
7. Bun Bo Hue
Like many other Vietnamese dishes, the name Bun Bo Hue already tells the story of its origin and ingredients. Hue is a former imperial city in Central Vietnam that witnessed numerous historical events in Vietnam. It was also the capital during the Nguyen dynasty, and some still call it the Imperial City.
Therefore, the beef noodles soup, or Bun Bo Hue, reflects the delicacy of the cooking process as well as the characteristics of the Hue people. Its distinguishable soup is fresh and soothing thanks to the lemongrass, and the taste is distinctive thanks to the shrimp paste served optionally on the side. The hot-and-sour soup, slippery noodles, ivory boiled pettitoes, and moist beef topside bring a palatable feeling.
8. Bun Rieu
Known as an idyllic dish of the Northern Vietnam countryside, Bun Rieu has stolen the heart of Saigonese. The aroma is light and fresh, so you do not feel stuffed after eating a large bowl. An adequate serving contains vermicelli, fried tofu, crab roe mixed with minced pork, and some pieces of tomato.
At some places, you might be given an extra slice of pork sausage. When in Saigon, you can try Bun Rieu at:
Bun Rieu Cua Bien
Address: 66 Nguyen Thai Binh, Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1
Opening hours: 6 AM – 9 PM
Price: VND 47,000 – VND 57,000
To enhance the taste of this modest dish, you can ask for a small bowl of shellfish at VND 15,000.
9. Hu Tieu
Just like Com Tam or Pho, Hu Tieu is a common Vietnamese dish. You can find it at mobile food carts or five-star restaurants. There are two kinds of Hu Tieu: one from China and one from Cambodia (called Hu Tieu Nam Vang). When these were brought to Vietnam, we modified the taste to the regional appetite.
The noodles are made from rice flour, and there are some variations. They can be clear and tough, thick and soft, or thin and smooth. There are two ways to eat Hu Tieu: with or without soup. The toppings of Hu Tieu Nam Vang include minced pork, shrimp, quail eggs, pig’s liver, a fistful of chives, and basil, which bring a distinctive aroma to the dish. The Chinese Hu Tieu is simpler, with toppings like char siu, chives, and fried shallots.
Regarding its origin, one of the ideal places to have this dish is District 5 and District 10 (Cambodian Market) in Ho Chi Minh City, a part of Chinatown.
10. Banh Canh
Banh Canh, unlike the thin rice vermicelli in those dishes we mentioned above or the flat noodles in Pho, is made with Vietnamese tapioca noodles, which are fat, round, and chewy. It can be topped with seafood like crab, squid, fish cakes, or pork trotters.
Besides the common version you can have for lunch or dinner, there is a sweet version for dessert. The noodles are cooked with mung beans and coconut milk, making it tasteful but a little tougher. You can find it at Tan Dinh Market, District 1 for only VND 10,000 per bowl.
11. Mi Quang
The name Mi Quang itself presents the origin of Quang Nam, a central Vietnamese province. This is an exceptional and colorful dish. The noodles used in Mi Quang are quite similar to those in Pho, but they are thicker and chewier and have three different colors: reddish-brown, yellow, or white.
You can choose from a variety of toppings: chicken, shrimp, fish, pork, or even all of them. The perfect side dish for Mi Quang is a sheet of crusty grilled rice paper and, like other Vietnamese noodles, a plate of fresh vegetables and bean sprouts.
Note down some addresses to get yourself a serving of Mi Quang in Saigon.
Mi Quang Sam
Address: 8 Ca Van Thinh, Ward 11, Tan Binh District
Opening hours: 6 AM – 11 AM, 3 PM – 10 PM
Price: VND 32,000 – VND 37,000
Mi Quang Sam is a warm restaurant famous for keeping the original taste of Mi Quang. No matter what type of toppings you want, they cost the same. The quality and reasonable price attract many customers, so it can be crowded at lunch and dinner.
Mi Quang Tron Hong Ha
Address: 129 Hong Ha, Ward 9, Phu Nhuan District
Opening hours: 6 AM – 11 AM
Price: VND 15,000
This is a small takeaway food cart with an affordable price for a whole bowl of Mi Quang. The special thing about this cart is that it serves noodles without soup, which is a great experience for anyone who already loves the normal version.
12. Bun Dau Mam Tom
If you want to try some exotic dishes in Vietnam but prefer something not so challenging, Bun Dau Mam Tom can be a good choice. This dish is usually served in a bamboo strainer containing thin rice vermicelli, fried tofu, boiled pork, several types of herbs and a small bowl of shrimp paste (or Mam Tom in Vietnamese). The shrimp paste is paired with kumquat juice, chili peppers, and sugar. You can modify it yourself to make it palatable. Due to its one-in-a-million smell, not everyone can enjoy the fermented and smelly shrimp paste. For those who love it, it can be very addicting.
Being a famous dish in Hanoi for years, Bun Dau Mam Tom is now available in many stores in Saigon. Most of these stores don’t have air conditioners since open places can help reduce the strong smell of shrimp paste and the frying of the deep-fried tofu. Some food stalls that you can find this dish are as below.
Bun Dau Co Khan
Address: 102/26 Cong Quynh, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1
Opening hours: 10 AM – 8 PM
Price: VND 35,000 – VND 65,000
Bun Dau A Vung
Address: 6AB Luong Huu Khanh, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1
Opening hours: 10 AM – 10 PM
Price: VND 61,000
13. Com Ga
Com Ga, or Chicken Rice, is suitable for those who want to avoid eating red meat. This dish has several versions, each with its own cooking process. The original one boils the chicken and then uses the chicken broth to cook the rice. To flavor and make the dish more healthy, pickles and herbs are dressed on top of the juicy chicken and fatty, shiny yellow rice.
Com Ga Hong Xuong – Nguyen Trai
Address: 357 Nguyen Trai, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1
Opening hours: 10 AM – 10:30 PM
Price: VND 78,000 – VND 80,000
This restaurant serves Com Ga and other Vietnamese rice dishes. Although a serving costs a little more than average, the taste will not disappoint.
Ga Co Bap
Address: 237/44 Tran Van Dang, Ward 11, District 3
Opening hours: 8 AM – 11 PM
Price: VND 48,000 – VND 58,000
This family-friendly restaurant has a wide range of options for you to try chicken with Vietnamese seasonings.
14. Nem Chua
If you have tried all of the Vietnamese noodles and are looking for something different, we highly suggest Nem Chua, a specialty of Thanh Hoa. This fermented food is made from pork, pork skin cut into thin strips, and roasted rice powder.
This mixture is flavored with sugar, fish sauce, salt, pepper, and garlic, wrapped in one small guava leaf and five to seven layers of banana leaves. It has a mildly sour taste that makes you want to keep eating. If you are afraid of eating raw meat, some stalls provide fried Nem Chua like Ha Noi Ngon – 217 Le Van Sy, Ward 13, District 3. It opens from 4 PM – 11 PM and offers a serving for VND 35,000 – 59,000, a good price for an evening snack.
15. Goi Cuon (Spring Rolls)
Goi Cuon is a traditional dish that shows Vietnamese people’s creativity. It consists of a piece of translucent rice paper with varied fillings and sauces.
The most popular stuffing is pork and shrimp, but it can be crab, fish, patties, or fried eggs. It also contains vermicelli, Vietnamese herbs, and mung bean sprouts – a completely nutritious appetizer.
Hoisin sauce, fish sauce, mam nem (fermented fish sauce with pineapple), or peanut sauce is often served with Goi Cuon, but soy sauce is another alternative if you find these smells unpleasant. You can find it in local markets or at Saigon food streets for just VND 5,000 – 8,000 per roll.
16. Banh Beo
Water-fern cakes are another one-of-a-kind dish from Hue. They are a small bowl of soft, fluffy steamed rice cake topped with savory minced pork, shrimp, friable pork fat, and scallions. The spicy fish sauce makes them more appealing and flavorsome.
You can find this delicious Vietnamese dish in restaurants serving Hue cuisine and in big local markets in Ho Chi Minh City.
17. Banh Bot Loc
Vietnamese tapioca dumplings are a delicious snack for cold days. They have the same origin as Bun Bo Hue and Banh Beo. The dumplings have a chewy translucent coat and crunchy stuffings that include shrimp, minced pork, and optional wood ear mushrooms. They are steamed or boiled until the coats turn transparent. A tasty bowl of fish sauce will complete this dish. The spicier, the better, so you can add some chili peppers to warm yourself up or even break a little sweat.
A good address to try out these small yet delectable dumplings is Banh Bot Loc Buon Me – 170 Phan Van Han, Ward 2, Binh Thanh District. It is open from 9 AM – 10 PM, and a pack of ten dumplings costs VND 35,000. This bistro only has takeaway and delivery services, so you might need another place to settle and eat.
18. Banh Trang Tron
If you are looking for some street foods, we would recommend Banh Trang Tron, a specialty of Saigon. This concoction combines shredded rice paper, boiled quail eggs, dried beef, herbs, and some secret spices. Each seller has their own recipe of seasoning to attract customers, which keeps Banh Trang Tron trendy among Saigonese for years.
It is sold by hawkers at crowded places surrounding local schools, parks, or local markets at almost any time of the day for VND 15,000 – 20,000 per serving. The packaging might be simple, usually in plastic takeaway bags, but combining all ingredients says it all.
19. Tau Hu
Tau Hu, or soybean pudding, is a favorite dessert of many children in Vietnam. A bowl of plain white tofu might not be irresistible, but with a spoon of sweet ginger syrup, coconut milk, and some toppings like chewy sugar-coated boba or grass jelly, it is no longer just a Vietnamese dish; it becomes an unforgettable memory in local people’s childhood.
The traditional version is now only sold by hawkers on streets, in alleyways, or in local markets. However, spacious stores offer modern and more colorful versions. Depending on the seller and the toppings, the price range is VND 5,000 – 30,000.
20. Che Chuoi
Che Chuoi – Banana Sweet Soup is in the list of Vietnamese Desserts You Must Try. It is well-known for its easy-to-find ingredient, banana, easily spotted in rural areas of Vietnam, and its sweet taste. Larger, ready-to-eat bananas are sliced into round pieces. After being cooked, it is served either hot or cold with coconut milk, mini tapioca jelly, and peanut crumbs. You can search for it at local markets or stalls specializing in sweet soups at VND 15,000 per bowl.
Summary of the 20 Best Vietnamese Dishes
There are hundreds of choices for a local meal in Vietnam, with dishes from all over the country. When you visit this country, huge cities like Ho Chi Minh, attempt to try as many of the Vietnamese dishes on our list as you can. You can explore this rapidly growing city in many ways, and one of the best ways to do it is the food motorbike tour.