Vietnam is a paradise of street foods with varied collections of street snacks. Banh trang nuong, or Vietnamese pizza, has become one of Vietnam’s most famous street foods due to its distinctive taste and affordable price.
Originating in Da Lat, a beautiful city in the highlands of Vietnam, Banh trang nuong is a delicious grilled rice paper with various toppings. The toppings often vary considerably depending on particular regions of Vietnam. The basic version is a rice paper roasted on the charcoal grill’s low-medium heat and topped with ground pork, chopped spring onions, and a quail egg mixed with dried shrimp crisps. Da Lat’s version uses a thicker grilled rice paper topped with cracked chicken egg, butter, cheese, seafood, sausage, and even scallions.
How to Make the Vietnamese Pizza
It is pretty easy to make Banh trang nuong by yourself in a few minutes. First, the mixture of ground pork, chopped spring onions, and shrimp crisps should be spread evenly over the rice paper. Then, crack one to two quail eggs on the top and swirl it around the rice paper while grilling it over charcoal until the ingredients appropriately become cooked and have achieved a beautiful brownish-golden color. Finally, your crunchy Vietnamese pizza is ready to serve with mayonnaise, chili, or tamarind sauce. You can fold the grilled rice paper in half or cut it into pieces with scissors. For the best crunchy taste, enjoy it right off of the grill.
While waiting in line and watching the preparation, the tempting smell and attractive color will captivate your senses. After the wait, the combination of various textures, including the crunch of grilled rice paper, the creamy and soft egg-butter-cheese mixture, and the saltiness of dried shrimp and ground pork, will surely give you a satiable appetite.
Saigon’s Version of Banh Trang Nuong
Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) is well-known as a heaven of street food, and Banh trang nuong always stands out for its convenience and exceptional taste. Walking along the streets, you can easily find many vendors selling this snack in the evening.
You can find this Vietnam street food anywhere in Ho Chi Minh City, including the area around the Notre Dame Cathedral, the 23/9 Park on Pham Ngu Lao Street, or along the Nguyen Hue Walking Street.
The varied price for a Vietnamese pizza is between VND 10,000 – 20,000, depending on the location and customization request. Banh trang nuong sold on the streets near schools and colleges is often cheaper than in tourist attractions. Banh trang nuong, therefore, is always a top favorite snack among students in Vietnam. With other street foods, Vietnamese pizza has made up a new, unique side of Vietnamese food culture in many young people’s lifestyles.
Summing up the Vietnam Street Food: Vietnamese Pizza
Together with many kinds of street foods, Banh trang nuong, or Vietnamese pizza, has added another unique taste to the Vietnamese street food culture. Exploring all versions of this grilled rice paper is always fascinating, especially when traveling with a group of friends.