Are you a gourmet and looking for some culinary delights during the trip through Vietnam? Now, have a glance at the suggested must-try dishes since you will not waste your time here.
Pho – the country’s national food
When one international friend visits Vietnam, in terms of cuisine, what the locals would like to recommend to them is exactly Pho, supposed to be the country’s national food. One exciting thing is that most of the foreign friends left a sweet comment on this kind of soup after their trips, saying that it is brilliant in both taste and texture. That is the reason that CNN ranked it as among the most luscious dishes in the world in 2011. Apart from perfect broth and tender noodle, the soup is number one thanks to sweet fresh beef and maybe chicken. It is not too expensive to try a bowl of pho when you have an opportunity to take a break to Vietnam.
Bun Rieu – Crab Noodle Soup
It is no exaggeration that noodle soup varying from the North to the South is an iconic dish of Vietnam, and Bun Rieu of the South is one of the kinds deserving a try. To enhance the taste of the noodle soup, people add a type of shrimp sauce to the dish, and despite being a special ingredient, the sauce will be quite smelly for those who try it at the first time. Anyway, the broth of Bun Rieu may overwhelm you, for which you ought not to ignore it when landing in some city of Vietnam. Additionally, Bun Rieu is chosen as one of the Asia’s attractive dishes.
Bun Bo Hue – Beef Noodle from Hue
Alternative from the list of must-try dishes in Vietnam is Bun Bo Hue – the unique noodle soup from Hue, the ancient capital located in the Middle. It seems that all the quintessence of the cuisine is found in Bun Bo Hue of this land. With the sophisticated flavor of the broth made by stewing beef bones and beef shank and some other secret ingredients, it is possible to say that the dish easily wins hearts of gourmets when they make a trip to explore Vietnamese cuisine.
Com Tam – Broken Rice
Ever wonder if there is anything special in Broken Rice – Com Tam of Vietnam? Yes, it is definitely excellent in the way people cook it; broken rice chosen is a kind of rice which is not only delicate in fragrance but also soft in texture, and pork must be grilled in such a clever way that it is tender and sweet enough. Moreover, the plate of broken rice is also topped with fried eggs, some slices of cucumber and tomato. The dish is always enjoyed with sweet fish sauce.
Bo Kho – Beef Stew
The recipe of Bo Kho may be the most exciting one since you can enjoy it with noodle or crisp baguettes. Taking a look at a bowl of beef stew, you will realize that its colors is quite attractive and eye-catching; with the dark orange broth from beef bones and a kind of colored natural oil, it is actually irresistible to try. It is better to add some fresh herbs for enhancing the dish’s taste.
Banh Mi – Vietnamese Baguette
Banh Mi is chosen as among the finest sandwiches in the world by BBC, so it is certainly put in the list of food you must try when you explore Vietnam. Although the dish is influenced by the French cuisine – a kind of baguette, its fillings are clearly excellent ingredients from Vietnam. For those who have ever tried this dish, let’s think about it as a baguette stuffed with grilled pork, chicken, beef, or eggs, vegetables, and sauce. Just walk along streets in Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi, you will easily find one food stall or restaurant serving it.
Bun Cha – Vermicelli with grilled pork
Well-known as a delicacy of Hanoi, northern Vietnam, Bun Cha is unique in the way people enjoy it. It is not a noodle soup, but you must dip each piece of noodle into the bowl of sweet fish sauce full of grilled pork before savoring it. It is really a perfect combination of noodle, sweet fish sauce, herbs, pickled papaya, and vegetables. That is the reason why it was chosen to serve President Obama when he had a visit to Vietnam in May 2016.
Banh Xeo – Vietnamese Pancake
Banh Xeo, aka Vietnamese Pancake is believed to be a treasure of the Vietnamese cuisine. The cake is cooked on a hot frying pan and made looks like a crispy crepe, but it is stuffed with various fresh Vietnamese ingredients, such as bean sprouts, shrimp, and pork. The most stimulating point is that it is served with vegetables, herbs, and sweet and sour fish sauce – a quintessential culinary mix.
