Vietnamese street food: 15 good-tasting dishes that can be hardly ignored

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Explore the best Vietnamese street food to understand the local culture better (Source: Collected)

Vietnam travel has many interesting awaiting visitors, in which Vietnamese street food has various secrets for diners to explore. The food is the fruit of the hard labour and incredible creativity of Vietnamese people. Below is the list of the most popular street dishes that you definitely should try on your journey to Vietnam.

1. Vietnamese baguette (Banh mi)

Vietnamese bread may be the first Vietnamese street food that you come across in Vietnam. The bread was introduced in Vietnam by the French in the 1980s along with other baked goods. Due to the shortage of wheat flour, Vietnamese bakers instead used rice flour to create a kind of fluffier bread.

The locals have also created various kinds of fillings to make the bread more tasty. The fillings may include butter, liver pâté, fried pork, chicken, fried egg, ham, char siu, coriander, cucumber, and chilli sauce. The shapes of the bread and ingredients of the fillings vary according to regions. The bread can be enjoyed with some condensed milk or ice-cream as well.

Banh mi is among the most famous Vietnamese street foods (Source: Collected)

Since the 1990s, Vietnamese migrants have been popularising Vietnamese food to the world, including the introduction of Vietnamese bread and pho in London. Many foreigners now enjoy Vietnamese baguette as a staple food in their daily diet.

2. Fresh spring rolls (Goi cuon)

If you are seeking healthy, balanced, and popular Vietnamese street food, fresh spring rolls are the ideal choice. The rice paper wraps outside fresh vermicelli, boiled pork, boiled shrimp, lettuce and herbs, which will then be dipped in a sweet and salty soy sauce. The fillings may also include pork rind or squid depending on the locals’ taste.

Goi cuon is among the most popular Vietnamese street food Ho Chi Minh City (Source: Collected)

3. Vietnamese sticky rice (Xoi)

In every street and alley of Vietnam, you will easily find a vendor or shop selling xoi (Vietnamese sticky rice), which is a popular breakfast dish of the locals. As its name suggests, sticky rice is the main ingredient for the dish.

The chefs can create various colours for the authentic white sticky rice. They can use colourful leaves or roots to make the sticky rice purple, green, bright red, or bright yellow. Other ingredients can be added, such as mung bean, black bean, peanut, melon seed, lotus seed, cashew nut, corn, and coconut, together with meat, fish, and fruits.

The dish can be served with salted shredded meat, salted sesame, pâté, sausage, fried pork, char siu, ham, egg, and minced pork paste. It is recommended that you try as many different kinds of xoi in Vietnam as possible to see their differences.

Xoi should be on top of the list in a Vietnamese street food guide (Source: Collected)

4. Green papaya with beef jerky salad (Goi kho bo)

Goi kho bo (green papaya with beef jerky salad) is a popular Hanoi Alley Vietnamese street food. Its main ingredients are thin sliced green papaya, thin sliced carrot, shredded dried beef, and herbs. The dish should be served with a sweet and sour fish sauce. Local women often enjoy the dish as a snack between meals, while local men have it while drinking beer. The dish is considered healthy as it contains lots of fibres and vitamins.

Vietnamese street food vendors will offer this simple snack at a reasonable price (Source: Collected)

5. Rice paper salad (Banh trang tron)

Banh trang tron (rice paper salad) has become an indispensable dish of Vietnamese street food. It is made of smashed rice paper mixed with sauce, thin sliced mango, roasted peanut, shredded beef or chicken, together with herbs. The crispy rice paper blends well with the sour and sweet taste of the other ingredients, making this a popular dish in any locality in Vietnam at a fairly reasonable price.

Vietnamese street food rice paper is available anywhere in Vietnam (Source: Collected)

6. Vietnamese pizza (Banh trang nuong)

It is not clear how banh trang nuong (Vietnamese pizza) appeared in Vietnam. It has suddenly become popular in the last ten years in various places like Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat, and Da Nang. The choices of ingredients vary depending on the region. A Vietnamese pizza includes rice paper topped with quail egg, onion, oil, salted shredded pork, sausage, and minced pork. The pizza is baked on coal, which will be unforgettably tasty especially on cold nights.

Your Vietnamese street food tour may not be perfect without Vietnamese pizzas (Source: Collected)

7. Sweet soup (Che)

Che (sweet soup or sweet porridge) is a sweet dessert that includes hundreds of different recipes. It is impossible to name all kinds of che in Vietnam, as they all vary in colours, sizes, ingredients, and flavours. A basic che recipe often has coconut milk, sticky rice, mung bean, sugar, and fruit-flavoured jelly. People who love a cool taste may choose sweet soup with jelly or sweet soup with lotus seeds, while sweet lovers will like sweet soup with mung bean and 3-colour sweet soup.

Che is a type of Vietnamese street food dessert (Source: Collected)

8. Grilled sea snails (Oc nuong)

Sea snails are a popular snack in Ho Chi Minh City and the coastal areas. Grilling can preserve the natural taste of the fresh snails, which should be dipped with a spicy sauce to enhance the flavour and keep your stomach warm after enjoying the dish. It would be perfect to enjoy the dish with some beer or wine.

Grilled sea snails are a popular Vietnamese street food in coastal areas and big cities (Source: Collected)

9. Stir-fried corn (Bap xao)

If you need to fill your stomach with starch, stir-fried corn is a good choice, having one of the lowest Vietnamese street food prices. To make this dish, corn seeds are separated and stirred in butter, dried shrimp, and onion. Another variation of his dish is corn baked with oil and green onion.

Bap xao is a famous Vietnamese street food Ho Chi Minh City (Source: Collected)

10. Vietnamese popiah (Bo bia)

Popiah, which originated in China, has been modified to suit the locals’ taste in Vietnam. Its main ingredients include Vietnamese sausage, egg, carrot, lettuce, cassava or kohlrabi, dried shrimp and herbs, which are all cut into long thin slices and wrapped in a dried rice paper sheet. The roll is then dipped in chilli sauce mixed with crushed roasted peanuts. The sauce is stirred hot with fat and onion before serving.

Popiah is a popular Vietnamese street food for students due to its reasonable price (Source: Collected)

11. Fried rice flour cake with eggs (Bot chien)

This simple Vietnamese street food is more popular in the southern region than anywhere else. To make this dish, steamed rice flour is made into bite-sized pieces and fried with eggs. The dish is often served with green onion, sliced green papaya, and tomato sauce.

Fried rice flour cake with eggs is more popular in Southern Vietnam (Source: Collected)

12. Vietnamese crab soup (Sup cua)

This nutritious dish is popular in Ho Chi Minh City, which is a soup with smashed egg, mushroom, quail egg, and crab meat. The dish should be served with some pepper or chilli powder, together with some herbs.

This dish is both a Vietnamese street food and a delicacy at luxurious parties (Source: Collected)

13. Water fern cakes (Banh beo)

Water fern cakes are made from steamed rice flour, which is topped with dried shrimp, onion cooked in oil, a slice of bread with butter, and a sour and sweet fish sauce. All its ingredients blend well with one another, creating an incredible taste. Its small size makes it easy for take-away. You may enjoy dozens of these bite-sized cakes at once.

This Vietnamese street food is suitable for take-away (Source: Collected)

14. Balut (Trung vit lon)

Balut is a special dish that you can find in some Asian countries such as Vietnam, China, and the Philippines. This Vietnamese street food is loved by many people as it is tasty and nutritious.

Balut is a fertilised developing egg embryo that is boiled and eaten from the shell. The egg is steamed for some 15-20 minutes before being served, which should be eaten with some sliced ginger and rau ram (Vietnamese mint). According to Eastern medicine, ginger and rau ram warm up the body, which is good for health.

Balut provides a lot of nutritions (Source: Collected)

15. Egg coffee (Ca phe trung)

Hanoi is where egg coffee originated. You should try this drink in the capital of Vietnam, especially at a famed cafe in the Old Quarter such as Cafe Giang, No. 39 Nguyen Huu Huan Street, Hoan Kiem District.

To make this drink, coffee beans, after being roasted with some salt and butter, are brewed in metal filters with hot water. The hot water will drop into the cup below, bringing along the beans’ essence. This takes some time but will maintain most of the coffee’s flavour.

After that, a fresh yolk is smashed in a hand mixer, added with some condensed milk and honey. The coffee and the yolk is mixed together, creating this unique drink in Vietnam.

Egg coffee is a creative Vietnamese drink (Source: Collected)

The lure of Vietnamese food is so great for both locals and tourists. You can find many tasty dishes in every street of every city throughout the country. In addition to enjoying Vietnamese street food, you should complete your trip by visiting famous attractions in your destination.

If you happen to be in Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Hoi An, or Hanoi, it is recommended that you come to VinWonders Phu Quoc, VinWonders Nha Trang, VinWonders Nam Hoi An, or Vinpearl Aquarium and VinKE to have even more fun on your vacation.

• VinWonders Phu Quoc is considered as the top-rated theme park in Asia and the largest one in Vietnam. It has 6 wondrous subdivisions inspired by 12 human civilisations, along with many thrilling games for tourists of all ages. Therefore, this place will definitely give you endless fun on your trip to Phu Quoc.

VinWonders Phu Quoc is an interesting destination on the pearl island

• VinWonders Nha Trang is located on Hon Tre Island, Nha Trang Bay, one of the 29 most stunning bays in the world. The park covers an area of 50 hectares with 6 wondrous subdivisions. This massive complex features architectural masterpieces, outdoor and indoor entertainment activities, refreshing water slides, thrilling rides, bustling shops, and numerous dining options.

A park combining modern settings and natural scenery

• VinWonders Nam Hoi An is the ideal place for you to relax near the ancient town of Hoi An. Here, there are 5 subdivisions that provide modern thrilling games suitable for tourists of all ages. You also have a chance to admire the architectural features of Vietnam’s three regions, enjoy a variety of distinctive art forms, and watch some realistic shows in VinWonders Nam Hoi An.

Relax in VinWonders Nam Hoi An while learning about the traditional culture of the three regions

When you are in Hanoi, it is recommended that you visit VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium Times City, especially if you travel with your kids. These two sites are both in Vincom Mega Mall Times City, No. 458, Minh Khai street, Vinh Tuy ward, Hai Ba Trung district, which is not far from the city centre.

At Vinpearl Aquarium, your kids will have the opportunity to explore a colorful ocean world at one of the most modern aquarium systems in Vietnam. In a total area of ​​​​nearly 4,000 square metres, the aquarium stores nearly 3 million litres of seawater and more than 30,000 sea creatures from around the world.

On the other hand, VinKE is where the children can experience their dream career, learn more about their favourite field, and become more confident with the world around them. Here, there are many job simulation games, such as: Fire Department, Traffic Police, Special Forces, Auto Repair Workshop, etc.

Have fun with your children at VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium Times City

>>> Book tickets of VinWonders Phu Quoc, VinWonders Nha Trang, VinWonders Nam Hoi An, VinKE & Vinpearl Aquarium to optimize your time and budget!

Vietnam, with thousands of years of history and diverse ethnic groups, has many interesting things for tourists to discover. Among them, Vietnamese street food has played an important role. The list of 15 best street dishes above will enrich your understanding about Vietnam and the foods before you taste their flavours in a real visit.

>>> Make sure you book voucher, combo, tour to Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Hoi An, Da Nang in advance to optimize your time and budget!