British magazine introduces 9 delicious dishes you must try when coming to Vietnam

Rough Guides travel magazine rates Vietnamese cuisine as special and unforgettable, including many delicious dishes worth trying such as banh mi, goi cuon, pho...

Spring rolls

Spring rolls are a familiar dish that can be found everywhere in Vietnam. The dish is made from rice paper, wrapped in raw vegetables, meat, shrimp... and some shredded vegetables, dipped in fish sauce or sweet and sour fish sauce. Spring rolls are often served as an appetizer at Vietnamese restaurants.

Shrimp and pork spring rolls. Photo: Takes Two Eggs

Bread

"Banh mi is one of the most popular street foods in Vietnam," the British magazine commented. The dish dates back to the 19th century, consisting of a baguette sandwich filled with pate, meat and some vegetables. In addition, the sandwich also has many other savory fillings such as beef, chicken, eggs, grilled meat...

Banh xeo

RoughGuides describes Vietnamese pancakes as giant, cheap and filling, filled with shrimp, meat, bean sprouts and eggs. They are fried, served with fresh vegetables wrapped in rice paper and dipped in fish sauce or fermented shrimp paste before being enjoyed. Visitors can enjoy banh xeo in Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and many other provinces across the country.

Western pancakes are an attractive delicacy that diners should not miss when traveling to Vietnam. Photo: Can Tho City Electronic Information Portal

Bun Cha

Bun cha is a Hanoi specialty. Bun cha is eaten with grilled pork on a charcoal stove, in a bowl of hot dipping sauce, with pepper, papaya, carrots... Bun cha is often eaten with raw vegetables, a familiar dish of Vietnamese people at any meal of the day.

Noodle soup

Like bun noodles, pho is a very popular dish in Vietnam. It is eaten at any time of the day, but is most often eaten for breakfast. Rough Guides recommends: "A bowl of pho consists of beef or chicken broth, flavored with ginger and coriander, topped with soft rice noodles and spring onions. The bowl of pho is served with pieces of beef, pork or beef. If you are vegetarian, you can choose tofu." The British magazine suggests that visitors add a squeeze of lemon or garlic vinegar, and a little chili to add flavor to the bowl of pho.

Pho is a typical dish of Hanoi cuisine. Photo: Pho Bat Dan

Cao Lau

Cao Lau is famous in the Central region, one of the specialties of Hoi An. A bowl of Cao Lau includes thick pho noodles, bean sprouts, pork rinds, various types of meat, raw vegetables and peanuts... finally poured over a rich soup, enhancing the flavor of the dish.

Fish cake

Cha ca is said to have first appeared in Hanoi, and is the most well-known seafood dish in Vietnam. The white fish meat is deboned, marinated with spices and lightly stir-fried with butter, dill and green onions. Cha ca is often served with vermicelli, peanuts and sweet and sour sauce.

Fish cake. Photo: Ha Thanh fish cake

Quang noodles

Quang noodles are an affordable dish, made with many different ingredients depending on the store and region where diners enjoy it. A simple bowl of noodles usually has noodles, shrimp, peanuts, quail eggs, meat, raw vegetables, quail eggs...

Storm

Made from fragrant broken rice, broken rice has become the most famous street food in Ho Chi Minh City. It is served with grilled pork, egg with meat, pork skin... drizzled with fragrant fried onion fish sauce.

Broken rice ranked 3rd in the top 100 most delicious dishes in the world announced by Taste Atlas in May 2023. Photo: Taste Atlas

RoughGuides suggests: "If you want to sample these delicacies on your trip, book a professionally guided food tour of Vietnam, traveling from Saigon to Hanoi. Then, experience Vietnamese nightlife to discover the most famous bars and clubs in Vietnam."