Vietnamese cuisine uses fresh ingredients and not a whole lot of oil or dairy, making it one of the healthier cuisines around the world β common ingredients include fish sauce, soy sauce, rice, noodles, fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables, and different proteins.
In fact, to me, itβs the perfect balance of fresh and light food that doesnβt weigh you down too much, yet itβs still filling.
If you’ve ever had phα» (pronounced like fuh), you know it’s the kind of soup that can put you back together. The delicious soup, similar to a chicken noodle (but in my opinion SO MUCH TASTIER!), is packed with flavor. However, there are so many other Vietnamese dishes to try.
Donβt know where to start? Here are 10 local foods to try in Vietnam!
Goi Cuon
Many people are familiar with the fried spring rolls but gα»i cuα»n is the lighter and healthier alternative.
The fresh spring rolls consist of thin vermicelli noodles, pork, shrimp, lettuce, and mint, all tightly wrapped in translucent rice papers. Because of their mild flavor, theyβre usually dipped in a peanut or fish sauce.
Yum!

Cao Lau
When exploring the ancient towns of Vietnam, trying cao lαΊ§u is a must. This Hα»i An noodle dish is topped with pork, crunchy rice crackers, spices, and a handful of fresh herbs and lettuce.
A little bit of broth rests at the bottom of the bowl; both the texture and color of the dish set it apart from other Vietnamese noodle dishes.
BΓΊn BΓ² XΓ o
BΓΊn bΓ² xΓ o is a noodle saladβin Vietnam, itβs considered a light meal rather than an appetizer.
Served in layers, the dish consists of rice noodles, vegetables, beef that has been marinated in lemongrass, roasted peanuts, crispy fried shallots, and lots of fresh herbs such as cilantro, lemon, basil, and mint.
Com Tam
Com tam, also known as broken rice, is traditionally served with a fried egg, grilled pork, prawns, or beef, and both fresh and pickled vegetables.
Itβs a popular dish for breakfast or lunch and is an extremely inexpensive option. Street markets and food stalls sell it for VND 20,000. Thatβs less than $1 USD!
BÑnh Mì
BΓ‘nh mΓ¬ is a popular French-Vietnamese sandwich thatβs great for a quick fix on the go.
It’s served on a baguette, which though it might look like the French bread, has a much sweeter flavor! The bread that serves as the foundation for the sandwich was introduced to Vietnam in the middle of the 19th-century when Vietnam was part of French Indochina.
Between the baguette sits pickled vegetables, pate, butter, soy sauce, cilantro, chilies, and hot peppers. You’ll find lots of variation when it comes to this sandwich…but my goodness, are they all divine!
Pho
Phα» is arguably the most popular Vietnamese dish in the world.
There are two main options: chicken (Phα» Ga) and beef (Phα» Bo). Aside from the meat, a typical bowl of phα» contains rice noodles (for which the dish is actually named after), bean sprouts, lime wedges, cilantro, basil, mint, and sliced onion.
If you like your broth a bit more flavorful, you can add chili sauce and jalapenos to give it a bit more of a kick…however I’ve found the places that have really good broth don’t need anything else added.
BΓΊn Cha
Originating from Hanoi, this noodle dish is by far one of the most popular in the capital city!
Small patties of seasoned pork and pork belly are grilled over charcoal. The dish is served with a variety of saucesΒ so you can pick and choose.
The meat is then served with herbs, a plate of vermicelli noodles, and chαΊ£ giΓ² (deep-fried rice paper rolls).
BÑnh Xèo
BÑnh Xèo is a savory crepe made from rice flour and turmeric powder, which is then stuffed with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts.
Many choose to wrap it in lettuce and dip it in fish sauce to give it a bit more of tanginess.
BΓΊn BΓ² Hue
Sometimes referred to as bΓΊn bΓ², this sweet and spicy soup is perfect for a cold day!
Beef broth is prepared with lemongrass, shrimp paste, sugar, and chili oil and is then added to a bowl of rice noodles, a variety of meats, lime, and herbs. Itβs the perfect combination of sweet, salty, and spicy, all in one dish.
BΓ² Kho
Pronounced βbaw-khaw,β this dish is the Vietnamese version of the French boeuf bourguignon.
Comprised of beef shank and tendon that is stewed in lemongrass and five-spice flavored broth, you typically dip a piece of bΓ‘nh mΓ¬ bread into the sauce before feasting on the meat and veggies. You can also get it as a noodle-based dishβthis is known as mΓ¬ bΓ² kho.
Bonus: Vietnamese Coffee + Breakfast
Vietnamese coffee is quite different than what you would expect from a typical cup of Western coffee.
It’s especially sweet as it’s typically served with sweetened condensed milkβbecause of this, fresh milk, sugar, or cream are not necessary.
A typical Vietnamese breakfast will likely consist of noodles (phα») or sticky rice (xoi). In Saigon, if you’re craving eggs, you can order com tam. In some areas, you might find bΓ‘nh baoβa Vietnamese bun similar to dim sumβwhich is a great “grab-and-go” breakfast.
Quick Guide to Ordering for Vegetarians
If youβre in Vietnam and you want to tell someone that youβre vegetarian, you can say βtoi an chay.β
To avoid meat, you can say βkhong thit,β but that doesnβt mean a dish will be strictly vegan. Though there wonβt be any meat, there will still likely be fish sauce or a meat-based broth. These can be especially hard to avoid at street markets.
Tofu is a very common protein in Vietnamese cuisine too, so that will be an option most places!
You can order Phα» Chay for a “vegetarian, tofu phα»,” but only more tourist locations will use a vegetable broth rather than a meat broth.
Heads up: You can order BΓ‘hn MΓ¬ with “no meat,” but they will still put the pΓ’tΓ©βwhich is a meat paste.
Overall
There are honestly so many delicious Vietnamese dishes to try…it was difficult to narrow down this list! Whatβs your favorite one? Let me know in the comments below!
Recommended Food Tours in Vietnam!

Wow!looking delicious want to try it..thanks for sharing.
Some tasty bites there! π
. π π π Please accept my deepest thanks. For this information.
You’re most welcome π