Essential Vietnamese Food: 12 Dishes Every Traveller Should Try

Vietnamese cuisine is celebrated for its fresh ingredients, fragrant herbs, balanced flavours and remarkable regional diversity. Meals often combine sweet, sour, salty, spicy and savoury elements without allowing any single flavour to dominate.

From steaming bowls of noodles in Hanoi to colourful rice dishes in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnamese food offers an unforgettable way to explore the country’s history, geography and everyday life.

Here are 12 essential dishes every traveller should try during a journey through Vietnam.

1. Phở

No introduction to Vietnamese food would be complete without phở, the country’s most internationally recognised dish.

Phở consists of rice noodles served in an aromatic broth with beef or chicken, fresh herbs and spring onions. The broth is prepared slowly with bones and spices such as cinnamon, star anise, cloves and ginger.

Northern-style phở is usually light and balanced, with fewer garnishes. Southern-style phở is often sweeter and served with bean sprouts, basil, lime and additional sauces.

Where to try it: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
Popular versions: Phở bò (beef) and phở gà (chicken)

2. Bún Chả

A speciality of Hanoi, bún chả combines charcoal-grilled pork, soft rice noodles, fresh herbs and a light dipping sauce made with fish sauce, vinegar, sugar, garlic and chilli.

The smoky pork is served separately from the noodles and herbs, allowing diners to combine each element according to their taste. Pickled green papaya or carrots add freshness and texture.

Bún chả is traditionally enjoyed at lunchtime, although many restaurants now serve it throughout the day.

Where to try it: Hanoi
Perfect accompaniment: Crispy nem rán, or fried spring rolls

3. Bánh Mì

Bánh mì reflects both Vietnamese creativity and the country’s historical French influence. A light, crisp baguette is filled with ingredients such as grilled pork, pâté, Vietnamese sausage, egg, pickled vegetables, cucumber, coriander and chilli.

Recipes vary greatly between regions and individual vendors. Some versions are rich and savoury, while others are fresh, spicy or slightly sweet.

Affordable, convenient and full of flavour, bánh mì is ideal for breakfast, lunch or a quick snack while exploring.

Where to try it: Throughout Vietnam, especially Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City

4. Bánh Cuốn

Bánh cuốn consists of delicate steamed rice-flour sheets wrapped around seasoned minced pork and wood-ear mushrooms.

The rolls are commonly topped with fried shallots and served with fresh herbs, Vietnamese sausage and a light fish-sauce dressing. Their smooth texture and subtle flavour make them a popular breakfast dish in Northern Vietnam.

Watching a skilled cook prepare the thin rice sheets over a steaming cloth is part of the experience.

Where to try it: Hanoi and Northern Vietnam

5. Chả Cá

One of Hanoi’s most distinctive dishes, chả cá features fish marinated with turmeric and other seasonings before being grilled or cooked at the table with dill and spring onions.

It is served with rice noodles, roasted peanuts, fresh herbs and dipping sauce. The combination of fragrant dill, tender fish and crunchy peanuts gives the dish its unique character.

Several restaurants in Hanoi specialise almost entirely in chả cá, reflecting its importance within the capital’s culinary heritage.

Where to try it: Hanoi

6. Cao Lầu

Cao lầu is closely associated with Hoi An and is rarely reproduced authentically elsewhere.

The dish combines thick, chewy noodles with slices of pork, fresh herbs, bean sprouts, crispy pieces of rice cracker and a small amount of rich sauce. Unlike phở, cao lầu is not served as a soup.

Its distinctive texture and flavour reflect Hoi An’s history as an international trading port, where Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese culinary influences met.

Where to try it: Hoi An

7. Mì Quảng

Originating in Central Vietnam, mì Quảng is a colourful noodle dish made with broad rice noodles, herbs, peanuts and a small quantity of intensely flavoured broth.

It may include chicken, pork, shrimp, fish or a combination of ingredients. A crispy sesame rice cracker is often added for extra texture.

The dish is usually served with fresh herbs and vegetables, creating a satisfying balance of richness and freshness.

Where to try it: Quang Nam, Da Nang and Hoi An

8. Bún Bò Huế

Bún bò Huế is a robust noodle soup originating from Vietnam’s former imperial capital.

Its fragrant broth is traditionally flavoured with lemongrass, chilli and fermented shrimp paste. Thick rice noodles are accompanied by beef, herbs and other ingredients that vary between cooks.

Compared with phở, bún bò Huế generally has a stronger, spicier and more complex flavour. Travellers who prefer less heat can ask for the chilli to be served separately.

Where to try it: Hue

9. Bánh Xèo

Named after the sizzling sound made when the batter reaches the hot pan, bánh xèo is a crispy Vietnamese pancake filled with ingredients such as pork, shrimp and bean sprouts.

Pieces of pancake are wrapped in lettuce or rice paper with fresh herbs before being dipped in a savoury sauce.

Regional variations differ in size and preparation. Central Vietnamese pancakes are generally smaller, while those in Southern Vietnam are often large, thin and golden.

Where to try it: Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta

10. Gỏi Cuốn

Fresh spring rolls, known as gỏi cuốn, are made by wrapping rice noodles, herbs, vegetables and usually shrimp or pork inside softened rice paper.

Unlike fried spring rolls, they are light, fresh and served cold. They are commonly accompanied by peanut sauce or a fish-sauce-based dip.

Vegetarian versions are widely available and may include tofu, mushrooms or additional vegetables.

Where to try it: Throughout Vietnam

11. Cơm Tấm

Cơm tấm, meaning “broken rice,” is one of Southern Vietnam’s most popular everyday dishes.

The rice is typically served with grilled pork, pickled vegetables, cucumber, spring-onion oil and fish sauce. Additional options may include a fried egg, shredded pork skin or a steamed egg-and-meat loaf.

Originally associated with humble ingredients, cơm tấm has become a much-loved meal enjoyed at simple street stalls and established restaurants alike.

Where to try it: Ho Chi Minh City and Southern Vietnam

12. Nem Rán

Known as nem rán in Northern Vietnam and chả giò in the south, Vietnamese fried spring rolls are filled with ingredients such as minced pork, mushrooms, glass noodles and vegetables.

The rolls are fried until golden and crispy, then served with herbs and dipping sauce. Regional recipes may use different wrappers, fillings and seasonings.

They are commonly enjoyed as an appetiser, shared dish or accompaniment to noodle meals such as bún chả.

Where to try it: Throughout Vietnam

Vietnamese Food Beyond the Famous Dishes

Vietnam’s culinary landscape extends far beyond these 12 favourites. Each province has its own specialities, seasonal ingredients and family recipes.

Depending on your itinerary, you may also encounter:

• Bún riêu: Tomato-based noodle soup with crab
• Cá kho tộ: Caramelised fish cooked in a clay pot
• Bò lá lốt: Seasoned beef wrapped in betel leaves
• Bánh khọt: Small savoury pancakes topped with shrimp
• Cơm gà Hội An: Hoi An-style chicken rice
• Bún thịt nướng: Rice noodles with grilled pork and herbs
• Xôi: Sticky rice prepared with savoury or sweet ingredients
• Chè: A broad selection of Vietnamese sweet soups and desserts

Trying regional specialities is one of the most rewarding ways to understand Vietnam’s cultural diversity.

Vegetarian Food in Vietnam

Vegetarian food is known as đồ chay in Vietnamese. It is particularly common near Buddhist temples and on certain lunar-calendar days.

Many vegetarian restaurants serve meat-free versions of noodle soups, spring rolls, rice dishes and Vietnamese family-style meals. However, travellers with strict dietary requirements should confirm whether fish sauce, meat stock, egg or dairy products are used.

Useful phrases include:

• Tôi ăn chay — I am vegetarian
• Không thịt — No meat
• Không cá — No fish
• Không nước mắm — No fish sauce
• Tôi bị dị ứng với… — I am allergic to…

Tips for Eating Safely and Respectfully

Street food is an important part of travelling in Vietnam, but it is sensible to choose carefully.

• Select busy stalls with a high turnover of ingredients.
• Choose food that is freshly prepared and served hot.
• Drink bottled or properly filtered water.
• Inform your guide or restaurant about serious allergies.
• Ask before photographing vendors at close range.
• Carry small notes when visiting markets or street stalls.
• Observe how local diners combine herbs, sauces and accompaniments.
• Avoid assuming that every dish will taste the same in every region.

Dietary restrictions should be communicated clearly in advance, particularly during organised tours or visits to smaller communities.

Discover Vietnam Through Its Food

Vietnamese cuisine is not simply a collection of dishes—it is a reflection of the country’s landscapes, history and communities. A bowl of noodles, a market visit or a meal shared with a local family can reveal as much about Vietnam as its famous monuments.

At Insight Hanoi Travel, we create culinary experiences that introduce travellers to trusted local vendors, regional specialities and the stories behind each dish. Our experiences can include Hanoi street-food walks, traditional market visits, egg-coffee demonstrations and tailor-made food journeys across Vietnam.

Ready to taste the real Vietnam? Contact our local travel specialists and begin planning your culinary journey today.