What should you eat in Vietnam, and which dishes are worth seeking out when you return from overseas? From a steaming bowl of phở in Hanoi to a crisp bánh mì in Ho Chi Minh City and sweet Cà Mau crab from Vietnam’s southern tip, food is one of the best ways to get to know the country. These 16 dishes take you through its streets, markets and family tables.
1. Phở – Vietnam’s Iconic Noodle Soup
A bowl of phở brings together soft flat rice noodles, sliced beef or chicken, and a fragrant broth simmered with bones and aromatics such as ginger, charred onion, cinnamon and star anise. Fresh herbs brighten each spoonful. Try Hanoi beef phở, chicken phở or the version associated with Nam Định.
2. Chả Cá Lã Vọng – Hanoi’s Turmeric Fish
This Hanoi specialty is an experience at the table. Turmeric-marinated fish is grilled and then warmed in a pan with plenty of dill and spring onions. Add rice vermicelli, roasted peanuts and herbs. Fermented shrimp paste, or mắm tôm, gives the dish its characteristic punch.
3. Bánh Xèo – Crisp Vietnamese Rice Crêpes
Rice batter, often tinted golden with turmeric, crisps around shrimp, pork and bean sprouts. Tear off a piece and wrap it with fresh greens or, depending on the region, rice paper, before dipping it in sweet-and-sour fish sauce. Central Vietnam’s versions tend to be smaller. Southern bánh xèo are often large and generously filled.
4. Cao Lầu – Hội An’s Signature Noodles
Chewy noodles, savory char siu pork and fresh greens make cao lầu a distinctive part of Hội An’s food scene. A spoonful of rich cooking liquid or sauce lightly coats the noodles. Try a bowl while exploring the old town.
5. Phở Cuốn – Fresh Rice Noodle Rolls
Hanoi’s phở cuốn uses soft sheets of phở noodles as wrappers for stir-fried beef, lettuce and herbs. The rolls are served with a light, sweet-and-sour fish sauce. They make a refreshing change when you want something lighter than a bowl of noodle soup.
6. Nem Rán – Fried Vietnamese Spring Rolls
Known as chả giò in much of southern Vietnam, these crisp rolls are staples of family meals and festive occasions. The filling commonly combines minced pork, glass noodles, wood ear mushrooms, vegetables and egg. The thin wrapper turns golden and crisp as the filling cooks.
7. Gỏi Cuốn – Fresh Shrimp and Pork Rolls
Translucent rice paper holds shrimp, boiled pork, rice vermicelli, herbs and greens in this southern favorite. The fresh ingredients are rolled without frying and served with a savory dipping sauce or seasoned fish sauce. Gỏi cuốn makes a light starter or snack.
8. Bún Bò Nam Bộ – A Vietnamese Beef Noodle Salad
This rice noodle bowl is tossed with stir-fried beef, herbs, bean sprouts, peanuts and crisp fried shallots. Its sweet-and-sour fish sauce dressing pulls everything together. It differs from bún bò Huế, a noodle soup served with plenty of broth.
9. Bánh Khọt – Mini Rice Pancakes
These small rice pancakes are cooked in round molds, often with shrimp or another seafood topping. The edges turn crisp while the center stays tender. Eat them wrapped in greens and dipped in seasoned fish sauce. Vũng Tàu is a good place to try this style of bánh khọt.
10. Garlic-Fried Cà Mau Crab – A Specialty of Vietnam’s Southern Tip
Cà Mau crab is prized for firm, naturally sweet meat and, in roe crabs, a rich, buttery filling. Crabs are raised in the brackish waters of the province’s mangrove region. Golden fried garlic makes a fragrant topping that brings out the sweetness of the crab.
Other popular preparations include tamarind crab, Singapore chili crab, salt-roasted or black pepper crab, steamed crab, salted egg yolk crab and crab hot pot with fresh greens.
If you are meeting family or friends in Ho Chi Minh City, Cua Ngon – Hương vị Đất Mũi specializes in Cà Mau crab. Browse the live Cà Mau crab selection, large roe crab and beer-steamed roe crab.
11. Bò Lá Lốt – Grilled Beef in Wild Betel Leaves
Seasoned minced beef is wrapped in aromatic lá lốt leaves and grilled over charcoal or cooked in a pan. The leaves release a distinctive fragrance that complements the juicy beef. Try the rolls with rice paper, vermicelli, greens and a dipping sauce.
12. Bánh Cuốn – Steamed Rice Rolls for Breakfast
Vendors steam thin sheets of rice batter over cloth stretched across a pot, then roll them around minced pork and wood ear mushrooms. Fried shallots, herbs, Vietnamese pork sausage and dipping sauce often accompany the rolls. Watching the sheets being made to order is part of the pleasure.
13. Bún Đậu Mắm Tôm – Rice Noodles, Fried Tofu and Shrimp Paste
A typical platter pairs pressed rice vermicelli with crisp fried tofu, boiled pork, green rice pork patties and herbs. The fermented shrimp paste is seasoned with lime or calamansi, sugar and chili. If its strong flavor is new to you, ask whether seasoned fish sauce is available.
14. Bánh Ướt Thịt Nướng – Steamed Rice Sheets with Grilled Pork
Soft, silky rice sheets meet smoky grilled meat in this central Vietnamese dish. Fresh greens and pickles add texture. Some versions come with a rich, thick dipping sauce. Look for it in Huế, Đà Nẵng and elsewhere in central Vietnam.
15. Bún Chả – Hanoi’s Grilled Pork and Rice Noodles
Charcoal-grilled pork patties and slices are served in a bowl of sweet, tangy fish sauce with pickled green papaya or carrot. On the side are fresh rice vermicelli and plenty of herbs. It makes an excellent Hanoi lunch.
16. Bánh Mì – Vietnam’s Famous Street Sandwich
A crisp baguette with a soft interior can hold pâté, cold cuts, grilled meat, Vietnamese sausage, cucumber, pickles and herbs. Look out for fish cake or meatball versions too. Bánh mì is an easy breakfast or quick meal between stops.
What to Eat When You Return to Vietnam
Food can be part of the homecoming. If you have limited time, choose a few dishes from each stop on your itinerary:
- Hanoi: Phở, bún chả, chả cá Lã Vọng, bánh cuốn and bún đậu mắm tôm.
- Hội An and central Vietnam: Cao lầu, bánh xèo and bánh ướt thịt nướng.
- Ho Chi Minh City and the south: Bánh mì, gỏi cuốn, bánh khọt, bò lá lốt and Cà Mau crab.
Tips for Exploring Vietnamese Food
Look for places with clear menus, clean dining areas and transparent sourcing and prices, especially for live seafood. Tell staff if you prefer less chili or would like fermented shrimp paste served separately.
Start with the Dishes That Fit Your Trip
A Hanoi breakfast, noodles in Hội An and a shared crab dinner in Ho Chi Minh City each offer a different taste of Vietnam. If you are planning a family meal in Ho Chi Minh City, browse the Cua Ngon menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What should I eat on my first trip to Vietnam?
Start with phở, bánh mì, bún chả, gỏi cuốn or bánh xèo. If you enjoy seafood, add steamed or sauced Cà Mau crab to your list.
2. What should overseas Vietnamese eat when they return?
Try the dishes you remember from home, such as phở, bánh cuốn, bún đậu mắm tôm, bánh xèo or gỏi cuốn. A Cà Mau crab dinner is also an option for a family reunion.
3. Which Vietnamese dishes are easy for first-time visitors to try?
Phở, bánh mì, gỏi cuốn, bún chả and bánh xèo are good starting points. For seafood, try Cà Mau crab steamed or cooked in a sauce.
4. What local food should I eat in Ho Chi Minh City?
Try cơm tấm, bánh mì, hủ tiếu, gỏi cuốn or bánh xèo. The city is also a good place to enjoy southern seafood dishes, including Cà Mau crab.
5. Where can I eat Cà Mau crab in Ho Chi Minh City?
Cua Ngon – Hương vị Đất Mũi serves Cà Mau crab prepared in several styles. The restaurant’s website has its menu and ordering information.
Ca Mau Crab Guide: How to Choose Fresh Live Crab
