Melo Villareal
Savory Vietnamese Street Foods
When you arrive in this vibrant and picturesque country, taking a food tour that spans from the flavorful cuisine of northern Vietnam to the aromatic dishes of the South is an unmissable adventure, offering you a deeper appreciation of its culture and traditions.
Savory Vietnamese Street Foods
Vietnamese street food has been famous all over the world for its attractive colors, delicious tastes, and especially healthiness. Make use of the natural advantages, each village in Vietnam has its specialties. When you come to Hanoi, do not forget to enjoy grilled pork vermicelli, Pho, or Green Rice Flakes from Vong Village. However, if you are in Ho Chi Minh City, you may have a chance to eat Chiming noodle, Vietnamese southern pancake, etc. Today’s article will introduce you to the top 5 savory Vietnamese street foods you must try.
Green Rice Flakes from Vong Village (Com Lang Vong)
Not many people pay attention to this dish when they arrive in Hanoi; however, it is a hugely refreshing and delicious dish with a milky taste and a chewy texture. To make green rice flakes, they have to harvest rice when it is immature, roast it, and then flatten it. It is said that the history of green rice flakes is attached to a legend.
Thousands of years ago, it rained heavily when the rice bunches were still green. People at Vong village had to harvest green rice bunches and roast them to eat to avoid starvation. Many people loved this food and made it a snack in autumn thanks to its special flavor. This story is also listed in folklore as a reminder of the cultural values of this food.
Where to find:
- Vong village, Dich Vong Hau Ward, Cau Giay district, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Noodle Soup (Pho)
It will be a unique experience when you get up early in the morning and enjoy a bowl of noodle soup. This is one of the top dishes and must-eat foods for any traveler in Vietnam. To make a whole pot of “Pho,” it takes time, from making noodles to boiling bones; preparing meat and veggies, making soup, and so on. Therefore, if a Vietnamese friend makes homemade noodle soup for you, do appreciate their effort.
Where to find:
- Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su, Hang Trong, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Pho Suong, Trung Yen alley, Hang Bac, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Pho Hanh, 65A, Lan Ong, Hang Bo, Hanoi, Vietnam
Hanoi Kebab Rice Noodles (Bun Cha Ha Noi)
A kebab rice noodle, which is a combination of pork, vermicelli, herbs, carrot, papaya, etc., is a very famous food in Hanoi. Like “Pho,” it is very complicated to make a full set of this dish. Firstly, they have to prepare a bowl of sour and sweet fish sauce with fermented carrot and papaya slices. To make this dish more delicious, they add some chili to this sauce. Then, choose the best vermicelli – this step is essential because vermicelli is the main component of a “Bun Cha” set. And, prepare some veggies to eat with for the final step. Cooking this dish requires a lot of experience, skills, and effort; so Vietnamese people nowadays also go to the restaurant to enjoy it instead of making at home. Here are some addresses to find the best “Bún Ch?” in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Where to find:
- Bun Cha Obama (Bun Cha Huong Lien), 24 Le Van Huu, Phan Chu Trinh, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi
- Bun Cha 27 Dao Duy Tu, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
- Bun Cha Dac Kim, 1 Hang Manh, Hang Gai, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Vietnamese Southern Pancake (Bánh Xèo Nam B?)
Vietnamese southern pancake is a famous street food not only in the North but also in the central and southern parts of Vietnam. It is also known as crepe, sizzling cake, or crispy Vietnamese pancake. The word “xèo” originates from the sizzling sound when people pour rice batter into a hot frying pan. This cake is made with rice flour, turmeric, coconut milk, shrimp, herbs, etc. “Bánh Xèo” has a red color from shrimp, yellow from turmeric, and green from veggies, making it one of the most attractive street foods in Vietnam. Vietnamese southern pancake is nowadays sold in many big cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Nha Trang; however, the best place to enjoy Banh Xeo is “Bình ??nh” and some western provinces.
Where to find:
- Banh Xeo Muoi Xiem, 190 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
- Banh Xeo 46A Dinh Cong Trang, District 1 Ho Chi Minh City
- Banh Xeo 172 Doi Can, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
- Banh Xeo Sau Phuoc, 74 Cau Dat, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Steamed Rice Cake with Dried Shrimp (Bánh Bèo Tôm Ch?y)
“Bánh Bèo Tôm Ch?y” is a traditional dish from Hue, Vietnam. This dish includes steamed rice cake, fried minced pork and shrimp, crispy fried shallots, and scallions. This cake is often served on a bite-sized plate. Steamed rice cake with dried shrimp is served with a sweet, fatty fish sauce that determines the dish’s flavor. The tenderness of people in Hue, Vietnam, is presented not only in their communication and clothes but also in the way they enjoy “Bánh Bèo”. Most commonly, they use a small rod to cut the cake into small pieces, slice, and then dip a piece of cake into fish sauce, and then enjoy. Many people eat “Bánh Bèo” for the first time, often using chopsticks or a fork; however, this is not the right way. Here are the addresses to find the best “Bánh Bèo” in Vietnam.
Where to find:
- Banh Beo Ba Do, 8 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Hue City
- Banh Beo 109 Le Huan, Hue City
It would be a shame to visit Vietnam without trying these savory street foods. Although each person has their own taste and preferences, the above-recommended foods suit every visitor. So, could you give them a try if you have a chance to visit Vietnam so that your trip will be more meaningful? Thanks for reading, and hope you have a fantastic trip to Vietnam.
Author bio:
Emily Pham was born in Vietnam, a country with many unknown beaches, historic sites, and tourist attractions. Understanding that Vietnam is now a famous destination, she established the blog vina.com to introduce the elegant beauty of Vietnam to friends around the world. For those planning a trip to Vietnam, her blog provides essential information on where to go and what to do.
Check out our complete list of recommended Hotels and Resorts in Vietnam via Agoda, or you may also see available Airbnb properties in the city.
Want more stories like this? Please follow #TeamOutofTown, on Facebook, and Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest for more travel ideas.
Also see:
- Hoi An Bucket List: Top 15 Best Things to do in Hoi An
- Vietnam Bucket List: Top 15 Things to do in Vietnam
- 7 Best Things to see and do in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
