Mastering Vietnamese Cuisine: A First-Timer's Food Guide
- Travel Vietnam Guides
- May 29
- 4 min read
Vietnam is a country where the culinary experience is as vital to the journey as its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture. For first-time travelers, diving into the local food scene can be both exhilarating and a little overwhelming. But fear not! This Vietnamese food guide for tourists is your passport to navigating the country's incredible gastronomic landscape. We'll introduce you to the must try food Vietnam offers, explain how to order with confidence, and provide essential Vietnamese street food tips to ensure your culinary adventure is nothing short of delicious.
This article serves as your ultimate food guide in Vietnam, showcasing the delicious breadth of Vietnam traditional food.
Why Vietnamese Food is the Best Food in Vietnam for Beginners
Vietnamese cuisine is celebrated worldwide for its freshness, balance of flavors, and use of aromatic herbs. It's a cuisine built on contrasts: savory and sweet, sour and spicy, hot and cold, all harmoniously blended. For beginners, many dishes are incredibly approachable, with clear flavors and familiar ingredients, making them the best food in Vietnam for beginners.
Must Try Food Vietnam: Your Culinary Checklist
Source: Internet
Here's what to eat in Vietnam first time to get a true taste of the country:
Phở (Noodle Soup):
Phở is a Vietnam's national dish. A fragrant broth (beef or chicken) simmered for hours, served with flat rice noodles, slices of meat, and a generous plate of fresh herbs (basil, cilantro, mint), bean sprouts, chili, and lime to customize.
How to Order: Simply say "Phở bò" (beef pho) or "Phở gà" (chicken pho). Vendors might ask if you want "tái" (rare beef), "chín" (well-done beef), or a mix.
Authentic Pho in Vietnam: Each region has its style. Ha Noi Pho is typically simpler, with a clear broth. Southern Pho (like in HCMC) is often sweeter and comes with more accompanying herbs. Try it for breakfast – it's a morning staple!
Bánh Mì (Vietnamese Sandwich):
Banh Mi is a crispy, airy baguette, a legacy of French colonialism, filled with a delicious array of savory ingredients. Common fillings include various pork cold cuts (like ham, head cheese), pâté, grilled pork, fried egg, cucumber, pickled carrots and daikon, cilantro, and chili.
How to Order: Point to the fillings you want or just say "Bánh Mì thập cẩm" (mixed Banh Mi).
Banh Mi Guide Vietnam Tip: Look for vendors that have a constant queue – it means fresh bread and popular fillings!
Gỏi Cuốn (Fresh Spring Rolls):
A light and healthy translucent rice paper rolls, typically filled with fresh shrimp, slices of pork, vermicelli noodles, and various fresh herbs like mint and lettuce. Served cold with a rich peanut dipping sauce or a savory nước chấm (fish sauce dip).
Bánh Xèo (Sizzling Pancake):
A savory, crispy pancake made from rice flour, turmeric, and coconut milk, giving it a vibrant yellow color and a slightly sweet aroma. It's typically filled with shrimp, sliced pork or chicken, bean sprouts, and spring onions.
You will enjoy the crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, savory, subtly sweet from the coconut milk.
How to Eat: Tear off a piece, wrap it in a lettuce leaf with fresh herbs, and dip it in nước chấm.
Bún Chả (Grilled Pork with Vermicelli - Ha Noi Specialty):
Though a Hanoi specialty, you can find excellent versions in HCMC. It consists of small patties of grilled seasoned pork and slices of grilled pork belly served in a bowl of warm, sweet, and sour dipping sauce. Accompanied by a plate of cold vermicelli noodles and a huge pile of fresh herbs.
How to Eat: Dip the noodles and herbs into the broth with the pork.
Cơm Tấm (Broken Rice):
A quintessential Southern Vietnamese dish, particularly popular in HCMC. It features fragrant broken rice (rice grains fractured during milling), usually served with a grilled pork chop (sườn nướng), shredded pork skin (bì), a steamed egg cake (chả trứng), and a fried egg (ốp la), all drizzled with nước chấm.
How to Order: "Cơm tấm sườn" (broken rice with pork chop) is the most common.
Chè (Vietnamese Sweet Soup/Dessert):
A diverse category of sweet concoctions, ranging from simple fruit and jelly desserts to complex mixes of beans, glutinous rice, tapioca, and coconut milk. Served hot or cold, often with ice.
How it tastes? Sweet, refreshing (if cold), creamy (with coconut milk), with various textures.
How to Order: Point to the one that looks appealing, or try popular varieties like "Chè ba màu" (three-color sweet soup) or "Chè chuối" (banana sweet soup).
Vietnamese Street Food Tips: Navigating with Confidence
Embracing street food is key to the best food in Vietnam for beginners. Here's how to order food in Vietnam and dine confidently:
Look for Crowds: A busy stall, especially one packed with locals, is almost always a sign of fresh, delicious, and safe food. High turnover means ingredients are constantly replenished.
Observe Hygiene: While street food is inherently rustic, look for vendors who appear clean, with fresh ingredients neatly displayed, and regularly cleaned utensils.
Go with a Local or a Food Tour: For the ultimate local food experiences in Ho Chi Minh City (and beyond), consider booking a guided street food tour. A local guide can help with ordering, explain dishes, and lead you to hidden culinary gems you might otherwise miss.
Embrace the Plastic Stools: Part of the charm is sitting on tiny plastic stools right on the sidewalk. Get comfortable and enjoy the lively atmosphere.
Carry Small Denominations: Street food vendors often prefer smaller bills (50,000 VND, 20,000 VND, 10,000 VND, etc.) as change can be limited.
Don't Be Afraid to Point: If language is a barrier, don't hesitate to point at what you want. Most vendors are accustomed to tourists. Use translation apps if needed.
Sanitize Your Hands: Always carry hand sanitizer and use it before and after eating.
Be Adventurous (within Reason): Try new things! Vietnam's food is incredibly diverse. If you have severe allergies, it's best to carry a translation card.
Mastering Vietnamese cuisine is a journey of discovery, and your first trip is the perfect opportunity to begin. With this Vietnamese food guide for tourists, you're well-equipped to explore the incredible flavors, aromas, and textures that make Vietnamese food a global favorite. Enjoy every delicious bite!
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