Vietnamese Food

You’ve probably tried pho or banh mi at Vietnamese restaurants back home, but the country’s cuisine is far more diverse than many in Europe realise. It’s a harmonious blend of sour, sweet, salty and savoury flavours, often prepared in a wok.

Vietnamese food is generally less spicy than that of other Southeast Asian countries and places great emphasis on fresh vegetables. Influences come from both French and Chinese cooking. The staples are rice and rice noodles, with ingredients and flavours varying from region to region.

This noodle soup is a true classic of Vietnamese cuisine and is now enjoyed all over the world. In Vietnam, however, it tastes at its very best and is typically served with beef (pho bo) or chicken (pho ga). Herbs and vegetables are usually placed on the table so each guest can season their bowl to taste.

Banh mi is a Vietnamese baguette sandwich, heavily influenced by the French colonial era and typically spread with pâté. It can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch or simply as a snack, and comes in countless variations: with fried egg, chillies, pork belly, coriander and more. Vendors are easy to spot — many keep their baguettes in a glass display case. Some run small shopfronts, while others push their mobile banh mi stands through the streets.

Com tam means “broken rice”, referring to grains that have fractured during milling. During the Vietnam War, it was eaten because it was cheaper than whole rice. Today, com tam is a beloved dish, often served with grilled pork and a fried egg — a particularly popular breakfast in Saigon.

Banh xeo is a type of Vietnamese savoury pancake, a grilled street-food favourite found on nearly every corner in Vietnam. Each vendor fills their pancakes - made from eggs, rice flour and a touch of coconut milk - a little differently. Popular fillings include prawns, meat and vegetables. A light, crispy treat you absolutely should try.

Vietnam’s tropical climate allows hundreds of exotic fruits to flourish. Especially noteworthy are mangosteens, a sweet vitamin-packed favourite, and the mystical custard apple. You’ll also find lychee, jackfruit, dragon fruit, papaya, mango and longan everywhere in Vietnam, alongside more familiar fruits such as apples, bananas and grapes.