I have a particular fondness for south east Asian cuisine. Just like Indian cuisine, the south east Asian food, has balance of flavour, usage of appropriate spices, nutrition, vegetables used based on season and its “gun-dharma“. But when I went to Vietnam, the cuisine hit me in a different spot.
Vietnam blog articles to checkout for your planning
Before my trip to Vietnam, Pho was the only thing I had tried before. I didn’t know what to expect. But when I tried the food, I was mesmerised. The flavors of humble greens combined with delicate seafood and aromatic spices combined with meat, just burst in your mouth to take you on trip of its own.
Almost everything is a must try in Vietnam, but here is a simple list to start from. My food guide will help you narrow down on must try cuisines with recommendation on where to try in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, and Hoi An in Vietnam:
Read Anthony Bourdain’s favorite food in Vietnam – Compilation, vegetarian food guide for Vietnam, best coffee to try in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, tea ceremony experience in Hanoi, and cooking class experience in Vietnam.
HANOI
| Dish | Food Joint |
| * Bun Cha – the famous dish that Anthony ate with Obama in Hanoi. Try the “Combo Obama,” a deal of a cold bottle of Bia Hà Nội, bún chả and seafood nem rán | Bún chả Hương Liên (Anthony Bourdain’s favourite) |
| Bia Hơi | Bia Hơi Hải Xồm (Anthony Bourdain’s favourite) |
| * Banh cuon – This is ideal for breakfast | Bánh Cuốn Nóng Kim Thoa (Anthony Bourdain’s favourite) |
| * Bún ốc- Snail noodle soup | 1. Giang – Bun Oc Pho Co (Anthony Bourdain’s favourite) 2. Thuy – Bun Oc Thit Bo 3. Bun Oc Ba Luong (Madam Luong) |
| Bun Ca – Fish noodles | Trung Yen Alley |
| Nem cua be – crab spring rolls | Eat at Noodle and Roll in the Old Quarter |
| * Banh Mi – is a baguette with grilled pork, & other meat, fresh greens and sauce | 1. Maison de Lien 2. 6 Nam Ngo 3. Banh Mi 25 4. 25 Hàng Cá 5. Tram Banh My 6. 252 Cửa Nam |
| * Pho – with Bo (beef) or Ga (Chicken) | 1. Pho Gia Truyen Bat Dan in 49 Bát Đàn Street (Old Quarter) 2. Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su (Old Quarter) |
| * Lẩu (Hotpot) – This is a leisure dish to be eaten over 3-4 hours. Hotpot is Metal pot simmering with broth added with fresh meat, seafood and green veggies | Usually best hotpots are at small rustic restaurants that are mainly frequented by locals 1. Beer 29, Old Quarter 2. Pho Nam Bao Quyen Hotpot Restaurant |
| * Bún riêu – crab noodles (absolutely delicious) | 1. 2. Nguyen Seui restaurant (serves crab noodles only in lunch later serves pork noodles) 3. 23 Nguyen Sieu Street between 10am and 2pm (smallest stool) |
| * (Desert) Bánh Bông Lan Trứng Muối – is a savory cake topped with salted duck egg yolk and pork floss. This is a unique cake to try in Vietnam. | This cake can be found only in local bakeries and cafe 1. Phe la Cafe 2. Gốc Cột Điện (Mrs. Ut Xu, owner of this bakery created this cake in 1986) 3. Banh Ngot Hong Kong 149 (an old bakery) |
| * Best Vietnamese tea – Experience the tea ceremony | Hein Minh Tea Shop |
| * Best coffee – read here | Best places to have coffee – read here |
HO CHI MINH
| Dish | Food Joint |
| * Banh Mi – is a baguette with grilled pork, & other meat, fresh greens and sauce | 1. Khu Pho 3 Van Hoa, District 1 (refer image below) 2. Giu Xe 28, District 1 (refer image below) 3. Banh Mi Huynh Hoa 4. Banh Mi 37 Nguyen Trai 5. Banh Mi Hong Hoa |
| * Bò Lá lốt (beef wrapped in lolot/betel leaf are grilled to be eaten with Bo Mo Chai and Cha Gio) | 1. Bò Lá Lop, District 3 2. Cô Liên Bò Lá Lốt |
| * Bún Bò Huế – Meat broth served with noodles, slices of braised meat along with greens, banana blossom shavings, and lemon (this particular dish gets very close to Indian palate in terms flavors where there is bit or spicy, tangy and sweet all coming together) | 1. The Lunch Lady* (Anthony Bordain favorite) in northern edge of District 1 2. Bún Bò Xưa, District 3 open 24/7 (Refer image below) |
| * Bun Riêu – One of the best Crab noodle soup you will have | Bun Riêu Ganh Ben Thanh, District 1 (refer image below) |
| Bánh Xèo | Quán Bánh Xèo 46A, District 1 (Anthony Bourdain Favourite) |
| * Bánh Cuốn | Banh Cuon Hải Nam |
| Pho cuon (Rice paper rolls) | Eat rainbow rolls at Phở Hai Thiền |
| * Phở | 1. Phở Quynh, District 1 (they only serve beef Pho but highly recommended) 2. Phở Hai Thiền |
| * Vietnamese (rice paper) pizza – an urban street food where Rice paper is turned into pizza base added with meat toppings, quail eggs, veggies, and sauces which is roasted over coal fire. Its a nice dish to see how localised some food can become. | Eat at Ms. Chu, Giao Hang Tan Noi (refer image below) |
| * Desert – Chè Trôi Nước (Eaten on special occasions, these mochi-esque rice flour balls) | Eat at Chè ‘đợi’, 48 Lý Chính Thắng, District 8 |
| * (Desert) Bánh Bông Lan Trứng Muối – is a savory cake topped with salted duck egg yolk and pork floss. This is a unique cake to try in Vietnam. | Find these in local bakeries and cafes only 1. Phe La cafe, District 1 & 3 (refer image below) 2. Beo Bakery 3. Gia Trinh Bakery |
| * (Desert) Xôi ngũ sắc or five-color sticky rice is rice made in different flavours sprinkled with roasted peanuts, shredded coconut & coconut cream. A traditional dish from Sapa which we tried in Saigon | Street cart in District 1 (refer photo) |
HOI AN
| Dish | Food Joint |
| * Hai Chiến Cao Lầu | Eat at Ba Be stall E034 in Central Market (Anthony Bourdain favorite) |
| * A veg dish of steamed rice, sautéed food, & soup | Old Lady (2nd from left) in Central Market |
| * Banh Bao banh vac (White rose dumplings) | White rose restaurant |
| Steamed pork belly buns | Nu Eatery at 10A Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai (it’s tucked away down a narrow street behind the Japanese covered bridge) |
| * Bánh xèo, a crispy crepe with shrimp and pork | Hoa Hien at 35 Trần Quang Khải |
| * Deep fried rice paper rolls – Vietnam uses unique Nest rice paper rolls for making rice paper rolls which gives extra crispy texture to the rolls | We ate this during our cooking class at our homestay |
| * (Dessert) Sticky rice cake stuffed with banana | Eat at street cart near heritage town (refer image below) |
2HappySouls 