The 9 Best Dishes to Eat in Vietnam
Vietnamese cuisine is one of the highlights of any trip to Vietnam. From steaming bowls of noodle soup and crispy bánh xèo to fresh herbs, grilled meats, and fragrant dipping sauces, Vietnamese food is known for its fresh ingredients, balanced flavours, and incredible regional diversity.
As you travel from North to South, you will notice that the flavours change with the landscape and local traditions. Northern Vietnamese cuisine is generally subtle and balanced, Central Vietnamese food is often bolder and spicier, while Southern cuisine tends to be sweeter and makes generous use of fresh herbs and vegetables.
While there are countless dishes worth trying, these are 9 of the best Vietnamese dishes to add to your food itinerary.
1. Pho – Vietnamese Noodle Soup
Phở is probably the most famous Vietnamese dish internationally and one of the first foods many travellers want to try in Vietnam.
This comforting noodle soup consists of flat rice noodles, a fragrant broth, and beef or chicken, usually served with fresh herbs, lime, and chilli. The broth is the heart of a good bowl of phở and is traditionally simmered for hours with ingredients such as beef or chicken bones, star anise, cinnamon, cloves, and other spices.
Hanoi is particularly famous for its traditional phở bò, while southern-style phở is often served with a larger selection of fresh herbs and bean sprouts.
Where to try it: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are both excellent places to experience different styles of phở.
Learn more: Top 7 Delicious Beef Pho Restaurants Near Hanoi’s Old Quarter
2. Bun Cha – Grilled Pork with Rice Vermicelli
Bun Cha (Bún chả) is one of Hanoi’s most iconic dishes. It combines charcoal-grilled pork patties and slices of pork belly with cold rice vermicelli, fresh herbs, and a light fish sauce-based dipping broth.
The pork is grilled over charcoal, giving it a distinctive smoky aroma. You then combine the noodles, grilled pork, herbs, and dipping sauce to create a fresh and balanced bite.
Bún chả became internationally famous after Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain enjoyed it together in Hanoi, but it has long been a favourite lunchtime dish among locals. Vietnam Tourism also describes it as a classic Hanoian street food.
Where to try it: Hanoi is the best place to experience authentic bún chả.
3. Banh Mi – Vietnamese Sandwich
Bánh mì is one of Vietnam’s most popular street foods and can be enjoyed almost anywhere in the country.
The Vietnamese baguette has a crisp exterior and soft interior, usually filled with ingredients such as pâté, Vietnamese cold cuts, grilled pork, cucumber, pickled carrot and daikon, coriander, and a savoury sauce.
Every region has its own interpretation of bánh mì. In Ho Chi Minh City, for example, you will find richly filled versions with several types of meat and pickled vegetables, while other destinations have developed their own local variations.
It is inexpensive, convenient, and suitable for breakfast, lunch, a quick snack, or almost any time of day.
Where to try it: Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hoi An, and Da Nang all have excellent bánh mì options.
4. Mi Quang – Quang-Style Noodles
Mì Quảng is a specialty of Quang Nam and Central Vietnam. Unlike many Vietnamese noodle soups, it uses only a small amount of rich, flavourful broth.
The dish typically combines wide rice noodles with pork, shrimp, chicken, or other local ingredients, together with fresh herbs, vegetables, roasted peanuts, and crispy rice crackers.
The contrast between the chewy noodles, savoury broth, crunchy peanuts, herbs, and rice cracker makes mì Quảng particularly distinctive.
Where to try it: Da Nang, Hoi An, and Quang Nam are ideal places to sample authentic mì Quảng.
5. Banh Xeo – Vietnamese Crispy Pancake
Bánh xèo is a crispy Vietnamese pancake made from rice flour, usually combined with turmeric and coconut milk, then filled with ingredients such as shrimp, pork, bean sprouts, and onions.
The name literally refers to the sizzling sound the batter makes when it hits a hot pan.
Eating bánh xèo is part of the experience. A piece of the crispy pancake is wrapped in lettuce or rice paper together with fresh herbs and vegetables, then dipped into a sweet-and-sour fish sauce.
Bánh xèo is particularly popular in Central and Southern Vietnam, with different regions offering their own styles.
Where to try it: Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, and the Mekong Delta are great places to discover different versions.
6. Cha Ca – Hanoi’s Turmeric Grilled Fish
Chả cá is a famous Hanoi speciality featuring pieces of marinated fish grilled or pan-fried with turmeric, then cooked with generous amounts of fresh dill and spring onions.
The dish is typically served with rice vermicelli, roasted peanuts, herbs, and mắm tôm (fermented shrimp paste), although fish sauce can be used as an alternative.
One of the most interesting things about chả cá is that the final cooking is often done at the table, making the meal as much an experience as it is a dish. Vietnam Tourism notes that Hanoi’s version traditionally uses fatty freshwater fish and plenty of dill and spring onions.
Where to try it: Hanoi.
7. Cao Lau – Hoi An Noodles
Cao lầu is one of the dishes most closely associated with Hoi An.
It consists of thick, chewy noodles served with slices of pork, fresh herbs, vegetables, and crispy pieces of fried noodles or pork skin. Unlike conventional noodle soups, cao lầu is served with very little broth.
The dish reflects Hoi An’s history as an international trading port, with influences from Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese culinary traditions.
For many visitors, trying a bowl of cao lầu while wandering through Hoi An Ancient Town is an essential part of the experience.
Where to try it: Hoi An.
8. Bun Bo Hue – Spicy Beef Noodle Soup
Bún bò Huế is a hearty noodle soup from the former imperial capital of Hue.
The broth is rich and aromatic, with beef, pork, lemongrass, chilli, and fermented shrimp paste contributing to its distinctive flavour. It is usually served with thick round rice noodles, slices of beef, pork, herbs, and fresh vegetables.
Compared with the delicate flavour of northern phở, bún bò Huế is generally more intense, spicy, and aromatic.
It is traditionally enjoyed for breakfast in Hue, although you can find bún bò Huế restaurants throughout Vietnam. Vietnam Tourism describes it as one of Hue’s signature dishes and highlights its combination of fresh greens, chilli, and lime.
Where to try it: Hue is the best destination for the original style.
9. Pho Cuon – Fresh Rice Noodle Rolls
Phở cuốn is another popular speciality from Hanoi and a great choice if you want something lighter and fresher than a bowl of noodle soup.
Instead of serving rice noodles in broth, wide sheets of fresh phở are wrapped around beef, herbs, lettuce, and other fresh ingredients. The rolls are served with a savoury dipping sauce.
The combination of soft rice noodles, tender beef, crunchy vegetables, and fragrant herbs makes phở cuốn particularly refreshing on a hot day.
Where to try it: Hanoi, especially around the Trúc Bạch and Ngũ Xã areas.
More Vietnamese Dishes Worth Trying
These nine dishes are only the beginning. Vietnamese cuisine varies enormously from one region to another, so don’t limit yourself to the most famous dishes.
Depending on your itinerary, you may also want to try:
- Bánh cuốn – delicate steamed rice rolls filled with minced pork and wood-ear mushrooms
- Bún đậu mắm tôm – rice vermicelli, crispy tofu, herbs, and fermented shrimp paste
- Cơm tấm – broken rice served with grilled pork and other toppings, especially popular in southern Vietnam
- Bún thịt nướng – grilled pork with rice vermicelli, herbs, pickled vegetables, and fish sauce
- Bánh canh – thick rice or tapioca noodles served in a savoury broth
- Bún chả cá – rice vermicelli with fish cakes, particularly popular in coastal cities such as Nha Trang
- Cà phê sữa đá – Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk
Vietnam Tourism also highlights bánh cuốn, bún chả cá and many other regional dishes among the country’s must-try foods.
Vietnamese Cuisine by Region
One of the best ways to experience Vietnamese food is to pay attention to the regional differences.
Northern Vietnam
Northern cuisine tends to favour subtle, balanced flavours and allows the natural taste of ingredients to stand out. Hanoi is the best place to explore dishes such as phở, bún chả, chả cá and phở cuốn.
Central Vietnam
Central Vietnamese cuisine is often bolder, spicier, and more complex, with strong culinary traditions influenced by the former imperial court of Hue. This region is home to dishes such as bún bò Huế, mì Quảng, bánh xèo and many local specialities.
Southern Vietnam
Southern cuisine generally has a sweeter and more generous flavour profile, with plenty of fresh herbs, vegetables, seafood, and tropical ingredients. Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta are excellent destinations for discovering southern Vietnamese food.
Final Thoughts
Food is an essential part of travelling in Vietnam. From a simple bowl of phở at a small street stall to regional specialities served in local restaurants, Vietnamese cuisine offers an incredible variety of flavours, textures, and traditions.
The best part is that you don’t need to visit expensive restaurants to enjoy great food. Some of Vietnam’s most memorable dishes can be found in small family-run eateries and street food stalls.
So when planning your Vietnam holiday, leave some room in your itinerary for culinary exploration. Try local dishes wherever you go, ask your guide or hotel for recommendations, and don’t be afraid to order something you’ve never tried before.
