Bucket List Travel

Vietnam A foodie's paradise

When we travel it’s often the flavours of local cuisine we remember best. In Vietnam it is always the crusty bánh mì or streetside pho, seafood cù lao hotpots and the scarily addictive coffee with condensed milk. Vietnamese food is characterised by fresh, contrasting flavours: sweet and sour, crunchy and silky, fried and steamed. Rice and noodles are integral to most dishes, though you’ll find flavour variations in different parts of the country. Dishes tend to be milder in the north, sweeter in the south and quite spicy in the central region.

Here is our guide to what food you can’t miss trying in Vietnam. Don’t be afraid to try some of the Street Food Tours – you won’t be disappointed.

Pho: A steaming bowl of flavoursome pho is one of Vietnam's most celebrated street foods and an absolute must on the list of things to eat in Vietnam. This noodle soup, pronounced more like ‘fur’ than ‘foe’, usually features clear noodles in a broth with beef or chicken, some vegetables and herbs.

Banh mi: The French influence in Vietnamese cuisine becomes obvious when you consider the popularity of fresh baguettes. Take crusty bread, stuff it with meat, coriander, daikon or green papaya and pickled condiments and you've got a favourite lunch or breakfast treat that anyone would enjoy.

Banh xeo: A delicious crepe-like savoury pancake that is filled with shrimp, fatty pork, bean sprouts and green onions, and served with lettuce. Its name, literally ‘sizzling cake’, comes from the intense sizzling sound the crepe makes when the turmeric and rice flour batter hits the frying pan.

Bun mam: This is the pungent essence of southern Vietnamese food – a vermicelli noodle soup prepared with a heady fermented fish paste, topped with an assortment of meats such as squid, prawns and pork, and a slice of eggplant.

Bun bo hue: From the central Vietnamese town of Hue, this rice noodle beef soup packs a spice and lemongrass-filled punch. Often served with pork knuckle, slices of beef, Vietnamese sausage and onions, this soup is citrusy, hearty and warming.

Bun Cha: The smell of charring meat that permeates Hanoi is probably bun cha – patties of fatty pork served in a thin soup alongside assorted greens, herbs and fresh rice vermicelli noodles.

If this has tantalised your taste buds, get in touch to discuss a foodie experience in Vietnam. Michelle | Bucket List Travel, Red Beach