You will never go hungry while walking around Vietnam. So, which part of Vietnam has the most delicious cuisine? Let’s discover our 5 famous cities for a gastronomic trip to Vietnam.
Talk about Vietnamese cuisine may not be a new topic, as it is well known throughout the world. You will never go hungry while walking around Vietnam. So, which part of Vietnam has the most delicious cuisine? This question must be really difficult to answer for any traveler to Vietnam, because each region has its own specialties and variations.
Hungry visitors to Vietnam will soon discover how much the food varies as they travel across the country. Due to a wide selection of Vietnamese dishes, your taste buds will always be surprised.
If you have not yet tried Vietnamese dishes and are still hesitant, here is my selection of places in Vietnam that offer the best food .
1. Hanoi
Hanoi is full of tourist sites that will appeal to visitors: the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda, Hoan Kiem Lake and the old quarter with its lively streets. If you really want to understand the Hanoi people and their culture, you will have to immerse yourself in their street food. Walking is always my favorite way to explore new places, and culinary adventures really elevate the whole experience.
Hanoi’s gastronomy can be overwhelming with its mix of smells and flavors. And it’s definitely worth exploring. To name a few, here are some of the must-try dishes: Pho noodles, Pho Cuon, Xoi (sticky rice with topping), Bun Rieu, Banh Mi sandwich, Caphe Trung (coffee with eggs) and, last but not least, Bun Cha, which is what Obama ate during his evening with Bourdain.
2. Sapa
Every visitor to Sapa is enchanted by its cool climate, exceptional mountainous landscapes and culinary paradise with unique local dishes from the northwest region. If you want to both eat and sightsee, there are several restaurants with beautiful views and good food. It would be a shame to miss the fascinating dishes of Sapa such as “Cap Nach” pork, salmon stew, Thang Co soup, Khang Gai dried meat…
In the evening, you will find numerous stands offering a multitude of grilled skewers. This is perhaps the most famous specialty in Sapa. There are so many dishes that you may not have enough “room” in your stomach to try them all. The cold, wet and foggy weather will make eating in Sapa a pleasant time. So, if you get the chance, take a stroll along the main street and stop at a stall that catches your eye (and nose).
3. Hue
Throughout Vietnam, you will be told that Hue is the best place for a delicious meal.
Hue dishes are distinguished by their relatively small size and refined presentation, a vestige of royal cuisine. Dishes not to be missed include Bun Bo Hue (Hue-style beef vermicelli), Com Hen (rice with clams), Bun Thit Nuong (grilled pork vermicelli), Nem Lui (lemongrass skewers) and various types of “banh” (cake) and “che” (sweet soup).
These dishes are best enjoyed at a leisurely pace, wandering around town to find the perfect hideaway.
4. Hoi An
Hoi An’s appeal lies not only in its charming people, but also in its extensive cuisine. Believe it or not, a particularly important reason to visit Hoi An is its gastronomy. The city is small but the food culture is so rich and diverse, with dishes that are so inexpensive yet extremely delicious.
Tasting the local cuisine in Hoi An is one of the things I enjoyed the most. Speaking of Hoi An, it is a big mistake to forget its iconic dishes: Cao Lau noodles, My Quang (Quang noodles), Com Ga (Hoi An chicken rice), Banh Mi (basically, “Banh Mi” is delicious, but “Banh Mi Hoian” is incredibly delicious and not to be missed), Banh Bao Banh Vac (white rose dumplings), Banh Beo (steamed rice pancake), etc…
I recommend you to read the excellent site Good Morning Hoi An by Laurent on Central Vietnam.
5. Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)
No matter where you stay in Saigon, you are never far from good food! This is the place where there is always something to eat, with discoveries to be made every day. Cuisine from all over the world is present in this city. Take a stroll and you’ll find food stalls or mobile food carts lining the streets, selling everything from crispy pancakes to freshly squeezed sugarcane juice to grilled seafood. With a multitude of tasty dishes to sample, it’s hard to decide what to pick for a short list of must-try dishes in Ho Chi Minh City .
Not to mention international dishes, for the dishes suggested here, really, you can find them everywhere and if you see a sign for one of the dishes, stop at the stall, order it and try it: Pho (remember, the taste of pho in the south is totally different from the north), Banh Trang Tron (rice leaf salad), Banh Mi (yeah, “banh mi” again, but each region’s banh mi are different but all delicious. So try them all because there are countless variations of “banh mi” sandwiches waiting for you to discover!), Com Tam (broken rice), Bun Bo Nam Bo (Southern style beef vermicelli), Banh Xeo. Hu Tiu Nam Vang, Oc (snails)…
Vietnam is one of the best culinary destinations in the world. A journey through Vietnamese cuisine and culture. If you have never been to Vietnam before, this idea might excite you. Vietnamese cuisine is ubiquitous, varied and delicious. At the same time, Vietnam has one of the healthiest cuisines in Asia, if not the world. Eat your way around Vietnam, you’ll definitely become a big fan of Vietnamese cuisine!
