Street food to try in Vietnam

Street food isn’t an afterthought or a trend here, but an authentic way of life that has been perfected over generations. Just about everywhere you go, from major cities like Hanoi to backwater villages out in the mountains, you’ll find people making traditional recipes and fusion cuisine at roadside stalls, market stands, and out of their own homes.

Fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and unbelievably affordable prices all combine to make Vietnam’s Street food scene truly unmissable.  Let’s take a look at the street food you simply have to try in Vietnam.

But first, a warning: you might want to have some snacks close by, because you’re going to be hungry by the time you finish this article!

Pho: A Worldwide Pho-Nomenon

There’s no controversy in saying that pho is Vietnam’s most famous dish. In recent years, this rich broth of rice noodles, fresh herbs, and beef or chicken has become popular worldwide, with just about every major city having its own Vietnamese restaurant serving up a different take on the dish. Still, sampling it at a Vietnam Street stall is something entirely different.

Pho actually varies across the country. In the north, the dish is simpler, focusing more on the rich, intense flavour of the broth. In the south of the country, cooks tend to get more creative, adding condiments, herbs, and bean sprouts. Pho can be enjoyed at any time of the day, with lots of locals eating it for breakfast, so don’t be afraid to tuck in any time you see a roadside stall that looks good.

Bánh Mì: More Than Just A Sandwich

Sometimes, food can tell a story. A country’s cuisine often preserves the record of its culture and its past, and that’s definitely the case with the ever-popular bánh mì. This sandwich is part of the legacy of the French colonial influence in Vietnam, with the iconic crispy baguette that is everywhere in France transformed into something uniquely Vietnamese.

Popular ingredients include:

• Grilled pork
• Pâté
• Pickled vegetables
• Chili
• Cucumber
• Coriander

These eclectic ingredients merge into a delicious combination of textures and flavours. You’ll find these incredible sandwiches just about everywhere throughout the country. Affordable and portable, they’re ideal for travellers on the move.

No matter how you like to spend your time travelling, it’s always easier when you can stay connected. ZenSim offers affordable eSIM plans that will connect your phone to a local network so you can use data without worrying about roaming fees and charges. You’ll have full access to maps, translation apps, and travel forums to help you find the best dishes throughout the country, making your exploration of Vietnam’s delicious food easier.

Bún Cha: Hanoi's Signature Lunch

Bún Chả is not as internationally well-known as pho and bánh mì, but it’s still a staple on the menus of Vietnamese restaurants around the world.

Bún Chả is based around grilled pork, served with rice noodles, fresh herbs, and a flavorful dipping sauce. The meal comes as separate components, so you can assemble each bite according to your taste. It’s hard to beat the flavour of grilled meat, and when combined with the freshness of the herbs, it’s an unforgettable delicacy of the country.

Goi Cuon: Fresh Spring Rolls

As delicious as street food can be, it can get to be a little much. Often, there’s an emphasis on heavy fried or grilled foods that can weigh you down after a while, defeating part of the point of eating on the go.

Vietnam’s fresh spring rolls, gỏi cuốn, provide a much-needed light alternative that can keep your hunger satisfied without overloading your system.

These rice paper wraps are filled with ingredients like shrimp, pork, rice noodles, lettuce, and herbs. Typically, they are served with a flavorful dipping sauce based on peanuts, fish sauce, or hoisin. Again, you’ll find fresh spring rolls throughout the country, but they are particularly popular in southern Vietnam.

Bánh Xèo: Crispy Vietnamese Pancakes

The name bánh xèo translates to ‘sizzling pancake’. They get their name from the sound the batter makes when poured into a hot pan. Bánh xèo are made from rice flour and turmeric, and are filled with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts. Often, the finished pancake will be wrapped in lettuce leaves and dipped into sauce. 

Cao Lau: A Hoi An Specialty

It’s always fun to try the local specialties when you travel somewhere new. If you find yourself in historic Hoi An, keep your eyes open for a restaurant or stall selling cao lầu. 

This is a pho-like dish of broth with sliced pork and crunchy croutons, but what makes it unique is the noodles. Unlike the traditional rice noodles, these are thicker, almost like a cross between Vietnamese and Japanese udon noodles. 

Com Tam: Broken Rice with Big Flavour

Often served for breakfast or lunch, cơm tấm started as a way to use broken rice grains normally not considered fit for eating. Historically, this was a dish for the poorest people, but over time, it has evolved into a beloved staple of Vietnamese cuisine.

Often, the broken rice is served with grilled pork, fried egg, pickled vegetables, and fish sauce. It’s simple and filling, like peasant food tends to be, but it doesn’t skimp on flavour. Plus, it’s one of the less popular Vietnamese dishes internationally, so having it here will give you an authentic taste of the country.

Chè: Vietnam's Sweet Dessert

No meal is complete without dessert, so it makes sense to finish this article with a sweet treat. Chè is in many ways more of a concept than it is a specific individual dish, as the word is used to describe several different Vietnamese desserts that can include anything from coconut milk to beans to fruit to sticky rice. Every region has its own specialty, so if you’re travelling around the country, it’s worth making the effort to sample as many different forms of chè as you can.

Why Street Food Is the Best Way to Experience Vietnam

No matter where you go in the world, you find the same thing: food is inextricably tied to culture and history. That’s just as true in Vietnam as it is anywhere else.

Many recipes used here have been passed down through families for generations, so trying street food in Vietnam gives you a sensory encounter with local life.

With your phone connected via an eSIM from ZenSim, you can look at reviews, get recommendations, use translation apps, and upload photos of your delicious meals to your social media. The very best way to explore Vietnam might be through your taste buds, so make note of these dishes and immerse yourself in a street food scene like no other.