Top 10 Best Vietnamese Street Food From North To South

International friends who hear the word "Vietnam" will likely picture not just an S-shaped coastline country with a lot of breathtaking natural scenery and other natural resources provided thankfully by nature, but also Vietnamese cuisine, particularly Vietnam's street food cuisine. Here are some of the best Vietnamese street food to help you understand why this cuisine has become so well-liked among friends worldwide.

Bánh mì (Banh mi)

The first dish in the top 10 best Vietnamese street food is Bánh Mì - a well-liked variation of sandwiches using a baguette as its main component. The baguette was brought over to Vietnam during the colonial period. The word “Bánh Mì” is derived from bánh (which can refer to many kinds of food, including bread) and mì (wheat).

The first dish in the top 10 best Vietnamese street food is Bánh Mì

What are the ingredients?

The ingredients of a classic Bánh Mì include chả lụa (pork sausage), coriander leaf, cucumber, pickled carrots, and pickled daikon along with ingredients like paté, red chile, and buttery mayonnaise. In Vietnam, bánh mì is frequently consumed for breakfast or as a snack.

Phở (Pho)

Phở is a Vietnamese noodle soup, Vietnam's national dish, street food, comfort food, and a way of life. In the western hemisphere, it is also the most popular Vietnamese street food due to its sophisticated simplicity and nuanced, distinctive flavors. Despite being categorized as a soup, phở is served as the main course and the two bowls of it never taste the same.

Phở is a Vietnamese noodle soup, Vietnam's national dish

What are the ingredients?

It is typically prepared with chicken or beef broth, in which the bones are simmered slowly for at least three hours to produce the ideal broth. Chewy rice noodles, juicy beef slices, and crunchy sprouts take the meal to a higher level while the addition of herbs and spices enhances the flavors.

Bún chả (Bun cha)

If you are a fan of Vietnamese cuisine, you will know that the people in this country love eating vermicelli noodles. This sort of noodle goes well with a variety of dishes, including delicious chicken curry made in the style of Vietnam, beef stew, and many more. Another famous street food in Vietnam is Bún Chả, which features "Chả"-grilled pork and caramelized pork belly in a bowl of broth with vermicelli.

Another famous street food in Vietnam is Bún Chả

What are the ingredients?

It is basically a warm broth with minced pork and Vietnamese traditional noodle. In addition to a bowl of heated soup with grilled pork mince, you will also be given a plate of rice noodles and fresh herbs. When eating, rice noodles are dipped into the broth, along with optional grilled pork, and eat them like western soups. The broth has a naturally-sweet taste from baking pork bones. The grilled pork is also very fragrant, and the fresh herbs give this meal a vibrant freshness.

Bánh xèo (Vietnamese crispy pancakes)

The next meal in the list of the top 10 best Vietnamese street food, Bánh Xèo, which loosely translates to "sizzling pancakes," combines crisp crêpes with a range of tasty toppings. Depending on every location and province you are in, you will likely come across a different recipe for Bánh Xèo because it is made differently all around the country.

Depending on every location and province, you will likely come across a different recipe for Bánh Xèo

What are the ingredients?

Bánh Xèo's signature Vietnamese ingredient is rice flour, which is mixed with water, turmeric, coconut milk, or coconut cream to make a thick, yellow batter. Before the mixture is poured into the pan, other ingredients are sautéed, most frequently onions, bean sprouts, shrimp, and cubed pork or beef. In order to keep the fillings safely nestled inside the pancake, it is pan-fried at a low temperature before being delicately folded in half. 

Bánh bèo (Vietnamese bloating fern - shaped cake)

Bánh Bèo is a popular Vietnamese street food which often used for breakfast or as a snack in Vietnam. Because of the differences in cuisine culture, Bánh Bèo has many versions among different places according to the locals’ interests.

Bánh Bèo has many versions among different places according to the locals’ interests

What are the ingredients?

It is formed of a batter of rice flour and is served in little bowls with minced shrimp (Hue style) or a combination of pork, shrimp, and wood ear mushrooms (Da Nang / Quang Nam style). The steamed rice cakes are topped with steamed mung beans in addition to the usual toppings and served on a platter in the Southern Vietnamese variation known as bánh bèo miền Nam.

Bánh cuốn (Vietnamese steam rice roll)

Bánh Cuốn is another really famous street food in Vietnam that locals can eat in three meals a day as the main dish. Banh Cuon is a dish made from rice flour that is shaved into paper-thin slides.

Bánh Cuốn is another really famous street food in Vietnam that locals can eat in three meals a day

What are the ingredients?

The typical filling for Bánh Cuốn is minced beef and mushrooms, while the batter is fermented rice. A refined savory taste will be added to the dish by adding minced shallots and fish sauce (also known as "nước mắm") and sometimes "cà cuống" (a huge water insect) is used. Vietnamese will serve the meal with bean sprouts, sliced cucumber, or chả lụa to add texture.

Bún đậu mắm tôm (Vietnamese rice noodle with fried tofu and shrimp paste)

This special Vietnamese dish comes from the North of Vietnam and will be a challenge for you. If you are looking for a unique specialty, Bún Đậu Mắm Tôm is a must-try dish in this country. Local citizens usually have the dish for lunch, but you can enjoy it any time during the day.

Bún Đậu Mắm Tôm is a must-try dish in this country

What are the ingredients?

Traditionally, vermicelli, fried tofu, herbs, and sausages are presented on banana leaves. Any element that you do not like can be requested to be left out or get more of any component if you like it.

When eating, you will dip noodles in shrimp paste and eat them with other ingredients and herbs. The flavor is so fantastic that many visitors have been wowed by it at first bite and it has steadily established itself as a signature element of Hanoian cuisine. Some people can not stand the scent of shrimp paste, so you occasionally request fish sauce or soy sauce instead.

Bún bò Huế (Hue-style spicy beef noodle soup)

One of the most popular Vietnamese street food that comes from Hue is Bún Bò Huế (Hue-style beef). Bún Bò Huế is currently available not only in Hue but also in all other provinces and cities throughout Vietnam, particularly in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

One of the most popular Vietnamese street food that comes from Hue is Bún Bò Huế

What are the ingredients?

The primary components of beef noodles prepared in the Hue style are beef, trotters, frozen blood, minced pork with pepper (Mọc), and a few herbs including bean sprouts, lemon, and coriander. The meal can only be made to perfection with the help of broth, which is a key determining component. The pork bone that was cooked for hours gave the dish's broth a naturally sweet flavor.

Mì Quảng (Quang noodle)

Mì Quảng is a magnificent Vietnamese noodle type originating from Quang Nam (a province in the center of Vietnam). This region's most well-known food is well-known throughout the nation and the world. Local people usually have it as a breakfast or lunch dish.

Mì Quảng is a magnificent Vietnamese noodle type originating from Quảng Nam

What are the ingredients?

Mì Quảng typically consists of three components: noodles, broth, and toppings. It is prepared from rice flour and sliced into flat threads, making them quite comparable to Phở. The broth is painstakingly prepared using stewed water with chicken or pork bones and onions. Many chefs frequently add meat, frogs, or prawns to give it a refined, sweet flavor.

Gỏi cuốn (Vietnamese spring roll)

The last meal in the top 10 best Vietnamese street food is Gỏi Cuốn. It will be a treat for people looking for a nutritious dish packed with fresh herbs. Vietnamese cook this dish whenever they want; you may also find it at numerous family meetings or on the anniversary of a death (in the Southern region).

The last meal in the top 10 best Vietnamese street food is Gỏi Cuốn

What are the ingredients?

Inside a thin sheet of rice paper, the meal is encased with fresh veggies, pork, shrimp, and rice vermicelli. All the components are visible inside thanks to the transparent cover. It can be eaten cold or even hot.

Here you are, the top 10 best Vietnamese street food. Let’s make a trip to Vietnam right away to explore this top 10 and other mouth-watering food. Besides, Vietnam is a paradise for travel lovers with many spectacular tourist attractions. Check here to see your next destination!