Vietnamese Street Food Culture by Yonathan Paripurno

VIETNAMESE STREET FOOD All about street food and culture

2118067 Yonathan Paripurno

TABLE OF

CONTENTS table of content .................................................... 2 Vietnamese street food culture .......................... 4 5 reason to eat street food in vietnam ................ 6 Favorite Vietnamese Street food ...................... 12 Pho (Rice Noodle Soup) ...................................... 14 Bun Cha (Vietnamese Grilled Meat Vermicelli) . 18 Bahn Mi (Vietnamese sandwich) ........................ 20 Bahn Cuon (Stuffed pancake) ............................ 24 Bahn Goi (Fried Pillow Cake) .............................. 26 Cha Gio (Fried Spring Rolls) ............................... 30 Pho Cuon (Rolled Noodle) .................................. 34 Bun Dau Mam Tom (Vermicelli Served with Tofu and Shrimp Paste) .............................................. 38

Cha Phe Trung (Egg Coffee) ................................ 42 Bun Bo Hue (Hue-styled beef noodles) .............. 46 Hu Tieu Go (Chinning Noodle) ............................. 50 Che (Sweet soup) ................................................ 54 Bahn Xeo (Pancake) ........................................... 56 Cao Lau (Rice Noodle) ........................................ 60 Bizzare street food in Vietnam .......................... 64 Trung Vit Lon (Balut) ........................................... 66 Tiet Cahn (The Blood Pudding) ........................... 70 Duong Dua (Coconut Worm) ............................... 74 Con Trung Chien (various insect) ....................... 78 Con Ech (Frogs) ................................................... 82 Cho (Dog) ............................................................ 86 How to shoose a street food vendor? ................ 90 Don’t drink water from unknown sources .......... 92 Avoid raw fruits and vegetables ........................ 93 Choose busy street vendors .............................. 94 Watch the food preparation ............................... 95

Vietnamese Street Food Culture

There’s one of a kind street food vendor in vietnam

Street food in Vietnam is not simply a list of Vietnamese traditional dishes sold on streets, it also expresses a part of the beauty of Vietnamese people’s culture, lifestyle, feelings, thought. Moreover, it is a combination of Vietnamese traditional culture and other nations’ cultures which dominated Vietnam in history especially China. Throughout more than 4000-year history with many ups and downs , Vietnamese culture in general, and cuisine, in particular, were affected so strongly by Chinese culture that people have no dificulty in inding some Vietnamese street food quite similar to Chinese food such as baozi, noodles, and so on. However, for anyone who tried Vietnamese street foods will all realize the difference as the Vietnamese changed and created to make our own dishes with unique tastes.

5 Reasons to Eat Street Food in Vietnam

There are many reasons for tourists to discover and get addicted to street food in Vietnam. However, the mass agree that there are four main reasons to keep their feet, including the taste of street food, the cheap price, the authenticity and freshness of ingredients, and the local way to enjoy street food.

Cheap price It is considerably cheap. Normally, it takes you only about 1 – 2 dollars to enjoy a street food dish and no more than 25 dollars to get full. And, you will be surprised when you see a decent portion of street food such as Bun Bo Hue (Hue beef noodle), Bun Cha, Banh Cuon (rolled rice pancake) and so on. It is full of noodles, meat, herb, and tasty soup that are believed to have higher prices at only 1 – 3 dollars depending on stalls.

The authenticity and freshness of ingredients Street food in Vietnam is similar to fast food in western countries; however, it is fresher and more authentic. Most street food dishes will not be processed in advance, they only processed right after guests order, so the lavor is still authentic. Tourists had better eat them right when they are still hot to feel the most perfect lavor. Moreover, Vietnamese people are accustomed to enjoying almost dishes with herbs to get a fresh lavor. There is no lack of herbs and authentic ingredients you can see at any street food stall to bring the authentic and fresh lavor to guests.

How to enjoy street food in Vietnam When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Street food in Vietnam seems to be not as delicious as it is if you don’t enjoy it in a Vietnamese way. For travel-lovers, when coming to any country, you should do the same way as the locals to understand more aboutthe country you are visiting. Most tourists agree that when exploring Vietnam’s street food, you should enjoy it in a local way! People here are friendly, hospitable and willing to share their culture, customs, life and street food is a wonderful place to experience it.

Overcoming the fear of street food The fear of unfamiliar food or street food seems still popular main anxiety even for the most experienced tourists. Therefore, how to overcome the fear of street food is an important problem for any tourist having the intention of experiencing Vietnamese street food cuisine. Firstly, most of the anxiety comes from the fact that we don’t know exactly what it is and similarly, a large part of the fear of street food when traveling is simply a fear of the unknown. you tought to research street foods you are likely to experience on the trip as much as possible. You can search in reliable sources on the Internet such as professional travel bloggers’ youtube because they usually review the experience such as where to go, what to eat and some notes when they visit countries, Lonely Planet, TripAdvisor, BBC New, and so on.

Favorite Vietnamese Street Food Best Vietnamese Street Food in Hanoi & Saigon

Street food is the heart and soul to many of the Southeast Asian countries and Vietnam is certainly one of it. Lining the streets you can ind local markets, rustic food joints and rickety food carts with plastic tables and stools. In Vietnam, street food is everywhere. Early morning markets, roving vendors, and bustling sidewalk stalls all trade in Vietnam’s famously mouthwatering cooking. There’s so much to taste. Wondering where to start? This handy guide will give you all the tools you need to navigate Vietnam’s street food scene like a pro.

Pho (Rice Noodle Soup) What to eat? Pho is one of the two most famous Vietnamese traditional dishes having included in Oxford Dictionary because of its popularity not only in Vietnam but also in many other countries. This is a Vietnamese soup consisting of broth, rice noodles (bánh pho), herbs, and meat – usually beef, sometimes chicken, duck, goose according to the guests. The rice noodle used in this dish is not similar to the one used in Bun Cha. It is latter and larger while the one in Bun Cha has a very small shape of white rope. Pho originated in the early 20th century in northern Vietnam and was popularized throughout the world by refugees after the Vietnam War. There is some difference between Hanoi (northern) and Saigon (southern) styles of Pho in the sweetness of broth and the taste of pork, beef, chicken, duck or goose and something eaten with.

Large Onion Lemon

Mint leaves

Beef slice

Ginger GREEN ONION

BEEF BALLS

CORIANDER

RED CHILI

BASIL MUGBEAN SPROUT

CINNAMON STICK

RICE NOODLE SESAME OIL

Pho really is a soup that needs to be made from scratch with a homemade beef broth. Throwing some spices into store bought stock just doesn’t cut it

Where to eat? Pho is such a popular dish in Vietnamese cuisine that it is possible for you to ind a restaurant serving Pho on any streets in any province. However, to enjoy the most authentic delicious traditional lavor of this dish for the irst time coming to Vietnam, I will suggest to you some very-well-known trademarks of heirloom Pho in Hanoi you may not miss.

Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su Address: 10 Ly Quoc Su street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Pho Suong Address: 36B Mai Hac De street, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi Opening hour: 06:30 am – 10:00 pm Price: 30.000 VND – 100.000 VND (~2 – 5$)

Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su Address: 10 Ly Quoc Su street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi Opening hour: 06:30 am – 10:00 pm Price: 30.000 VND – 100.000 VND (~2 – 5$)

Bun Cha (Vietnamese Grilled Meat Vermicelli) What to eat? It is basically a warm broth with minced pork and Vietnamese traditional noodle. You’ll be served by a plate of rice noodles, fresh herbs, and a bowl of warm broth with grilled minced pork. The broth and the pork are the ones making this dish unique.

Bun Cha Huong Lien Bun Cha Huong Lien (Another name is Bun Cha Obama because Obama president ate this dish here when visiting Vietnam in 2016)

Address: 34 Hang Than, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi Price: 35.000 VND – 55.000 VND (~ 1,5$ – 3$) Opening hour: 07:00 am – 05:00 pm

Banh Mi (Vietnamese sandwich) What to eat? Banh Mi is not simply a dish, it is a feature, a typical image that makes tourists remember Vietnam. Like Pho, Banh Mi (Vietnamese sandwich) has become so popular with more and more people in more and more countries that the name of this dish was added into Oxford and even many designers took inspiration from Banh Mi to design national costumes for the beauty in international beauty contests. Originally, Banh Mi doesn’t come from Vietnam, it is a daily dish of the French which they brought into Vietnam in the nineteenth century. However, the locals in Saigon changed this dish by clamping other ingredients like egg, pork, cucumber, herbs and so on inside a loaf of bread at breakfast and it gradually became popular street food in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) then became popular both in the north and the central of Vietnam.

A Fresh Baguette Jalapenos Pork Roll Sliced Ham 2 Fried Ham Pickled carrots Cucumber

Cilantro

Pork liver pate

Normally, the main ingredients to make a Banh Mi are bread, egg, pate, pork, cucumber, tomato, carrot, herb, and anything else you want to clamp. The delicious lavor of Banh Mi doesn’t need to describe more since its popularity has demonstrated all. The fragrance from warm loaves of bread, grilled pork or sometimes grilled beef, the freshness from herbs, tomato, cucumber, and other vegetables create an unforgettable attractive taste of Banh Mi.

Banh Mi Nguyen Sinh Address: No. 17 – 19 Ly Quoc Su street, 201 AB Doi Can ward, Hanoi

Where to eat? Maybe, Banh Mi is the most popular street food in Vietnam in any province. You can ind Banh Mi served in restaurants, small eating stores, and food carts anywhere. However, I want to recommend to you some famous addresses in Hanoi where you may enjoy the most delicious Banh Mi

Banh Mi Nguyen Sinh Banh Mi Nguyen Sinh is one of the oldest stores opened in Hanoi since 1942. The most attractive type of Banh Mi in Banh Mi Nguyen Sinh is Banh Mi with foie gras pate made by following the heirloom recipe with a little smell of cinnamon.

Banh Mi Nguyen Sinh Address: No. 17 – 19 Ly Quoc Su street, 201 AB Doi Can ward, Hanoi Opening hour: 07:00 am – 10:00 pm Price: 30.000 VND – 100.000 VND (~1,5 – 5$)

Banh Mi Dinh Ngang (Banh My Tram) If you want to try Banh Mi in a second way, don’t miss this address. Address: 252 Hang Bong street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi Opening hour: 03:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Banh Mi Lo Su (Banh Mi Ba Dan) One of the oldest stores opened in 1979 in Hanoi. Address: 34 Lo Su street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi Opening hour: 06:00 am – 10:00 pm

Price: 30.000 VND – 70.000 VND (~1,5 – 3,5$)

Banh Cuon (Stuffed pancake) What to eat? Another very delicious street food in Vietnam is Banh Cuon, which the locals can eat in three meals in a day as the main dish. Banh Cuon is a dish made from rice lour into very-thin slides like a paper before stufing with inely-chopped pork and stir-fried inely-chopped wood ear like the spring roll, sprinkling golden brown dried onion dusted on top, and eating with typical sauce. The batter of Banh Cuon is made by husking rice until smooth, then blending with water. The most important part of this dish is sauce having both spicy and sweet lavor. Besides, people usually eat with Cha (Vietnamese pork sausage) to improve the lavor to the dish.

Banh Cuon Ba Hoanh is nearly a century old, and both the eatery’s name and the authenticity of the food they serve stem from the same source: the culinary wisdom of Grandma Hoang.

Where to eat? Banh Cuon is one of the oldest traditional dishes in Vietnamese cuisine; therefore, there are many heirloom brands in Hanoi and even they extend to open store chase in other provinces. I will introduce you to some of the oldest brands in Hanoi to choose from if you have a chance to try this dish. Banh Cuon Thanh Van Address: 12-14 Hang Ga street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi Opening hour: 06:30 am – 02:00 pm and 05:00 pm – 10:00 pm Price: 15.000 VND – 30.000 VND (~ 2$)

Banh Cuon Ba Hanh Address: 26B Tho Xuong street, Phu Doan ward, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi Opening hour: 06:00 am – 02:00 pm and 04:00 pm – 10:00 pm Price: 25.000 VND – 40.000 VND (~1 – 2$)

Banh Goi (Fried Pillow Cake)

Like most cakes in Vietnam, bánh goi is not baked but deep fried to create a charming yellow pastry skin, crispy and fragrant.

What to eat? An ideal option for cold days in Vietnam, Banh Goi attracts guests at irst sight for its lovely baby pillow shape and its colorful delicious sauce. Like most other cakes in Vietnam, we don’t use oven mitts to bake cakes, Banh Goi is deep-fried to create a yellow skin that is delicious, crispy, and fragrant. The skin of Banh Goi is made by mixing water and rice lour at a perfect ratio. The inside is a mixture of chopped ingredients including glass noodles, wood ears, minced pork, and mushroom. Not less important is dipping sauce with a ine proportion of garlic, chili, sugar, lime juice, ish sauce, and water. Banh Goi is also served with some fresh herbs such as lettuce, coriander to reduce its oily taste.

Where to eat? Below are some addresses which are popular with the locals in Hanoi for you to try if having a chance to try this dish.

Banh Goi Ly Quoc Su It may be the oldest one in Hanoi which is well-liked by the locals and the foreign, located near Saint Joseph Cathedral Hanoi so it is easy to ind. Address: 52 Ly Quoc Su street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi Opening hour: 09:00 am – 04:00 pm Price: 7.000 VND – 17.000 VND (~1$)

Banh Goi Ly Quoc Su Address: 52 Ly Quoc Su street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Banh Goi Le Dai Hanh Address: 25 Le Dai Hanh street, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi Opening hour: 05:00 pm – 10:30 pm Price: 20.000 VND – 55.000 VND

Cha Gio (Fried Spring Rolls)

What to eat? A very-favorite dish in Vietnam well-liked by most of the Vietnamese people in both regions that must be reminded is Nem Ran or Cha Gio (Fried Spring Rolls). So famous the dish is that it has appeared in many restaurants in a lot of countries in the world. There are three important parts in Nem Ran including the wrapper, the stufing, and the dipping sauce. The wrapper is made of rice lour rolled lat into the shape of the circle or square. The stufing is normally a mixture of minced pork, egg, carrot, mien (a Vietnamese traditional noodle), wood ear mushroom, and herbs. Sometimes, people may replace minced pork with seafood such as shrimp or sea snail or beef, the difference in ingredients depends on the habit of the locals in each region. However, whichever they are, all ingredients are mixed thoroughly before being wrapped with rice paper into small rolls. These rolls are then deep-fried in boiling oil. The dipping sauce for this dish must meet the demand on the harmony of the combination of lavors including lemon juice, sugar, chili, pepper, and the ish sauce. The attractive point of the dish is the fragrant smell and crunchy wrapper after deep-frying in oil and the sweet and fresh lavor of pork, herbs, and vegetable in the stufing. Vietnamese people usually eat with rice or noodles (Bún) and salad in our casual meals or on special days as the lunar new year.

Where to eat? It is not dificult to make it by yourself at home but to try some of the best lavors of this dish, I will introduce you someplace you can try in Hanoi.

Cha Gio

Cha Gio Address: 65A Bat Dan street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Cha Gio A very popular restaurant with the foreign specializes in serving Vietnamese spring rolls, where guests may ind many delicious spring rolls in each region in Vietnam such as traditional spring rolls, sea crab spring rolls, chicken spring rolls, and so on. This is a suitable place for anyone who wants to try Vietnamese traditional cuisine. Address: 65A Bat Dan street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi Opening hour: 08:00 am – 10:00 pm

Bun Cha Ta Address: 21 Nguyen Huu Huan street, Ly Thai To ward, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi Opening hour: 08:00 am – 10:00 pm

Noodle & Roll Address: 39C Ly Quoc Su street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi Opening hour: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm

Pho Cuon (Rolled Noodle)

Pho Cuon was made by accident when a few hungry late night revelers when to a restaurant in Ngu Xa Village to eat Pho. The restaurant went out of broth. The men didn’t want to move on so she suggested she would use the square slices of uncut pho and make some rolls with the leftovers.

What to eat? Rolled Noodle has just appeared for about 20 years irst in Hanoi. Although it just appeared, it becomes a specialty fastly in Hanoi and other regions. About this dish’s origin, it an exciting story. According to the story, it is said that there was one small restaurant at the corner of Ngu Xa street in Hanoi, where Pho (a type of Vietnamese traditional noodle) is served till late for those watching football in the evening. One day, the broth ran out and there were only some uncut noodles left; therefore, to satisfy the hunger of guests, the chef invented a new dish. He used uncut noodles with the shape of paper made of rice lour as a wrapper and stuff it with beef, salad, and herbs before rolling. When served, the rolls were dipped in dipping sauce with sugar, vinegar or lemon juice, water, garlic, and ish sauce. Surprisingly, guests were interested in this new food. After that, the restaurant changed to a new style of Pho. Nowadays, besides beef, people also put eggs, carrots, cucumbers, even pineapples, tofu or shrimps according to each one’s interest. Gradually, rolled noodles have become more and more popular because of the fresh lavor with a lot of salad and herbs in each roll. It is not only renowned in the North but also introduced to the menu in restaurants in both regions in Vietnam now.

Where to eat? Below are some restaurants well-liked and highly recommended by the foreign where you can ind the authentic lavor of this dish in Hanoi

Pho Cuon Huong Mai Address: 21 Nguyen Huu Huan street, Ly Thai To ward, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi Opening hour: 08:00 am – 10:00 pm

Pho Cuon Ngu Xa Address: 66 Duy Tan street, Cau Giay district, Hanoi Opening hour: 08:00 am – 02:00 pm and 05:00 pm – 10:00 pm Price: 30.000 VND – 45.000 VND (~1 – 2$)

Pho Cuon Thanh Hang Address: 29B Ngu Xa street, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi Opening hour: 06:00 am – 10:30 pm Price: 25.000 VND – 55.000 VND (~1 – 3$)

Quan Choen – Pho Cuon Ngu Sac Address: 121 O Cho Dua street, Dong Da district, Hanoi

Banh Cuon Ba Hanh Address: 26B Tho Xuong street, Phu Doan ward, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 08:00 am – 10:00 pm

Opening hour: 06:00 am – 02:00 pm and 04:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Price: 50.000 VND – 100.000 VND (~2 – 5$)

Price: 25.000 VND – 40.000 VND (~1 – 2$)

Bun dau mam tom (Vermicelli Served with Tofu and Shrimp Paste)

Bun dau mam tom has three main ingredients: vermicelli noodle, fried tofu, and shrimp paste. However, there is one kind of veggie called Vietnamese balm, accompanying other kinds of vegetables on the plate like perilla leaf, ish mint, or cucumber, that play a really important role in making the delicious lavor in your mouth.

What to eat? Vermicelli served with Tofu and Shrimp Paste is a popular dish in Vietnam that you can ind anywhere from markets to street corners or luxurious restaurants. This dish is favored by all people of all ages because of its great taste and cheap price. The normal price for a full set of the dish is from about 30.000 VND – 60.000 VND (~1 – 3$). All ingredients including noodles (Bún), fried tofu, trotter, Vietnamese sausage, and herbs are laid on banana leaves before serving to guests. You can ask the chef to add or not to add any ingredients if you want more or can’t eat them. The special point of this dish is shrimp paste which has a so hard smell that not everybody even the locals can smell it. If you can’t bear it, you can use ish sauce instead since the taste won’t change more. When eating, you will dip noodles on shrimp paste and eat with other ingredients and herbs. The taste is so great that it has made an impression on many guests at irst sight when trying the dish and gradually becomes a typical feature in Hanoi’s cuisine.

How to eat? 1. First, a warning – the fried tofu will be extremely hot. Make sure you don’t burn your mouth. 2. Add kumquat/lime to your shrimp paste and mix with your chopsticks. The shrimp paste should be mixed well enough until you see a frothy surface. 3. Every bite you take should include a Vietnamese palm leaf. You will be surprised by the interesting taste it creates. 4. If you can’t handle the shrimp paste, ish sauce or soy sauce can replace it. But then what’s the point? 5. This dish is not a breakfast friendly dish. It is fermented shrimp paste and those who have a sensitive stomach might feel a little bit unpleasant after having it, especially in the morning. 6. If possible, you should shave before a bun dau mam tom feast. The smell will remain until you wash your beard properly! Just kidding! Actually, you will get gum or a mint candy after your meal. No need to worry about the smell.

Where to eat? Bun Dau Co Tuyen Address: No.31 Lane 29, Hang Khay street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi Opening hour: 10:30 am – 07:00 pm Price: 45.000 VND (~ 2$)

Bun Dau Ngo Gach Address: 4 Ngo Gach, Hang Buom street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi Opening hour: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm Price: 50.000 VND (~ 2$)

Ca Phe Trung (Egg Coffee)

What to eat? Egg Coffee is widely regarded as the most typical Vietnamese coffee style and it has its origin from Hanoi. Only by hearing the name of this dish can you know the main ingredients, they are coffee and egg. It is the name of this dish that makes tourists so curious that many said that they must try this dish when visiting Hanoi. The taste of the dish has the greasy taste of the egg and the fragrant smell of coffee especially on trying at warm. Hanoi is said to be the irst place to appear this dish and now there are still some old heirloom coffee shops serving this type of coffee where there are always crowded with tourists and the locals in Hanoi.

Where to eat? Below are three of the most famous and oldest coffee shops in Hanoi specializing in serving the best egg coffee highly recommended by tourists and the locals. All of them were opened so long ago from the previous century in Hanoi and still remain the authentic taste of this dish till now.

Where to eat? Bun Dau Ngo Giang Café is humbly hidden on a small lane on Nguyen Huu Huan Street in the city’s old quarter. It may be dificult to ind for visitors, but it is well worth the effort. It continues to be hugely popular among Hanoi’s coffee addicts with its special ca phe trung, or egg coffee. Address: 39 Nguyen Huu Huan street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi Opening hour: 07:00 am – 11:00 pm Price: 15.000 VND – 33.000 VND (~ 2$)

Tho Cafe Address: 117 Trieu Viet Vuong street, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi Opening hour: 09:00 am – 11:00 pm Price: 15.000 VND – 40.000 VND (~ 1 – 2$)

Dinh Cafe Address: 13 Dinh Tien Hoang street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi Opening hour: 07:00 am – 10:30 pm Price: 30.000 VND – 70.000 VND (~ 2 – 3$)

Bun Bo Hue (Hue-styled beef noodles) 46

What to eat? Hue-style beef noodle is regarded as one of the most popular Vietnamese street food that has its origin from Hue (the old capital of Vietnam in the Nguyen dynasty). At present, this noodle is not only found in Hue but also in every province and city in Vietnam, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city; therefore, it is unnecessary for you to come to Hue to try the best authentic taste of this dish. The main ingredients of Hue-style beef noodles are beef, trotter, frozen blood, minced pork with pepper (M฀c), and some herbs such as bean sprouts, lemon, coriander, and so on. The broth is a decisive factor playing an important part in making the dish to perfection. The broth of the dish is sweeter than any other noodles, the naturally sweet lavor comes from baking pork bone for hours. Besides, there are some differences between the noodle used in Hue-style beef noodles and the others, the noodle in this dish is bigger than any other so guests will feel a bowl of the noodles full of noodles and you can try it as the main dish in all three meals in a day.

Where to eat? Now, even in Hanoi, you can ind it easy to try this dish in many places from street corners to luxurious restaurants. Below are restaurants and street corners with ole brands highly recommended by the locals and tourists.

Bun Bo Hue O Uong The owner of this street corner is a person born and growing in Hue so the lavor of this dish served here is similar to one in Hue most. Address: 546 Lac Long Quan street, Tay Ho district, Hanoi Opening hour: 06:00 am – 02:00 pm and 05:00 pm – 10:30 pm Price: 30.000 VND – 50.000 VND (~2$)

Bun Bo Hue O Xuan Address: 5D Quang Trung street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi Opening hour: 07:00 am – 09:00 pm Price: 40.000 VND (~2$)

Bun Bo Hue Address: 169 Truong Dinh street, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi Opening hour: 07:00 am – 10:00 pm Price: 30.000 VND – 60.000 VND (~2 – 3$)

Hu Tieu Go (Chinning noodle)

What to eat? Hu Tieu Go or Chinning noodle is not only a popular street food in Saigon but it also expresses a typical feature or a familiar image of Saigon. Hu Tieu Go is sold in small food carts that you can ind easily on pavements at streets crowded with people till late. There are not instant locations for food carts, all are only carts, some plastic stools and the staff of each cart will walk around streets, knock a bamboo tocsin to invite guests so it is the reason why people named it Hu Tieu Go, “Gõ – Go” means knock. People in Saigon choose this dish as a snack in a day to get full when feeling hungry. Hu Tieu Go is similar to Hu Tieu (Chinning noodles) with main ingredients including noodles (Chinese noodles), pork, Vietnamese sausage, onion, bean sprouts, coriander, egg, herbs, etc. The broth is always kept warm to make each bowl of noodles to perfection on serving guests.

Where to eat? Hu Tieu Nam Vang Ty Lum Address: 93 Huynh Man Dat street, Ward 7, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City Opening hour: 07:00 am – 10:00 pm Price: 45.000 VND – 55.000 VND (~2 – 3$)

Hu Tieu Nam Vang Campo Address: 84 Ho Thi Ky street, Ward 14, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City Opening hour: 05:00 am – 12:00 am Price: 30.000 VND – 40.000 VND (~2$)

Hu Tieu My Tho Thanh Xuan Address: 62 Ton That Thiep street, Ben Nghe ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city Opening hour: 06:00 am – 03:00 pm Price: 30.000 VND – 60.000 VND (~1 – 3$)

Che (Sweet Soup) What to eat? Another dish is widely regarded as one of the most well-liked street food by the locals in Saigon. There are a lot of types of Che you can ind everywhere from markets to restaurants; however, in common, Che is a mixture of types of bean with colorful color and has a sweet taste. Coming to Saigon, you will have a chance to try many types of Che from every region in Vietnam and other countries that are Vietnam’s neighbor countries such as Laos, Thailand, or Campuchia.

Where to eat? Quan Che Chanh Address: 142 Nguyen Phi Khanh street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City Opening hour: 09:00 am – 09:00 pm Price: 10.000 VND – 20.000 VND (~ 1$)

Che Mam Khanh Vy This street corner is more than 40 years old and serves more than 16 types of Che in a full set including a lot of tastes of Che. It is so popular that every night this store welcomes more than one hundred guests. Address: 242B Su Van Hanh street, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City Opening hour: 05:00 pm – 10:30 pm Price: 5.000 VND – 30.000 VND (~ 1$)

Banh Xeo (Pancake)

What to eat? If you walk the streets of Vietnam, you will get bombarded with an array of amazing smells from the abundance of street food all around you. One famous street foods that not only can you smell, but hear is Banh Xeo. Banh Xeo is Vietnamese sizzling crepe or sizzling pancake. It is named for the loud sizzling sound it makes when the rice batter hits a hot skillet. This savory thin pancake is illed with thin slices of pork belly, whole shrimp, mung beans, and bean sprouts. Once the pancake is crispy on all sides, it’s folded over with a spatula and slide onto a serving platter and served with a variety of fresh vegetables and Vietnamese herbs and a side of ish sauce dipping sauce (Nuoc Mam Cham). Traditionally, Banh Xeo is eaten with your hands. You tear off a piece of Banh Xeo, wrap it in lettuce and other assorted Vietnamese herbs, and dip it into the dipping sauce. I also discover recently that the addition of egg makes the batter richer and crispier. The egg yolk provides the richness while the egg white helps with the crispiness when fried. The egg yolk also makes the batter yellower without using too much turmeric.

Where to eat? Banh Xeo An La Ghien Address: 74 Suong Nguyet Anh street, Ben Thanh ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City Opening hour: 09:00 am – 11:00 pm Price: 25.000 VND – 110.000 VND (~ 1 – 5$)

Banh Xeo Sammy Address: 14 Truong Son street, Ward 2, Tan Binh district, Ho Chi Minh City Opening hour: 07:00 am – 10:00 pm Price: 20.000 VND – 25.000 VND (~ 1$)

Banh Xeo Muoi Xiem Address: 54 Nguyen Van Troi street, Phu Nhuan district, Hanoi Opening hour: 09:00 am – 09:00 pm Price: 15.000 VND – 20.000 VND (~ 1$)

Cao Lau (Rice noodles)

What to eat? According to a Chinese living for a long time in Hoi An, Cao Lou appeared in the old town from the 17th century, when Hoi An port was newly opened and Nguyen Lord allowed foreign merchants to trade goods. Although Japanese people entered Hoi An irst, but it was the Chinese people who were the most long-standing living on this ancient land. Cao Lau is not a noodle dish, nor Ph฀ dish at all. This Vietnamese food is considered a mixed dish, only appears in Hoi An, Da Nang and Hue. Cao Lau are often sold in 2-storey eateries, with red and green lanterns, diners will be eating, enjoying the delicate aroma of ancient food, having a chance to enjoy the ancient atmosphere of a corner street in here. Cao Lau or Hoi An noodles is a very famous Vietnamese traditional noodle, which originates from the old town of Hoi An – a well-known beautiful ancient town of Vietnam, in Quang Nam province. The main ingredients of Cao Lau are rice noodles, meat, greens, bean sprouts, and herbs, most commonly served with a small amount of broth. The meat used is typically pork, either shredded or sliced char siu-style pork, but shrimp can also be used. The color of noodles in Cao Lau is yellow or gray, not white as the noodles in Pho. Besides, the taste of Cao Lau is sweeter than Pho or other noodles in the northern province because people in the southern and central have interests in sweet lavor.

Where to eat? Cao Lau Lien Address: 9 Thai Phien street, Minh An ward, Hoi An Opening hour: 02:30 pm – 09:00 pm Price: 30.000 VND – 66.000 VND (~ 2 – 3$)

Quan Cao Lau Thanh Address: 26 Thai Phien street, Minh An ward, Hoi An

Trung Bac Restaurant Address: 87 Tran Phu street, Minh An district, Hoi An

Opening hour: 07:00 am – 07:00 pm

Opening hour: 08:00 am – 10:00 pm

Price: 15.000 VND – 33.000 VND (~ 2$)

Price: 50.000 VND – 110.000 VND (~ 2 – 5$)

Cao Lau Ba Be Address: 19 Tran Phu street, Cam Chau district, Hoi An Opening hour: 02:00 pm – 10:00 pm Price: 20.000 VND – 44.000 VND (~ 2$)

Cao Lau Lien

Cao Lau Lien Address: 9 Thai Phien street, Minh An ward, Hoi An

Ca Phe Sua Da (Vietnamese Iced Coffee)

What to eat? Ca Phe Sua Da or Vietnamese Iced Coffee is not simply a well-liked street food in Vietnam, it is also a typical symbol of the prosperity of Saigon, a magnificent city in the last century, regarded as the Pearl of the Far East in the 19th and 20th century. Ca Phe Sua Da is simply made of Vietnamese coffee ilter, a little milk, ice, and people can drink it anywhere from coffee shops to street corners or coffee carts on streets or even small shops in pavements. It is simply like that but like “Cha Da” – iced tea in Hanoi, it is very popular with the locals and tourists. They usually enjoy a cup of iced coffee in the early morning to wake up themselves or at the weekend on gathering with friends or colleagues.

Where to eat? Ca Phe Lao Hac Address: 299B Hoanh Sa street, Tan Dinh ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City Opening hour: 07:00 am – 11:00 pm Price: 49.000 VND – 189.000 VND (~ 2 – 9$)

Bizzare street food in vietnam

Besides signature dishes such as pho, bun cha (grilled pork rice noodle), and banh xeo (Vietnamese pancake) Vietnamese cuisine also offers cultural delicacies that are probably a little (or very) strange to you, but nevertheless delicious. You may call it weird food, or strange food, unique, rare, challenging food, but whatever it is, the Vietnamese love it. And not just the Vietnamese, but most countries have a “Top 10 Weird Foods” list, whether it be China, India, Peru, or Ghana. What we’re trying to say is, you should never judge a meal without tasting it. From bugs to rats to intestines and brains, this list covers the top ten weird foods you must try when you’re in Vietnam.

Trung Vit Lon (Balut)

What to eat? Trung Vit Lon – Hot Vit Lon – Balut is a special dish that you can only ind in some eastern countries like Vietnam and China. In Vietnam, Balut is a favorite street food dish for many people because it is really yummy and rich in nutrients. Balut is a duck egg but when the embryo has developed into the shape of a duck. This is the reason making some tourists feel scared when trying this dish. However, I highly recommend you should try it once in your life. Balut (“bah-loot,” both singular and plural) are the 16-to-21-day-old fertilized duck eggs that tend to either fascinate or revolt foreigners. To be precise, it’s a boiled egg that contains not only a yolk but also a semi-developed duck embryo. Usually hailed as one of the Philippines’ most iconic and exotic delicacies, it is cracked open and eaten with a dash of salt, vinegar. Balut is boiled in about 15 – 20 minutes to serve guests. Normally, Vietnamese people eat balut with laksa leaves and ginger since according to oriental medicine, Balut brings cold air while Laska leaf and ginger bring hot air so eating them together creates balance to be good for their health.

Quan Phuong – Hot Vit Lon 6 times to put duck seeds upside down from the sidewalk to the restaurant to the restaurant failed, the owner of the Saigon lipped duck shop is still not discouraged and determined to ind the ‘secret’ to reopen for the seventh time. Currently, the restaurant is always crowded with customers, selling more than 1,000 eggs a day despite the tremendous impact of Covid-19 .

Where to eat? Quan Phuong – Hot Vit Lon Address: Market 200, Xom Chieu street, Ward 14, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City Opening hour: 04:00 pm – 10:00 pm Price: 10.000 VND per egg (~ 0.5$)

Hot Vit Lon Thu Hien Address: 54 Nguyen Van Troi street, Phu Nhuan district, Hanoi Opening hour: 09:00 am – 09:00 pm Price: 15.000 VND – 20.000 VND (~ 1$)

Hot Vit Lon Le Quang Address: 49 Phat Loc lane, Le Quang street, Hanoi Opening hour: 07:00 am – 09:00 pm Price: 20.000 VND – 50.000 VND (~1 – 2$)

Tiet Canh (The blood pudding) 72

Tiet canh vit is made from raw duck blood, minced boiled duck neck, boiled duck organ meats, herbs and spices.

What to eat? Tiet Canh (or blood pudding) is a fresh dish, of which main material is the blood of an animal. In order to prevent the premature coagulation, the blood will be mixed with ish sauce or diluted salt water. After that, the chopped innards of animal or meat will be added to the dish to enhance the blood coagulation. When trying the dish, the dinner will add some roasted peanuts and chopped herb as lemon, mints, etc. There are two popular kinds of Vietnamese blood pudding – the pig blood pudding and duck blood pudding. Besides, this dish can be made of other animal’s blood such as goose, goat, snake or even crab, lobster, etc. That kind of preparing food is very popular in Vietnamese cuisine, from the North to the South region. And this dish is hardly seen in any other places in the world. Due to the weirdness of preparing process and the scary look of the dish, the blood pudding is certainly listed in top most scary dishes all over the world.

Tiet Canh Thanh Hang

Tiet Canh Address: 65A Bat Dan street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Where to eat? Tiet Canh Thanh Hang Address: 29B Ngu Xa street, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi Opening hour: 06:00 am – 10:30 pm Price: 25.000 VND – 55.000 VND (~1 – 3$)

Quang Trung Address: 5D Quang Trung street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi Opening hour: 07:00 am – 09:00 pm Price: 40.000 VND (~2$)

Bihnmin Address:Bihn Minh, Ward 14, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City Opening hour: 04:00 pm – 10:00 pm Price: 10.000 VND (~ 0.5$)

Duong Dua (Coconut worm)

What to eat? You might have had your fair share of raw food (like the fascinating raw salmon or prawn…sushi) in the past but the coconut worm takes the game to the next level. Do you dare to pick the live fat coconut worm swimming in a bowl of ish sauce and put it in your mouth? Coconut worm is a yellow larva with a brown head. It usually lives inside the coconut stem and eats coconut tubers. In the Mekong Delta, live coconut worm is a specialty dish. Coconut worm is most yummy when it is still alive. It will surely be a little scary at irst glance because the worm will still be moving in between your chopsticks. But if you can get over your fear and eat it, you will love the lavor. If you are not a big fan of ish sauce, you can have the live coconut worm with cold beer. In case you don’t want live larva but are still curious about the taste then go for cooked worms. Some popular dishes you can ind are grilled worm, butter fried worm, worm steamed with coconut juice, or coconut worm porridge. Worms can only be found on dead palms so people have to cut down the tree to catch them. This explains why the sale of duong dua is prohibited in Vietnam.

Where to eat? Quan Che Chanh Address: 142 Nguyen Phi Khanh street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City Opening hour: 09:00 am – 09:00 pm Price: 10.000 VND – 20.000 VND (~ 1$)

Hoi Mo Hat San It may be the oldest one in Hanoi which is well-liked by the locals and the foreign, located near Saint Joseph Cathedral Hanoi so it is easy to ind. Address: 52 Ly Quoc Su street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi Opening hour: 09:00 am – 04:00 pm Price: 7.000 VND – 17.000 VND (~1$)

Quan Choen Address: 121 O Cho Dua street, Dong Da district, Hanoi Opening hour: 08:00 am – 10:00 pm Price: 50.000 VND – 100.000 VND (~2 – 5$)

Con Trung Chien (Various insects)

What to eat? If you don’t want to stay anywhere near smelly food but still want to challenge yourself with adventurous tastes and textures, go for fried insects. In many Asian cultures, eating insects is a common thing. The types of edible insects vary from grasshoppers, bee larvae, and white crickets to scorpions. But why insects? Are we running out of food or is there any particular reason to eat these bugs? Lately, the United Nations has recommended people to consume insects instead of meat as it is a great source of protein, fat, and vitamin. In fact, it might sound weird but very healthy to ingest. Now if you feel like you want to have a go at eating crunchy and succulent fried insects, here are a few dishes for you to consider: cicada fried with lemon leaves, fried bee larva seasoned with dried onion, ginger, and slices of fresh lemon, sticky rice with ant eggs, and deep-fried scorpion. Because insects are low-fat and protein-rich food, if you’re on a diet- this is your answer!

A scorpion on skewer in Ho Chi Minh. most insect restaurant that serve insect dishes are quite rare in the city center and usuallly sell beer to go along with these dishes. crickets are among the cheapest while reptiles, spiders, and scorpion are the most expensive

Where to eat? De Sua Rec Rec Address: 25 Le Dai Hanh street, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi Opening hour: 05:00 pm – 10:30 pm Price: 20.000 VND – 55.000/insect VND

Pho Cuon Ngu Xa Address: 66 Duy Tan street, Cau Giay district, Hanoi Opening hour: 08:00 am – 02:00 pm and 05:00 pm – 10:00 pm Price: 30.000 VND – 45.000 VND (~1 – 2$)

Luong Quon Suan Address: 62 Ton That Thiep street, Ben Nghe ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city Opening hour: 06:00 am – 03:00 pm Price: 30.000 VND – 60.000 VND (~1 – 3$)

Con Ech (Frogs)

Where to eat? Below are some restaurants well-liked and highly recommended by the foreign where you can ind the authentic lavor of this dish in Hanoi Mi Lo Su One of the oldest stores opened in 1979 in Hanoi. Address: 34 Lo Su street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi Opening hour: 06:00 am – 10:00 pm

Dinh Ngang If you want to try Conh Ech in a second way, don’t miss this address. Address: 252 Hang Bong street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi Opening hour: 03:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Price: 15.000 VND – 25.000 Price: 30.000 VND – 70.000 VND (~1,5 – 3,5$)

Tho Thanh Xuan Address: 78 Ton Nha Xe Roan, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city Opening hour: 06:00 am – 03:00 pm Price: 30.000 VND – 60.000 VND (~1 – 3$)

Tho Thanh Xuan

Tho Thanh Xuan Address:78 Ton Nha Xe Roan, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city

Cho (DOG)

Dog meat and cat meat are the scariest meats in foreigner’s eyes. With Vietnamese people, especially Vietnamese men, dog meat and cat meat are must- have dishes to drink with beer or rice wine.

What to eat? you don’t have to worry about seeing it everywhere. In fact, there is a good chance that you will not see anything of this in 4 week Vietnam trip than that you will see something. At least not consciously. You may have driven past a dog restaurant, but that does not mean that they are turned on a skewer over a ire outside. Many Vietnamese are against eating cat and dog meat. After all, it is normal in this country to keep them as pets, there is increasing protest against this. The younger generations are strongly inluenced by the western media and there is no food scarcity like during the wars. In addition, the largest religion in Vietnam is Buddhism, where eating dogs is prohibited. So there is a large percentage that is against it. The Vietnamese authorities also urge residents of the capital Hanoi to stop eating dog meat, trying to protect the image as a “civilized and modern capital” and stop the spread of diseases such as rabies.

Oficials in Vietnam’s capital Hanoi are urging residents to stop eating dog meat as it could hurt the city’s reputation and lead to diseases like rabies.

Where to eat? Cho Suong Address: 36B Mai Hac De street, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi Opening hour: 06:30 am – 10:00 pm Price: 30.000 VND – 100.000 VND (~2 – 5$)

Cho Quoc Su Address: 12 Ly Quoc Su street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi Opening hour: 06:30 am – 10:00 pm Price: 30.000 VND – 100.000 VND (~2 – 5$)

Cho Ngo Gach Address: 39C Ly Quoc Su street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi Opening hour: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm

Price: 30.000 VND – 100.000 VND (~2 – 5$)

How to Choose a Street Food Vendor?

In Vietnam, street food dishes are not only served in restaurants but also at street corners, food carts, or even burden streets. All of them make typical features of Vietnamese cuisine and make an impression on foreign tourists. The truth is that the best and most authentic food is served from street vendors – heirloom store, not 5-star restaurants! However, not all ensure food safety so there are a lot of cases foreign tourists get ill after trying some Vietnamese street food without knowing the sources. Therefore, below are some tips for you to choose a safe street food vendor when visiting Vietnam.

Don’t drink water from unknown sources Almost street foods in Vietnam are served with free glasses of water; however, you should not drink it. Instead of this, remember to bring a bottle of refresh water when going out in Vietnam.

Avoid raw fruits and vegetables Although almost street food dishes in Vietnam are eaten with herbs such as salad, coriander, etc, if you don’t have a strong digestive, you had better avoid raw fruits and vegetables.

Choose busy street vendors If the place you are just about to dine out at is busy, that means it’s safe and really delicious. Busy food stands are a good sign that the food is not going to make you sick. Moreover, that also shows the food served is tasty and affordable.

Watch the food preparation This way will ease you more that this food is safe. You can see how this food is cooked, what is laid on your plate, and how long it takes to complete your dish.

Vietnamese street food cuisine was complimented by tourists and mentioned as one of the worldwide most-delicious street food cuisines by serious newspapers in the world. So why did it get so famous that it has been regarded as a typical symbol of Vietnam by tourists? We will ind out together now the reason why Vietnamese street food turned so popular with international friends. Here are some best Vietnamese street food if you have the intention of trying Vietnam’s street food on the next trip to Vietnam in the near future.

“Food is our common ground, A universal experience.” - james beard -

Vietnamese street food is tasting the real Vietnam with unique differences across regions and cities. The north and south of the country are home to some of the most iconic Vietnamese street foods. While the central region brings a melting pot of lavors in beautifully presented dishes. Regardless of where you are in the country, street food in Vietnam is enjoyed on the sidewalks, sitting on low plastic stools. In this guide, we take you on a journey to discover some of the best Vietnamese street foods we enjoyed. Along the way, we share local food, cultural insights, and tips for eating Vietnamese street food safely. Vietnam has one of the best street food scenes in the world. Sip, slurp, eat and enjoy!

Vietnamese Street Food Culture

Articles inside

How to enjoy street food in Vietnam

Vietnamese street food culture