What are The Delicious Traditional Vietnamese Food?

The richness and diversity of Vietnamese cuisine in the three regions have created their own feature in Vietnamese culinary culture. It can be said that the cuisine of the three regions has been strongly influenced by many factors such as history, nature, and people. Our cuisine is becoming more unique with various mouthwatering traditional Vietnamese food.

This article highlights the tastiest Traditional Vietnamese Food in three regions across the country. 

Overview of Vietnamese Cuisine 

Traditional Vietnamese food plays an important role in Vietnamese cuisine. This can be considered an art of each region. Vietnamese cuisine has been influenced by costume, geography, and people's lifestyle. Thanks to these, Vietnam has been selected as the country that owns a unique and sophisticated culinary’s culture. Lots of tourists and food experts can’t resist trying various dishes in different regions in Vietnam. 

The Similarity of Vietnamese Cusine in Three Regions

Although the food in each place has its own characteristics, there are similarities in the flavor and the quality somehow. 

Diversity and harmony

Vietnamese cuisine in three regions has created food diversity according to the specialties of each region and different ethnic groups in the country. However, the variety of cooking methods and ingredients sources, originates from the culinary culture of the North. This is the harmony and sophistication of traditional Vietnamese food.

Avoid high-fat foods

One of the unique characteristics of Vietnamese dishes is that containing fewer fats and oil. 

The fat-soluble component will prevent the absorption of substances. It leads to many diseases such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, and blood pressure, ...

Consequently, traditional Vietnamese food seems to mostly use vegetables. In addition, in the way of processing the food, we will use fewer high-fat products. If you have a chance to visit Vietnam and enjoy the food, you will feel the full taste of freshness.

The dishes are rich in flavor and aroma

Vietnam is a country famous for fish sauce. Therefore, in the daily meals of Vietnamese people, there is often a cup of fish sauce with a different recipe for each region. Besides, fish sauce is used to season various traditional Vietnamese food. Hence, Vietnamese food is rich in flavor and aroma. It captivates many tourists for the first time try. 

Traditional Vietnamese Food in Northern Vietnam

Pho 

Pho is considered the “Superstar traditional dish” not only in Vietnam but also in other countries. It is more than traditional food, it also represents Vietnamese culture and people. Recently, The dish has become a favorite choice among tourists while having breakfast in Vietnam. After eating a hot bowl of Pho, lots of visitors have to say that they feel more energetic and wish to have it every day.   

A tasty bowl of Pho is a great combination of subtle simmering broth with beef bones, high-quality meat, and indispensable aromatics. To make the bowl more attractive, people usually add various Vietnamese herbs including green onions and coriander. It also enriches the flavor and taste of Pho. A standard bowl of Pho is well-served by thin slices of meat such as beef or chicken. The flavor and texture of the dish are not too heavy. It’s suitable for a perfect breakfast meal. In fact, whenever you crave a hot bowl of soup, you can order Pho to eat. 

Especially, you should eat Pho in Hanoi to enjoy the most authentic one. 

Banh Mi

Banh Mi is known as “the best sandwich in the world" and is honored to be ranked in the top 10 most famous and delicious traditional Vietnamese food. In the modern day, Banh Mi has been modified into many kinds with various toppings such as chicken, grilled pork, and beef with black pepper sauce,... However, the traditional one is Banh My with Pâté, Vietnamese brawn, and pork loaf. If you want to taste the most authentic Banh Mi, this is the perfect one. 

Besides, you can make Banh My at home easily. All you need to prepare is Pate, cucumber, or any type of vegetables you want, and mayo. Vietnamese people usually eat Banh My and drink milk or coffee for breakfast. This dish is not only simple and easy to eat but also contains lots of nutrients for your body. 
 

Bun

Vermicelli is another typical traditional Vietnamese food in Vietnam food culture, vermicelli also has a similar shape with Pho. It’s flat and white. There are lots of popular traditional vermicelli dishes such as Bun Cha, Bun Thang, Bun Bo Nam Bo, Bun Moc, Bun Ca, Bun Bo Hue,...

Bun Cha: This is a specialty dish of Hanoi and Northern Vietnam, with the same popularity as pho. If Pho is chosen as the representative dish of Vietnamese cuisine, then Bun cha is the popular dish that is appreciated by many magazines and culinary experts as the best traditional Vietnamese food in the country. Bun cha is well served with grilled pork rolls (usually minced or grilled meat). Especially, the meat is grilled on a charcoal grill to bring up the rich aroma. Also, one of the important parts that make the dish more delicious is dipping fish sauce and fresh vegetables. 

 

Bun Bo Hue: This is one of the signature dishes of Hue. Bun Bo Hue flavor is quite different from Bun in the North because of a sweeter broth. A bowl of Bun Bo Hue consists of beef, pork leg, and sprouts,...

 

 

Bun Thang: Bun thang is an exquisite dish with a sophisticated cook process. Bun thang broth is made from chicken and pork bones. When we shimmer the broth, we need to skim off the fat and impurities to make the water clear. The main ingredients to make an authentic Bun Thang are shredded fried egg and pork loaf, chicken, and dried shrimp. On top of it, we add green onion to enrich the flavor. 

 

 

Traditional Vietnamese Food in Central Vietnam

 

Cao Lau

Cao Lau is ranked 4th by CNN among the 40 best dishes of Vietnamese cuisine. Cao Lau is a noodle dish with the shape of a large noodle. It’s a mixed noodles bowl with fresh vegetables, grilled pork, and especially crispy fried pork skin. 

If you have the opportunity to visit Quang Nam, do not ignore Cao Lau because this is the specialty of Hoi An people.

Bun Bo Hue

A bowl of Hue beef noodle soup will include noodles, beef, pork blood, crab cakes, and broth. To have a delicious Bun Bo Hue, carefully select the meat. For beef, you have to check the color to make sure that it is bright red. Besides, the crab cakes are made from crab meat with a natural fatty and fresh taste. Bun Bo Hue has a full taste with a bit spicy, and sweet. It will spark tourists’ appetite on your first try. 

If you have a plan to visit Hue, Bun Bo Hue is the must-try dish and leave a long impression while you stay there. 

Banh Can

Banh Can is the traditional Vietnamese food in Khanh Hoa, Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan. Banh Can is mainly made from rice flour and mixed with special ingredients. The cake filling includes shrimps, squids, and eggs. The perfect way to eat Banh Can is to enjoy with starfruit and a special dipping sauce. 

Traditional Vietnamese Food in Southern Vietnam

Hu Tieu My Tho

Hu Tieu My Tho is a specialty in Tien Giang. The dish is not completed if it does not contain these ingredients (thin slices of pork, pork loaf, crispy fried pork skin, green onion,...). Some restaurants will offer you bread or wontons as extra toppings. Others will use char siu pork instead of boiled pork. 

Lau Mam

Fermented Fish Hot Pot is one of the traditional Vietnamese food in Can Tho, which is made from unique fish sauce. It enriches Vietnam's food culture. The main ingredients (shrimp, meat, fish, and herbs) to cook Fermented Fish Hot Pot are easy to find in rivers, fields, or local gardens. 

The special thing to cook a hot pot of Fermented Fish is required three kinds of Fermented fish. The first one is from snakeskin gourami to make the taste stronger. The second type is from sheatfish to make iconic color and sweetness for flavor. The last one is siamese mud carp to create fat. 

Final Thought

Traditional Vietnamese food is the heart and soul of Vietnamese culture. Once you visit Vietnam, make sure you can try all these delicious dishes above. More than food, it is an art of the region. 

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