Author’s Bio:
Travel With Trang, a travel blog and resource website showing how you can travel and create memorable experiences. With Trang’s experience of visiting 40+ countries alone, she helps others make their travel goals happen whether it be through organizing and prepping for their trip on a budget, and showing how they can live and work abroad.
Travel With Trang - Top Vietnam Destinations
Saigon Hotels
(Ho Chi Minh City)
Today, the city's core is still adorned with wide elegant boulevards and historic French colonial buildings. The majority of these tourist spots are located in District 1 and are a short leisurely distance from each other.
10 Vietnamese Foods to Try Besides Pho
Vietnamese cuisine can range from noodle soups to savory rice dishes to French- baguette sandwiches. There are a wide variety of dishes out there, but here are 10 dishes worth trying besides the typical dish that everyone knows called “Pho” (pronounced “fuh”):
1) Bánh Bao (Steamed Pork/Meat Bun)
These are useful snacks when people are on-the-go. It’s veggies, ground meat, and sometimes an egg that are enclosed by a layer of dough that has been steamed.
2) Bánh Cuốn (Steamed Rice Rolls)
Made from a thin layer of rice batter, topped off with ground meat and then rolled, this dish is eaten with herbs, ground pork (if it hasn’t been topped off with ground meat), scallions, and crispy fried shallots. Normally it comes with a fish sauce mix to drizzle on top.
3) Gỏi (Vietnamese Salad)
It’s very similar to Thailand’s papaya salad. Usually shrimp is used but there are other variations with beef jerky or shredded chicken breast. I like to get this when I’m craving something refreshing and want something less carb-heavy.
4) Bánh Xèo (Savory Crispy crepe)
This is a crepe filled with shrimp or pork, bean sprouts, mung beans, and onions. You usually will find people eating it wrapped with lettuce and herbs and dipping it in fish sauce.
5) Bánh Mì (Vietnamese Sandwich)
Bánh Mì literally translates to “bread”. There was a period of time where the French took over Vietnam and as a result, their influence can be shown in this dish delicious combination of crispy baguette bread, grilled meat, and pickled vegetables and herbs. My favorite filling is the Bánh Mì Đặc Biệt (special/combination) which is usually made with Thịt Nguội (Cured pork cold cuts), Giò Thủ (Headcheese), and Pate.
6) Nem Chua (Cured Fermented Pork Roll)
Most people wouldn’t know about this. I grew up with it when my dad would have his friends over for beer. It has a chili garlicky tart taste to it that I personally like and is really different from all the other dishes.
7) Bún Thịt Nướng Chả Giò (Vermicelli Noodles with Grilled Pork and Egg Rolls)
Another favorite of mine. I always try to have people eat this instead of Pho because I think it’s a crowd pleaser and is more flavorful. It’s a bowl of rice noodles, grilled pork (or chicken) and crispy egg rolls, topped off with some greens, crushed peanuts and fish sauce.
8) Bún Riêu (Pork & Crab Noodle Soup)
Another noodle soup but with a tomato and crab base. It is eaten with fresh veggies and herbs, the popular. The stock is made from pork and/or chicken bones. Tomatoes and fried tofu are usually added.
9) Cơm Tấm (Rice)
The translation literally means “broken rice”, which you may know it as regular white rice. I highly recommend people eating this dish with marinated meat “Thịt kho” or short ribs called “Sườn Nướng”.
10) Chè (Dessert)
I always have a hard time trying to explain this dish people, but it’s a dessert that comes in all different flavors and forms. Some are like a warm sweet corn or black bean porridge, some are layers of Asian fruits, jelly, crushed ice, condense milk and more. I prefer the latter especially during a hot summer. Two of my favorite types are “Chè Ba Màu” or “Chè Thái”.
Planning to visit Vietnam or want to know more about the country? Check out Travel With Trang’s Vietnam Destination Guide here.