Vietnam’s best street food, from pho to bun cha

Mention Vietnam and most travellers will instantly think of street food. Some cities can feel like a huge, sprawling outdoor restaurant with the clatter of pans, enticing aromas and a background hum of chatter. Eating street food in Vietnam is a way of life, with many street kitchens and hawkers selling just one speciality which has been honed to perfection over the years.

The principles of Vietnamese cooking are all about balance: sweet and salty with hot and sour. Despite the overwhelmingly delicious flavours, somehow the cuisine of this serpentine country manages to be indulgent and healthy all at once. All the more reason to pull up a tiny plastic stool and tuck in!

Street food neighbourhoods are certainly an assault on the senses as people yell out their orders through the smoke-filled air. Almost every urban street corner hosts a couple of food carts and it’s a common sight to see mopeds and pushbikes slowing down to pick up a portion before speeding off without even dismounting. Before you face the bewildering choice on offer throughout Vietnam, take a look at our guide to some of the unmissable dishes.

Bun cha

A Hanoi speciality, these little pork-meat patties are grilled over hot coals and served with rice or noodles for a filling and delicious lunch. Usually all the components of the dish will be served separately – the little ‘burgers’ in a bowl with broth, ready to add the rice or noodles, chopped fresh herbs and a squeeze of lime.

Banh xeo

This savoury pancake is an excellent invention; portable and easy to munch on the go. First the egg batter is spread on the hot griddle or pan. Before it has cooked, prawns and pork are added along with beansprouts, onion and freshly chopped herbs. The pancake is usually folded and dipped with lettuce into a light sauce. Just one is never enough…

Nem

There are myriad variations of this Vietnamese classic: spring rolls. Usually they involve crunchy greens, aromatic herbs and vermicelli noodles wrapped up with prawn, crab or pork in whisper-thin translucent rice paper. Sometimes served without cooking (nem cuon) or fried (nem ran) they are universally moreish. Dip into lightly spiced peanut sauce and devour.

Pho

Probably Vietnam’s most famous culinary export, pho (say ‘fur’) is a masterclass of simplicity and balanced nutrition. Essentially just a light broth with noodles and meat, usually beef, this is a classic breakfast dish in Vietnam. That’s not to say it can’t be eaten at other times, as you will see cart after cart offering this omnipresent snack! Because of its simplicity, the key ingredient is the broth. The best examples have a light, gingery freshness coupled with a deep and satisfying meaty bass note. The perfect comfort food!

Xoi

If you’re really hungry, this hits the mark. Sticky rice is filling and warming and can keep you going for hours. It’s deservedly popular as a cheap, filling breakfast on the go, served up in sweet and savoury versions from street kitchens up and down the land.

Banh mi

A legacy of the French occupation, the banh mi is essentially a baguette sandwich stuffed full of your choice of pate, cheese, meat, carrots, radishes, cucumber, pickles, herbs and chilli. The bread is very much in the French tradition with a good crust and a fluffy interior. The best banh mi stalls will be popular enough that the bread will be replenished throughout the day so you will always get a fresh sandwich.

Com tam

Known as ‘broken rice,’ and native to Ho Chi Minh City, this is a dish which is cooked using cracked grains of rice. The various elements of the dish are usually served together on the plate, but not mixed. Therefore you can expect a neat pile of ‘broken’ rice alongside your barbecue pork, fried egg and salad. The dish is accompanied by traditional garnishes such as freshly chopped herbs, spring onions and a dipping sauce based on nuoc cham, a fermented fish sauce.

All of these treats cost next to nothing, so go for it… Chuc Ngon Mieng!

Chè

Coconut is the staple of both sweet and savoury dishes in most of Asia, particularly Vietnam. And this easygoing dessert certainly doesn’t stray from the country’s favourite fruit. Chè isn’t a singular dish, but rather a collective word for dessert-like puddings and sweets, and even drinks. Typically, Chè is made from a coconut milk base with additions like tropical mango, tapioca, mung beans and jellies. These tasty desserts are usually served in a glass or bowl, and are sometimes so layered that they give the impression of a western trifle. There are countless variations of Chè, with two nationwide favourites being Chè Bưởi, a sweet pomelo soup, and Chè Sầu, a sweet soup made with durian.

Cao Lau

Cao Lau is a wonderfully tasty, light noodle dish made from thick noodles and a flavourful savoury broth. Interestingly enough, this is a speciality originating in Hoi An Ancient Town, and is quite unlike other noodle dishes in the region. Because it’s so unique, tourists visiting Hoi An are always encouraged to sample this local delicacy. So, why does Cao Lau take center stage? The noodles are made from rice and soaked in lye water, which gives them a unique colour and texture. These noodles are added into a broth along with pork, greens, and crispy rice crackers for some crunch. 

Banh Trang Nuong

Banh Trang Nuong is Vietnam’s version of a pizza, and it’s a far cry from the cheesy and tomato version we’ve become accustomed to! This tasty street appetiser is commonly called a Vietnamese pizza, taco or even quesadilla! Instead of a heavy bread pizza base, rice paper is rolled out thinly into a circle and grilled. It’s then topped with egg, spring onions, shrimp, chilli sauce, and sometimes tuna – whatever topping works for you! This is one of the most popular street food dishes in Vietnam, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City.

Mi Quang

This is a symbolic dish originating in central Vietnam (Quang Nam Province), and packs a punch with its complementary flavours. It’s often served during celebrations and special occasions, and is one of the most well-recognised and loved dishes in the region that can be eaten any time of the day. 

Expect a mix of meats and seafood swimming in a turmeric broth loaded with chilli, lime wedges, banana blossom, and lettuce. Two key ingredients include peanuts and, of course, Quang noodle. 

Kem Tràng Tiền 

First introduced in bustling Hanoi in 1958, Kem Tràng Tiền is a renowned Vietnamese ice cream brand enjoyed nationwide, with its iconic flagship store located on Tràng Tiền Street in Hanoi. To say it’s iconic is an understatement – it’s part of Vietnamese heritage. The ice-cream comes in a range of quirky flavours, ranging from coconut to green bean, sticky rice, and chocolate. It comes in all formats from cones to popsicles, and traditional ice cream bars. Grabbing a Vietnamese ice-cream while walking the streets of Vietnam is one of the best ways to cool down. 

Make it happen

If you fancy organising your own street food tour of Vietnam, or getting to know this incredible country more generally, chat to our local experts today.