Vietnamese meals are built around rice, the nation’s staple, with noodles serving as a popular breakfast or snack alternative. A typical meal features rice accompanied by a meat or fish dish, a vegetable side, and a bowl of soup, often rounded off with green tea as a digestive. Key flavorings include shallots, coriander, and lemongrass, with ginger, saffron, mint, and anise also playing significant roles. In southern Vietnam, the use of coconut milk imparts a rich, creamy taste to many dishes.

While Vietnamese food isn’t inherently spicy, chili sauces or fresh chilies are often served separately for diners to adjust the heat to their liking. One essential ingredient across the country is nuoc mam—a dark, fermented fish sauce that serves as a key seasoning or as the base for dipping sauces. Though its pungent smell might initially deter foreigners, its complex salty-sweet flavor quickly becomes a favorite.

Soups and Noodles

Among Vietnam’s most iconic dishes is pho (pronounced like “fur”), a noodle soup enjoyed nationwide at any time of day, though especially popular for breakfast. This northern-origin dish features a delicate beef broth infused with ginger, coriander, and sometimes cinnamon. It’s served with broad, flat rice noodles, spring onions, and thin slices of chicken, beef, or pork. Lime, chili flakes, or chili sauce are added at the table to enhance the flavors.

Another popular option is bun bo, a hearty beef and noodle soup particularly associated with Hue. In the south, hu tieu—a soup with vermicelli noodles, pork, and seafood—is a specialty of My Tho. For a different texture, try chao (or xao), a thick rice porridge served hot, often topped with shredded chicken or fish, and sometimes a raw egg that cooks at the bottom. This dish is frequently paired with crispy fried breadsticks (quay).

Sour soups are commonly served alongside fish, providing a tangy counterpoint to the meal. A standout dish in Vietnamese cuisine is lau, a hot pot-style soup that’s more of a main course than a side. Served in a steamboat or electrically heated pot, the broth is used to cook thin slices of beef, shrimp, and other ingredients at the table. The remaining flavorful broth is savored as a soup after cooking is complete.

A Culinary Adventure

Vietnamese cuisine is a harmonious blend of fresh ingredients and bold flavors, offering something for every palate. Whether you’re sampling a steaming bowl of pho on a bustling street corner or enjoying the interactive experience of a lau hot pot, the food is as diverse as it is delicious.