12 Most Popular Vietnamese Dishes You Must Try in 2024: Local's Guide

Vietnamese cuisine stands among the world's most beloved culinary treasures, featuring an array of popular Vietnamese dishes that captivate food lovers globally. From the iconic Banh Mi to countless other authentic delicacies, each dish tells a unique story of Vietnam's rich cultural heritage. Join us on a flavorful journey through the most popular Vietnamese dishes, where traditional recipes and regional specialties showcase the country's diverse gastronomic landscape

What Makes Northern Vietnamese Cuisine Unique: 4 Classic Dishes with Refined, Delicate Flavors

Northern cuisine is not only rich in ingredients but also diverse in preparation methods. Each dish carries its own unique cultural story. When enjoying these delicious dishes, you not only feel the flavor but also understand more about the culture and people here. Take the time to explore and enjoy the typical dishes of Northern Vietnam!

Phở (Hanoi Pho)

Pho is a popular dish in Vietnam, prevalent in Hanoi. Hanoi Pho is well-known for its clear, sweet broth made from long-coddled beef bones, not too greasy or too heavily seasoned.

• The pho polls are bleached in hot water, and placed in a bowl with beef, sauces, and broth.
• The beef bones are coddled for several hours with spices similar to star anise, cinnamon, and cardamom to produce a sweet and fragrant broth.
• Hanoi Pho is frequently served with raw vegetables, lime, garlic ginger, and chili sauce to enhance the flavor.

This is surely a must-try dish that should be on the top of your list if you have the occasion to visit this capital city.

Suggested addresses: 

• Pho Thin( 13 Lo Duc)
• Pho Bat Dan( 49 Bat Dan)

Bún Chả Hà Nội (Bun Cha Hanoi)

This dish is a typical feature of Hanoi. This dish was once enjoyed by President Obama and he wholeheartedly praised the harmonious combination.

• The pork is marinated with spices and grilled on a charcoal stove until fragrant and flavorful.
• The dipping sauce is mixed to taste with a full range of sour, sweet, salty, and spicy flavors.
• Bun cha is served with raw vegetables such as lettuce, basil, and Vietnamese balm, creating a fresh and attractive feeling.

Suggested addresses: Bun cha Huong Lien (24 Le Van Huu), Bun cha Hang Manh (1 Hang Manh)

Bún Đậu Mắm Tôm (Bun Dau Mam Tom)

If you have set foot in the North, this is probably a dish you definitely cannot miss, you should try it at least once. Because the characteristic flavor of shrimp paste may be difficult for foreigners to eat. However, some foreigners who can eat this flavor will like it and be addicted to it.

• This dish includes fresh vermicelli, fried tofu, and typical shrimp paste. You can add toppings such as fried spring rolls, pork sausage.
• Flavor: Rich from shrimp paste combined with the crispiness of tofu and the freshness of raw vegetables.

Suggested addresses:

• Bun Dau Cay Bang (129 Dai La)
• Bun Dau Hang Khay (Lane 29 Hang Khay)

Xôi Xéo (Sticky Rice)

Xôi xéo is a popular breakfast dish in the North, with the rich and fragrant flavor of sticky rice wrapped in a lotus splint including sticky rice, green sap, a little oil painting, and fried shallots.

• The sticky rice is cooked until soft, also mixed with crushed green sap.
• Xôi xéo can be eaten with pork roll, coddled meat, or Chinese sausage, creating a combination of adipose and rich flavors.

A complete morning for the people of the North is presumably this familiar sticky rice and having a glass of iced tea.

Suggested addresses:

• Xôi Xéo Cô Mây( 35 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hang Bai, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi)
• Xôi Xéo Cô Tuyết ( Lane Cu Loc, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi).

How to Experience Central Vietnamese Cuisine: Top 4 Rich and Colorful Traditional Dishes

Central Vietnamese cuisine stands out with its typical dishes, rich flavors and unique preparation methods. Central dishes have conquered the hearts of many domestic and foreign diners. Below are some typical dishes that you cannot miss when exploring the cuisine here.

Mì Quảng (Quang Noodles)

Quang Noodles is a specialty dish of Quang Nam province. Tourists traveling to Da Nang City or Quang Nam Province would be making a huge mistake if they did not try this dish.

• Golden noodles made from rice flour, are frequently served with pork, shrimp, or chicken.
• The broth is rich but not too rich and is frequently served with raw vegetables similar to banana blossom, lettuce, and spices.

The ingredients are rustic and simple but very explosive to the taste buds. From the selection of pork, chicken, and shrimp, everything is very careful and uses ingredients from the countryside.

Suggested addresses:

• Mi Quang Ech( Da Nang)
• Mi Quang Ba Mua (Quang Nam)

Bánh Xèo

Bánh Xèo from the Central region is considered a defining dish that numerous people love when it rains and downtime comes.

• The agreeableness of shrimp combined with the crispiness of the pancake and the aroma of raw vegetables produce a seductive dish.
• The dipping sauce is then combined with peanuts and diced meat to produce an infectious succulent flavor. 
• Rolled with rice paper and fresh vegetables.

Local people will eat it with raw garlic to make it more succulent and easier to digest if you want to eat like a local.

Suggested addresses:

• Bánh Xèo Bà Dưỡng( Da Nang City)
• Bánh Xèo Xuân Hương  (Hue City).

Bún Bò Huế (Beef Noodles) 

Bun bo Hue is a famous dish of Hue City. Considered the soul and a long-standing dish associated with the ancient capital Hue.

• It stands out with the broth simmered from beef bones, has a sweet taste, and has the characteristic aroma of shrimp paste.
• The combination of the spicy taste of chili, the sweetness of beef and raw vegetables creates an attractive bowl of noodles.

Tourists coming to the dreamy city must definitely try this dish first.

Suggested addresses:

• Bun bo Hue O Xuan (Hanoi)
• Bun bo Hue Huyen Anh (Hue).

Bún Mắm Nêm

Bún Mắm Nêm is a specialty dish with a strong Central flavor with a perfect combination of vermicelli, fish sauce and fresh foods. This dish not only attracts diners by its unique flavor but also by its eye-catching presentation and rich ingredients.

• Fish sauce is mixed with pickled garlic and chili to enhance the flavor. When eating, you can squeeze more lime and add a little satay or diced chili depending on your taste.
• The vermicelli is put in a bowl, with pork, and spring rolls on top, along with raw vegetables. Drizzle fish sauce on top to produce a rich flavor.

Suggested addresses:

• Bun Mam Nem Ba Van( 23/14 Tran Ke Xuong Street, Hai Chau, Da Nang)
• Bun Mam Co Trung( 35/7 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Son Phong, Hoi An, Quang Nam)

Where to Find the Best Southern Vietnamese Street Food: 4 Must-Try Sweet and Savory Dishes

The dishes are not only delicious but also reflect the culture and lifestyle of the people here. From simple street foods to sophisticated specialties, Southern cuisine always leaves a deep impression on diners.

Cơm Tấm Sài Gòn (Saigon Broken Rice)

Broken rice is a dish known to numerous people in Saigon.  You surely can not miss the Broken Rice dish that has made the brand of the people then, If you have the occasion to visit bustling Saigon.

• Soft, sticky broken rice grains, served with grilled meat, egg rolls, and sweet and sour fish sauce.
• Together with spices similar to scallion oil and fish sauce, it creates a sweet, rich, and easy-to-eat flavor.

Suggested address:

• Cơm Tấm Sà Bì Chưởng (179 Tran Binh Trong Street, Ward 3, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City)

Hủ Tiếu Sa Đéc (Sa Dec Noodles)

Sa Dec Noodles is also a famous Southern delicacy. Many people even say that if you visit Sa Dec without eating Hu Tieu, it means you haven't been there.

• Noodles have a clear broth, with a sweet taste from the bone broth. Noodles are white, sweet, and soft, and not sour.
• In addition, a bowl of Hu Tieu also has a variety of ingredients such as shrimp, minced meat, char siu, pork liver, ... herbs, bean sprouts, ...

Suggested addresses:

• Hu Tieu Sa Dec & Banh Tam - Di Nam Sa Dec (166 Bui Thi Xuan Street, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City)
• Co Sau Sa Dec (68 Van Kiep Street, Ward 3, Binh Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City)

Bánh Tráng Trộn (Mixed rice paper in Saigon)

Mixed rice paper in Saigon is a cheap but delicious snack in Saigon. This Southern delicacy is available on most streets in Saigon and is loved by locals and tourists.

• The soft rice paper is mixed with toppings such as dried chicken, dried beef, quail eggs, mango, Vietnamese coriander, and a special sauce.
• In addition, there are other types of rice paper called dipped rice paper or sun-dried rice paper.

Suggested addresses:

• Bánh Tráng Trộn Cô Năm (45 Le Thi Hong Street, Ward 7, Go Vap, Ho Chi Minh City)
• Bánh Tráng Chấm Cô Gánh (Lot D001 Apartment Building A4 Phan Xich Long, Ward 7, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City)

Bánh Canh Cua (Crab Noodle Soup)

Crab Noodle Soup has a thick broth, fragrant with crab and well-seasoned spices. Perhaps, this dish is on the list of many tourists and locals who love it as a daily dish.

• The soft rice paper noodles blend with the firm, sweet crab meat, creating a dish that is both attractive and nutritious.
• Served with fried dough sticks, pepper, and fragrant herbs.

This is not a bad choice, a dish that is delicious, nutritious, and filling.

Suggested addresses:

• Bánh Canh Cua Bà Ba (221 Tran Binh Trong Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City)
• Bánh Canh Cua Út Thảo(14 Tran Khac Chan Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City)

Here is a list of popular dishes in each region of Vietnam. Each dish is a story, a unique flavor that cannot be found anywhere else. Hopefully, you will pocket delicious dishes and have a wonderful experience with the culinary culture and life in Vietnam.