{"id":11242,"date":"2025-02-17T14:52:58","date_gmt":"2025-02-17T07:52:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/?p=11242"},"modified":"2025-11-13T15:24:51","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T08:24:51","slug":"breakfast-in-vietnam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/breakfast-in-vietnam\/","title":{"rendered":"Traditional Breakfast Foods in Vietnam"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Breakfast around the world varies tremendously, from the continental breakfasts of Europe to the huge English breakfasts of baked beans, eggs, sausages, etc. Vietnam, however, has a whole new take on breakfast \u2013 some of which is more understandable to the expat taste buds and others that seem very alien and unusual \u2013 not only in terms of taste but also in the fact that these things are served for breakfast.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Breakfast in Vietnam is considered the most important meal of the day and this is very evident in the wide variety of foods available. It is not unusual if you go to a hotel that has a buffet to find full-on foods such as spaghetti bolognese, meat, and rice and stir-fried rice on offer for breakfast&nbsp; &#8211; which seems very unusual to the Western palate \u2013 but you soon are able to readjust your expectations!&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><div><strong>Quick Navigation Guide<\/strong><\/div><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#pho-the-iconic-vietnamese-breakfast-dish\">Pho &#8211; The Iconic Vietnamese Breakfast Dish\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#banh-mi-the-portable-breakfast-sandwich\">Banh Mi: The Portable Breakfast Sandwich\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#xoi-the-filling-sticky-rice\">Xoi: The Filling Sticky Rice\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#bun-bo-hue-the-hearty-noodle-soup\">Bun Bo Hue: The Hearty Noodle Soup\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#banh-cuon-steamed-rice-rolls\">Banh Cuon: Steamed Rice Rolls<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#che-sweet-dessert-soups\">Che: Sweet Dessert Soups<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Traditional-Breakfast-Foods-in-Vietnam-1024x536.png\" alt=\"Traditional Breakfast Foods in Vietnam\" class=\"wp-image-13295\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Traditional-Breakfast-Foods-in-Vietnam-1024x536.png 1024w, https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Traditional-Breakfast-Foods-in-Vietnam-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Traditional-Breakfast-Foods-in-Vietnam-768x402.png 768w, https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Traditional-Breakfast-Foods-in-Vietnam.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>What do Vietnamese people eat for breakfast?<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"pho-the-iconic-vietnamese-breakfast-dish\"><strong>Pho &#8211; The Iconic Vietnamese Breakfast Dish&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most common Vietnamese breakfast food is that of Pho \u2013 which you see everyone busy eating at street cafes each morning. This dish consists of a huge steaming bowl of rice noodles immersed in a flavourful broth, topped with thinly sliced beef or chicken, fresh herbs, and a squeeze of lime. It is almost impossible to eat a whole bowl \u2013 so you may like to start with sharing with a friend to start with!&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are various types of pho \u2013 with the two most common being Pho bo (beef) and Pho ga (chicken) which are available throughout the country. In addition, there are regional variations \u2013 from the Hanoi-style Pho with a clear broth or the Saigon-style Pho with added spices so there is always something new to try!&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pho is available in restaurants and cafes as well as in little street cafes (where you buy from a tiny stall and sit on small plastic stools) \u2013 it is not uncommon to see portions of Pho being carried along the street for delivery &#8211;&nbsp; both just being carried as well as balanced whilst driving a motorbike!&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, you are able to get takeaway Pho \u2013 this is an interesting experience as you ask for a portion and then get a whole collection of little bags of ingredients which you can take home and mix together.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Explore More About Vietnam:<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/top-4-used-food-delivery-apps-vietnam\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Top 4 Most-used food delivery apps in Vietnam<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/breakfast-in-vietnam-pho-min.jpg\" alt=\"Pho \u2013 the staple breakfast food\" class=\"wp-image-58181\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Pho \u2013 the staple breakfast food<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"banh-mi-the-portable-breakfast-sandwich\"><strong>Banh Mi: The Portable Breakfast Sandwich&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After Pho, Banh Mi is probably the second most popular breakfast staple in Vietnam. This dish is one that looks much more usual to Westerners as it has a French heritage. This consists of a crusty baguette filled with a wide array of fillings, such as pate, cold cuts of various types of meat (usually pork or chicken), and pickled vegetables. There is also an option of having egg \u2013 which has a Vietnamese twist with herbs and powders. Unlike a sandwich in the West which is usually a little bland, the Banh Mi is packed with ingredients and has a huge handful of herbs (cilantro) \u2013 to top it all off there is a huge squirt of hot chili sauce \u2013 if you don\u2019t like hot food then you can always ask for no chilli towards the end when you see the huge squeeze bottle coming out!&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As with the Pho, you can buy the Banh Mi in a restaurant or street caf\u00e9, although it is very common to have this as a takeaway (as it is super easy to pack and take) and you can then take it to work to eat when you arrive.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You will find it is very common for Vietnamese to get a takeaway breakfast and take it to work&nbsp; &#8211; so look around and see what other people are doing and if it is common for people to bring in their takeaway breakfast you can soon follow suit.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Discover Related Guides:<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/best-banh-mi-in-hanoi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">12+ Spots to Get BEST Banh Mi in Hanoi, Vietnam (Updated 2025)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/breakfast-in-vietnam-banh-mi-min.jpg\" alt=\"A Banh Mi is a Vietnamese twist on a baguette sandwich \" class=\"wp-image-58182\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>A Banh Mi is a Vietnamese twist on a baguette sandwich&nbsp;<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"xoi-the-filling-sticky-rice\"><strong>Xoi: The Filling Sticky Rice&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Xoi, or sticky rice, is a filling breakfast dish that is just as the name suggests \u2013 rice that is like normal rice but at the same time is different as it is all stuck together rather than being separate granules \u2013 which dramatically changes the flavour (as well as the texture)&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is made by steaming glutinous rice and then topping it with a variety of ingredients such as mung beans, shredded chicken, fried onions, or roasted peanuts. Each region has its unique style of Xoi ranging from Xoi La Cam, made with pandan leaves, giving the rice a vibrant green colour to Xoi Xeo, which is topped with mung bean paste, or Xoi Gac, which is made with the red aril fruit, gac.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To the Western palate, this is a dish that takes a bit of getting used to in the morning, however after a while, you do get used to it \u2013 although many Westerners are not able to eat the whole portion (Vietnamese are very skilled at eating an enormous amount of rice!).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related Guides:<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/5-best-vietnamese-films-netflix-not-miss\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">15 BEST Vietnamese films on Netflix you should not miss<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/breakfast-in-vietnam-xoi-min-1024x577.jpg\" alt=\"Xoi: The Filling Sticky Rice \" class=\"wp-image-13296\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/breakfast-in-vietnam-xoi-min-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/breakfast-in-vietnam-xoi-min-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/breakfast-in-vietnam-xoi-min-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/breakfast-in-vietnam-xoi-min.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Xoi: The Filling Sticky Rice<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"bun-bo-hue-the-hearty-noodle-soup\"><strong>Bun Bo Hue: The Hearty Noodle Soup&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While Pho is consistently the number one option for a soup-based breakfast, Bun Bo Hue is another popular noodle soup that makes a flavourful breakfast option. Originating from the central region of Vietnam, this dish is characterized by its complex broth made from beef and pork bones. The dish features thick rice vermicelli noodles, slices of beef, pork, or even pig&#8217;s feet, and is garnished with fresh herbs, bean sprouts, and lime. The taste is certainly unique, with a spicy, sweet and sour flavour all at once and is certainly something that needs a little bit of practise to face first thing in the morning however once accustomed, you will find it is a most filling start to the day!&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/breakfast-in-vietnam-bun-bo-hue.jpg\" alt=\"Originally from the central regions, Bun Bo Hue is a great alternative to Pho\" class=\"wp-image-39229\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Originally from the central regions, Bun Bo Hue is a great alternative to Pho<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"banh-cuon-steamed-rice-rolls\"><strong>Banh Cuon: Steamed Rice Rolls<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For those who prefer a lighter breakfast option, B\u00e1nh Cu\u1ed1n is an excellent choice. These delicate rice rolls are made by steaming a thin sheet of fermented rice batter and then filling it with a mixture of minced pork, wood ear mushrooms, and shallots. They are typically served with a side of dipping sauce, fresh herbs, and crispy fried shallots.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related Guides:<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/coffee-chains-in-vietnam\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">10 Most Famous Coffee Chains in Vietnam you should try once<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/breakfast-in-vietnam-banh-cuon.jpg\" alt=\"Banh Cuon: Steamed Rice Rolls\" class=\"wp-image-39230\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Banh Cuon: Steamed Rice Rolls<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"che-sweet-dessert-soups\"><strong>Che: Sweet Dessert Soups<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Something new to Westerners is sweet soups&nbsp; &#8211; which can be eaten at any time of the day as a dessert as well as a breakfast dish.&nbsp; These sweet treats are known as Che and come in various forms, including Che Ba Mau (three-coloured dessert), Che Chuoi (banana sweet soup), and Che Dau Xanh (mung bean sweet soup). These soups are made with a combination of ingredients such as beans, fruits, coconut milk, and jelly, creating often quite bright-looking concoctions that taste very sweet.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/breakfast-in-vietnam-che.jpg\" alt=\"Che: Sweet Dessert Soups\" class=\"wp-image-39231\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Che: Sweet Dessert Soups<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overall, Vietnamese breakfast cuisine is a testament to the country&#8217;s culinary richness and diversity. Whether you savour a bowl of Pho in Hanoi, bite into a Banh Mi on the streets of Saigon, or enjoy a comforting Xoi in Hue, Vietnamese breakfast foods provide a delicious and culturally significant experience that should not be missed.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"kk-star-ratings kksr-auto kksr-align-left kksr-valign-bottom\"\n    data-payload='{&quot;align&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;11242&quot;,&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;valign&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;,&quot;ignore&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;reference&quot;:&quot;auto&quot;,&quot;class&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;count&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;legendonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;readonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;score&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;starsonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;best&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;gap&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;greet&quot;:&quot;Rate this post&quot;,&quot;legend&quot;:&quot;5\\\/5 - (1 vote)&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;24&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Traditional Breakfast Foods in Vietnam&quot;,&quot;width&quot;:&quot;142.5&quot;,&quot;_legend&quot;:&quot;{score}\\\/{best} - ({count} {votes})&quot;,&quot;font_factor&quot;:&quot;1.25&quot;}'>\n            \n<div class=\"kksr-stars\">\n    \n<div class=\"kksr-stars-inactive\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"1\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"2\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"3\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"4\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"5\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n<div class=\"kksr-stars-active\" style=\"width: 142.5px;\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n                \n\n<div class=\"kksr-legend\" style=\"font-size: 19.2px;\">\n            5\/5 - (1 vote)    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Breakfast around the world varies tremendously, from the continental breakfasts of Europe to the huge English breakfasts of baked beans, eggs, sausages, etc. Vietnam, however, has a whole new take on breakfast \u2013 some of which is more understandable to the expat taste buds and others that seem very alien and unusual \u2013 not only [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":13295,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[148,149,16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11242","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-living-essentials","category-food-dining-scene","category-life-in-vietnam"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11242","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11242"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11242\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13295"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11242"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11242"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vietnamteachingjobs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11242"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}