Scents of the East and French colonial influences: a trip to Vietnam is also a journey into flavors. The best way to enjoy it is to be brave and roll up your sleeves in front of the incredible variety of street foods that you can taste! Even if at times the stalls may seem unattractive, beyond the appearances there are many surprises and not infrequently, you eat better on the street than in a real restaurant. To get you out of the way, in this article we will indicate 5 Street food absolutely to try in Vietnam!
1. Goi Cuon
Goi Cuon, or Nem Cuon, is a very popular appetizer among Vietnamese: they are rolls of raw vegetables, such as lettuce, cucumber, and carrot, combined with soy noodles, shrimps, and pork bites. They are wrapped in rice paper, called Bahn trang, and are not fried or cooked in any other way. These rolls are also known as “summer rolls”, being a healthy and fresh alternative to fried rolls. They are often accompanied by chunks of fresh chili and a peanut-based sauce.
2. Pho
This is definitely one of the most typical Vietnamese street food dishes! As you explore this beautiful country, it will be hard not to stumble upon stalls preparing this dish over and over again: a bowl of rice noodles in a broth enriched with beef or chicken nuggets, topped off with fresh spring onion and coriander. It is served with a spicy sauce and a basket of vegetables and herbs to add raw, such as mint.
3. Bahn i
Another extremely popular street food is Bahn mi. It is not only delicious, but it is also an interesting example of the fusion of Vietnamese and French food culture. It is in fact a baguette cut in half and stuffed with several layers of pork strips, dehydrated and frayed rind, pate, mayonnaise, raw vegetables – such as onion, coriander, lettuce … There are many variations, one better than the other!
4. Bo nurong la lot
The la lot are very tasty rolls: the filling is made from a mixture of beef, enriched with spices. This is then wrapped in the wild leaves of Betel, to form thin tubes that are skewered and then cooked on the grill. They are served with a sprinkling of chopped peanuts … a Must try!
5. Bo Kho
Bo Kho is a very fragrant beef stew, flavored with garlic, paprika, and lemongrass. Usually, together with beef nuggets cooked for a long time at a low temperature, there are diced carrots, spring onion, coriander … You can add rice noodles to make it a richer dish, and often it is accompanied with a crunchy baguette.