Vietnamese Foods

“Pho” (noodle soup) and “nem ran” (spring roll) might be presented in almost Vietnamese foods and drinks articles both in Vietnamese and in other languages. However, it can not be said that they can represent for Vietnamese foods which are really diversified from the North to the South, from rural to urban and even from Spring to Winter.

When you travel from the North to the South of Vietnam, you will realize the sharp difference in the flavor of foods in each local. Although foreign visitors consider Vietnamese food quite healthy in general, each food has its outstanding features which symbolized for each region of Vietnam country. For example, the Middle foods are always spicier than the North and the South ones. It derives from the habit of how the local people prepare and enjoy their foods.

Coming to the North, you will be impressed by various kinds of foods ranging from those of the mountainous areas to those of the deltas. However, what attracts foreign tourists most is “Bun cha” which includes “Nem ran” (spring roll). Although spring roll is known in different names, such as “Nem ran” (in the North), “Cha gio” (in the South), it remains the general flavor of traditional food in Vietnam, which is voted as a “must-eat” dish by the majority of foreign travelers. Nowadays, you can easily enjoy “Bun cha” in many streets of Hanoi but it is highly recommended that you go to Hang Manh Street for the best of “Bun cha” and “Nem ran”.

Continue to satisfy your taste with some foods in the Middle – which is generally considered hotter and spicier than those of the North. If you have an opportunity to visit the ancient town of Hoi an, you do never forget to try Cao Lau (vermicelli), a specialty of Quang Nam in general and Hoi An in particular. Different from other foods, Cao Lau requires a sophisticated cooking process. For instance, water used to soak rice must be taken from wells in the Ba Le Village; noodles thus will be soft, enduring and flavored with special sweet-smelling. Furthermore, Cao Lau in Hoi An must be eaten with fresh vegetables from Tra Que Village in order to keep its own and original flavor. Foreign tourists can enjoy Cao Lau in many regions of Vietnam such as Hanoi, Danang or Ho Chi Minh City. Nevertheless, finally most of them conclude that Cao Lau – which is eaten in Hoi an – is surely the best because it preserves the distinguished flavor of Hoi An ancient town.

The art of tasting of China, Cambodia and Thailand have great influence on the Southern one. Different from others, the Southern people have the habits of adding more sugar in their foods. Especially, the majority of Southern people are fond of some “rural foods” – which are now considered as famous specialties of this region. “Banh xeo” (rice pancake folded in half) is a typical example for “rural foods” of the South. The “banh xeo” of each local has the different in size and how to prepare its patching: the “banh xeo” of Hue and Phan Thiet is small; however, the Southern ones tend to be bigger. Foreign tourists who have chance to visit the Southwestern region will never forget the taste of delicious “banh xeo” with many kinds of vegetables. Some of them are humorous when saying that this is the “pizza of Vietnam” – which is good for health and do not cloy one's appetite because of much vegetables including. Beside "banh xeo", “banh canh Trang Bang” (or rice spaghetti) of Tay Ninh province is also a delicious and healthy food which will satisfy your tastes. Up to now, “banh canh Trang Bang” has become a favorite product as well as a familiar destination to foreign travelers. These foods are not only ordinary but also valuable ones, which reflect wholly the color of Southern art of tasting.

In addition, visiting the Southern region of Vietnam, almost foreign travelers will be impressed by the plenty of fruit gardens. Putting aside traditional foods of Northern and Central regions, you are now welcome to enjoy nutrition fruits – the specialties which the Nature generously endowed the South of Vietnam. Taking a boat along the river of Cuu Long, you will not only enjoy the nature beauty of sightseeing around but also have chance to try special fruits such as mango, durian (sau rieng), grape fruits (buoi), mangosteen (mang cut), star apple (vu sua), rambutan (chom chom), etc.. The most fascinated thing is that you only have to pay for the entrance fee when entering the fruit gardens and you are freely to enjoy fruits. However, you should remember that you have no right to bring fruits out of the gardens, just only taste them in the garden for free! Or even you can enjoy shopping fruits at the floating markets in such provinces as Can Tho or An Giang.

Although there is such a various flavor in Vietnamese foods, which kind of foods should be prepared for breakfast, lunch and dinner is similar in some extent. All kinds of noodle are normally prepared for breakfast. Rice, vegetables, meat and/or fish are all prepared for lunch and dinner. Vietnamese people tend to have meals at home with their family, especially for those in the North and in the Middle. The rural people often prepare for their breakfast by themselves at home but the urban tend to have breakfast outside.

Drinks

Almost such worldwide popular drinks as Coke, Pepsi, Heineken and Western Wines are available in Vietnam. It is easy for those in need to get them in supermarkets, or in restaurants. In addition with this, travelers can have a wide range of drinks made in Vietnam both in can and fresh ones. 

Fresh fruit juices are now being very popular in every region. This kind of drinks is very nutrition and healthy for your whole body, especially for your skin. These drinks are served in every café restaurant and bar on every streets of Vietnam. Besides, you can get fruit juices in can which is made of litchi, wacky pumpkin, or passion lemon.

“Strong coffee” might be regarded as illegal in your countries, but you will be surprised and interested in the fact that “strong coffee” is acceptable in every café restaurant in Vietnam. It would be a miss if you do not spend some times enjoying it at some café restaurant nearby. It is also good for you to know that coffee in the North tends to be stronger than in the South. And the Southern people often drink coffee with much ice but the Northern ones often drink hot coffee in Winter and with a little bit ice in Summer. . Coffee with milk is often called “café nau” (brown coffee) in Vietnam. Especially, the Hanoians possess their own ways of enjoying coffee, which is usually called “The Hanoi’s coffee culture”. It is surely your unforgettable memory when visiting Hanoi and exploring this “culture” by yourselves.

Beer could be a favorite of many travelers. It is also available everywhere in Vietnam from rural to urban and from luxurious restaurants to pavement ones. Fresh beer is very common in Vietnam. It is a favorite of many Vietnamese men’s also. You might be surprised when seeing a lot of men in fresh beer restaurants after working hours, especially during the hot season. Hanoi beer – produced by Hanoi Beer Company and Saigon beer – produced by Saigon Beer Company are also the choice of many guests.

Besides imported wines from Europe, alcoholic drinks made in Vietnam are limited. All are made of rice or cassava. Of which the rice wine – Vodka can be presented – is made by lowland community, and the cassava one – “Can Wine” can be presented – by mountainous community. Such domestic wines can not be missed in parties, worship ceremonies and village festivals where it is not only the offering to the supernatural characters and to the ancestors, but the drink for people to wish for health, wealthy and prosperity. The way to drink “rice wine” is not different from any other western wines. But the way to drink “Can Wine” may make travelers surprised and interested. “Can Wine” is put in a porcelain jar. Before start drinking, you should be aware of how many people will join together, and then prepare enough stems – small bamboo straw for all. The stems will be put in the jar. Each one will drink with his/her stem (or can be shared). For ethnic minority groups, they always sing and dance around the “Can Wine” jar while drinking. For those who visit Hoa Binh, Sapa in Lao Cai, or in some provinces in Tay Nguyen (Central Highland areas), try to arrange an opportunity to join “Can Wine” party with ethnic minority – a promisingly unforgettable memory in Vietnam.