Across Vietnam
Phở
Rice noodles in an aromatic broth, most commonly served with beef or chicken and fresh herbs.
Photo: GiveMeMollusks · CC0 ↗TASTE VIETNAM
Food & Culture
One of the easiest ways to understand Vietnam is through its food, coffee and regional traditions. Start visually: see what the dishes look like, learn where they are associated with, then decide what you want to try.
START HERE
Foods to know
These are representative photos — presentation varies by restaurant, region and recipe.
Hanoi
Bún chả
Grilled pork served with rice vermicelli, fresh herbs and a sweet-savoury dipping broth.
Photo: tuhang · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Da Nang & Quang Nam
Mì Quảng
Wide rice noodles with a small amount of rich broth, herbs, peanuts and toppings such as pork or shrimp.
Photo: Christopher Crouzet · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Hoi An
Cao lầu
Hoi An's signature noodle dish, usually combining chewy noodles, pork, herbs and crisp toppings.
Photo: Dragfyre · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
Hue
Bún bò Huế
A fragrant, spicy noodle soup traditionally associated with Hue and central Vietnam.
Photo: Avlxyz · CC BY-SA 2.0 ↗
Central & Southern Vietnam
Bánh xèo
A crisp turmeric-coloured rice-flour pancake commonly filled with pork, shrimp and bean sprouts.
Photo: DuyTran16 · Public domain ↗
Ho Chi Minh City
Cơm tấm
Broken rice typically served with grilled pork and accompaniments — a classic southern everyday meal.
Photo: Phương Huy · CC0 ↗
Across Vietnam
Bánh mì
A crisp Vietnamese baguette filled in many different ways with meat, pâté, pickles, herbs and sauces.
Photo: Jimmy Chen · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Across Vietnam
Vietnamese coffee
Strong coffee brewed through a phin filter, often served with sweetened condensed milk over ice or hot.
Photo: Clarin · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗CITY FOOD GUIDES
Know what to order before you arrive
Use these guides when food is part of how you choose neighborhoods, sightseeing days and evening plans.
Hanoi Food Guide
Phở, bún chả, bánh cuốn and egg coffee.
Open guide →Hoi An Food Guide
Cao lầu, mì Quảng, bánh mì and local small dishes.
Open guide →Hue Food Guide
Bún bò Huế, small royal-influenced dishes and vegetarian food.
Open guide →Ho Chi Minh City Food Guide
Cơm tấm, bánh mì, bánh xèo and southern coffee culture.
Open guide →Vietnamese Coffee Guide
Cà phê sữa đá, black coffee, phin brewing and egg coffee.
Open guide →REGIONAL FOOD
What changes as you travel
Northern Vietnam
Hanoi is a natural starting point for dishes such as phở and bún chả. Northern cooking is often described as balanced and relatively restrained, with fresh herbs, broths and grilled meats playing a major role.
Central Vietnam
Central Vietnam has some of the country's most distinctive regional dishes. Look for mì Quảng around Da Nang and Quang Nam, cao lầu in Hoi An, and bún bò Huế in Hue.
Southern Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City has an enormous food scene. Cơm tấm, bánh xèo, bánh mì and countless street-food options make it particularly easy to explore Vietnamese food informally.
Street food is part of the trip
Small local restaurants, food stalls and markets are a major part of eating in Vietnam. Busy places with strong customer turnover are often a useful starting point for visitors.
Ask about ingredients
Fish sauce, shellfish, peanuts and meat-based stocks appear frequently in Vietnamese cooking. If you have a serious allergy or dietary restriction, carrying a translated explanation can be useful.
Food research:Dish selection and regional context are based on established Vietnamese cuisine references and Vietnam Tourism's regional food guidance. Photos are reusable Wikimedia Commons images with the individual credit and licence shown on each card.