10 Must-Try Vietnamese Dishes and Drinks as Recommended by an Australian Website

When it comes to street food, Vietnam offers a wide range of flavorful dishes. According to the Australian website delicious.com.au, here are the top 10 things to eat and drink in Vietnam.

First on the list is Banh mi. While the French introduced baguettes to Vietnam, banh mi is a unique Vietnamese creation.

Roasted Pork Banh Mi.

“Different vendors have their own take on this globally loved sandwich, but the general concept includes a fresh baguette stuffed with pate, pork floss, pork belly, cucumber, and pickled vegetables. It’s crunchy, soft, and incredibly tasty,” wrote the article on the website.

Second on the list is Pho (rice noodle soup with beef or chicken), a must-try dish. Pho was developed in the north of Vietnam during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The obsession with pho spread to the south in the 1950s when millions of north Vietnamese brought their soup recipe with them.

December 12 is celebrated as the Day of Pho in Vietnam.

A bowl of beef Pho. Photo: Hoang Khanh Duy

The article describes Pho as a dish that needs no introduction. It can be found all over Vietnam with each region having its own variation. It typically consists of flat rice noodles, thinly sliced beef, zesty herbs, and a spiced-rich beef broth.

Third on the list is Banh Xeo (Vietnamese rice pancake). The article mentions that this crispy pancake is a favorite among Vietnamese and visitors alike. It’s made of a lightly fried mixture of rice flour, water, and turmeric, filled with prawns and bean sprouts, and eaten wrapped in lettuce or rice paper with a sweetened fish sauce.

Crispy Vietnamese pancake (Banh xeo) tops the list of 10 most popular Southeast Asian pancakes as compiled by TasteAtlas. Photo courtesy of TasteAtlas

The word xeo in Banh Xeo represents the sizzling sound when pouring the rice batter into the hot skillet. The best way to enjoy it is by eating it with your hands.

The fourth dish on the list is Com Ga (Chicken rice), a specialty of the riverside district of Hoi An town. It features turmeric rice and succulent shredded chicken, topped with fish sauce, pickled shallots, and herbs like coriander and mint. Locals often add a spoonful of chili jam to enhance the flavor.

The fifth spot on the list is reserved for the first drink – Vietnamese iced coffee.

Vietnam’s distinctive iced coffee has been praised as one of the highest-rated coffees in the world.

Considering Vietnam is the world’s second-largest bean producer, it’s no surprise that this country is known for its coffee. The famous condensed milk iced coffee is a popular afternoon drink made by pouring hot water through coffee grounds into a cup containing condensed milk. It’s a true pick-me-up.

Vietnamese iced coffee originated in Ho Chi Minh City and can now be found throughout the country, even in five-star hotels and Vietnamese-style coffee shops abroad.

Green papaya salad is consumed in Thailand as Som Tam, in Cambodia as bok l’hong, and in Vietnam as Goi du du.

Next on the list is Goi Du Du (green papaya salad). While several Southeast Asian nations claim their own version of this dish, the Vietnamese take is spicy. It features shredded unripe papaya tossed with carrots, coriander, Thai basil, peanuts, chili, shallots, and a sweet and sour sauce. Traditionally, it’s sprinkled with Vietnamese beef jerky or dried squid.

Vietnam is one of the main sugarcane producers in the world. This is why sugarcane juice is such a popular drink in Vietnam, especially on hot summer days. Photo: Delicious Vietnam

The seventh place goes to another common drink – Nuoc Mia (sugarcane juice). This icy cold and sugary sweet refreshment can be found on nearly every street corner in Vietnam. It’s mainly juice squeezed from sugarcane, but kumquat is sometimes added along with Vietnamese pickled lime.

Recently, on August 25, the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh shipped a batch of 17.3 tonnes of fresh sugarcane to the US.

Avocado Ice Cream. Source: bachuaviahe

Another dessert on the list is avocado ice cream. While avocados are commonly used for toast in other countries, in Vietnam, they are enjoyed as a creamy post-dinner sundae. The dish was first created in Da Nang city and consists of a layer of smashed avocado at the bottom, topped with coconut ice cream, sweetened coconut milk, and toasted coconut flakes.

Vietnamese Avocado Mousse Ice Cream is also a signature dish of Da Lat, a famous tourist destination in the Central Highlands. It’s a rich and creamy dessert that is easy to make.

Banh beo in Hue is steamed in small, flat bowls. On top of banh beo in Hue are toasted shrimp flakes, pork cracklings, and fried shallots. Photo: Liz Phung

The next dish is Banh Beo (steamed rice cake), a sweet or savory snack loved by all ages. It features thin steamed rice cakes served in bite-size bowls and layered with different fillings depending on the region. Hoi An, for example, favors minced shrimp or pork with crispy shallots.

Vietnam is a country with a tropical agriculture, boasting thousands of unique farm produce that serve as ingredients for a myriad of cakes. However, there is no version of Banh Beo in any region of Vietnam that is completely alike when it comes to appearance, preparation methods, and taste.

The last dish on the list is Goi Cuon (rice paper rolls). These rolls go by different names in Vietnam, such as spring rolls, summer rolls, or rice paper rolls. They consist of strips of pork, prawn, cucumber, carrot, rice vermicelli, and herbs wrapped in Vietnamese rice paper. The ingredients and accompanying dipping sauces can vary between regions.

Fresh, light, healthy, and summery Vietnamese salad rolls are packed with vermicelli noodles, shrimp, fresh vegetables, and herbs, and dipped in a homemade peanut dipping sauce. Photo: Netspace

Goi Cuon is served fresh at room temperature or cooled and is not deep-fried or cooked on the outside. It is a popular appetizer in Vietnamese restaurants.

These spring rolls are a refreshing alternative to the usual fried variety and have become a family favorite. They are great as a cool summertime appetizer and are delicious when dipped in one or both of the accompanying sauces.

Fillings can vary, including pork slices, pork sausage slices, shrimp, fish, pan-fried seafood, beef poached in a lemongrass broth, tofu for vegetarians, grilled sausages, braised pork, and egg, among others.

Hannah Nguyen

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