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5 Vietnamese dishes you have to try

Pho or banh mi? Here are the Vietnamese dishes you need to try.
So you’ve decided to book a holiday to Vietnam. If you’re not already overexcited, why not start making a must-try list of dishes for when you’re out there? Not only is Vietnamese cuisine one of the most delicious in the world, it’s super healthy, too. The staple ingredients here include herbs, rice and vegetables. Read on to find out the delicious Vietnamese dishes you need to try…

BÁNH MI

You won’t need to travel far to find these tasty, French-inspired sarnies. Stalls sell them on almost every street corner, whether you’re in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Phu Quoc. This is a baguette-style sandwich, which is full to the brim with greens, paté, pork, sweet chilli sauce, and a freshly fried egg. They cost around £1.50 and fill you up until dinner. Bargain.

GOI CUÔN

This is without a doubt Vietnam’s staple dish: translucent spring rolls packed with greens, coriander and meats like pork, shrimp or crab. They’re usually served with a bowl of lettuce and mint, too. A southern take on this dish includes barbecued strips of pork, wrapped up with green banana and starfruit – and then dunked in a rich peanut sauce. Are you drooling yet?

PHO

Vietnamese noodle soup is the best soup you’ll ever sip on – we promise. Pho is a dish that’s eaten at any time of the day – and it makes for a great breakfast, FYI. This basic bowl of noodles consists of a beef or chicken broth, flavoured with ginger and coriander, accompanied by flat rice noodles, spring onions and slivers of chicken, pork or beef. Yummy.

COM TÂM

Cơm tấm means ‘broken rice’ in Vietnamese. In this dish, you’ll find stir-fried rice, along with barbecued pork or chicken, a fried egg and spring onions soaked in aromatic oils. The tasty meal costs around £2.00, and you’ll find it at most local Vietnamese cafés and restaurants.

STIR-FRIED MORNING GLORY

Who knew a plate of water-spinach could be so satisfyingly delicious? You absolutely have to try this mouth-watering dish. It’s ideal for the mornings and it fills you up right until lunchtime. Spinach is the most common vegetable in Vietnam, as the tropical climate makes perfect growing conditions for it. It’s usually served hot, with cabbage and broccoli stalks, with lashings of palm oil, and comes with a small bowl of chilli flakes on the side.

If we’ve tempted you with our list of favourite dishes, why not check out the best places to visit in Vietnam, too?

Ready to try some Vietnamese food in the country itself?

Find out everything you need to know about Vietnam on our website.

Author: Olivia Hunt

Last updated: 24.11.2016

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