Vietnamese cuisine — pho, bun cha, banh mi, summer rolls. Fresh, light, balanced. Lots of herbs. UNESCO 2025 pho.
Pho
Pho — national dish. Pho bo (north) or pho ga (south). Broth simmered 12+ hours with star anise, cinnamon, cloves, ginger. Rice noodles, meat, onion, cilantro, bean sprouts. UNESCO 2025.
Bun Cha
Bun cha — Obama ate with Anthony Bourdain. Grilled pork + vermicelli + sweet-sour dipping sauce + fresh herbs + spring rolls. Hanoi specialty.
Banh Mi
Banh mi — Vietnamese-French heritage. Crispy baguette + pâté + cold cuts + pickled papaya + cucumber + cilantro + chili. Street food globally exported.
Summer Rolls
Goi cuon (summer rolls) — rice paper wrapped shrimp + pork + vermicelli + lettuce + mint. Dipped in fish sauce or peanut sauce. Cool, light.
Coffee
Vietnamese coffee — strong robusta. Ca phe sua da (phin-brewed coffee + condensed milk + ice). Hanoi egg coffee (egg yolk + condensed milk + coffee). Coconut coffee, salt coffee.
Hu Tieu, Bun Bo Hue, Mi Quang
Hu tieu Nam Vang — southern pho. Bun bo Hue — spicy, from Hue. Mi Quang — Quang Nam dish with little broth. Cao lau Hoi An — specialty.
Specialties and Sweets
Che (sweet pudding, three-color che) — sweet dessert. Banh xeo (crispy pancake with shrimp pork sprouts). Nem nuong. Balut (controversial). Saigon, Hanoi, 333 beer.