Authentic Vietnamese Breakfast - Top Dishes to Try

If you wake up in the mornings in Vietnam, you are in for a treat. One of the loveliest concoctions as far as flavor, texture, and aroma reflecting rich traditions has to be breakfasts. So, let's kick-start a delicious and healthy morning journey of exploration with dishes that really need to be tried for breakfast and some tips to make it smooth as a well-brewed cup of Vietnamese coffee (it's insanely strong with high caffeine content!). Also worth reading: Vietnamese Snacks.

Phở Bò (Beef Noodle Soup)

Pho is the dish Vietnam is known for, and it is eaten at breakfast more than at any other meal. This aromatic soup of flat rice noodles, tender beef slices, and broth full of spices-essentially, star anise and cinnamon-generally is completed by fresh herbs, bean sprouts, lime, and chili.

Oh and it is a super duper healthy breakfast option with an appropriate proportion of protein!

Where to Try:

• Hanoi: The place "Phở Thìn" near Hoàn Kiếm Lake gives you an authentic taste. Here is the google maps link for your navigation and reading reviews.

• Ho Chi Minh City: "Phở Hòa Pasteur" is famous for its rich broth and generous serving. With 4.5 rating on tripadvisor and 4.2 on google it's highly recommended to try Pho if you are ever in the Saigon area (google maps link).

Price Range: You can get a bowl within a range of 30,000 to 50,000 VND ($1.30 to $2.20 USD).

Travel Tip: Phở normally sells until about 10 am, so you get there early. Everything's fresh, it's before the local breakfast rush.

Bánh Mì (Vietnamese Baguette Sandwich)

Banh mi is the epitome of fusion. The French baguette with a Vietnamese filling-to a typical breakfast bánh mì, one would have pâté, cured meats, pickled vegetables, cilantro, and sprinkles of chili sauce. Portable, delicious, great for on-the-go travelers.

Places to Try:

• Hoi An: "Bánh Mì Phượng" is notorious for its various fillings and crispy baguettes - Google Maps link. Over 12000 reviews on google with average rating of 4.3 star And over 4000 reviews on tripadvisor with average rating of 4.5 star, its one of the most recommended places to try Banh Mi in Hoi an or we dare say Vietnam!

• Ho Chi Minh City: With over 1500 reviews on google, "Bánh Mì Hòa Mã" offers an entirely different experience. For one thing, you're in a sit-down place, and two, open-faced sandwiches (Google maps link)

Price Range: Price ranges from 15,000 to 30,000 VND ($0.65 to $1.30 USD).

Travel Tip: Bánh mì shops are literally everywhere and available all day. This is your excellent option if your bus leaves at the crack of dawn or if you'd like to have something before you go off sightseeing.

Xôi (Sticky Rice)

Xôi is one of the most common breakfast dishes among locals and tourists. A few types of this glutinous rice are topped up with mung bean paste, fried shallots, shredded chicken, or pork. Heavy, and it would last until you head out for your morning adventure.

Where to Try:

• Hanoi: "Xôi Yến" near the Old Quarter is one of the hot favorites of locals and foreign tourists alike. There are many Xoi yen outlets but our favorite is this one near Hoan Kiem lake with generally positive google ratings of 4.3 stars.

• Street Vendors: You will find xôi vendors carrying glass cases on bicycles, mostly during morning hours. Personally we found the street vendors provide the best Xoi rice in Hanoi and super cheap too, just ensure they use hand gloves and are hygienic overall.

Price Range: It may cost an average of 10,000 - 20,000 VND ($0.45-$0.90 USD).

Travel Tips: Most of the time, xôi is taken away. You can order it wrapped in banana leaves if you want.

Breakfast before a tour

The trouble with Vietnamese breakfast is the timing: the good stalls open at six and the tours leave earlier than that.

In Phong Nha most homestays will do breakfast from 06:00 if you ask the night before, and our Elephant Cave and Ma Da Valley day trek feeds you again at midday, cooked at the camp.

The national park caps entries per day, so the group is small enough to eat together.

Bánh Cuốn (Steamed Rice Rolls)

Bánh cuốn includes thin rice sheets steamed, rolled with minced pork and wood ear mushrooms, topped with fried shallots and served with a side of fish sauce for dipping. The dish is tender and light yet filling enough for breakfast.

Where to Try:

• Hanoi: "Bánh cuốn nóng Hồng Anh" is known for a typical preparation and with almost a 4.8 star rating on google it is a must try place in Hanoi for Banh Cuon. Here is the google maps link where you can check user reviews and use it to find directions to reach there.

• Ho Chi Minh City: Check local markets with possible bánh cuốn stalls where they prepare the dish on-site at affordable prices.

Price Range: Approx. 20,000 – 40,000 VND ($0.90 to $1.75 USD)

Travel Tip: Bánh cuốn tastes best fresh, so look for a vendor who will prepare them on demand.

Cà Phê Sữa Đá (Iced Milk Coffee)

This is an integral drink to have while in Vietnam during breakfast. The coffee is a strong brew served with ice and milk condensed to get you really going for the day. Vietnamese coffee mostly uses Robusta beans which gives it an extra strong punch. Trust us, if you are ever feeling a bit sleepy on your Vietnam trip then try a cup of this extra strong coffee and you will be awake for hours!

Where to Try:

• Cafes: Some quaint cafes across Vietnam serve coffee. "Café Giảng" in Hanoi (google maps link) does coffee topped with an egg, while "The Workshop" in Ho Chi Minh City is just one of the many modern chains that get some nice brews going (google maps link). The Workshop cafe has 4.5 star rating across both trip advisor and google with a total number of reviews crossing 13000 its super famous!

• Street Vendors: For a more authentic experience, pull up a plastic stool at virtually any street-side vendor and sip your coffee amidst city bustle.

Price Range: About 15,000 to 40,000 VND ($0.65 to $1.75 USD), depending upon the establishment.

Travel Tip: The Vietnamese drink very strong coffee. You can ask for a small amount or ask them to use less coffee if your threshold for caffeine is low.

Bò Né (Sizzling Beef Steak)

Bò né is Vietnam's version of a hearty breakfast. Served scalding hot with beef steak, eggs, pâté, and often sausage, it is usually served with a baguette to soak up all the juices. The literal translation of "bò né" is "dodging beef," and that could refer to the sizzling oil you might just have to dodge when it is served.

Where to Try:

• Ho Chi Minh City: "Bò Né Thanh Tuyền" is a popular chain serving rather tasty servings at affordable prices. With 4.5 star rating and over 500 reviews its a must try place in Saigon if you ever want to try out Bo Ne dish!

• Da Nang: Even street vendors and other local eateries serve really delicious bò né with some local twists.

Price Range: About 40 000 to 70 000 VND ($1.75 to $3.00 USD).

Travel Tip: Bò né is a leisurely breakfast. Take time to enjoy the meal because you are in a lively atmosphere.

Ready to start mornings with this feast? Breakfast in Vietnam is far from being just a meal; it's much more, mainly because it allows the introduction to this country's culture and its hospitality through bold flavors. Set your alarm, head out as morning breaks, and enjoy the thriving gastronomic scene that awaits you!

Our Take: We feel Vietnamese breakfast options are pretty healthy overall due to focus on high protein content and low oil or no oil used in cooking as a lot of options are using boiled vegetables.