Travel Guide to Vietnamese Street Food - Must-Try Dishes

Vietnam has loads of street food and eats—a whole vibe—a flavorful, fresh, and bold, totally tied to tradition. If you're ever thinking of going, knowing what to chomp and where would most likely make your experience one for the books. Here is a guide that can help you in deep-diving into Vietnamese street food, which, in reality, is very helpful for travelers.

Why You Gotta Try Vietnamese Street Food

Vietnamese street food is all about the vibe of its culture, perfectly mingling sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors together. These food items are super delicious yet extremely cheap, their varieties coming in under less than a dollar apiece.

Vietnamese food is so famous all around the world that some people come here especially for the Vietnam food tour. Oh and there are motorbike food tours in big cities like Ho chi minh and Hanoi, we loved them personally!

Every region has different fancies, so plenty of variety exists when you wander around the country. You would be surprised at the diversity between north and south Vietnam!

Top Vietnamese Street Foods You Should Taste

Bánh Mì - A Vietnamese Sandwich

This was an awesome mix of French and Vietnamese vibes: a crispy baguette heavily packed with various types of meat, pickled veggies, fresh cilantro, and a kick of chili sauce. Places like Huỳnh Hoa (google maps link) are super famous in Ho Chi Minh City for their fancier takes on this classic sandwich.

Phở - Vietnamese Noodle Soup

Pho is the iconic dish, generally eaten at breakfast time. Northern versions, especially those from Hanoi, boast a light, crystalline broth, while in the south they are sweet and herbaceous. Look for tiny vendors dishing out steaming bowls at dawn.

Gỏi Cuốn (Fresh Spring Rolls)

These translucent roll-ups of shrimp, pork, vermicelli, and herbs are wrapped up and served with this tasty peanut dipping sauce. These make a great light snack and can be found in street food markets everywhere from Saigon to Da Nang.

Bún Chả

This is the Hanoi dish of some seriously delicious patties of grilled pork, served with vermicelli noodles, fresh herbs, and super acidic dipping sauce. They say this is the dish that wholly and completely swooped up ex-President Obama when he came to Vietnam.

Bánh Xèo - Vietnamese Pancake

Thin pancake-like crêpe made from rice flour, crispy outside with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts inside; another favorite street food. Best eaten wrapped in leaves of lettuce with herbs and dipping into fish sauce.

Iced Coffee with Condensed Milk (Cà Phê Sữa Đá)

It is an experience in itself—Vietnamese coffee served over ice with thick, sweetened condensed milk. This is the perfect pick-me-up on your food tour.
Do note Vietnamese coffee is extra strong and usually very sweet too. You should ask them to reduce the condensed milk quantity if you want to reduce your sugar intake.

Chè (Vietnamese Sweet Desserts)

Essentially, chè is the term for these beans, jellies, or fruits in sweet soups or dessert-like puddings. You'll see tons of flavors out there, usually piled high with crushed ice on top.

Xôi (Sticky Rice)

And for good reason, since this sticky rice is generic enough to be consumed plain, with mung bean paste, fried shallots, and even pork floss that's sold as either a breakfast staple or even a day snack.

Tips on Street Food for Travelers

• Go Local: All one needs to do is check out street vendors at Ben Thanh in Saigon or at Dong Xuan in Hanoi for some really authentic vibes.

• Hygiene: Choose those stalls whose dishes are of high turnover because fresh ingredients are basic to safe eating.

• Communicate: Knowing basic Vietnamese phrases like “Bao nhiêu tiền?” (How much?) can help you connect with vendors and avoid confusion. If vegetarian, ask for "chay" foods, but also mention not to add any fish sauce in it.

Street Food Etiquette

In Vietnam, it is available sitting on small plastic stools next to the locals' side. The locals share the tables with the people, so this is really social.

I mean who doesn’t love those small plastic stools to relax and watch people watching in the evening :)

Street Food Places to Go

• Hanoi: Known for its awesome phở, bún chả, and egg coffee, this northern capital has a cool blend of tradition and new ideas.

• Ho Chi Minh City: The streets are just so alive, smelling of perilously delicious bánh mì, chè, and all types of seafood.
  

• Hoi An: Known for cao lau noodles and white rose dumplings, flavors found nowhere else in this ancient town of Hoi an. You can also try the local egg noodles cooked in Vietnamese style which is quite delicious!

• Hue: The aristocratic culinary tradition, steamed rice cakes are indispensable here.

Common Questions About Vietnamese Street Food

• Is Vietnamese street food safe to eat?
  Yes, it is safe to eat from busy vendors serving food that's freshly cooked. Avoid raw or undercooked foods and avoid pre cut fruits from open stalls at all costs!

• How much does Vietnamese street food normally cost?
  Most run from 10,000–50,000 VND ($0.50–$2), well within anyone's means. We would say Vietnam has one of the cheapest foods in the world and is delicious too :)

• Do street food vendors take cards?
  Generally, no. Bring small denomination cash in local currency - Vietnamese Dong.
  Cash is king in Vietnam.

• Vegetarian street food options in Vietnam?
  You have xôi chay, that's vegetarian sticky rice, or gỏi cuốn chay - that's vegetarian spring rolls.