Vietnam It is not an exceptionally large country, but it is long ... very long! And when you visit its coasts, mountains or cities, you notice that its gastronomy it presents different forms, although the common points exist:
- They like the hot spicy: either in the form of chili, chilli, or mysterious spice (although it is not as spicy as Thai food).
- There are many soups (Especially in the north, and after being so cold in Hanoi, we understand why!).
- If you eat meat ... you eat with rice.
- Everywhere you will find the nuoc mam, a fish sauce with a very peculiar flavor.
We will not be able to make you a complete course of Vietnamese food, because its gastronomic offer is immense! But if we are going to tell you our experience ... well, 30 days (and more in the case of Rober) give enough to eat! Here goes our Guide of the gastronomy in Vietnam and its typical dishes:
| THE STAR
Definitely the soup PHO BO It is the national dish: the Vietnamese adore it, and the travelers can only agree. It is a soup of rice noodles with thin slices of veal (there is also the chicken version: pho ga).
But beware! Don't think it's a boring dish: every pho It is different and has the touch of the cook on duty. The soup broth is super tasty and flavored, and apart you can "customize" your pho with the fresh ingredients that will serve you: coriander, mint, lime, nuoc man, chili, soy ...
A plate 10, no doubt!
| THE NOODLES FAIR
But if you are a fan of noodles, don't think your choice will be limited to pho bo! If in the rest of Asia fried noodles are the order of the day, in Vietnam there are many dishes based on noodles ... you can try for example:
- BUN RIEU
It is a tomato and crab flavor noodle soup. It is served with crab meatballs and fried tofu.
- BUN CHA GIO THIT NUONG
It is a kind of combined dish consisting of rice noodles, lettuce, minced pork roll, peanuts, pork strips and vegetables. What looks good?
| THE ROLL
No, I swear, this time the roll we're going to talk about is really eaten, nothing to do with the recipe for the perfect roll. If in China we did not see a roll (of eating hehe) in Vietnam we saw enough (of eating and t-shirts ...).
There are two types of rolls:
- CHA GIO
A rice paper roll, usually stuffed with minced pork, mushrooms with rice and vegetable noodles and eaten fried.
- GOI CUON
In this case the roll is not fried: the rice paper is raw and is stuffed with vegetables, shrimp and noodles. It is served at room temperature.
It goes without saying, the fried superfried fried version makes me crazy, the raw is so boring, so healthy and "green". But most say they are delicious ... I think Rober also prefers the fried version!
| BANH XEO
It is a stuffed crepe that can contain several ingredients: vegetables, bean sprouts, prawns, basil, eggs, mint, pork ... let's go a little bit of everything! It is made from rice flour, turmeric or cumin and water. It gets wet in soy sauce or fish.
| THE GASTRONOMIC CAPITAL
I don't think all Vietnamese agree, but most tourists probably do: the city with the most culinary personality is HOI AN. It has some typical and tasty dishes that can only be tried there.
And best of all, you can accompany them with rods of beers at 15 cents!
We test:
- CAU LAU
A plate of rice noodles with pork, bean sprouts, vegetables and croutons. All bathed with soy sauce. It is super typical of Hoi An and they say that you can only cook with the water of a well in this city ...
- WON TON
It is fried rice pasta, guarantee that I love hehe, stuffed with pork. Mmm great, and the tomato sauce, peppers and onion a delight!
- WHITE ROSE
It is a kind of steamed ravioli and stuffed with prawns. Against all odds left us a little indifferent ...
| THE FRENCH HERITAGE
Learn this word: BHAN MI. Sandwiches, people, sandwiches!! After months of rice and noodles, a loaf of bread has more appeal than nutella the first day you start the diet or coca cola when you watch an ad on TV (subliminals have no na!).
That if ... go forgetting the ham because the French only brought baguettes. But after all the expression is "you are a piece of bread" not "you are a piece of ham"
Old lady selling snacks in Saigon
| I'M THIRSTY
You will not die of thirst in Vietnam: it is the country with the cheapest beer in the world! You just have to say the words Bia Hoi and for some 15-30 cent dollar you will have your little cane (don't be scared if they serve it with ice ... haha)
| COFFEE
And for the hangover the day after, nothing better than a good coffee. Of course, it is quite strong but just to see how it is prepared it is worth trying: in the glass a filter is placed that drops the coffee drop by drop ... the whole process takes about 3-5 minutes! And to sweeten it nothing better than condensed milk mmm!
| I RARE
Like every exotic country that boasts, Vietnam also has its mysterious cuisine:snakes, turtles, snails, frogs, we even read that you can eat meat from rat, but don't think they are in every restaurant. Let's say they are delicatessen specialties! Would you dare to try them?
| THE TIME ARRIVED: THE DOG
We know you are wondering: yes, our pets here would shake ... but be careful: not all dogs end up on a plate. A specific breed is used that is raised and fed for the purpose of being eaten. Horrible yes, but after all many countries do not understand how we can eat rabbit!
| Do you miss your home?
Asian cuisine is delicious yes. But there are days when your belly asks you for a hamburger, a pasta dish, a pizza! And of course ... there are thousands of options:
- In HCMC we have had enough of delicious kebab sandwiches with liters of beer (Bia Hoi). They are not exotic anymore, but they are good!
- If you want fast food the best option is the chain “Lottery”: We loved the hamburgers and the fried chicken!
- But if you miss good homemade food made with love, do not miss the restaurant of our friends Sabina and Ivan of viveoriente.com. His specialty is Spanish and Italian dishes ... better than this nothing!
Birthday Pancake in Hue
| AND MORE!!!
Do you know others typical dishes of Vietnam? Mmm, how hungry I got!
