All You Need to Know about Traditional Vietnamese Food

Vietnamese food is a Southeast Asian food experience not to be missed. It is full of fresh vegetables, fascinating textures, and a wide range of aromatic and spicy but subtle flavours. Bursting with bright beautiful colours, why wouldn't you want to try a Vietnamese cuisine that has been listed among the 10 healthiest cuisines in the world?

What Makes Vietnamese Food so Special?

The cooking in Vietnam is done with the bare minimum of oil and dairy and relies more on the light, fresh flavours of herbs and vegetables. As a result, Vietnamese cuisine is considered one of the healthiest cuisines in the world and it is rich in vitamins and minerals including vitamins C, B1, B6, B3, folate, biotin, zinc, copper, magnesium and potassium – all of which have been proven to help boost energy levels and aid the immune system.

Can Vietnamese Food be Beneficial?

Jam packed with vitamins and minerals, Vietnamese dishes may have several health benefits. With most dishes being gluten-free, the cuisine can help towards regulating blood sugars and improving digestion. Vietnamese soups and salad are packed with antioxidants in addition to vitamins E and A that slow down the ageing process. Vitamin E aids in fighting free radicals while vitamin A helps heal scars and fend off wrinkles. So, what types of ingredients and foods are used for healthy beneficial cuisine?

Vietnamese cuisine consists of meat, tofu, fish and other types of seafood, as well as plenty of vegetables and it is often stir-fried or boiled.  The 5 key ingredients of Vietnamese cooking include ginger, Vietnamese mint, coriander, and fish sauce, which helps to balance the salty element of the flavour. The most vital ingredient is chilli, however, the type of chilli used is milder and fresher compared to Vietnam's neighbouring countries. Vietnamese food uses many different types of noodles but the most common are Banh Pho, made from pure white rice flour noodles, Bún (Rice Vermicelli), which is made from rice flour, Mì, which is made from egg or wheat flour, Bánh Tằm, Miến Cellophane Noodle, and Glass Noodle. Vietnamese noodles mostly originate and are made from rice flour while some are combined with tapioca or mung bean flour.

The Most Popular Traditional Vietnamese Foods

With vibrant colours and food that has distinctive and unforgettable tastes, such as broths, soups, Savory Crepes/pancakes and main dishes, here are some of the most popular and traditional Vietnamese foods you may want to try.

Pho

This succulent Vietnamese noodle soup is cooked and marinated in chicken, beef, or even vegetarian broth. The dish is a bowl of hot rice noodle soup with the meat of your choice and garnished with parsley, onions, and green onions.

Bánh Xèo – Vietnamese Crepe

Similar to a taco, this crepe has a crispy outer layer made by pouring rice batter mixed with turmeric powder into a hot pan. The loud sizzling sound of the batter gives the dish the name “xèo”, or “sizzling” in English. It can be filled with pork belly, bean sprouts, mung beans, and shrimp.

Bánh Mì – Vietnamese Baguette

Depending on what you like, this Vietnamese baguette can have a variety of different fillings ranging from Vietnamese ham and BBQ pork, to fried eggs. In addition to vegetables, parsley, green onions, a few dashes of soy sauce, and a few slices of red pepper are added.

Whichever of these catches your fancy, you will soon discover that none of them are particularly difficult to make and once you have mastered them, you are in for a treat every time.