Must try Vietnamese food

!!FOOD ALERT - This blog post might make you hungry!!

As well as in other countries Vietnam has its own traditional food culture. Vietnamese dishes are unique and different than anywhere else. If you think that Vietnamese food is all about rice then you are wrong. Of course, rice is a huge part of Vietnamese cuisine but it is not all about rice. Let me make that clear. I have been living in Vietnam for three months now and tried so many dishes! Some of the dishes that I fell in love with, some that I will never like to eat again and I also came across food that I know I will never try because I don't think I'm able to do so without turning my stomach upside down. Before coming to Vietnam I would recommend remembering a few words that might be helpful while ordering food. Why? Because at least you will know what type of meat you are going to eat. It is not surprising for me anymore that Vietnamese people can eat everything. Once, I was told by one of the Vietnamese that they can eat everything that is moving. Well, thank God, there are no more cannibals in Vietnam. What meat do they eat? They really eat everything from rat, insects, frog, goat, beef, pork, chicken, tofu, and from this point it is just getting worse to fetal duck egg called balut, dog meat, cat meat and I'm pretty sure that this is not even the edge. I tried a lot but I will never eat dog or cat meat as well as balut. I might try frog at some point as well as a rat but I usually stick to beef (bò), pork (heo) or chicken (gá). It is also quite useful to know the differences between side dishes as rice noodles as there are two types, such as Bún that is rounded shape rice noodles (Rice vermicelli), Pho that is flat rice noodles usually used with Pho soup, noodles that are the egg noodles that we are used eating with Chinese dishes, Bánh mì that is a baguette filled with different types of filling, and Cơm that is the Vietnamese translation for rice. If you know the basics you can understand what to expect from your dish. There are also different variations of Northern and Southern Vietnam dishes so the same dish will taste differently while traveling from the North to the South. That means only one thing: you will try more delicious dishes on the way and they will never be the same!

Here is the list of the dishes you have to try while traveling to Vietnam:

Pho - Pho Bò (beef), Pho Gá (chicken)

Pho is a typical Vietnamese dish known everywhere around the world as a soup. Well, it is soup at some point. People in Vietnam usually eat this dish for breakfast. What should you expect? The broth is usually made by simmering beef bones, oxtails, flank steak, charred onion, charred ginger, and spices. The beef bones might be replaced by a chicken while making the chicken Pho soup (Pho Gá). What else is in the soup? Herbs, herbs, herbs! Vietnam is well known for using herbs with every dish and Pho is not an exception. What herbs are usually used? Green onions, white onions, Thai basil (not to be confused with sweet basil), fresh Thai chili peppers, lemon or lime wedges, bean sprouts, and cilantro (coriander leaves) or cilantro (Mexican coriander or long coriander). This dish usually goes with few limes, chili and some chili salt so put some of those amazing ingredients in. This is such a delicious meal that starts your day the right way and if you were partying the night before, put some more chilies in and it is going to work like medicine!

Bún chả

Another typical Vietnamese dish, really often eaten for breakfast. Bún chả is originally from Hanoi but was spread to the rest of Vietnam really fast. This dish comes usually on three plates and a small bowl. What is on the plates? First, you will see the rice vermicelli (rice bún noodles), you will also get one plate with grilled pork (you might be able to see your pork grilling on the grill above the fire somewhere nearby), Dipping sauce with some pickled vegetables (green papaya or carrots, onion, kohlrabi), and again, a lot of herbs, leaves, veggies (it is a mix of leaves but in Vietnam, they called them veggies). This meal usually goes with chilies and limes as well so put them into your dipping sauce for more intense flavor. How to eat this dish? Easily, dip everything into the sauce. Use rice noodles and dip them in, herbs and meat as well. This might be a little bit challenging if you use chopsticks for the first time (don't expect Vietnamese offering you fork and knife because they mostly don't even have those) but you will get used to it and we are getting to even harder by chopsticks eating dish now.

Bánh cuốn

My absolute favorite dish at the moment. While I tried so many dishes, this dish is one of my favorites. Why? It is simple but delicious at the same time! So what is it? Bánh cuốn is made from a thin sheet of steamed fermented rice batter filled with a mixture of cooked seasoned ground pork, minced wood ear mushroom, and minced shallots. Sides for this dish usually consist of chả lụa (Vietnamese pork sausage), sliced cucumber, and bean sprouts, with the dipping sauce which is a fish sauce called nước chấm - that is one version of it. The other one is made from a thin sheet of steamed fermented rice batter as well but it is not filled with anything and the meat is usually served in the dipping sauce, on the other hand, this version is topped with fried onion. Once again, it comes with herbs (leaves). Enjoy dipping the rice paper in the sauce where you should put some chilies and lime before doing that. I usually put my herbs in the sauce as well for the better taste of the sauce and the dish.

Bánh xèo - Vietnamese tacos

This Vietnamese dish is also well known and cooked in Cambodia. The name Bánh xèo can be translated as a "sizzling cake". Those Vietnamese savory pancakes or tacos (the shape is the same as tacos) are made out of rice flour, water, and turmeric powder and are stuffed with different ingredients depending on the type you choose. It could be pork or shrimp, green onions, and sprouts. You will get rice paper to wrap this cut lovely pancake with and eat it with a fish sauce. Delicious wrapped twice!

Bánh mì - more than a baguette

Bánh mì is a Vietnamese word for bread, specifically baguette that was introduced to Vietnamese during the French colonial period. Bánh mì has different variations and its name mostly changes with the filling. My favorite has been Bánh mì pa-tê so far. We have a lovely small stall near our house where we go quite often and they make the best Bánh mì pa-tê in the town. What is inside? This Bánh mì pa-tê is filled with pâté, fried egg, pork floss, carrots, and cucumbers. There is always a chili sauce and soya sauce on the table as well as limes and chilies that you should put on. Then? Just eat this heaven on the Earth! There is nothing better than eating fresh Bánh mì pa-tê after the long day of teaching kids. Is there anything else missing? Well, I might consider one Vietnamese beer but that is a different story!

I could write down more Vietnamese dishes but those are just my favorites and the must-eat dishes while you travel to Vietnam. I would also recommend trying Lẩu (hot pot), Chè (dessert), Sữa chua (dessert yogurt), and Mì Xào (fried egg noodles). What have all those dishes in common? You should eat them on the street! Street food is the way to go while traveling in Vietnam. First of all, it is less expensive and you might travel on the budget even Vietnam is not that expensive, and second of all, it is about the experience. Eating on the street in Vietnam, sitting on those small chairs for kids and enjoying the crazy busy traffic around you is just something you will never experience anywhere else. 

Go for it!