5 Cities for Foodie in Vietnam

Talking about Vietnamese food may not a new topic as it has been well-known around the world. You’ll never go hungry while wandering in Vietnam. So, which part of Vietnam has the most delicious cuisine? This question must be really difficult to answer for any traveler to Vietnam because each region has its own specialties and variations. Hungry visitors to Vietnam will soon discover how much the food varies as they travel across the country. Due to a wide selection of Vietnamese food, your taste buds will always be in for a surprise. If you have not yet tried Vietnamese dishes, and you are still hesitant, here is my pick for places in Vietnam that have the best cuisine.

1. Hanoi

Tourists eat out late at night in Hanoi

Hanoi has plenty of sights to appeal to visitors – Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One-Pillar Pagoda, Hoan Kiem Lake, and the Old Quarter with its bustling streets. If you really want to understand the Hanoian people and their culture, you’ll need to delve deep into its street food. Walking is always my favorite way to explore new places, and food-based adventures really elevate the entire experience.

Hanoi’s food scene can be overwhelming with its mix of smells and tastes. And it is definitely well worth exploring. Just to name a few, here are some of the must-try dishes: Pho Noodles, Pho Cuon, Xoi (sticky rice with toppings), Bun Rieu, Banh Mi sandwich, Caphe Trung (Egg Coffee), and last but not least, Bun Cha – it's what Obama ate during his night out with Bourdain.

Enjoy learning to make traditional Vietnamese dishes? Opt for a cooking class, come home with secret recipes and you'll surprise your friends and family back in your hometown.

Check here for Top 9 tasty street foods in Hanoi

2. Sapa

Along the streets in town, you’ll see numerous street-side stalls selling skewers

Every visitor to Sapa is enchanted by its cool climate, outstanding mountainous scenery, and culinary paradise with unique local dishes of the northwestern region. If you want to have both meals and sightseeing, there are several restaurants with good views and food. It would be a pity if you miss the fascinating foods in Sapa such as "Cap Nach" Pork, Salmon Hot Pot, Thang Co Soup, Khang Gai Dried Meat...

Out at night, you’ll find plenty of stalls that offer a plethora of grilled skewers. This can be regarded as the most famous delicacy of Sapa. There is a countless number of dishes that you could not have enough “room” in your stomach to try all. The cold, humid, and foggy weather will make eating in Sapa an enjoyable moment. So, if you have the chance, just take a stroll along the main street and stop at one stall that catches your eyes (and nose).

Read more: Top 5 Best Street Foods In Sapa

3. Hue

Bun Bo Hue – an iconic dish of Hue cuisine

Everywhere in Vietnam, you’ll be told that Hue is the best place for a delicious meal. A distinctive feature of Hue dishes is the relatively small serving size with a refined presentation, a vestige of the royal cuisine. Absolutely on your must-eat list, there is Bun Bo Hue (Hue-style Beef Vermicelli), Com Hen (Baby Clam Rice), Bun Thit Nuong (Vermicelli with Grilled Pork), Nem Lui (Lemongrass Skewers), and various kinds of ‘banh’ (cake) and ‘che’ (sweet soup). Eating these dishes is best done at a leisurely pace - ambling around the town to find the perfect hideaway.

You may also like Best Local Food in Hue - Hue Cuisine

4. Hoi An

Trying local street food is a must-do activity in Hoi An

Hoi An’s attractiveness lies not only in its lovely locals but also in its vast cuisine. Believe it or not, a specially important reason to visit Hoi An is for its food. The town is small but the cuisine culture is so rich and diverse, with dishes that are so cheap but extremely delicious.

Sampling the local cuisine in Hoi An was something that I enjoyed the most. Referring to Hoian, it’s a big mistake to forget its iconic dishes: Cao Lau Noodles, My Quang (Quang-style Noodles), Com Ga (Hoian Chicken Rice), Banh Mi (Basically, ‘Banh Mi’ is delicious, but ‘Banh Mi Hoian’ is incredibly delicious and can-not-skip), Banh Bao Banh Vac (White Rose Dumplings), Banh Beo (steamed rice pancake), etc.

5. Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)

Saigon is known around the world for its amazing street-food

No matter where you stay in Saigon, you are never far from good food! This is the place where there is always something to eat, with discoveries to be made every day. Cuisine from all over the world can be found in this city. Walk around and you’ll find food stalls or mobile food carts lining the streets, selling everything from crispy pancakes to fresh-pressed cane juice to grilled seafood. With a glut of tasty dishes to sample, it’s hard to decide what to choose for a shortlist of the must-try food in Hochiminh City.

Not mention about the international dishes, for the dishes suggested here, really, you can find them all over the place and if you see a sign for one of the dishes, stop at the stall, order it, and try it out: Pho (remember, the taste of pho in the south is totally different from the taste of the north), Banh Trang Tron (Rice Paper Salad), Banh Mi (Yeah, 'banh mi' again, but banh mi of each region is different but all are yummy. So try them all as there are a countless variation of 'banh mi' sandwich waiting for you to discover!), Com Tam (Broken Rice), Bun Bo Nam Bo (Southern-style beef vermicelli), Banh Xeo. Hu Tiu Nam Vang, Oc (Snails)…

Vietnam is among the greatest food destinations in the world, a journey through Vietnamese food and culture - if you have never been to Vietnam before, this idea might excite you. Vietnamese cuisine is so ubiquitous, so varied, and so delicious. At the same time, Vietnam has one of the healthiest foods in Asia, if not the world. Eat your way through Vietnam, sure, you will be a big fan of Vietnamese food!

Xuyen

(Images source: Internet)