Traditional dishes
The peculiarity of Vietnamese national cuisine, which sets it apart from other Asian cuisines, is the completely different processing of food. Whereas in neighboring countries, oil is poured generously into dishes, the Vietnamese prefer to limit fats. But there is an endless supply of spices, especially in meat dishes.
The main traditional cuisine of Vietnam is rice in its many variations. The Vietnamese use several types of rice that are put into different dishes. In some you can hardly recognize it at all, due to the variety of sauces, oils and spices. Vegetables are also valued in Vietnam. They are also eaten here a lot and cooked in absolutely incredible combinations. Meat is rarely eaten in Vietnam. It is put on the table here only on holidays. However, in restaurants you will certainly find meat dishes of Vietnam in the menu. Seafood of all kinds is abundant in Vietnamese cuisine.
Vietnamese national dishes: what a tourist should try
Rice dishes. In Vietnam you can try rice dumplings, rice flour is used to make pancakes and tortillas. The main dish is rice "com", where they put pieces of chicken or fish.
Kan Mang. Under this name on restaurant menus is a soup made from dried bamboo shoots.
Goi no shen. This salad is made with young lotus shoots and nuts.
Che ho. Pudding made with beans, although a very unconventional dish, tastes quite good.
Pho soup. This Vietnamese dish is known to all travelers. The hearty noodle-based soup with chicken pieces will satisfy your hunger perfectly.
We an. Lavash with chicken pieces or stuffed with minced chicken.
Ban Trang. This is the name in Vietnam for meat served in rice cakes and leaves.
Bo Ho Cu. Boiled beef, which in Vietnam is cooked with cinnamon and young bamboo shoots.
In terms of exotics, Vietnam has crocodile and turtle meat, snakes, cats and dogs, monkey brains, woodworms and even bats. The only question is whether you'll want to.
From sweets, Vietnamese people prefer candied fruits and candies called nhan dau. They make their own ice cream called cam and even make yogurt. They're called yaurth here.
Fe Phin coffee is a popular Vietnamese drink, served in small portions and made very strong and sweet with milk always added. Also popular in Vietnam is green tea with various additives and an unusual drink soda chan, which is prepared by adding lemon and sugar to mineral water. Vietnam has the richest palette of alcohol, represented, first of all, by various vodkas. Here they insist on herbs, flowers and snake entrails. It is a specialty to bring back vodka with a whole marinated snake.
