Our fried spring rolls are typically served with just ketchup or vinegar so I often find them to be one-note and unctuous. We’re presently living in the Philippines so I’m used to eating deep-fried spring rolls similar to nem cua be. I noticed this Yin and Yang in Vietnamese food when we ate deep-fried dishes like nem cua be and banh goi in Hanoi. Vietnamese food is considered one of the healthiest cuisines in the world and this is due in part to a balance of nutrients like carbohydrates, fat, protein, minerals, and water. In presentation, cooks aim to have the colors green, red, yellow, white, and black in their food. In spices used for example, a balance is sought between sour, bitter, sweet, spicy, and salty. Traditional Vietnamese cuisine aims to strike a balance in different aspects of its food like taste, nutrients, and presentation, and it does so by paying attention to five elements per aspect. Balance is important in all types of cuisine but it seems to be of particular importance in Vietnamese cuisine. If I were to use one word to describe traditional Vietnamese food, it would be “balance”. This Vietnamese food guide advises you on what dishes to eat, but if you’re looking for the best Vietnamese restaurants and street food stalls in key cities throughout Vietnam, then be sure to check out our Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Hue, and Hoi An food guides as well. In trying these dishes, I hope you fall in love with traditional Vietnamese food as much as we have. It lists 45 of the tastiest Vietnamese dishes you can have throughout the country. If you’re wondering what to eat in Vietnam, then this Vietnamese food guide will be very useful to you. I ate my way through Sapa, Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, Saigon, and the Mekong Delta with the goal of writing a traditional Vietnamese food guide that showcased the best and most interesting dishes Vietnam had to offer. My most recent visit to Vietnam was a month-long stay in which I explored the country’s diverse cuisine from north to south. We’ve been to Vietnam several times now and Vietnamese cuisine always leaves us wanting for more. For us, Vietnam is one of the world’s best countries for food.

Cach pha nuoc mam bun cha ha noi