Vietnam food culture (Updated 2023) : Interesting facts and insight tips

Vietnamese cuisine is well-known worldwide, and there are a lot of rice dishes, from pho (rice noodle soup) to Bun. Vietnam food culture is interesting to learn about

In this article, we will show you an in-depth about Vietnam’s food culture, from its diversity to street food. On the other hand, you can learn a few simple Vietnamese words to use

Table of Contents

Steamed rice – A popular Vietnam food culture of an agriculture country

Steamed Rice is used for worshipping in a lot of Vietnamese pagodas and temples. People said that it originates from the Mother Goddess Worshipping, the most long–standing belief in Vietnam. Rice is really important to Vietnam.

The very first written characters constituting the word “Happiness” in ancient Vietnamese is the image of many rice plants and a square symbolizing a paddy field. Rice means a lot to Vietnamese; it shows happiness. When talking of Vietnam food culture, we can’t mention it.

Snacks and lots of dishes in Vietnam is made from such as rice noodle soup (Pho), steamed rice roll with mince pork and black fungus (Banh Cuon), well-known square sticky rice cake (Banh Trung)

Vietnamese has developed many new farming methods and genres to make good productivity. Vietnam is known as the second biggest rice exporter country in the world, with over eleven million tons per year.

A bowl of fish sauce or dipping sauce is quite common in a rice meal

A bowl of fish sauce is a must in every meal of a Vietnamese family. All family members dip boiled vegetables in one bowl of fish sauce and put in the tray’s heart. Without a doubt, fish sauce is an important thing in Vietnam’s food culture.

Vietnamese eats lots of fresh herbs, vegetables and freshwater food living on the rice field, river, and canal, such as fish, shrimp, and crab. We eat a lot of boiled and steamed dishes, so a bowl of fish sauce for dipping is a must. There are numerous sauces, different from region to region, but fish sauce is unique to Vietnam’s food culture.

Vietnam is a country of snack paradise.

Vietnamese eat snacks in their free time with various types of boiled cassava, corn, peanuts, sweet potato etc… You may try them at home or at hawker food stalls on the sidewalk.

There is plenty of weird things if you dare to taste them. For example, balut, boiled snail, and Vietnamese raw blood pudding await.

Eating snacks in Hanoi Vietnam

Hanoi street food culture without having a snack. Pork skewer, hot dog, dried beef salad (Nom Bo Kho), Vietnames donut (Banh Ran), steamed bun with pork (Banh Bao)

Culture of having meal in Vietnam

There are four main dishes in a common meal: vegetables, soup (a broth from boiled vegetables or with vegetables), steamed rice, and meat or fish. We serve all dishes simultaneously, which is different from Western culture by serving one by one dish. Vietnamese also use chopsticks for meals and even learn how to pick the food by dropping it. The chopsticks are always in pairs, representing a couple; without one, we can’t use them.

There are three or four generations living in the family. No matter how many dishes they are, cozy atmosphere of family members sharing life stories.

Diversity of Vietnam food culture by regions

There are differences in terms of food culture from region to region. Hanoi is well-known for its authentic food, Hue is famous for its spicy foods and Ho Chi Minh city is an ideal place for inclusive dining.

Some local dishes that you should try Banh Mi (Vietnamese bread), Pho soup, Cha Ca (Grilled fish with turmeric and dill), Xoi Xeo, Chao Xuon ( pork rip congree), Bun Cha (Grilled pork with rice noodles and fresh green) , Bun Bo Nam Bo (Southern Style Bun Bo), Nem Ran (Deep fried egg roll)

There’s lots of restaurants serving cuisines all over the world in tourist spots. You might find eating places everywhere because we love to eat.

Vietnam street food culture

Street food tours – All in one – Best choice to taste street food

Joining a street food tour in Hanoi is a great choice for those who want to enjoy a walking tour around Hanoi’s Old Quarter and the best street foods in hidden local restaurants, cafes, and street-side food stalls. There is also a food tour by motorbike which takes you to hidden alleyways and explore the city at night with splendid beauty

In my opinion, it is okay to eat street food. I have been guiding tons of guests for street food tours but there is no problem.

There is a fun thing that you are going to seat in a little chair like a kinder garden’s kid. This way helps save the space to accommodate the guests at the same time.