Vietnam’s Growing Foodie Scene

Vietnamese cuisine is light, fresh, colorful and a growing competitor on the Asian foodie scene. Typical Vietnamese cuisine will be affordable for American tourists, some dishes equaling just a few dollars a bowl.

Food and nourishment areprevalent in Vietnamese culture with well-stocked food markets, street vendors and endless soup and noodle options. Locals can be seen dining and snacking all hours of the day.

Typical Vietnamese restaurants deliver each meal as it is prepared, not all at once as is custom in the United States.

Must-visit restaurant Hương Liên in Hanoi recently made headlines thanks to a visit by President Obama and Chef Anthony Bourdain for bún chả. The grilled pork and rice noodle dish is served with dipping sauce and is a staple in Hanoi cuisine.

Fish sauce is a popular ingredient in most Vietnamese dishes, as well as spring rolls, broth, curry and a variety of dipping sauces for added flavor.

Banh xeo is a crispy crepe dish with pork and a solid choice while dining in Vietnam. Cao laud, a pork-noodle dish from Hoi An, is a popular variation of many noodle dishes in the country, but is only authentic when made from the water drawn from the local Ba Le well.

Tourist should keep an eye out for pho, which is sure to please in any variation. This dish is one of the most popular and well known in Vietnam with growing popularity worldwide. The rice noodle dish offers endless options from broth, noodle, vegetables and meat ingredients.