The Secret of Vietnamese Dishes: How the Cuisine Tastes from North to South

Imagine sitting on a tiny plastic stool in Hanoi. A bowl of hot broth is steaming in front of you, and around you is the endless stream of mopeds and calls. That's exactly what Vietnam tastes like: direct, honest, lively.

Vietnamese dishes are more than just street food; they are a culinary map spanning over 1,600 kilometers, from north to south. The cuisine thrives on perfect balance: crispy meets soft, spiciness meets cool herbs, the deep saltiness of fish sauce meets fresh lime. Join us on a journey through a country that tells its history in every bowl – from colonial influences to centuries-old traditions that turn the simplest ingredients into explosions of flavour.

Our Typical Vietnamese Dishes: A Culinary Journey Through Vietnam

Phở – The Queen of Noodle Soups

Phở, the queen of Vietnamese dishes, originated in North Vietnam during the French colonial period in the early 20th century. The French introduced beef to the country. Vietnamese people simmered the discarded beef bones for hours. This is how the nutritious, aromatic broth was created, giving rise to the popular Phở Bò (Beef Phở) and the lighter Phở Gà (Chicken Phở).

Regional differences characterise Phở: In the North (Phở Bắc, Hanoi), the broth is clear, not too sweet, and the pure flavour is the focus. In Central Vietnam, the food is often more intense and spicier. In the South (Phở Nam, Saigon), the soup is sweeter and richer and is served with many fresh herbs, sprouts, and sauces. This variety is what makes Phở so special.

50 min

44.1k

Vietnamese-inspired noodle soup

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3 h

10.9k

Pho (Vietnamese beef noodle soup)

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Summer Rolls (Gỏi Cuốn) – The Cool Counterpart

The Summer Roll is the fresh, cold counterpart to the steaming Phở, ideal for Vietnam’s tropical heat. This Vietnamese dish is artfully rolled with wafer-thin rice paper and contains crisp lettuce leaves, fresh herbs (mint, coriander), rice noodles, and optionally shrimp, pork or tofu.

It represents the simple, fresh side of Vietnamese cuisine that requires no cooking. As a communal dish, Summer Rolls are often self-rolled and dipped in peanut sauce or Nước Chấm (sweet-sour-hot fish sauce dip). The filling is flexible and can be varied to taste.

30 min

vegan

85.8k

Vietnamese-inspired summer rolls

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30 min

vegan

18.9k

Rainbow summer rolls

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50 min

4.3k

Lemongrass chicken summer rolls

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As another alternative for wrapping fresh ingredients, Romana lettuce hearts are also suitable. These Vietnamese-inspired lettuce wraps combine juicy seasoned chicken caramelised in fish sauce with crisp lettuce and fresh herbs, dipped in a perfect sweet-sour-spicy Nước Chấm dip.

1 h

5.7k

Make grilled chicken lettuce wraps with Devan

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Bánh Mì – The Sandwich with a History

The Bánh Mì is a famous Vietnamese dish and a perfect example of culinary fusion. The history begins with the French colonial period, when the baguette was introduced. Originally an expensive luxury with European fillings, after the colonial era, the Vietnamese began filling it with local, cheaper ingredients.

Bánh Mì is now considered a distinctive, fresh, and versatile sandwich, representing Vietnamese cuisine. It consists of a crispy baguette with grilled meat, paté, fresh coriander, cucumber, pickled carrots and radish, often garnished with chilli. This dish can now be found everywhere in Vietnam.

25 min

31.8k

Beef banh mi with fresh cilantro

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30 min

2.9k

Grilled chicken banh mi with pickled carrots and daikon radish

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We hope we have inspired you to discover this incredibly vibrant national cuisine yourself. Maybe next in your own kitchen you'll try a fluffy Bánh Bao, a steamed yeast dough dumpling with a hearty filling; hearty Tofu Tomatoes, where tofu is braised in aromatic tomato sauce; a crispy Bánh Xèo, a crispy rice flour pancake with shrimp, pork, and sprouts; or perhaps classic Spring Rolls, which are wrapped in rice paper and crisply fried. Let the variety inspire you. Bring a piece of Vietnam home!

Which Vietnamese dishes excite you the most? Let us know in the comments!