Vietnamese street food is a vibrant and flavorful world where simple, familiar dishes offer unforgettable experiences. More than just delicious food, it’s a unique cultural aspect that reflects the life and people of Vietnam. Here’s a list of 15 famous Vietnamese street foods that you definitely must try when visiting this beautiful country.
1. Balut (Fertilized Duck Egg)
Balut is a popular Vietnamese street food, especially enjoyed in the evening. You can easily find vendors selling it on almost every street corner. Balut can be prepared in various ways: simply boiled, stir-fried with tamarind sauce, grilled with salt and chili, or braised with gourd. For the best experience, savor it with Vietnamese coriander (rau răm), shredded ginger, and a dipping sauce of salt, pepper, lime, and chili.
- Price: 8,000 – 15,000 VND per egg.
2. Banh Trang Tron (Mixed Rice Paper Salad)
Banh trang tron is a “national” snack favored by Vietnamese youth. The combination of shredded rice paper, dried shrimp, dried beef, mango, Vietnamese coriander, quail eggs, peanuts, fried shallots, and a special sauce creates an explosion of flavors that everyone who tries it praises.
- Price: 10,000 – 20,000 VND per serving.
A delicious and appealing Banh Trang Tron with rich ingredients, a must-try snack for Vietnamese youth
3. Che (Sweet Dessert Soup)
Che is a traditional Vietnamese dessert soup, popular on streets everywhere. Vietnamese Che is incredibly diverse with many varieties such as green bean sweet soup, sweet glutinous rice balls, lotus seed sweet soup, Che Ba Ba, and more. For just 10,000 – 20,000 VND, you can enjoy a delightful and refreshing taste on hot summer days.
- Price: 10,000 – 20,000 VND per serving.
4. Banh Xeo (Crispy Pancake)
Banh Xeo in Southern Vietnam is famous for its large size, thin crispy crust, and filling of pork, shrimp, bean sprouts, coconut shoots, stir-fried bamboo shoots, and mung beans. Served with sweet and sour fish sauce and fresh raw vegetables, it’s a distinctive dish. In Central Vietnam, Banh Xeo has a thicker crust, cooked in smaller pans with a filling of pork, shrimp, fresh squid, and bean sprouts.
- Price: 5,000 – 20,000 VND per pancake.
Crispy and savory Banh Xeo filled with shrimp and pork, served with fresh vegetables and flavorful dipping sauce
5. Banh Beo (Steamed Rice Cakes)
Banh Beo is a common breakfast dish, indispensable in Vietnamese cuisine. Southern-style Banh Beo is often arranged on a plate with spring rolls, Vietnamese sausage, shredded pork skin, mung beans, bean sprouts, peanuts, raw vegetables, and then drizzled with garlic chili fish sauce. Central-style Banh Beo is steamed in small bowls, served with a special shrimp and meat sauce.
- Price: 4,000 – 7,000 VND per bowl.
Central Vietnamese Banh Beo in small bowls with crispy fried shrimp, rich fish sauce, a specialty of many provinces
6. Goi Cuon (Fresh Spring Rolls)
Goi Cuon is a light, fresh, and uniquely flavorful dish. Fresh herbs, vermicelli noodles, pork, shrimp, and more are rolled in thin rice paper, served with various dipping sauces, creating a rich and delicious taste.
- Price: 8,000 – 15,000 VND per roll.
Refreshing and nutritious Goi Cuon with fresh shrimp and pork, crunchy raw vegetables, dipped in sweet hoisin sauce or fermented fish sauce
7. Bot Chien (Fried Rice Flour Cakes)
Bot Chien carries a strong Chinese culinary influence, introduced to Vietnam early on. Steamed rice flour cakes are cut into small squares, then pan-fried until crispy with eggs and scallion oil. Served with shredded green papaya and a spicy chili soy sauce, it’s incredibly appealing.
- Price: 15,000 – 20,000 VND per serving.
8. Bo Bia (Vietnamese Fresh Spring Roll – savory and sweet versions)
Bo Bia comes in two types: savory and sweet. Sweet Bo Bia in Northern Vietnam consists of thin rice paper, shredded coconut, roasted sesame seeds, crispy malt candy, and condensed milk rolled together. Savory Bo Bia in Southern Vietnam includes Chinese sausage, fried egg, dried shrimp, jicama, lettuce, herbs, carrots, and more, rolled in rice paper and dipped in chili-plum sauce and peanuts.
- Price: 4,000 – 7,000 VND per roll (savory Bo Bia).
Sweet Bo Bia fragrant and appealing with shredded coconut, crispy malt candy, a favorite snack for many people
9. Sup Cua (Crab Soup)
Sup Cua is not only delicious but also nutritious, especially loved by children. Crab soup is made from crab meat, chicken eggs, quail eggs, carrots, mushrooms, shredded chicken, and more. Besides traditional crab soup, there are also variations like bird’s nest crab soup, century egg crab soup, and pork brain crab soup.
- Price: 10,000 – 20,000 VND per serving.
Smooth and flavorful Sup Cua with fresh sweet crab meat, fragrant shiitake mushrooms, a nutritious dish for all ages
10. Hu Tieu Go (Mobile Noodle Soup Cart)
Hu Tieu Go is a popular dish in Southern Vietnam. A full bowl of Hu Tieu includes soft rice noodles, pork, bean sprouts, served with pepper, fish sauce, chili, and raw vegetables. This affordable dish is often served on sidewalks from mobile carts.
- Price: 15,000 – 20,000 VND per bowl.
11. Banh Trang Nuong (Grilled Rice Paper)
Banh Trang Nuong is a delicious and unique snack. Thin rice paper is grilled over charcoal, brushed with egg, and topped with scallions, fresh corn, minced meat, sausage, and more. After grilling, vendors drizzle chili sauce and butter sauce, then cut it into bite-sized pieces.
- Price: 10,000 – 20,000 VND per piece.
Crispy and hot Banh Trang Nuong with fatty quail eggs, diverse toppings, a familiar street food for young people
12. Bap Xao (Stir-fried Corn)
Bap Xao is a simple and easy-to-make street food. Corn kernels are stir-fried with butter, scallions, dried shrimp, and seasonings. This dish is creamy, savory, and very tasty, often sold near schools and playgrounds.
13. Pha Lau (Offal Stew)
Pha Lau is a familiar snack in Southern Vietnam, especially for students. Pha Lau is made from pork or beef offal, stewed in coconut water and special spices. This dish is often served with bread or instant noodles. The broth is rich and fragrant, and the chewy offal creates an irresistible flavor.
14. Nem Nuong (Grilled Fermented Pork Sausage)
Nem Nuong is a famous specialty of Nha Trang, but you can easily find this dish in many other provinces. Nem is made from ground pork, marinated with spices, and grilled over charcoal. Nem Nuong is usually served with crispy fried rice paper, raw vegetables, and a sweet and sour dipping sauce.
15. Oc (Snails and Shellfish)
Oc dishes are always a top choice for young people when gathering with friends. There are many types of snails and shellfish, prepared into countless appealing dishes such as snails stir-fried with tamarind, coconut snails stir-fried with coconut milk, grilled snails with scallion oil, steamed clams with lemongrass, and more. Each Oc dish has its own unique flavor, but they all share the common traits of being delicious, rich in flavor, and very addictive.
Vietnamese street foods are not only delicious but also very affordable. You can find them on almost every street. For just 10,000 – 20,000 VND, you can enjoy these incredibly appealing and flavorful dishes. Try them and experience the culinary culture of Vietnam right away!