Vietnamese street food has long been a distinctive cultural feature, captivating visitors from all over the world with its diversity, uniqueness, and unforgettable flavors. More than just ordinary snacks, Vietnamese street food is a colorful journey of cultural exploration, where each dish contains its own stories and unique tastes. Among countless delicacies, street snacks always hold a special place in the hearts of locals and international tourists alike. Join “Discovery Around The World” to explore the top famous Vietnamese snacks that you definitely must try to fully experience the essence of Vietnamese street food.
A bustling and diverse street food corner in Vietnam
Vietnamese Street Food: A Snack Paradise for International Visitors
It’s no exaggeration to say that Vietnam is a street food paradise, where anyone can find their favorite dishes, from savory delights to refreshing sweet treats. The richness and sophistication in each Vietnamese street snack have conquered countless hearts of international visitors.
“The most interesting thing about exploring Vietnamese cuisine is that the best food is often found in small roadside eateries, where locals gather on simple plastic chairs,” shared a French tourist. “The diversity and sophistication of Vietnamese cuisine are truly amazing. Each city, even each village, has its own specialties, imbued with local flavors.”
International tourists enjoy Vietnamese street food experience
For many tourists, enjoying Vietnamese street food is not just about eating but also a way to immerse themselves in the vibrant rhythm of local life. They enjoy watching vendors skillfully prepare dishes, chatting with friendly locals, and feeling the warmth and hospitality of Vietnamese people. These authentic and close-knit experiences create the special attraction of Vietnamese street food in the eyes of international friends.
Discover Top 10 Famous Vietnamese Street Snacks
Here is a list of 10 of the most beloved Vietnamese street snacks, promising to bring you unforgettable culinary experiences:
1. Bánh Tráng Trộn (Vietnamese Rice Paper Salad): The “Queen” of Street Snacks
When it comes to the “national” street snack of Vietnamese youth, bánh tráng trộn is a must-mention. This dish is dubbed the “queen” in the snack world due to its harmonious combination of many flavors, from sour, spicy, salty, sweet to fatty and savory. Bánh tráng trộn has countless fascinating variations such as bánh tráng trộn with dried beef, butter bánh tráng, satay bánh tráng, tắc bánh tráng trộn, Long An bánh tráng trộn, bánh tráng trộn dipped in tắc salt… but no matter how it is varied, this dish still retains its unique and unmistakable flavor.
Nha Trang-style bánh tráng trộn, a vibrant mix of toppings
A standard portion of authentic bánh tráng trộn is usually made from soft and chewy sun-dried rice paper, cut into bite-sized strips. Then, the vendor skillfully mixes the rice paper with shredded green mango for a refreshing sourness, fragrant Vietnamese coriander, fatty quail eggs, flavorful dried beef, crispy fried shrimp, fragrant fried shallots, roasted peanuts, and indispensable spicy chili sauce. All these ingredients blend together to create an irresistible snack, making anyone who tries it once remember it forever.
2. Bắp Xào (Stir-Fried Corn): A “Highly Addictive” Snack for Young People
Bắp xào is a familiar street snack, loved by a large number of Vietnamese young people. This dish has a delicious, easy-to-eat, and especially “addictive” flavor. To make delicious and authentic bắp xào, people often choose glutinous corn with flexible, soft, and naturally sweet kernels. After separating the kernels, the glutinous corn is stir-fried fragrantly with butter, dried shrimp, scallions, and rich seasonings.
Creamy and fragrant salted egg yolk stir-fried corn
Today, bắp xào is also varied with many other attractive versions such as bắp xào with salted egg yolk, cheese bắp xào, dried shrimp bắp xào, spicy bắp xào… Among them, bắp xào with salted egg yolk is one of the most popular variations. The richness of salted egg yolk blends with the sweetness of corn, the aroma of butter, and the savory flavor of dried shrimp, creating a unique and unforgettable taste.
3. Cá Viên Chiên (Fried Fish Balls): A “Childhood” Snack That Never Goes Out of Style
Cá viên chiên is a “childhood” snack associated with many generations of Vietnamese students. The image of cá viên chiên carts placed in front of school gates has become a beautiful memory for many people. Traditional cá viên chiên is simply fried fish balls and beef balls, deep-fried until golden crispy and served with chili sauce.
However, over time, this dish has become much more diverse and attractive. Besides familiar fried balls such as fish balls, beef balls, shrimp balls, and siu mai balls, there are now many new and unique fried balls such as cheese sticks, German sausages, grilled hồ lô, and fermented pork roll. The dipping sauces are also more diverse, from traditional chili sauce to garlic fish sauce, tamarind sauce, Thai sauce, and cheese sauce.
4. Gỏi Cuốn (Fresh Spring Rolls): A Light and Healthy Snack
Gỏi cuốn is a light, fresh snack that is loved by many people, especially those who are health-conscious. Gỏi cuốn is not only delicious but also provides many nutrients from green vegetables and protein.
Delicious and appealing fresh spring rolls with shrimp and meat
To make delicious gỏi cuốn, people usually use thin, soft rice paper, wrapped inside with boiled shrimp, thinly sliced boiled pork belly, fresh vermicelli, lettuce, herbs, and chives. When eating, gỏi cuốn is dipped in fermented fish sauce or black bean sauce mixed with chili sauce and roasted peanuts. The sweetness of shrimp and meat, the freshness of raw vegetables, the chewiness of vermicelli, and the richness of the dipping sauce blend together to create a delicious snack that is not greasy.
5. Xoài Lắc, Cóc Lắc (Shaken Mango, Shaken Ambarella): Sour and Spicy Snacks “Storming” Social Media
Xoài lắc and cóc lắc are two sour and spicy snacks that have “stormed” social media recently. These snacks are especially loved by young people for their sour, sweet, refreshing, and rich flavors. Unripe mango and ambarella are peeled, cut into bite-sized pieces, then shaken well with shrimp salt, sugar, chili, and fish sauce.
Appealing sour and spicy shaken mango and ambarella
The sourness of mango and ambarella combined with the spicy, salty, and sweet taste of seasonings creates a snack that stimulates the taste buds, especially suitable for enjoying on hot summer days. Xoài lắc and cóc lắc are not only sold at street food stalls but also made by many people at home to enjoy.
6. Bột Chiên (Fried Flour Cake): A “Legendary” Snack of Saigon Students
Bột chiên is a “legendary” snack associated with the memories of many generations of Saigon students. This dish originated from Chinese cuisine, introduced to Vietnam and became a familiar and popular street food. Bột chiên is made from rice flour mixed with tapioca flour, steamed until cooked, cut into bite-sized squares, then deep-fried until crispy on a hot pan.
Crispy and rich fried flour cake
When eating, bột chiên is served with fried eggs, shredded papaya, and sweet and sour dipping sauce. The crispy crust of bột chiên, the soft and chewy inside, the rich fried egg, and the flavorful dipping sauce create a delicious and unforgettable snack. Bột chiên is usually sold in the late afternoon and evening, on street food streets or in night markets.
7. Bánh Mì Nướng Muối Ớt (Salt and Chili Grilled Bread): A “Unique” Combination of Bread and Street Food
Bánh mì nướng muối ớt is a “unique” Saigon street snack, loved by many people for its spicy, rich flavor and the novel combination of bread and attractive toppings. The bread is spread with a layer of fragrant pate, a little spicy satay chili sauce, then grilled over charcoal until hot and crispy.
Saigon-style salt and chili grilled bread loaded with toppings
The special feature of bánh mì nướng muối ớt is its rich toppings, including quail eggs, sausages, Vietnamese sausage, fermented pork roll, dried chicken, fried shallots, scallion oil, chili sauce, mayonnaise… All these ingredients blend together to create a snack that is both novel and filling, very suitable for enjoying in the afternoon or evening.
8. Bánh Cá Taiyaki (Taiyaki Fish Cake): A “Nostalgic” Japanese Flavor
Bánh cá Taiyaki is a traditional Japanese sweet cake, introduced to Vietnam and quickly loved by young people. The cake has a cute fish shape, baked in a special mold, crispy crust, and diverse fillings such as red bean, custard cream, chocolate, matcha, cheese…
Delicious red bean filled Taiyaki fish cake
Bánh cá Taiyaki has a mild sweetness, light richness, and fragrant aroma, very suitable for enjoying with hot tea or milk tea. This cake is usually sold in shopping centers, entertainment areas, or Japanese-style snack shops.
9. Tré Trộn (Mixed Tre): A Central Vietnamese Snack that “Conquers” Saigon Taste Buds
Tré trộn is a specialty of Central Vietnam, made from pork ears, pork belly, galangal, garlic, roasted sesame, and special spices. After preliminary processing, tre is mixed well with the ingredients, wrapped in guava leaves and banana leaves, and left to ferment naturally. Finished tre has a slightly sour, sweet, spicy, and fragrant taste, very stimulating to the taste buds.
Appealing Saigon-style mixed tre with various ingredients
Today, tré trộn has become a popular snack in many provinces and cities across the country, especially in Saigon. Saigon-style tré trộn is often varied with more ingredients such as fermented pork roll, pork skin, green mango, Vietnamese coriander, roasted peanuts, creating a rich and attractive snack.
10. Trứng Gà Nướng (Grilled Chicken Eggs): A Simple Yet “Addictive” Snack
Trứng gà nướng is a simple street snack, easy to make but with a delicious and “addictive” flavor. Chicken eggs are grilled directly over charcoal or a grill. When cooked, they have a characteristic aroma and a rich, runny yolk.
Fragrant grilled chicken eggs served with salt, pepper, and lime
Trứng gà nướng is usually served with salt, pepper, and lime or chili sauce. This snack is very suitable for enjoying on chilly days or when you want to find a quick and warm snack.
Conclusion
Vietnamese street food, especially snacks, always contains interesting and unexpected things. Each dish not only carries a unique flavor but also contains its own cultural and historical stories. Hopefully, with the top 10 famous Vietnamese snacks that Discovery Around The World has just introduced, you will have more interesting suggestions for your journey to explore Vietnamese cuisine. How many of these dishes have you tried? Share your experiences with Discovery Around The World!