Vietnamese food is famous for its fresh herbs, light broths, and bold balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors. The cuisine spans hearty noodle soups like phở, sandwiches like bánh mì, fresh and fried spring rolls, rice dishes, and rich coffee. Here are 20 must-try Vietnamese dishes and where to find them.
Vietnamese food at a glance
- Flavor profile: Fresh, herbaceous, and balanced — sweet, sour, salty, spicy, umami
- Staples: Rice, rice noodles, fish sauce, fresh herbs, and vegetables
- Regions: Northern (subtle, balanced), Central (spicy, bold), Southern (sweeter, herb-heavy)
- Best known for: Phở, bánh mì, spring rolls, and Vietnamese iced coffee
- Often: Naturally gluten-free and full of vegetables
Vietnamese cuisine is one of the world’s freshest and most balanced — built on rice, herbs, and fish sauce, and shaped by Chinese and French influences over centuries. Whether you’re new to it or looking to go beyond phở, this guide covers the essential dishes, grouped by type, with links to deeper guides for each.
Vietnamese Noodle Soups
1. Phở
Vietnam’s most famous dish: a fragrant, slow-simmered broth with flat rice noodles, herbs, and thinly sliced beef or chicken. Light yet deeply savory, it’s eaten any time of day. Read the full pho guide →
2. Bún bò Huế
A bold, spicy beef noodle soup from the city of Huế, built on lemongrass and chili with round noodles. Richer and hotter than phở, it’s a favorite for spice lovers. More on bún bò Huế →
3. Hủ tiếu
A southern noodle soup with a clear, sweet pork-and-seafood broth, often served “dry” with the broth on the side. It reflects Chinese and Cambodian influence in southern Vietnam. What is hủ tiếu? →
4. Mì Quảng
A specialty of Đà Nẵng and Quảng Nam: turmeric-tinted noodles with just a little intense broth, topped with pork, shrimp, peanuts, herbs, and a crispy rice cracker. What is mì Quảng? →
5. Cao lầu
A Hội An icon: thick, chewy noodles with char siu-style pork, fresh greens, and crunchy croutons — traditionally made with local well water. What is cao lầu? →
Rice & Vermicelli Bowls
6. Cơm tấm
“Broken rice” topped with a grilled pork chop (sườn), a fried egg, pickled vegetables, and nước chấm. A beloved Saigon comfort meal. What is cơm tấm? →
7. Bún chả
A Hanoi classic: grilled pork patties and belly served in a warm, sweet-savory dipping broth, with a side of vermicelli and a basket of herbs. More on bún dishes →
8. Bún thịt nướng
A cool vermicelli bowl topped with smoky grilled pork, fresh herbs, pickled vegetables, peanuts, and nước chấm poured over the top. More on bún bowls →
9. Bánh mì
The Vietnamese sandwich: a crisp, airy baguette filled with pâté, savory meats, pickled daikon and carrot, cucumber, cilantro, and chili — sweet, sour, savory, and spicy at once. Read the full banh mi guide →
Rolls, Pancakes & Small Plates
10. Gỏi cuốn (fresh spring rolls)
Translucent rice-paper rolls filled with shrimp, pork, vermicelli, and herbs, served cold with a creamy peanut sauce. Light and refreshing. Fresh vs fried spring rolls →
11. Chả giò (fried spring rolls)
Crispy, golden rolls with a savory pork-and-vegetable filling, dipped in tangy nước chấm. Often labeled “Vietnamese egg rolls” in the US. More on Vietnamese spring rolls →
12. Bánh xèo
A sizzling, turmeric-yellow rice-flour crepe stuffed with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts, torn into lettuce with herbs and dipped in nước chấm. What is bánh xèo? →
13. Bánh cuốn
Delicate steamed rice sheets rolled around minced pork and wood-ear mushroom, topped with fried shallots and served with nước chấm. A popular breakfast.
14. Bánh khọt
Bite-sized, crispy savory pancakes topped with shrimp, eaten wrapped in greens with dipping sauce — like a smaller, crunchier cousin of bánh xèo.
15. Gỏi đu đủ
A tangy green papaya salad with herbs, peanuts, chili, and often dried beef or shrimp — crunchy, bright, and refreshing.
Hearty Classics
16. Bò kho
A fragrant Vietnamese beef stew simmered with lemongrass, star anise, and carrots, eaten with a crusty baguette or noodles. Comfort food at its best.
17. Chả cá
A Hanoi specialty of turmeric-marinated fish pan-fried tableside with mountains of dill and scallion, served over vermicelli with peanuts and herbs.
Drinks & Desserts
18. Cà phê sữa đá
Strong, dark-roast Vietnamese coffee dripped over sweetened condensed milk and poured over ice — bold, sweet, and smooth. Read the Vietnamese coffee guide →
19. Chè
A whole family of sweet Vietnamese desserts — soups and puddings made with beans, jellies, fruit, and coconut milk, served warm or over ice.
20. Bánh flan
Vietnam’s take on crème caramel: a silky French-influenced custard with a caramel top, sometimes served with a drizzle of strong coffee.
Find Vietnamese food near you 🍜
Explore authentic Vietnamese restaurants across all 50 US states — or browse Vietnamese restaurant brands and chains.
Find Vietnamese Food Near Me →How to explore Vietnamese cuisine
New to Vietnamese food? Start with phở or bánh mì — the most beginner-friendly and widely available. From there, branch into fresh spring rolls, a vermicelli bowl, and a glass of Vietnamese iced coffee. To find a specific chain, browse our directory of Vietnamese restaurant brands, which lists locations, menus, and reviews across the country.
Frequently asked questions about Vietnamese food
What is Vietnamese food known for?
Vietnamese food is known for its freshness and balance — lots of herbs and vegetables, light broths, rice and rice noodles, fish sauce, and a harmony of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors. It’s also often naturally gluten-free.
What is the most popular Vietnamese dish?
Phở, a fragrant noodle soup, is the most famous Vietnamese dish worldwide, followed closely by bánh mì (the Vietnamese sandwich) and fresh spring rolls.
Is Vietnamese food healthy?
Vietnamese cuisine is generally considered one of the healthier Asian cuisines. It relies on fresh herbs, vegetables, lean proteins, rice, and light broths, with less oil and dairy than many Western diets.
What Vietnamese dish should I try first?
Start with phở or bánh mì — both are flavorful, widely available, and easy to love. Fresh spring rolls (gỏi cuốn) and a Vietnamese iced coffee are great next steps.
Is Vietnamese food spicy?
Most Vietnamese food is not very spicy by default — chili is usually added to taste at the table. Central Vietnamese dishes like bún bò Huế are the notable spicy exceptions.
What is a typical Vietnamese meal?
A typical home meal includes steamed rice, a protein, a vegetable dish, and a soup or broth, shared family-style. Street food and restaurant meals often center on a single bowl, like phở or a vermicelli bowl.
Go deeper with our guides to pho, banh mi, spring rolls, and Vietnamese coffee.