Thit kho (Vietnamese simmered meat) We also know that meat contains a number of important nutrients that are needed by our bodies for carrying out vital metabolic functions and provide us with energy and keep us healthy. We also know that meat contains a number of important nutrients that are needed by our bodies for carryi…

Crab soup (Canh cua) “Canh cua” is a simple, natural dish in the treasure of Vietnamese cuisine. The sweetness, the coolness along with somewhat viscosity of “ rau đay” (pot-herb) and “ mùng tơi” ( malabar nightshade) create the wonderful taste that reminisce us about the native land and childhood. To make” canh cua”, we…

Hue Sour Shrimp Sour Shrimp is one of the most sought-after specialities of the old capital of Vietnam Sour Shrimp is one of the most sought-after specialities of the old capital of Vietnam. When they first come to Hue and taste this dish, visitors from other regions must be really amazed and surprised. The right Sour Sh…

Mien Luon( eel vermicelli noodle) Another specialty visitors should try when they come to Ninh Binh is eel vermicelli noodle. Another specialty visitors should try when they come to Ninh Binh is eel vermicelli noodle. The main ingredient of this dish is eel. Selecting eels to make good dish is quite challenged and requires exper…

Pho might be the darling of Vietnamese cuisine, and perhaps, bun cha is the people’s favourite ‘underdog’, but there’s another dish which is closer to the heart of less carnivorous Hanoians. Bun dau mam tom is basically chunks of tofu served in a hot soup on a bed of rice noodles with a dollop of shrimp paste. It’s an extremely popu…

Vietnam's buzzing southern capital offers a taste of the spice of life. Favourite flavours Vietnamese cuisine is regional, so while you're in Ho Chi Minh City, be sure to try local southern specialties. Many dishes use similar ingredients but add different flavours. For instance, delicious banh xeo, or pancakes, come stuffed…

Booming Saigon, a city on the move, lays claim to a specialty that Vietnamese-American writer Monique Truong, author of "The Book of Salt" and the coming "Bitter in the Mouth," calls "the ultimate on-the-go fare": the extravagantly stuffed banh mi sandwich. The most popular form is banh mi thit ("t…

True to the name, the cake is thin and round, a dough of powdered rice and manioc (cassava), that gets its shape from the saucer it's steamed in. Vietnamese rank the cuisine of Hue, their former imperial capital, as the country's most refined. However, in this gloriously underdeveloped outpost of traditional lifestyles, trav…

The humble snail has pride of place in Vietnamese cuisine, especially in Hanoi. A kind of snail living in ponds and lakes that grows to the size of a golf ball is used to make a uniquely delicious dish called bun oc (snail noodle soup). Hanoians usually eat bun oc for breakfast or lunch, particularly in winter. When it gets cold, it…

I spent my holiday this month in my home town, Nha Trang, the charming coastal city in the central part of Vietnam that has recently played host to some beauty contests. Apart from lazing on the beach and chatting with local folks, I enjoy eating local specialties, particularly banh can, a simple, yet delicious healthy dish for brea…

The UNESCO World Heritage listed town of Hoi An is known for its centuries-old streets, lanterns, tailors, Chinese temples, beaches and the Hoai River, which snakes its way through the emerald patchwork of paddy fields before discharging itself into the ocean. But one equally important, but often overlooked cultural foundation is st…

Xoi or steamed glutinous rice is a familiar snack in Hanoi. But xoi com or steamed green sticky rice is special because it’s only available for a short time each year when autumn comes. The dish is distinguished by its unique flavor of young, green rice, lotus seeds and leaves. Those are ingredients that Mother Nature only awards to…

Hu Tieu (My Tho noodle soup) is a traditional dish, so specific to Southern Vietnam. As a Chinese long-aged dish, this food was reciped to taste My Tho delta people to become well-known nationwide. Back in the 1960s, a shop in My Tho, 70 km from Ho Chi Minh City started serving this dish. Ever since then, its reputation has grown to…

Cha ruoi is a popular meal in Hanoi when the autumn leaves turn yellow. Cha ruoi is not available all year round. Ruoi is a type of sand worm that can only be found from the end of September to the middle of October. The short season is why Hanoians regard cha ruoi as a special but expensive gift from nature. The sand worm doesn’t l…

When winter comes, people can feel the extremely cold weather and chilly wind. Huddling up in a corner of a stand, enjoying a few sips of hot tea and crunchy peanut candies is a simple pleasure of many people. Dan Phuong village to the west of Hanoi centre is the main supplier of peanut candies for Hanoi market. In addition, househo…

“Ô mai” is salted dry apricot or sugared dry apricot that is a favourite nosh for many people in Hanoi and other provinces. “Ô mai” is produced for traditional method, since chosing material, the company also send staff to gardens in Hung Yen, Hai Hung, Hoa Binh, Lai Chau in order to gather all crop of kinds of sour fresh fruit like…

Among Vietnam’s delicate specialties, "bánh cuốn” ranks top thanks to its softness, sweet fragance of cinnamon, dried onion and strong taste of minced meat and sources! Among Vietnam’s delicate specialties, "bánh cuốn” ranks top thanks to its softness, sweet fragance of cinnamon, dried onion and strong taste of minced meat…

In Hue city, the former citadel of Vietnam, it doesn't take you a lot of money to dine like a King! Hue beef noodle takes its origin from the Royal Hue City of Central Vietnam. The broth is from cooking beef bones for a long period of time as well as a variety of different spices including lemongrass. How does it taste?  Well, h…