VIetnam Street Food - A quick guide to options and pricing
Vietnamese street food is a must-try for any visitor to Vietnam, or anyone who loves delicious and authentic Asian cuisine. With its fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and affordable prices, it’s no wonder that Vietnamese street food is so popular.
In this blog post, we’ll introduce you to some of the most popular Vietnamese street foods, and give you tips on where to find the best places to try them. We’ll also cover some of the basic Vietnamese street food etiquette, so you can enjoy your meal like a local. Whether you’re a seasoned foodie or just starting to explore Vietnamese cuisine, we hope you’ll enjoy this guide to Vietnamese street food. We’ll also mention the price so you won’t break the bank, but don’t worry. They’re pretty cheap anyway, most of them are under $2 USD. And by the way, if you want to try every single one of them, you can start with Saigon, which has a vibrant street food scene.
Here are some of the most popular Vietnamese street foods:
Table of Contents
1. Bahn Mi ($1 USD or under)
Bánh mì is a delicious and versatile sandwich that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a great way to experience the flavors of Vietnam, and it is also a very affordable meal option.
Bánh mì is a Vietnamese sandwich made with a baguette, pate, pickled vegetables, and meat or tofu. It is a popular street food in Vietnam and is also enjoyed by people all over the world.
The baguette used in bánh mì is typically lighter and airier than a French baguette, and it also slightly shorter and wider. The baguette is sliced lengthwise and filled with a variety of ingredients, including: pate, meat, tofu, herbs, condiments, and vegetables.
2. Banh Trang Cuon: The Three-Foot Vietnamese Spring Roll (Price: $1.58)
Next on our list is a record-breaking Vietnamese street food invention, Banh Trang Cuon. It’s a three-foot-long roll made by wrapping rice paper around a variety of delicious ingredients. This innovative dish highlights the resourcefulness of Vietnamese cuisine.
3. Traffic-Side Snack: Steamed Sticky Rice in Bamboo Tubes (Price: $0.43)
In the midst of Saigon’s chaotic traffic, you can discover a street vendor serving Steamed Sticky Rice in bamboo tubes. This energy-boosting snack is a testament to Vietnamese ingenuity and is available on the go.
4. Vietnamese Crab Soup with "Fairy Hair" (Price: $2.13)
Photo courtesy of spoonfulofyum.com
Delve into the world of Vietnamese comfort food with a bowl of crab soup featuring an intriguing ingredient known locally as “fairy hair.” This dish showcases Vietnamese culinary creativity and is adored nationwide.
5. Curry Odyssey: Mekong-Inspired Vietnamese Curry (Price: Varies)
Comparing Vietnamese curry to its Indian counterpart, we explore this rich and flavorful dish made with unlaid chicken eggs, blood cake, and a range of aromatic spices. It’s a hearty and satisfying meal that offers a unique twist on curry.
6. Salad" Loaded with Proteins (Price: $2.18)
Check out a unique “salad” that challenges traditional notions of what a salad should be. Loaded with proteins, including fermented pork and pig skin, this dish is a flavor-packed experience.
7. Fertilized Duck Egg Adventure (Price: $0.73)
Our culinary adventure takes a bold turn with fertilized duck eggs. These eggs contain partially developed embryos suspended in the yolk. Fried to perfection, they offer a unique and adventurous taste. They are not for everyone
8. Personal Pot Hot Pot (Price: $1.66)
Experience a twist on the classic hot pot with the “personal pot hot pot.” This individual serving allows you to savor delicious flavors while maintaining social distance, a clever adaptation during the pandemic.
