You’ve probably heard of Vietnam cuisine through names like Pho or banh mi, but you likely are unaware of much about this country’s renowned culinary. Some Vietnamese foods are even ranked among the world’s must-try cuisines. Accordingly, where does the charm of Vietnamese cuisine come from? Let’s dive in details with the article below.
Vietnam Food Culture: Family meal
In traditional Asian culture, home meals are a beauty that has been preserved for many generations. These meals help family members have more time to be closer after a tiring day of school and work. Vietnamese cuisine is no exception; it is always present on family dining tables filled with foods of diverse flavors and colors. When tourists have the opportunity to visit this country, you can try to experience an everyday family meal better to understand the lives of local people through traditional dishes. In addition to the indispensable ingredient in every meal, which is white rice, the Vietnamese family meals will often come with different dishes that change daily, including stir-fried dishes, braised/salty dishes and soups (depending on the needs of each family). Besides, a seasoning or dipping sauce that is familiar to Vietnamese people is fish sauce (nuoc mam). Vietnamese often have a small bowl of fish sauce to dip the dish in to enhance the rich flavor. Nuoc mam is also used to flavor many Vietnamese dishes.
The unique feature of Vietnam cuisine is the use of chopsticks in their meals. This culture is found in many Asian countries, such as Japan, Korea, and China, representing a distinct lifestyle and eating style. Using chopsticks during meals skillfully and without making much noise also demonstrates the careful education in that family. Tourists should experience Vietnam cuisine with chopsticks to fully enjoy the food like a true local!
The attachment of rice and fish sauce in Vietnamese cuisine
As mentioned above, fish sauce is a traditional spice that always appears in Vietnamese recipes. This is the main ingredient to add to dipping sauces that you often see in many dishes such as bun cha, banh xeo, spring rolls, etc.
In addition, an indispensable ingredient in every meal is white rice. In Vietnam cuisine, especially family meals, Vietnamese people always eat rice with side dishes. Visitors can even find rice in desserts.
Vietnam is also the second largest country in the world in rice export, you will always see scenes of rice fields along the provinces and cities in this country. Because since ancient times, this has been the main food of people in Vietnam. The types of food made from rice in Vietnam cuisine are also extremely diverse such as pho, traditional cakes, and bun that you should try.
Harmonious flavor, good for health
From simple to elaborate dishes, Vietnamese people have a harmonious combination of five flavors: sour, spicy, salty, sweet, and bitter. That’s why foreign tourists are often surprised and impressed by the way Vietnamese people prepare and marinate spices. Vietnam cuisine is created from the philosophy of yin and yang, similar to Asian countries. Cool dishes such as duck and snails will often combine hot spices such as coriander, ginger, lemongrass, chili, etc. This is a particularly outstanding thing that can only be found in Vietnam.
With diverse ingredients, mainly from vegetables, tubers, seafood, fish, meat,… Vietnamese people always have various ways to combine to make extremely appealing dishes. Furthermore, Vietnam cuisine worldwide is considered low in fat and good for health. Unlike many Western countries that use many ingredients from meat or oil like China, Vietnamese dishes prioritize foods that limit fat, combining many alternative ingredients to balance nutrients.
As society became more and more civilized and modern, and cuisine developed to new heights, Vietnamese people also made changes in their thinking. To have a fulfilling, happy, and healthy life, food must not only be delicious but also nutritious.
Diversity in Vietnam cuisine
As soon as you intend to come to Vietnam to explore the culture and cuisine, you must carefully consider to save your stomach for many of those dishes! Vietnamese cuisine not only contains many diverse ingredients and flavors, but each region will also have its own unique characteristics and dishes. With 63 provinces and 54 different ethnic groups, each dish’s preparation and flavor will be different. It’s funny for domestic culinary experts to say that we are not afraid of lacking dishes when inviting international diners to Vietnam. Because what we are always proud of is the diversity of flavors in Vietnam cuisine that will impress abroad friends.
Vietnam Food Culture: Street food
Street food is a typical feature when tourists remember Vietnamese cuisine. No need to go to lavish, expensive restaurants, you can absolutely enjoy dishes with explosive flavors right at the roadside stalls. The simplicity of daily lifestyle is also shown in the way people here eat. If you come across a street food stall surrounded by many locals, it’s definitely a place to try!
Normally, Vietnamese will visit popular local restaurants as long as they sell good food. Many suggested street foods include banh mi, vermicelli, pho, banh trang, banh xeo. Rest assured because you will always encounter many eateries on the streets of Vietnam.
For Asian countries, street food is considered a symbol of a unique cuisine, and Vietnam is no exception. There are dishes that have contributed greatly to the tourism industry and created recognition for foreigners when mentioning that country. For example, in Vietnam, pho and banh mi are included in the Oxford English dictionary.
Some Vietnamese street dishes are presented in the traditional way, often using dong leaves and banana leaves to create excitement for diners. Small plastic chairs are also an iconic image in Vietnamese cuisine
Final Words
After visiting some of the highlights of Vietnam cuisine, you will surely understand more about the uniqueness of the multi-region’s diverse lifestyles and cultures. Hope you will have a day to visit this beautiful country with its irresistible delicious dishes! Contact us to take trips to Vietnam and discover traditional local cuisine if you are coming here for the first time.