Vietnamese cuisine, gastronomy and beverages

by Vincent Esnoul

The Vietnamese cuisine is very rich and diverse with some 500 national dishes. It is also popular for being healthy, cheap, and fine at the same time. Vietnamese dishes often include a combination of rice, fish sauce, herbs, spice, fresh (and sometimes raw) vegetables and a source of protein. A traditional Vietnamese meal will include a bowl of steamed rice, and some grilled fish or stewed meat.

Many small shops dot the streets and it is possible to eat very cheaply on the sidewalk, sitting on a small stool.

• Breakfast consists of Pho (beef or chicken) or sticky rice.
• Lunch consists of 3 dishes: rice, vegetables pork or fish.
• Dinner is similar to the lunch.

All the dishes are brought at the same time on the table and are shared by everyone at the table. In the menus, there is always meat and fish, it is the principle of Yin and Yang.

Traditional Vietnamese dishes

• Phở: this traditional noodle soup is originally from the North, has rapidly spread throughout Vietnam to become a national favorite.
• Bánh xèo: a yellow and crispy with a taste of turmeric, and usually contains minced beef, seafood and soybean shoots.
• Bún chả: thought to have originated from Hanoi, the Bún chả is served with pieces of grilled pork on a bowl of rice noodle and herbs with a side dish of dipping sauce.
• Miến lươn: an eel soup with rice transparent vermicelli.
• Bún thang: rice noodle soup with small pieces of chicken, eggs and shrimps.
• Bánh mì: this is the "Vietnamese Sandwich”: a small bread is filled with grilled pork slices, Vietnamese pâté, carrots and other vegetables, and some tasteful Vietnamese coriander.
• Lẩu: this is the "Vietnamese stew" or the "Vietnamese fondue”. The broth is composed of vegetables, herbs, leaves and meat or seafood. The lẩu is a very healthy dish and very popular in Vietnam between friends and family since everyone eats from the same shared pot.
• Mì: a simple soup with yellow noodles made with wheat flour.
• Nem: another national favorite. This rolled pancake made of rice contains rice vermicelli, crab meat, pieces of pork, onion, and mushrooms.
• Bánh cuốn: the so-called "Vietnamese ravioli". It is made from steamed rice paste stuffed with minced pork and pieces of black mushroom.
• Chả cá: another specialty from the North. A fried fish fillet is served with rice noodles, aromatic herbs and roasted peanuts.

Vietnamese pastries and sweets

• Bánh chưng: the Vietnamese people traditionally only eat this salty cake during the Tết (Vietnamese New Year). This glutinous rice cake made from glutinous rice is stuffed with mung beans, pork and spices, and then wrapped in coconut or banana leaves.
• Bánh bao: another salty pastry. These ball-shaped buns are stuffed with pork or chicken meat, onions, vegetables, eggs and mushrooms.
• Bánh dẻo: these glutinous rice flour cake are filled with candied fruit, sesame seeds and fat. It is very sweet, and accompanies perfectly a cup of tea.

Desserts

It is quite rare to find sweet desserts in the restaurant menus. The Vietnamese dessert is usually composed of fresh fruits. The most common are pineapple, banana, orange and papaya. Other exotic fruits can be offered as well: mango, mangosteen, rambutan, longan, jackfruit, durian.

• Chè: a sweet dessert, made from a wide variety of ingredients: white beans, corn or even sweet potatoes. The whole is sprinkled with coconut milk.

Drinks

Tea (trà)

This is the national drink. It is often offered free in restaurants and cafes or at a ridiculously cheap price. The most common is green tea served in small porcelain cups.

Beer (bia)

Beer has become very popular and cheap in Vietnam. You can find restaurants serving bia hơi, a beer brewed locally. Saigon, Tiger, 333 (Ba-ba-ba), Larue or Bivina are most well-known brands available in Vietnam.

Coffee (cà phê)

Vietnam is the world's second largest producer of coffee after Brazil. Coffee is a widespread popular drink in Vietnam, especially the cà phê đá or cafe da, a traditional Vietnamese iced coffee. Also, a growing number of western-style restaurants, cafes and bars serve all kinds of coffees, including espresso and cappuccino.

More information about Vietnamese food (and source of the photo)
http://www.seriouseats.com/2013/01/vietnamese-dishes-foods-you-should-know-hanoi-saigon-pho-banh-mi.html

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