What I Ate in Vietnam: Best Vietnamese Food to Try (Honest Review)
Whenever I travel, I don’t usually come in with high expectations for food because high expectations almost always lead to disappointment. The only exception is coffee. As someone who takes her coffee seriously, I already knew Vietnam was going to deliver on that front. It’s kind of legendary for it.
The food, though? That one caught me off guard in the best way. I didn’t pressure myself into ticking every dish off a list. I just ate what looked good, one meal at a time. And that turned out to be the best approach.
About the Food in Vietnam
Vietnamese cuisine is one of the most balanced and flavor-forward food cultures in Southeast Asia and it’s easy to see why it’s beloved worldwide. Here’s a quick idea of what to expect before you dig in:
- Most dishes strike a balance between savory, fresh, and slightly sweet, not overwhelmingly spicy, but bold in flavor
- Fresh herbs and vegetables are a staple so, expect lots of mint, cilantro, bean sprouts, and lime on the side
- Rice and noodles are the foundation of almost every meal
- Street food culture is huge. Some of the best food in Vietnam is served on plastic stools on the sidewalk
- Meals are generally very affordable, especially at local eateries
- Food varies by region. Hanoi, Da Nang/Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City each have their own specialties
Quick Glance: Vietnamese Food Highlights
Here’s a quick look at what I actually ate in Vietnam, ranked in order of personal favorites. This list is based entirely on my own experience.
- Bun Cha – Best in Hanoi Old Quarter
- Pho – Tried chicken Pho in Hanoi and beef Pho in Sa Pa
- Cao Lau – A Hoi An specialty, found it at a local home restaurant
- Banh Xeo – Tried at Bale Well restaurant in Hoi An
- Banh Mi – Had it as a snack in Sa Pa
- Coconut Coffee – Best version found at Cafe Gieng in Hoi An
- Egg Coffee – Tried the original at Cafe Giang in Hanoi
Price range: Most dishes range from ₱50–₱200 (roughly 15,000–60,000 VND) at local eateries. Tourist-facing restaurants may charge more.
Best Food to Try in Vietnam
If you’re a first-timer wondering what to eat in Vietnam, this list is a good place to start. These are not just popular Vietnamese dishes. These are the ones I personally ate, loved (or didn’t), and would genuinely recommend based on real experience.
BUN CHA — Grilled Pork and Rice Noodles
Starting strong and for good reason. Bun Cha is a Hanoi classic made of smoky grilled pork served in a light, tangy broth alongside fresh rice noodles and herbs. It isn’t just number one on my list because it was the first dish I tried in Vietnam, but it’s number one because even after trying everything else, it never moved down. Not once. I love it so much.
I had mine at Bun Cha Ta, a Michelin-recognized restaurant in Hanoi Old Quarter that serves authentic Hanoi-style Bun Cha. If you’re only trying one dish in Hanoi, let it be this.
Where to Try:
- 📍 Bun Cha Ta — Hanoi Old Quarter (Michelin-recognized)
- 📍 Bun Cha Huong Lien — Hanoi (the famous “Obama Bun Cha” spot)
PHO — Vietnam's Most Iconic Noodle Soup
Pho — pronounced “fah” — is a slow-simmered bone broth noodle soup served with rice noodles, your choice of beef or chicken, and fresh herbs on the side. I ate this almost every single day in Vietnam and still wasn’t tired of it by the time I left. It’s comfort food at its finest — and I love anything noodles and soup, so it was already a win for me.
The best Pho I had was a Chicken Pho at Pho Ga Dac Biet in Hanoi, a local eatery known for their special soy sauce broth. For beef Pho, my favorite was at Pho Ha Noi in Sa Pa, where our local driver guide took us. The owner speaks good English, the broth was incredibly flavorful, and it was one of those meals I still think about.
Where to Try:
- 📍 Pho Ga Dac Biet — Hanoi (best chicken Pho, special soy sauce broth)
- 📍 Pho Ha Noi — Sa Pa (great beef Pho, English-speaking owner)
CAO LAU — Hoi An's Signature Noodle Dish
Cao Lau is a regional Hoi An dish made of thick chewy noodles, smoky sliced pork, crispy rice crackers, and fresh herbs, more of a dry noodle dish than a soup.
I found mine while wandering around Hoi An after a fitting appointment for my custom-made linen clothes. We stumbled across a home that had turned its garage into a small lively restaurant, and that was where I had my first bowl. I never stopped eating it for the rest of my stay in Da Nang.
Where to Try:
- 📍 Cao Lau Thanh — Hoi An (local favorite, authentic preparation)
- 📍 Local home restaurants around Hoi An Ancient Town
BANH XEO — Northern Vietnam's Sizzling Savory Crepe
Banh Xeo is a crispy turmeric rice flour crepe filled with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts, eaten by wrapping pieces in rice paper with fresh herbs and dipping into a rich savory sauce.
Our local guide and driver in Da Nang recommended this after our Hoi An day tour, and he took us straight to Bale Well restaurant. The best way I can describe eating it is like a Vietnamese version of samgyeopsal. It’s interactive, hands-on, and so satisfying. That dipping sauce had an almost peanut-buttery depth to it that I wasn’t expecting, and it completely made the dish.
Where to Try:
- 📍 Bale Well Restaurant — Hoi An (local favorite, recommended by our guide)
- 📍 Banh Xeo Ba Duong — Da Nang (legendary spot, often crowded)
BANH MI — Vietnam's Famous Stuffed Baguette
Banh Mi is a crispy French-influenced baguette stuffed with meat, pickled vegetables, fresh cilantro, and chili.
I tried lining up several times at the famous Banh Mi 25 in Hanoi Old Quarter but never made it through the crowd. Sa Pa ended up being where I finally had my first one, a small snack stall recommended by our local guide. It’s a great in-between snack during a day tour, but honest take: if there’s Pho nearby, I’m going for Pho every time.
Where to Try:
- 📍 Banh Mi 25 — Hanoi Old Quarter (most popular, worth the queue)
- 📍 Banh Mi Phuong — Hoi An (a Hoi An institution)
COCONUT COFFEE — A Vietnamese Coffee Worth Exploring
Coconut coffee isn’t a dish, but it’s one of the most talked-about Vietnamese coffees to try, and Cong Ca Phe is almost always the first recommendation. With branches all over Vietnam, it’s hard to miss. But let me be honest: my first try at Cong Ca Phe in Hanoi was a letdown. It tasted more like a coconut milkshake than coffee. As someone who wants to actually taste the coffee, I expected too much.
Given the benefit of the doubt, I tried another one in Hoi An at Cafe Gieng — and that one completely changed my mind. Rich, creamy, and you could taste both the coffee and the coconut in balance. That’s the version I’d recommend. It’s worth exploring beyond the famous chains.
Where to Try:
- 📍 Cafe Gieng — Hoi An (best I had in Vietnam, rich and balanced)
- 📍 Cong Ca Phe — Multiple locations (popular, but sweeter and milkshake-like)
EGG COFFEE — Hanoi's Most Talked-About Drink
Egg coffee, or Ca Phe Trung, is a uniquely Vietnamese drink made from robusta coffee topped with a thick creamy foam whipped from egg yolks and condensed milk — somewhere between a dessert and a drink. Everyone kept telling me about this before my trip, so on my first day in Vietnam we found a small local-looking café and just ordered it. Surprisingly, it didn’t disappoint.
Then I went to Cafe Giang in Hanoi — the birthplace of egg coffee since 1946. Of course I had to try it from the original. But honestly? I liked it less. I could taste the raw egg underneath the sweetness, and it just didn’t sit well with me. Still worth trying for the experience and the history, but it’s not something I’d order every day.
Where to Try:
- 📍 Cafe Giang — Hanoi (the original birthplace of egg coffee)
- 📍 Local cafes in Hanoi — sometimes the lesser-known spots serve a more balanced version
More Vietnamese Food and Drinks Worth Trying
These didn’t make my personal ranking, but they’re still worth ordering when you see them on the menu.
- Egg Fried Rice — I tried this multiple times across different cities in Vietnam, and honestly, every single one was delicious. It’s a safe and satisfying order wherever you are.
- Fried or Fresh Spring Rolls — These usually come included with a Bun Cha meal, but if you’re ordering something like Pho, adding a side of spring rolls is always a good idea. Light, fresh, and a great complement to the meal.
- Local Beer — Not food, but worth mentioning. Vietnam has great local beers like Hanoi Beer and Saigon Beer, and they all taste surprisingly craft-like. A cold one alongside any of these dishes balances the whole meal perfectly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vietnamese street food safe to eat? Generally, yes — especially at busy stalls with high turnover, which means the food is always fresh. The local eateries I visited were all clean and the food was consistently good. Use your judgment, go where the locals are eating, and you’ll be fine.
Is egg coffee worth the hype? Worth trying at least once, especially at Cafe Giang for the history. But if you love strong coffee, know that it leans sweet and rich — and the egg flavor can be quite pronounced depending on where you try it.
Is coconut coffee worth it? Yes — but explore beyond the famous spots. Cong Ca Phe is sweet and milkshake-like, which isn’t for everyone. Try smaller cafes and you might find a version you love, like I did at Cafe Gieng in Hoi An.
Is Pho in Vietnam the same as the instant version? Surprisingly close, but not quite. The broth is where all the difference is — slow-simmered, layered, and deeply flavorful. At home, you can get closer by adding fresh beef, white onion, scallions, chili, and lime to your instant bowl.
The food experience in Vietnam genuinely surprised me — in the best way. You can taste the culture and history in every dish, from a bowl of Pho on a plastic stool in Hanoi to a hand-rolled Banh Xeo in a Hoi An backstreet. Even if food isn’t your main reason for traveling, try at least three to five dishes from this list. I promise you won’t regret it. And I already know this list will grow the next time I go back.
If you’re still planning your Vietnam trip, I’ve got a few guides to help you out.
