Vietnamese cuisine is one of the most loved Asian cuisines in Europe, and in the Czech Republic it is everywhere thanks to the large Vietnamese community. This guide explains what makes Vietnamese food different from Chinese or Thai cooking, which dishes to try first and how to order them.
What makes Vietnamese cuisine unique
Vietnamese cooking is about balance between five tastes: salty, sweet, sour, spicy and bitter. Dishes are light, use plenty of fresh herbs and vegetables and very little fat. Instead of soy sauce, most dishes are seasoned with fish sauce (nước mắm), which gives Vietnamese food its savoury depth.
- Fresh herbs: coriander, Thai basil, mint, perilla and Vietnamese coriander (rau răm).
- Rice in every form: steamed rice, rice noodles, rice paper and rice flour.
- Broths: soups simmer for hours with bones, star anise, cinnamon and ginger.
- Dipping sauces: almost every meal comes with nước chấm, diluted fish sauce with lime, sugar, garlic and chilli.
Three regions, three styles
Northern Vietnam (Hanoi) cooks with subtle, less sweet flavours. It is the home of phở and bún chả. Central Vietnam (Huế) is known for bold, spicy food such as bún bò Huế. Southern Vietnam (Saigon) uses more sugar, coconut and herbs, with dishes like cơm tấm, bánh xèo and summer rolls.
The most popular Vietnamese dishes
- Phở: beef or chicken noodle soup, Vietnam’s most famous dish.
- Bún bò Nam Bộ: a warm noodle salad with stir-fried beef, peanuts and herbs.
- Bún chả: grilled pork with rice noodles and a sweet and sour dipping sauce.
- Nem rán: crispy fried spring rolls with pork, glass noodles and mushrooms.
- Gỏi cuốn: fresh summer rolls in rice paper with prawns and herbs.
- Bánh mì: a crisp baguette filled with pâté, meat, pickles and coriander.
- Cơm tấm: broken rice with grilled pork, Saigon’s favourite breakfast.
- Bún bò Huế: a spicy beef noodle soup with lemongrass from Central Vietnam.
Is Vietnamese food healthy?
Most Vietnamese dishes are light: lots of vegetables, herbs and lean meat, little frying and almost no dairy. The main things to watch are the salt in broths and fish sauce and fried dishes such as nem rán. Vegetarians can look for the word “chay” on the menu, which marks meat-free dishes, often with tofu.
How to order in a Vietnamese restaurant
- Herbs, bean sprouts and lime on the side plate are added to your soup to taste.
- Mix hoisin and sriracha in a small dish for dipping meat. Taste the broth before adding sauces to it.
- Finish with a Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk.
Looking for a place to eat? See our guide to Vietnamese restaurants in Prague and the Sapa market food guide.
FAQ
What is the most famous Vietnamese dish?
Phở is the best known worldwide. In the Czech Republic, bún bò Nam Bộ is just as popular.
Is Vietnamese food spicy?
Usually not. Diners add fresh chilli or chilli sauce themselves. Dishes from Central Vietnam are the exception.
How is Vietnamese food different from Chinese food?
Vietnamese cooking uses more fresh herbs and less oil, and it is seasoned mainly with fish sauce rather than soy sauce.