Vietnamese cuisine consists of only Pho and Banh Mi?

According to readers of the Canadian magazine The Travel, Viet Nam is one of the top 10 nations in the world for best food. I cannot agree more. But apart from just Pho and Banh Mi, Vietnam's other dishes deserve just as much recognition...

As an avid food-lover, this is something I STRONGLY STRONGLY DISAGREE with. I mean, I guess can understand this viewpoint. Pho and Banh Mi are such popular dishes that are present even in countries outside Vietnam that they overshadow the many other dishes Vietnam has to offer.

Back when I hadn't returned to Vietnam yet and was still living abroad, I also only got to eat my mom's make-shift pho and banh mi with the sparse ingredients we could get our hands on. Other dishes, such as bun cha, banh xeo, or banh cuon were way too complex and required too many "exclusively Vietnamese native" ingredients that couldn't be found in Tashkent. As a result, I only occasionally had the chance to devour in semi-authentic Vietnamese food.

Upon returning to Vietnam, my world of food completely expanded: I was introduced to countless spicy, sour, bitter, and sweet flavors in the diverse range of dishes I had never tried before. For example, banh xeo had a crunchy layer that was unlike any flour dish, bun cha had a "char-ry" taste, which enhanced the umami and richness of the pork, and different che had different tastes of sweetness: some came from honey, some came from palm sugar...

Being able to travel to different regions and places throughout Vietnam, I came to realize that each area had its own distinct main flavor and preferences. Here are some of the popular dishes, divided by our regions (Northern, Central, Southern), which you definitely should try at least once!

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Northern region:

1. Banh Cuon - Vietnamese rice "rolls" which are soft and moist and paired with homemade fish sauce, pork ham, crunchy fried shallots, and fresh herbs might be your one-of-a-kind breakfast or perhaps dinner.

2. Bun cha - this pork and vermicelli dish has a close connection to Hanoi. The dish consists of three components: rice noodles, a variety of fresh herbs such perilla leaves, lettuce, coriander, and morning glory, and a bowl of grilled pork meatballs served in a chilly fish sauce broth. The best bun chas are the ones that have a slight char on the meat - that smokiness is authentic to the Vietnamese taste.

Obama visting Vietnam and having Bun Cha with spring rolls

3. Banh troi - This classic Vietnamese dessert is made up of little balls of glutinous rice warpped around a sweet sugar filling. My mom always buys these for us whenever there is a special "full moon worship" or other traditional holidays.

Central region:

1. Banh Bot Loc - these are usually made with tapioca-based wrappers and a filling that mainly consists of shrimp and fatty pork. This is my favorite food from central Vietnam - I never get bored of them, even after 10 pieces!

2. Bun bo Hue - The widely known soup of Hue city, a hot rice noodle dish packed with beef, pork, cartilage, and offal (if you ask nicely). The broth, like most Vietnamese soups, comes with your own DIY platter of raw vegetables and herbs.

Southern region

1. Banh trang (of many types) - the base of these dishes are the familiar Vietnamese rice papers. From there, we can make almost any dish such as rice paper salad or rice paper pizza. I love how only this one ingredient can be used to create so many other dishes.

2. Com tam (Broken Rice) - Vietnamese broken rice is typically served with salad, pickles, grilled meats, and egg meatloaf. This dish has an interesting history. Traditionally, broken rice was actually leftover broken rice from the drying and milling process. People didn't want these small grains to go to waste, so they utilized them and that's how this dish came about.

Of course, there are like 1000+ more dishes that are found in every region of Vietnam - each one has a distinct taste that you will remember forever. However, the above dishes are just a few of my personal favorites.

Overall, I must say that cuisine and food is such an integral part of any culture and society. It is the glue that bonds everyone together - I mean what is better than when we are all happy and content with our stomachs warm and full?

That's why, if you think about Vietnamese cuisine (or any other country's in general), be open-minded and KNOW for a fact that there will be many more dishes than just a few popular ones on the surface. Take it from me, if you love food and trying new things, be willing to explore different cuisines, dishes, and treats - who knows, you might find your hidden gem ;)!

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Lastly, a wonderful video that reveals how this chef is changing people's misconceptions about Vietnamese food through introducing people toa wider variety of Vietnamese dishes in his NYC-based restaurant. I really hope to go to the US and try his food some time soon!!

References:

vietnamnews.vn. (2022). Vietnamese cuisine voted among best in the world. [online] Available at: https://vietnamnews.vn/life-style/1347006/vietnamese-cuisine-voted-among-best-in-the-world.html [Accessed 17 April. 2020].

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