Rice is the staple of the diet, consumed in some form in almost every meal. For Vietnamese adults, all three meals of the day may consist of steamed rice with side dishes of vegetables or fish or meat.
Easily the most famous dish of Vietnam, pho — which at its most basic consists of a clear beef- or chicken-based broth, rice noodles, herbs, and thinly sliced meats — is also this Southeast Asian nation's preferred breakfast.
A typical meal for the average Vietnamese family would include: Cơm trắng: Cooked white rice. Món mặn or main dishes to eat with rice: Fish/seafood, meat, tofu (grilled, boiled, steamed, stewed or stir-fried with vegetables) Rau: Sauteed, boiled or raw fresh green vegetables.
Pho might be Vietnam's most famous dish but bun cha is the top choice when it comes to lunchtime in the capital. Just look for the clouds of meaty smoke after 11 a.m. when street-side restaurants start grilling up small patties of seasoned pork and slices of marinated pork belly over a charcoal fire.
It should come as no surprise as rice is eaten all day in Vietnam, including as a snack or dessert. This traditional Vietnamese breakfast food is made from glutinous rice, covered in multiple toppings and sauces. Common additions to xôi are fried onions, shallots, quail eggs, sausage and mushrooms.
Because Vietnamese food is flavoured with herbs and spices (instead of oil or dairy) and is packed full of fresh fruit and vegetables, most authentic dishes, dressings and sauces you'll find in restaurants are low in calories and fat.
Starch-based dishes are the most popular type, such as noodles, congee, dumplings, plain or stuffed buns and bing/饼 (oven or pan-baked flatbread), etc. Deep-fried items are popular with Chinese doughnut stick being the most typical example. Eggs are cooked and seasoned in many different ways.
Pho. Pho is not only the most popular breakfast in Vietnam but is also internationally renowned as a symbol of Vietnamese gastronomy. Thousands of Pho stores deliver thousands of taste, that's why some Pho stores are much more well-known than the rest, and the mystery hidden in the broth of Pho.
Vietnamese cuisine is one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. Vietnamese people have some of the lowest obesity rates in the world. Most of the dishes in Vietnamese cooking consist of a protein marinated in condiments that are very flavorful and low in calories, such as lemongrass, fish sauce, and garlic.
Pho is the national dish of Vietnam and is sold everywhere from nice restaurants to street corners where grandmothers set up makeshift kitchens. For this version, all of the components—noodles, beef brisket broth, herbs, chiles—are served separately.
Vietnamese food is generally considered much healthier than Chinese food due to its use of fresher ingredients, less oil and frying of vegetables, as well as use of lighter sauces. What is this? Chinese food has high levels of sodium, which can generally be tracked to it's heavy use of soy sauce in its cuisines.
Major Vietnamese protein sources are chicken, egg, pork, seafood, and tofu. The Vietnamese prefer to purchase their meat and poultry at wet markets, rather than supermarkets.
Table eggs are popular food in Vietnam, but not just the regular layer chicken (brown is an Asian favourite), also duck eggs have a prominent place on the menu. There's a market for fresh duck eggs, but also for so called “half hatched” duck eggs.
Do Vietnamese eat Pho and Spring Rolls everyday? No, they do not. Pho is the most popular Vietnamese dish, however it is not the staple diet for the locals, unlike steamed rice.
The main meal in Vietnam is dinner with the attendance of the whole family. Dinner time is after 6 pm and before 8 pm. Not all of the families in Vietnam have a dining table. Except for rice served in single bowls, the other dishes are placed on separate plates.
Water Spinach/ Morning Glory (Rau Muong)
Water spinach is the most common vegetable in Vietnam as the tropical climate creates favorable conditions for its growth and the veggie does not require much care.
Dragon fruit, locally known as 'Thanh Long' is considered to be the national fruit of Vietnam. There are two versions of the fruit and if the local people you are buying it from don't speak English, it's going to be a surprise if the interior is clear white or a juicy pink.
Though pork still remains the main meat consumed in Vietnam, higher consumption growth rate presents a positive outlook for consumption of beef and poultry.