Vietnamese cuisine

When it comes to Vietnamese cuisine, one of the first images that appear in most people’s mind is banh mi.

Four Vietnamese eateries have been included in the Inaugural “Essence of Asia” Collection, an unranked collection by Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.

There are hard and fast rules about what spices and herbs can be used in what Vietnamese dishes and there’s no room for deviation.

A noodle soup with special name and special ingredients from the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang

Bat Trang Village is not only famous for its ceramic products but also its unique cuisine. 

Spring rolls are often served on big occasions such as major ceremonies and Lunar New Year, giving a rich taste of the traditional Vietnamese cuisine.

'Cha muc' (squid paste) is a delicious dish which has won the favour of both local residents in Ha Long City and tourists. It tops the list of must-try dishes for visitors to the northern province of Quang Ninh

The noodle soup can taste a little different in Hanoi compared to the authentic Huế dish, but some say they prefer the lighter broth and heartier portion of toppings.

Linh (cirrhinus jullieni) fish and dien dien (Egyptian riverhemp or Sesbania sesban) flowers are omnipresent in the Mekong Delta during the flooding season.

The mountainous dish can be eaten with minced pork paste, fried meat roll, steamed egg and spicy salted bamboo shoot.

Making sauces to accompany food is a challenge for any chef and the world of sauces can be a jungle that novice cooks falter in. 

Pho rolls is a well-known dish of Hanoi. Easy to make, this dish has its unique taste from the stir-fried beef inside and the dipping sauce.

Shrimp paste maybe smelly to many, but when it is mixed with galangal and pig’s legs, it can create a rich flavoured dish. 

Ốc len xào dừa (mud creeper with coconut milk) is a popular dish in HCM City.

Bun Thang, or Hanoi-style rice vermicelli soup, is a peculiar dish showing a delicate culinary style of Hanoians. This is a perfect combination of colors and flavors. 

Rice noodle soup with pork is a specialty in the Mekong Delta but well known across the country. The dish has many versions. One of the most tasty is Can Tho-style noodle soup.

It may look like a bushtucker trial on I'm A Celebrity, but don't knock creepy crawly food until you've tried it. In Vietnam they are popular snacks to nibble while enjoying a beer. Are you a fan? Or too scared to try?