In 2025, Vietnamese cuisine has garnered widespread recognition from prestigious global rankings. Beloved street foods and traditional market dishes have been named among the world’s best.
Vietnam secured 4th place in the list of the 15 countries with the most attractive cuisines globally, as voted by Condé Nast Traveller.
At the 6th World Culinary Awards, Vietnam was honored as “Asia’s Leading Culinary Destination 2025.” In December, Taste Atlas - a globally respected food mapping site - ranked Vietnamese cuisine 16th among the top 100 world cuisines, up three spots from the previous year.
Banh mi
Vietnam’s banh mi comes in many variations. Photo: Linh Trang
On November 15, CNN Travel included Vietnamese banh mi in its list of the 25 best sandwiches in the world.
According to CNN Travel, banh mi can be found on nearly every street corner across Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and other provinces, captivating global diners with its signature crispy crust and richly varied fillings.
The classic “thap cam” version, featuring pork, Vietnamese sausage, pickled vegetables, herbs, and a distinctive sauce, offers an addictive balance of savory and sweet flavors. Other variations like chicken banh mi and vegetarian options add to its diversity.
Nem ran
Nem ran has received praise from numerous international media outlets. Photo: Huyen Trang
Nem ran (fried spring rolls), along with crispy treats like fried dough sticks, shrimp fritters, and sticky rice chicken legs, appeared on Taste Atlas’ list of the 100 best crispy fried foods in Asia in late October. Among them, nem ran was the only Vietnamese item to also make the list of the world’s 100 best fried dishes.
Ranked 42nd with a 4.3/5 star rating, the platform described it as “a dish of minced pork and shrimp wrapped in soft rice paper.”
Once rolled and deep-fried, the spring rolls develop a golden, thin, crispy crust. The filling - blending pork, shrimp, glass noodles, wood ear mushrooms, and shiitake - offers a compelling aroma and flavor.
Duck noodle soup, duck porridge, blood pudding
Bun vit with roast duck at a Hanoi eatery. Photo: Kim Ngan
In the Taste Atlas ranking of the world’s 50 best duck dishes, three familiar Vietnamese staples - bun mang vit (bamboo shoot duck noodle soup), duck porridge, and duck blood pudding - were featured.
Bun mang vit secured the 15th spot, the highest ranking for a Vietnamese dish in the list. The dish combines a clear, savory broth made from pork bones, fresh or dried bamboo shoots, and tender duck meat.
Pho tron, nom, rare beef salad
Pho tiu, a flavorful mixed pho variant from Hanoi’s Dong Xuan Market. Photo: Nguyen Huy
Pho tron (mixed pho), nom (Vietnamese salad), and rare beef salad with lime were recognized among the world’s top 100 vegetable-based mixed dishes by Taste Atlas.
Pho tron came in at 35th, described as “a pho variation popular during the summer in Hanoi.” Unlike the classic soupy version, this dry noodle dish is tossed in a flavorful sauce. The beef or chicken is sliced and marinated with salt, ginger, pepper, garlic, fish sauce, and five-spice powder before being stir-fried.
Ranked 45th, nom was praised by Taste Atlas not only for its taste but as a symbol of Vietnam’s culinary finesse and harmony in flavor balance.
Bo kho, bun bo Hue, com tam
Bun bo Hue is now widely available across Vietnam. Photo: Linh Trang
Bo kho (beef stew), bun bo Hue (Hue-style spicy beef noodle soup), and com tam (broken rice) made it into Taste Atlas’ list of the 100 best breakfast dishes globally in 2025.
With a 4.4/5 rating, bo kho ranked 28th, the highest among the three Vietnamese entries.
Bun bo Hue, described as a complex soup made from pork and beef bone broth, vermicelli noodles, beef slices, and crab sausage, was highlighted for its rich flavor and harmonious blend of traditional ingredients.
Coffee
Hanoi’s egg coffee has received rave reviews from international media. Photo: Thai Son
Vietnamese iced milk coffee (ca phe sua da), black coffee, egg coffee, and yogurt coffee were included in Taste Atlas’ list of 63 best coffee drinks in the world.
With a 4.3/5 rating, Vietnamese iced coffee ranked 8th. Egg coffee was another highlight, praised for its whipped egg yolk, sweetened condensed milk, and bitter coffee blend - a creamy, indulgent treat.
Yogurt coffee, meanwhile, combines sweetened condensed milk, yogurt, crushed ice, and phin-brewed coffee foam for a refreshing, tangy twist.
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