What to eat in Ho Chi Minh Vietnam? Ho Chi Minh City or previously known as Saigon is a city in the Southern Vietnam that played a huge part of the Vietnamese history and even to the world. But that is not the only reason why the Ho Chi Minh City is one of the top destinations in Asia, but also of it rich and flavorful cuisine.
Thanks to Saigonese who fled and took refuge to different countries around the world during the French IndoChina War and the Vietnam Civil War, we have known and came to love several Vietnamese cuisine even the simplest ones like Banh Mi and Pho.
When visiting a country, it is always best to eat the authentic local dishes to appreciate the said country a little more. Every dish has a hidden story behind it, so thus each food in Ho Chi Minh City. There are a lot of dishes to try in Vietnam but what to eat in Ho Chi Minh City? We have listed the must eat dishes in Ho Chi Minh City;
1. Banh Mi
A signature Saigon food that reached even the farthest part of the west. Banh Mi is a general term for bread. In Vietnam, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City, there is a wide variety of banh mi flavors to choose from. For some locals, banh mi is treated as the usual fast food that can be eaten on their way to work. Banh Mi can be quickly prepared as it can be served only with fried egg, pickled vegetables and pate. Fancier version of banh mi are also served with meat or sausages.
(What to eat in Ho Chi Minh Vietnam)
2. Pho
Having pho is a must when visiting Vietnam as pho is by far the most famous Vietnamese dish of all time. Ho Chi Minh City’s version of pho is totally different from the one in Hanoi or the Bun Bo Hue in Central Vietnam. Pho in Ho Chi Minh City tends to be sweeter and more savoury. Pho is normally being served for breakfast and dinner. Stalls are usually set up on the city’s sidewalks to serve patrons early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
(What to eat in Ho Chi Minh Vietnam)
3. Bun Rieu
Bun Rieu is not just your ordinary “other soup” in Ho Chi Minh City. Bun Rieu is a crab noodle soup that is slightly sour compared to the famous pho. Bun Rieu is preferred by some foreign travelers due to its unusual flavor as dishes in Ho Chi Minh City tend to be a little sweeter than the usual.
(What to eat in Ho Chi Minh Vietnam)
4. Banh Xeo
It’s true that banh xeo is from the Central Vietnam but Ho Chi Minh City’s version of it is something tourists must try. Banh xeo literally translates to sizzling cake which is usually eaten as a snack and. The banh xeo in Ho Chi Minh City, most likely due to French influence, is bigger than the usual. The crispy crepe filled with pork, shrimp, bean sprouts and fresh herbs is palatable and best eaten when it’s still hot.
(What to eat in Ho Chi Minh Vietnam)
5. Com Tam
Com Tam which means broken rice, probably became famous during the wars in the country since broken rice is cheaper as it is considered as damage during the milling process. Com Tam is usually served with meat like grilled pork or chicken with fried egg, shredded pork, pork skin, pickled carrots and cucumber.
6. Hu Tieu
Hu Tieu is a Khmer origin dish. Being part of the Khmer Kingdom before the Nguyen Lords, locals from My Tho, a capital city in Tien Giang Province, made a fusion of Khmer favorite soup dish and the local flavor to come up with the now famous Southern Vietnamese breakfast dish, Hu Tieu. Like the other noodle dishes, Hu Tieu can also be served as a soup or dry noodles.
Ho Chi Minh City is one of the gastronomic cities in the world and it definitely deserves to be one of the top destinations in Southeast Asia. There are more unique dishes and street food to try when visiting the second most dynamic city in the world, Ho Chi Minh City.
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