CNN reveals 10 dishes that are the 'soul' of Vietnamese street food

CNN believes that "the cheapest and most delicious place to enjoy Vietnamese cuisine is at outdoor markets"...

After President Obama and Chef Anthony Bourdain promoted Hanoi cuisine, the US has become more and more interested in Vietnamese cuisine. Recently, CNN reporters (US) have created a list of 10 dishes that cannot be missed when talking about Vietnamese street food with the following comments:

“The best place to enjoy cheap and delicious Vietnamese cuisine is at the open-air markets. Here, almost every shop sells only one dish, and these are traditional dishes that have been preserved by women for generations. Are you ready to pull up a plastic chair and enjoy Vietnamese cuisine?”

1. Pho:

A must-have dish when talking about Vietnamese cuisine. Walk down any street in Vietnam and you will almost certainly see a crowd of people slurping pho at a sidewalk pho stall. This simple dish is made of rice noodles, savory broth, herbs and a few slices of chicken or beef. Vietnamese pho is cheap, delicious and can be served at any time of the day.

2. Bun cha:

Bun Cha

CNN rates bun cha as the best choice for lunch in Hanoi. The billowing smoke from street vendors grilling pork on charcoal stoves is the most distinctive feature of bun cha restaurants. The pieces of meat, after being grilled until slightly burnt and crispy, will be served with a bowl of dipping sauce, a basket of raw vegetables and a plate of noodles. Bun cha can also be eaten with the extremely attractive crab spring rolls. That is also what former President Obama enjoyed with chef Bourdain in Hanoi.

3. Sticky rice:

Sticky rice can be eaten with many types of food (from chicken, pork to fried eggs...) but fried onions are almost indispensable.

4. Banh xeo:

Banh xeo

A typical Vietnamese pancake is quite similar to a crispy crepe rolled with pork, shrimp and bean sprouts, served with typical Vietnamese raw vegetables. Vietnamese people often enjoy this dish by cutting the pancake into slices, wrapping it with rice paper and raw vegetables and dipping it in a bowl of very typical dipping sauce.

5. Spring rolls and fried spring rolls:

Spring rolls and fried spring rolls

Spring rolls are the perfect dish to help you avoid feeling bored after enjoying too much fried food in Vietnam. The dish of rice paper rolls with vegetables and meat or seafood dipped in fish sauce gives diners a light, fresh feeling.

If you're still craving fried food in Vietnam, try nem ran, also known as cha gio in the South.

6. Southern beef noodle soup:

Southern Vietnamese beef noodle soup

Southern beef noodle soup does not have broth, which helps the ingredients not get wet and the flavors blend more closely together. Southern beef noodle soup consists of rice noodles mixed with sliced ​​beef, peanuts, bean sprouts, herbs, fried onions, fish sauce and chili vinegar. This dish is also extremely popular in Hanoi.

7. Cao Lau:

Cao Lau Hoi An

Cao Lau Hoi An is a typical trading center where cultures met. The thick noodles are similar to Japanese udon noodles, the crispy fried dough and pork are Chinese, while the broth and fresh herbs are typical of Vietnam.

Authentic Cao Lau is made from water taken from Ba Le well, Hoi An.

8. Bread:

The French brought bread to Vietnam, but it was the Vietnamese who took bread to another level.

As foreign diners, CNN reporters also gave quite an interesting and general view of Vietnamese sandwiches. According to CNN's comments, Northern sandwiches often include quite basic ingredients such as bread, butter and pate while in the South, the fillings are richer with cheese, cold cuts, shredded vegetables, sausage, fried eggs, coriander and chili sauce.

9. Fried flour:

Fried flour

A favorite snack of Ho Chi Minh City residents, from students after school to drinking groups at midnight. To prepare this dish, rice flour pieces are fried in a large pan until crispy. Then, the cook will crack an egg into the fried flour and mix it with the fried flour. The fried flour is eaten with papaya, julienned onions and chili vinegar.

10. Egg coffee:

Vietnamese egg coffee is not really a drink, but more like a dessert.

The thick, cake-like egg layer combined with strong Vietnamese coffee can attract even those who do not like coffee.

It would be great if you go through the small alley at 11 Hang Gai, go upstairs to enjoy egg coffee and admire the beautiful scenery of Hoan Kiem Lake./.

According to Toquoc