Heading to Vietnam? These are dishes that you won’t want to miss! A few of these we discovered while roaming the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, others we were told we needed to try. Just looking at these pictures makes me want to hop on a flight back asap.

Ban Xeo

This was the biggest and best surprise. I expected a small “pancake”, similar to the ones I saw people cooking on the streets, but this was anything but small. I had already finished eating my bowl of pho, and thought they forgot about my ban xeo. When I asked for the bill, they said the ban xeo was still coming, and about 5 mins later IT CAME. It was about two feet long and four inches thick. It is similar to a crispy, thin omelette filled with veggies and meat. Mine came LOADED with sprouts, onions and shrimp, and served with a basket of herbs on the side.

Chè Thai

CHE Thai ready to cool us down

All mixed up

Heaven. This sweet, creamy, fruity drink is a Vietnamese adaptation of a Thai dessert. It is a fruit cocktail concoction loaded with many goodies- mine came with lychee, mango, jackfruit, tapioca, jelly and so much more.

Nem Nướng 

Grilled pork, enough said. Except it’s not, because nem nướng is so much more than that. The pork is typically ground up with herbs & seasonings and made into sausages or meatballs. I didn’t have a chance to try the meatballs, but there were a ton of the sausage skewers at the Street Food Market. They are salty, juicy and flavorful- this carnivore couldn’t get enough.
Highly suggest: Nem nướng cuốn (spring rolls)

Bún Riêu

I had never heard of this traditional soup before, but my neighbor recommenced this one to me. Bún riêu is a tomato based soup with thin rice noodles. It is bursting with flavor and the one I ate had a nice kick to it.

Bánh Mì Sandwich

nom

It is just the Vietnamese word for bread, but when you talk about bánh mì, you are typically referring to the famous fluffy baguettes and the sandwiches they are made with. The fillings vary, but typically include a meat, cucumber, carrots, daikon and cilantro. Visiting Vietnam without eating one is actually a sin.

I know I said 5, but I couldn’t leave this one out.

Phở

Phở, duh.

⚡ ⚡ ⚡

Kelly