The best Vietnamese dishes to try
The top 3 according to 36 votes from people: Pho · Bun cha · Cha ca La Vong. (Updated Nov 15, 2025.)
The Vietnamese dishes every food guide recommends, from northern pho and bun cha to Hoi An's cao lau and Saigon's com tam.
Top 15
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1
Pho
Beef or chicken rice noodle soup with a broth simmered for hours with star anise and cinnamon; Vietnam's national dish.
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2
Bun cha
Hanoi's grilled pork patties and belly in fish sauce broth with vermicelli and herbs.
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3
Cha ca La Vong
Hanoi turmeric fish fried at the table with dill and spring onion.
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4
Banh mi
Baguette with pâté, grilled meats, pickled vegetables, herbs and chilli; CNN Travel named it one of the world's best sandwiches.
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5
Banh cuon
Steamed rice rolls filled with minced pork and wood ear mushrooms.
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6
Goi cuon
Fresh rice paper rolls with shrimp, pork, herbs and vermicelli, with peanut sauce.
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7
Banh xeo
Crispy turmeric rice crêpe with shrimp, pork and bean sprouts, wrapped in lettuce.
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8
Ca kho to
Caramelised fish braised in a clay pot.
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9
Che
Sweet dessert soups of beans, jellies and coconut milk.
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10
Com tam
Saigon broken rice with grilled pork chop, egg meatloaf and fish sauce.
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11
Bun bo Hue
Spicy lemongrass beef noodle soup from the former imperial capital.
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12
Mi Quang
Turmeric noodles with a little broth, shrimp, pork and peanuts, from Quang Nam.
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13
Ca phe trung
Hanoi egg coffee: robusta topped with whipped egg yolk and condensed milk.
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14
Cao lau
Hoi An's chewy noodles with char siu pork, crackling and greens.
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15
Bun rieu
Crab and tomato noodle soup.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (2)
Cao lau in Hoi An, the noodles can only be made with the local well water.
Bun cha in Hanoi, where Obama and Bourdain ate it. Should be #1 honestly.