Vietnam, being a tropical country, is rich in agriculture, offering an abundance of ingredients. The country is divided into three regions: North, Central, and South, each with slightly different cultures. This diversity is reflected in Vietnam’s varied food culture, which also includes unique culinary traditions of different ethnic groups.

I find the cuisine of Northern Vietnam particularly palatable. The heart of Northern food culture is Hanoi, the capital city. Northern Vietnamese cuisine is neither too spicy nor too sweet. Pho and Bun Cha are iconic dishes of the North. While Pho is renowned, Bun Cha is equally impressive. Barack Obama even tried Bun Cha when he visited Vietnam, a source of pride for Vietnamese people.

Central Vietnamese cuisine is also special, characterized by a slightly sweet and spicy taste. Central dishes like Bun, Bo Fe, and Banh Bot Loc are famous and popular among foreign tourists. Another highlight I want to introduce is “Che,” a word in Vietnamese that has two meanings. One meaning is “tea,” and the other is “dessert.” In Central Vietnam, Hue, an old feudal capital, still retains royal rituals, one being the “tea tasting” ceremony. A unique practice involves making “lotus tea” with dew collected from lotus leaves in the early morning.

The other meaning of “Che” is dessert, specifically “Roasted Pork Che.” It sounds unusual at first – I was also surprised to learn that a dessert could contain meat. Those who visit Hue are likely to be impressed by its unique taste.

Finally, Southern Vietnam’s food culture is distinct from the North and Central regions. Southern dishes are sweet and rich in flavor. Southerners have a tradition of cooking with coconut, adding a natural sweetness to their cuisine. They prefer sourcing their ingredients locally rather than buying from supermarkets, allowing them to enjoy the rustic flavors of their homeland. Cooking and grilling river fish or meat are typical Southern cooking methods.

Vietnam is home to 54 ethnic groups, each with interesting culinary traditions. “Can wine,” a practice among the Hmong and other groups, involves drinking wine from a jar through a one-meter-long bamboo straw. Food such as rice and meat is also cooked inside bamboo and enjoyed alongside freshly caught and grilled fish from streams.

Vietnamese cuisine also boasts a variety of sauces, so trying these sauces with your meal is a must. Although Vietnamese food culture has been influenced by foreign cuisines, its authentic flavors remain enduring and are a source of national pride.

Vietnamese cuisine is accessible and affordable, with eateries everywhere, allowing anyone to easily enjoy its flavors. Vietnamese food culture is rich and diverse, offering countless fascinating aspects. Even if you lived in Vietnam for a year, locals would treat you to different dishes every day.