If you are a true fan of Vietnamese foods, make sure to add Vietnamese soup to your list of essential dishes to try. This dish is a harmonious blend of protein, vegetables, local herbs, and spices, creating a delightful culinary experience. It will undoubtedly be the highlight of your Vietnam travel journey, transporting you back to the vibrant streets of Vietnam, where the aroma of street food permeates the air.
1. Pho - Vietnamese beef and noodle soup
Vietnamese noodles are not just the common breakfast in Vietnam; they have become the culinary essence of the nation. Among many Vietnamese soup recipes, Vietnamese beef noodle soup, or Pho bo, is the most famous and widely recognized version. As a special dish of Hanoi, it has an unknown origin and is typically savored as a standalone meal for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, not in combination with other dishes.
Pho bo is the perfect harmony of tender beef slices, rice noodles, savory broth, and aromatic herbs and spices. The soul of this delicacy lies in the clear, naturally sweet broth, simmered for hours from bones and enriched with aromatic spices like coriander, star anise, and cinnamon.
2. Canh chua - Sweet and sour Vietnamese soup
As one of the most distinctive versions of Vietnamese soup, the sweet and sour Vietnamese soup (“canh chua”) is a healthy and delicious delight, full of fresh flavors. Canh chua is popular in warm areas such as Southern and Central Vietnam, as well as during the sweltering Northern Vietnamese summers. Additionally, this dish holds a special place in the culinary heritage of Hanoi.
This sweet and sour soup is prepared using meat or fish, tomatoes, okra, pineapple, tamarind, bean sprouts, and fresh herbs with a tangy flavor. The refreshing sourness of this dish makes it perfect to savor on hot summer days, helping to relieve the heat.
3. Bun thang
Among various Vietnamese soup dishes, Bun thang carries the rich flavors of Hanoi's cuisine. This dish stands out due to its meticulous preparation, which involves more than 20 distinct ingredients, all crafted with precision and care. It also exemplifies the principle of the five elements through sight, sound, and smell.
The broth is carefully crafted using a mix of shrimp, chicken, and pork bones with a special seasoning known as “shrimp paste.” This savory Vietnamese soup also captivates tourists with its intricate and visually appealing presentation. Bun thang is often arranged in the form of a five-petal flower, with each petal representing a different color from the various ingredients like meat, sliced eggs, spring rolls, green onions, etc.
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4. Bun bo Hue - Vietnamese spicy beef noodle soup
Bun bo Hue, one of the popular traditional Vietnamese foods, originates from the charming Hue. This noodle soup features a unique and robust character that captivates the taste buds of both locals and international visitors. The soul of the dish lies in the authentic Hue spices such as shrimp paste, chili powder, and five-spice powder, making it a standout on the map of Hue specialties.
The dish is celebrated for its bold and complex flavors, distinguishing it from many other Vietnamese soups. An authentic bowl of this dish is a perfect combination of a rich broth and chewy round rice noodles, garnished with thin slices of beef and topped with fragrant herbs. Nowadays, many eateries like to add ingredients like beef tendon, beef blood, pork knuckles, and even crab sausage to enhance its flavor.
5. Bun rieu cua - one of the best Vietnamese soup recipes
Bun rieu cua is a special Vietnamese noodle soup that uses crab as the main ingredient. This dish is cherished throughout the country for its winning combination of flavor, nutrition, and affordability.
This Vietnamese soup is infused with crab paste and served with vermicelli noodles. Typical toppings include crab meat, pork, tofu, tomatoes, blood jelly, and fresh greens like perilla or bean sprouts. Due to its nutritional balance and ease of preparation, bun rieu cua has become a favored choice for dinner in Vietnam.
6. Chao ga - Vietnamese chicken and rice soup
As a notable variation of Vietnamese soup, a bowl of Chao Ga can soothe your hunger and leave you satisfied with its delicious flavor.
The Vietnamese chicken rice soup is made from simple ingredients, including chicken, rice, and Vietnamese herbs and spices. The appeal of this chicken porridge lies in the sweet taste of chicken meat harmoniously blended with the smooth and delectable texture of porridge. Due to its uncomplicated preparation method, this dish has become an economical and satisfying option to serve a crowd.
7. Hu tieu Nam Vang
Hu tieu Nam Vang is a unique Vietnamese soup that always has a place on the recommended Vietnam food list. Originating from Cambodia, this dish combines silky rice noodles with a savory and aromatic broth.
The ingredients used in preparing this special Vietnamese soup are fresh and carefully selected. From shrimp, meat, pork organs, minced meat, and quail eggs to the accompanying vegetables, everything is irresistibly appealing. The broth is renowned for its flavor from the infusion of pork bones, Chinese chives, Chinese celery, basil, fried garlic, and shallots. This delicacy is cherished for its rich and intricate flavors, making it a beloved dish in Vietnamese cuisine.
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8. Banh canh - one of the famous types of Vietnamese soups
Banh canh is a famous traditional Vietnamese noodle soup in South Vietnam for its unique characteristics. The noodles in banh canh are thicker compared to those found in other Vietnamese soup recipes.
Its standout feature is its dense texture, akin to a savory gravy rather than a thin broth. Typically, the broth is made from simmering pork bones and chicken and seasoned with sugar, salt, and fish sauce.
This Vietnamese soup offers a wide variety of options, providing plenty of choices for culinary enthusiasts. In addition to the usual version of this dish, you should try different variations of banh canh made from crab, lobster, catfish and coconut...
9. Chao long
Chao long, a famous Vietnamese food, is a simple yet delicious dish loved by many. This rice porridge is made with tender and well-seasoned pig offal, offering a unique and savory taste that captures the essence of Vietnamese cuisine.
Chao long is cooked to perfection, delivering an excellent flavor. The pork intestines are carefully selected and prepared, resulting in a fresh, crispy, and irresistibly rich texture. Whether enjoyed as a nourishing breakfast or a soothing meal, this dish is a can-not-miss culinary delight for anyone exploring Vietnamese gastronomy.
10. Mien ga - A tasty Vietnamese glass noodle soup
Mien ga, or chicken noodle soup, is not only delicious but also very simple to make, often appearing on festive tables or as a daily breakfast. The highlight of chicken noodle soup lies in its rich and flavorful broth, succulent chicken meat, and glass noodles that look very enticing. Unlike some other Vietnamese soup recipes, mien ga is made with glass noodles rather than rice noodles.
The delightful combination of chewy glass noodles and the subtle richness of the broth, accompanied by flavorful chicken pieces and fresh herbs, creates a uniquely delicious culinary experience.
11. Bun ca (Vietnamese fish Noodle Soup)
This dish harmoniously blends delicate rice noodles and fresh fish, simmered in a fragrant broth, resulting in a delightful culinary experience.
The broth is usually crafted from fish bones and natural spices, resulting in an exceptional and sophisticated flavor. Fish noodle soup is commonly garnished with fresh herbs, rice paper, scallions, garlic, and chili, making it visually appealing and bursting with flavors. It is a wonderful option in all kinds of weather and enjoys popularity in Vietnam and across the globe.
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12. Pho ga - Chicken Vietnamese soup
Pho ga, a traditional Vietnamese soup, is one of the quintessential Vietnamese breakfast foods, crafted with chicken. The broth of Pho ga is notably lighter and clearer compared to the one found in other Pho recipes. This chicken Vietnamese soup is often praised for its naturally sweet yet robust flavor. At its core, this dish is characterized by the sweetness of chicken meat and the naturally rich broth.
Additional ingredients used in the preparation of this chicken Vietnamese soup often include ginger, fish sauce, rice noodles, shallots, green onions, and cilantro. Common garnishes include lime wedges, mint, sliced chili peppers, bean sprouts, and Thai basil.
13. Bun mang vit
Considered one of the most distinctive variations of Vietnamese soup, Bun mang vit is not only nutritious but also incredibly convenient to enjoy. This dish combines tender slices of duck with bamboo shoots and rice noodles. Typically, it comes in a tasty broth infused with a blend of aromatic spices, resulting in a well-balanced and satisfying flavor profile. The dish is often garnished with fresh herbs, bean sprouts, lime wedges, and chili peppers, allowing you to customize the flavor according to your preferences.
14. Canh chua ca (Vietnamese sour fish soup)
As a famous variant of Vietnamese soup, Canh chua ca is truly a rich and enticing dish in Vietnamese cuisine. It is an integral part of our culinary heritage, showcasing creativity in utilizing simple ingredients to transform them into delicious and nutritious meals.
There is nothing better than savoring a steaming and flavorful bowl of Vietnamese fish soup. Its unforgettable and enticing flavor is born from the harmonious blend of pineapple's tartness, tamarind's tang, and the sweetness of fish, along with tomatoes, corn, fragrant spices, and fresh herbs.
15. Mi Quang - one of the traditional Vietnamese soups
Ranked among the tastiest Vietnamese soup dishes, Mi Quang originates from the cultural fusion between Vietnamese and Chinese communities. This dish is made from finely ground rice flour, forming noodles and ingredients such as chicken, eggs, pork, shrimp, and more.
The broth of Mi Quang is made with great care, using a blend of herbs, spices, and coconut milk, resulting in a unique and harmonious flavor. This delightful dish is often garnished with crispy rice paper, providing an enticing textural contrast.
Apart from various Vietnamese soup recipes, Vietnamese cuisine also captivates discerning food enthusiasts with its refined and nutritious offerings. Some delicious specialties of Vietnam that visitors should not miss when visiting this S-shaped country include Vietnamese fried rice, pancake Vietnam, Vietnamese spring rolls, bun dau mam tom, Vietnamese bread, steamed rice rolls, Pho rolls, turmeric fish, Vietnamese broken rice, and Vietnamese fish cake.
After embarking on a culinary exploration in Vietnam, you can enhance your experiences by visiting renowned tourist destinations like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Hoi An, Ha Long...
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Vietnamese soup is a delicious and vibrant dish that embodies the flavors of Vietnamese cuisine. With the combination of flavorful meat, fresh herbs, crunchy vegetables, and flavorful dressing, this soup offers a perfect balance of textures and tastes. Its skillful fusion of ingredients and the use of traditional Vietnamese flavors make it a healthy choice and a must-try dish for those seeking a culinary adventure.
