If you eat well nowhere else on your trip, eat well in Vietnam. The food is fresh, herb-forward, endlessly varied and often costs a couple of dollars. It is also, helpfully, one of the lighter cuisines in the world, which matters if your smile is still settling in. Here is how to eat like you have been coming for years.
Start with the classics
Pho (the iconic noodle soup), banh mi (a French-Vietnamese sandwich) and goi cuon (fresh spring rolls) are beloved for good reason. They are the perfect, gentle introduction and available almost everywhere.
Trust the busy stalls
A crowd of locals is the best health inspector there is. High turnover means fresh ingredients, and the little plastic-stool spots often serve the best food in the country.
Coffee is a whole experience
Vietnamese coffee is strong, sweet and unmissable. Try ca phe sua da (iced coffee with condensed milk) and, in Hanoi, the famous egg coffee. It is a highlight, not a footnote.
Eat regionally
Each region has its own specialties: subtle pho and bun cha in the north, imperial dishes and cao lau in the center, sweeter, herb-rich flavors in the south. Following the local specialty rarely disappoints.
Soft foods when you need them
If you are recovering from dental work, Vietnam is a gift. Pho, congee (rice porridge), silky tofu, smoothies and fresh fruit are everywhere, so eating gently never means eating boringly.
Come hungry and curious, follow the crowds, and let the herbs and coffee do the rest. Few countries reward an adventurous appetite as generously, or as cheaply, as Vietnam.
