British magazine Time Out has recently ranked Ho Chi Minh City as the fourth among the world’s top 20 cities for food. This acknowledgment sheds light on the city’s vibrant culinary scene, captivating taste buds with its diverse array of flavors.
Ho Chi Minh City Recognized as a Culinary Destination by Time Out
Vietnamese cuisine, renowned for its fusion of sweet, spicy, and fragrant flavors, stands as a testament to the rich culinary heritage of Ho Chi Minh City. Visitors to the city are greeted with a plethora of options, from bustling street food stalls to high-end dining establishments, all promising an unforgettable gastronomic experience.
Culinary Diversity in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City offers a culinary landscape that caters to every palate. TimeOut highlights the city’s Bib Gourmand and Michelin-starred restaurants, where classic Vietnamese dishes are reimagined with creative twists. Amidst the bustling streets, one can find delicacies like banh mi, snails, broken rice, and offal stew, each offering a unique glimpse into the local culinary tradition. While Hanoi may be revered as the birthplace of Vietnamese cuisine and culture, Ho Chi Minh City has emerged as a dynamic dining destination in its own right.
Savoring the Iconic Pho in Ho Chi Minh City
While exploring the culinary delights of Ho Chi Minh City, one cannot overlook the iconic dish of pho. A beloved noodle soup, pho is a staple in Vietnamese cuisine and a highlight of the city’s culinary scene. TimeOut notes that the pho in the southern region is heavily garnished with basil, coriander, chili, and hoisin sauce, offering a symphony of flavors in every bowl.
TimeOut’s Top 20 Foodie Cities
Ho Chi Minh City proudly secures the fourth spot among TimeOut’s top 20 foodie cities globally, alongside renowned culinary destinations featured on the list. TimeOut’s compilation of the world’s top 20 cities for food showcases culinary diversity across the globe. From the iconic Pizza Margherita in Naples to the flavorful Kota sandwiches in Johannesburg, each city offers a unique culinary journey for food enthusiasts. Other cities making the esteemed list include Lima in Peru, Beijing in China, Bangkok in Thailand, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, and Mumbai in India.
Top 10 Must-Try Foods in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City is a hub for Vietnamese cuisine. With a booming food and beverage industry, the city offers an abundance of options for food enthusiasts. If you’re visiting Ho Chi Minh City, make sure to try some of the city’s signature dishes to fully experience its culinary scene.
1.Banh Mi
Banh Mi is the most popular savory dish in Ho Chi Minh City, and it’s perfect for those who are on-the-go and exploring the city. This dish is essentially a baguette filled with different ingredients, such as Vietnamese pork sausage, char siu, fried egg, and pickled vegetables. Banh Mi is not only delicious but also convenient and affordable.
2. Pho
Pho originated in early 20th century Hanoi and spread to Saigon. Traditionally, it’s made with bone broth, rice noodles, and beef or chicken. In Saigon, there are two styles: northern and southern. Northern pho features a light, clear broth, focusing on natural flavors. Southern pho is sweeter, with a darker broth from grilled onions and spices, served with bean sprouts, raw vegetables, onions, garlic, and soy sauce.
3. Bun Bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup)
Bun Bo Hue, a spicy beef noodle soup, is a beloved dish in Saigon, renowned for its robust and flavorful broth. Originating from the city of Hue, this soup features tender slices of beef, pork rolls, and vermicelli noodles, all enriched by a spicy, aromatic broth. In Saigon, Bun Bo Hue is celebrated for its harmonious blend of spices, lemongrass, and chili, and is often served with fresh herbs, lime, and vegetables, offering a perfect balance of heat and freshness. This dish has become a staple in Saigon’s culinary scene, with several variations that reflect the city’s diverse tastes and vibrant food culture.
4. Com Tam (Broken rice)
Some people claim that Ho Chi Minh City does not have a signature dish, as it is a city where people from all over the country come to find work and a better standard of living, bringing their local cuisine with them. However, there is one dish that Ho Chi Minh City is known for, and that is Com Tam.
A typical Com Tam dish in Ho Chi Minh City consists of steamed broken rice topped with grilled pork ribs, egg cake, a sunny-side-up egg, and shredded pork skin, served with cucumber, tomato, and pickled carrots to balance the flavors. To enhance the taste, a small bowl of chili and garlic fish sauce is served alongside the rice.
5. Banh Xeo (crispy pancakes)
Banh Xeo is a crispy pancake that is typically enjoyed by wrapping it in a sheet of rice paper along with some fresh herbs and dipping it in sweet and sour fish sauce. There are two regional variations of Banh Xeo: Banh Xeo Nam Bo in the south is thinner, larger, and less oily, while Banh Xeo Mien Trung in the central region is smaller, crispier, and more oily.
6. Bun Mam (Fermented Fish Noodle Soup)
Bun Mam is a dish that highlights the Southern cooking style, featuring fermented fish as a key ingredient. A typical bowl of Bun Mam contains shrimp, squid, grilled pork, and eggplant, making for a truly authentic culinary experience in Ho Chi Minh City.
7. Bun Dau Mam Tom (Noodle and Tofu with Shrimp Sauce)
Bun Dau Mam Tom is a dish that may be considered an extreme food experience for some. It consists of a small tray of boiled pork, deep-fried cubed tofu, and fried “Nem” (either Nem Ran or pork cake), along with other toppings of your choice. The star of the dish is the dipping sauce, Mam Tom, which is a fermented shrimp sauce that has a strong odor. However, when mixed with kumquat juice, a bit of sugar, and fresh chili, it brings out the best taste of all the ingredients.
8. Goi Cuon (Vietnamese Spring rolls)
Goi Cuon, also known as fresh spring rolls, is a delicious and nutritious snack. Each roll contains vegetables, a small amount of rice noodles for carbohydrates, and a slice of pork and shrimp. Although the ingredients are simple, when combined with soybean paste and broken peanut sauce, they create a refreshing and satisfying snack.
9. Bun Cha (vermicelli with grilled pork and fresh herbs)
Bun Cha is a traditional Vietnamese dish that has been a favorite for many years. It is a popular lunchtime food made with grilled chopped meat or grilled meat cooked over charcoal, served with rice noodles and herbs. The dish is usually accompanied by a syrupy fish sauce that adds a sweet and savory flavor to the meal. In other regions of Vietnam, a similar dish called Bun Thit Nuong is also served as an alternative. Bun Cha can be found at many street vendors and restaurants throughout Vietnam.
10. Xoi – Sticky Rice
Sticky rice, known as “Xoi” in Vietnam, is a popular breakfast item that can be found in many food stalls and local restaurants throughout Southeast Asia. This dish is made with glutinous rice and can be mixed with a variety of ingredients, such as chicken, pork, fried or preserved eggs. It is typically served with dried shallots on top and scallion oil. The most common combination includes chicken meat, sausage, and scallion oil. Sticky rice is a great source of energy and is a beloved breakfast option in Vietnam.
Ho Chi Minh City’s inclusion in TimeOut’s prestigious ranking reaffirms its status as a culinary capital worth exploring. With its diverse flavors, rich cultural heritage, and innovative culinary scene, the city continues to delight food lovers from around the world. Whether indulging in street food delights or savoring haute cuisine, Ho Chi Minh City promises an unforgettable culinary adventure for all who visit. Navigating Ho Chi Minh City’s culinary delights is heightened with Vietnam local tour operators, offering immersive experiences and insider knowledge to enrich every food journey in this vibrant metropolis.
