List of Vietnamese culinary specialities facts for kids

Welcome to the exciting world of Vietnamese cuisine! Vietnam is a country in Southeast Asia, famous for its delicious and diverse food. Each region and province has its own special dishes, often made with fresh, local ingredients. Get ready to explore some of the amazing flavors you can find across Vietnam!

An Giang Province

An Giang is known for its unique dishes, especially those from the Mekong Delta.

• Khô cá lóc đồng: This is a type of dried snakehead fish, often enjoyed as a snack or in meals.
• Mắm thái Châu Đốc: A special fermented fish paste from Châu Đốc, used to add a rich flavor to many dishes.
• Bánh thốt nốt: A sweet cake made from the thốt nốt palm fruit, which is common in this area.
• Bún cá Long Xuyên: A tasty noodle soup with fish, popular in Long Xuyên city.

Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu Province

This coastal province offers fresh seafood and unique local treats.

• Ốc vú nàng: A special type of snail found on Côn Đảo island.
• Bánh khọt Bà Rịa: These are small, crispy, savory pancakes made from rice flour, often topped with shrimp. They are a popular southern snack.

Bạc Liêu Province

• Bún bò cay Bạc Liêu: A spicy beef noodle soup that is a local favorite.

Bắc Giang Province

• Bánh đa Kế: A crispy rice cracker, perfect for snacking.

Bắc Kạn Province

• Bánh Khẩu Thuy: A traditional cake made by the Tay ethnic group.

Bắc Ninh Province

Bắc Ninh has many traditional cakes and sweets.

• Bánh khoai Thị Cầu: A sweet potato cake.
• Bánh phu thê Đình Bảng: A beautiful, colorful cake often served at weddings, symbolizing happiness.
• Chè lam: A sweet treat made from ground sticky rice.
• Bánh tẻ: A savory rice cake from Chờ village.

Bến Tre Province

Bến Tre is famous for its coconuts!

• Coconut candy: Delicious, chewy candies made from fresh coconut milk. They are a must-try!
• Bánh tráng Mỹ Lồng: A special type of rice paper from Mỹ Lồng.
• Bánh phồng Sơn Đốc: Puffed rice crackers, light and crispy.

Bình Dương Province

• Bánh bèo bì chợ Búng: Small, steamed rice cakes served with shredded pork skin and herbs.

Bình Định Province

Bình Định is known for its noodle dishes and unique snacks.

• Bánh hỏi Qui Nhơn: Thin rice vermicelli noodles woven into pretty bundles.
• Bún chả cá Quy Nhơn: A fish cake noodle soup from Qui Nhơn city.
• Bánh xèo tôm nhảy: Crispy savory pancakes with jumping shrimp.

Bình Phước Province

This province is a major cashew producer.

• Hạt điều rang muối: Delicious salt-roasted cashews.
• Gỏi trái điều: A refreshing salad made from cashew fruit.

Bình Thuận Province

• Bánh rế: A sweet, crispy snack that looks like a net.
• Gỏi ốc giác: A snail salad from Phan Thiết city.

Cà Mau Province

Cà Mau is in the Mekong Delta, known for its seafood.

• Chả trứng mực: A savory cake made with squid eggs.
• Bún nước lèo: A flavorful noodle soup with a rich broth.

Cần Thơ City

Cần Thơ is a big city in the Mekong Delta with many tasty foods.

• Nem nướng Cần Thơ: Grilled pork meatballs, often served with fresh vegetables and rice paper.
• Hủ tiếu: A popular noodle soup, often with pork and shrimp.
• Bánh cống: Deep-fried savory cakes with shrimp and mung beans.
• Bánh xèo: Large, crispy savory pancakes, usually filled with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts.
• Bánh tét: A traditional sticky rice cake, often filled with pork and mung beans, wrapped in banana leaves.

Cao Bằng Province

• Phở chua: A sour noodle soup, different from the famous beef phở.

Đắk Lắk Province

Đắk Lắk is known for its coffee and forest products.

• Lẩu lá rừng: A hot pot made with various leaves collected from the forest.
• Thịt nai: Venison, or deer meat, is a local specialty.
• Cà phê: Coffee from Đắk Lắk is very famous in Vietnam.
• Bơ: Fresh avocados are grown here.

Điện Biên Province

• Xôi nếp hương: Fragrant sticky rice.
• Thịt xông khói: Smoked meat.

Đồng Nai Province

• Bưởi Tân Triều: A special grapefruit from Tân Triều.
• Chôm chôm Long Khánh: Rambutan fruit from Long Khánh.

Đồng Tháp Province

• Nem Lai Vung: A fermented pork sausage from Lai Vung.
• Bánh Phồng Tôm: Crispy shrimp crackers, a popular snack.

Gia Lai Province

• Phở khô Gia Lai: A "dry" phở, where the noodles and broth are served separately.

Hà Nội

Hanoi, the capital city, is a food lover's paradise with many iconic dishes.

• Phở: The most famous Vietnamese noodle soup, usually with beef or chicken.
• Bánh cuốn Thanh Trì: Thin, steamed rice noodle rolls, often served with a dipping sauce.
• Bánh tôm Hồ Tây: Crispy, battered sweet potato fritters with shrimp, a popular snack by West Lake.
• Bún chả Hà Nội: Grilled marinated pork served with cold rice vermicelli noodles and a dipping sauce. This is a must-try!
• Bún đậu mắm tôm: Vermicelli noodles with fried tofu and a strong shrimp paste dipping sauce.
• Cốm: Young green sticky rice, a delicate and fragrant autumn treat.
• Kem Tràng Tiền: Famous ice cream from Tràng Tiền street.

Hà Tĩnh Province

• Kẹo cu đơ: A peanut brittle candy with ginger and molasses.

Hải Dương Province

• Bánh đậu xanh: Sweet mung bean paste cakes, a popular gift.

Hải Phòng

Hải Phòng is a port city known for its seafood noodles.

• Bánh đa cua: Red noodles with crabs, a signature dish of Hải Phòng.
• Chả giò cua biển: Spring rolls filled with sea crab.

Hậu Giang Province

• Bún mắm Phụng Hiệp: A vermicelli noodle soup with a rich shrimp paste broth.

Hòa Bình Province

• Cá nướng sông Đà: Grilled fish from the Đà River.
• Cơm Lam: Sticky rice cooked in bamboo tubes.

Ho Chi Minh City / Sai Gon

Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, is a bustling city with a vibrant food scene.

• Bánh Bột Chiên: Fried rice flour cubes with egg and vegetables, a popular after-school snack.
• Cơm tấm: Broken rice served with grilled pork chop, shredded pork skin, and a steamed egg cake. This is a very popular meal.
• Gỏi cuốn: Fresh spring rolls filled with shrimp, pork, vermicelli, and fresh herbs, served with peanut sauce.

Hưng Yên Province

• Tương bần: A fermented soybean paste.
• Bánh dày làng Gàu: White, chewy sticky rice cakes, often filled with mung bean or served with Vietnamese sausage.

Khánh Hòa Province

Khánh Hòa is famous for its coastal dishes.

• Nem nướng Ninh Hoà: Grilled fermented pork sausage from Ninh Hoà.
• Bún mực Vạn Ninh: Squid noodle soup from Vạn Ninh.
• Bún cá sứa: Noodles with jellyfish, a unique seafood dish.

Kiên Giang Province

Kiên Giang includes Phú Quốc island, known for its seafood.

• Gỏi cá trích: Herring salad, especially popular on Phú Quốc island.
• Bún cá Kiên Giang: Fish noodle soup from Kiên Giang.
• Rượu sim: Sim fruit wine, a specialty of Phú Quốc.

Kon Tum Province

• Gỏi lá Kon Tum: A special salad made with many different kinds of leaves.
• Dế chiên: Fried crickets, a crunchy snack.
• Cơm Lam: Sticky rice cooked in bamboo.

Lai Châu Province

• Xôi tím: Purple sticky rice.
• Thịt treo gác bếp: Smoked meat hung in the kitchen.

Lạng Sơn Province

• Khâu nhục: Braised pork belly.
• Lợn quay: Roasted pig.
• Phở chua: A sour noodle soup.

Lào Cai Province

Lào Cai is a mountainous province, home to Sapa.

• Thắng cố ngựa: A traditional stew, often made with horse meat, popular among ethnic minorities.
• Mận hậu Bắc Hà: A type of plum from Bắc Hà.
• Tương ớt Mường Khương: A famous chili sauce from Mường Khương.

Lâm Đồng Province

Lâm Đồng, home to Đà Lạt, is known for its cool climate and fresh produce.

• Artichoke: Artichokes are widely grown here.
• Rau và hoa Đà Lạt: Fresh vegetables and flowers from Đà Lạt.
• Các loại dâu ở Đà Lạt: Various types of strawberries grown in Đà Lạt.
• Bánh mỳ xíu mại: Bread with meatballs in a savory sauce.

Long An Province

• Rượu đế Gò Đen: A type of rice wine from Gò Đen.

Nam Định Province

• Bánh gai: A sticky rice cake wrapped in gai leaves.
• Bún Cá Nam Định: Fish noodle soup from Nam Định.

Ninh Bình Province

Ninh Bình is famous for its beautiful landscapes and goat dishes.

• Cơm cháy Ninh Bình: Crispy scorched rice, often served with goat meat or a savory sauce.
• Thịt dê Ninh Bình: Goat meat dishes are a specialty here.

Ninh Thuận Province

• Dông 7 món: A local lizard prepared in seven different ways.
• Cơm gà Ninh Thuận: Chicken rice from Ninh Thuận.

Nghệ An Province

• Cháo lươn Nghệ An: Eel porridge, a comforting and flavorful dish.

Phú Thọ Province

• Bánh tai: Ear-shaped cakes.
• Thịt chua: Sour fermented pork.

Phú Yên Province

• Bánh hỏi lòng heo Gò Duối: Vermicelli noodles served with pork offal.

Quảng Bình Province

• Bánh bèo: Small, steamed rice cakes, often topped with dried shrimp.
• Bánh lọc: Chewy tapioca dumplings, often filled with shrimp and pork.
• Bánh khoái: A crispy savory pancake.

Quảng Nam Province

Quảng Nam is home to Hội An, a famous ancient town.

• Cao lầu Hội An: A unique noodle dish from Hội An with thick noodles, pork, and local greens.
• Mì Quảng: A noodle dish with a turmeric-infused broth, various toppings, and rice crackers.
• Bê thui Cầu Mống: Roasted veal from Cầu Mống.
• Cơm gà Tam Kỳ: Chicken rice from Tam Kỳ.

Quảng Ninh Province

Quảng Ninh is known for Hạ Long Bay.

• Chả mực Hạ Long: Grilled chopped squid, a famous specialty of Hạ Long.

Quảng Ngãi Province

• Cá bống sông Trà: A small fish from Trà River.
• Kẹo mạch nha: Malt candy.

Quảng Trị Province

• Bún hến: Thin rice vermicelli noodles with clams.

Sóc Trăng Province

• Bún nước lèo: A flavorful vermicelli noodle soup.
• Bánh pía: A sweet, flaky pastry, similar to a mooncake, often filled with durian or mung bean.

Sơn La Province

• Chè Tà Xùa: Tea from Tà Xùa.

Tây Ninh Province

• Bánh canh Trảng Bàng: A noodle soup from Trảng Bàng, served with boiled pork, rice paper, and fresh herbs.
• Trảng Bàng dew-wetted rice paper: Special rice paper that is softened by dew.

Tiền Giang Province

• Hủ tiếu Mỹ Tho: A clear pork broth noodle soup with rice vermicelli and wheat flour noodles.
• Bò viên: Beef balls.

Tuyên Quang Province

• Cam sành Hàm Yên: A type of orange from Hàm Yên.
• Rượu ngô Na Hang: Corn wine from Na Hang.
• Bánh gai Chiêm Hóa: A cake wrapped in gai leaves.

Thái Bình Province

• Bánh cáy: A colorful, chewy candy made from sticky rice.

Thái Nguyên Province

• Chè Thái Nguyên: Famous green tea from Thái Nguyên.
• Bánh cooc mò: A traditional cake.

Thanh Hóa Province

• Nem chua Thanh Hóa: A famous fermented pork sausage from Thanh Hóa.

Thừa Thiên–Huế Province

Huế was the imperial capital, and its cuisine is known for being refined and beautiful.

• Bún bò Huế: A spicy and flavorful beef noodle soup from Huế.
• Cơm hến: Rice with clams, a simple yet delicious dish.
• Bánh bèo: Small, steamed rice cakes.
• Bánh bột lọc: Chewy tapioca cakes filled with shrimp and pork, often wrapped in banana leaves.
• Mè xửng Huế: A chewy sesame candy, a popular souvenir.
• Chè nhãn bọc hạt sen: A sweet soup made from longan fruit stuffed with lotus seeds.

Trà Vinh Province

• Cơm cà ri dê: Goat curry rice.

Vĩnh Long Province

• Bưởi năm roi: A type of grapefruit.
• Thanh trà: A sweet and sour fruit.

Vĩnh Phúc Province

• Nem chua Vĩnh Yên: Fermented pork sausage from Vĩnh Yên.

Yên Bái Province

• Nếp Tú Lệ: Sticky rice from Tú Lệ.
• Thịt trâu gác bếp: Smoked buffalo meat.
• Bánh chưng đen Mường Lò: Black sticky rice cake from Mường Lò.

See also

• Vietnamese cuisine
• Vietnamese noodles
• List of Vietnamese dishes