What are the basic ingredients in Vietnamese cuisine?

Before getting a more detailed view of the best Vietnamese foods to try, it is important to get an impression of the cuisine itself. Generally, one would describe it as one that uses lots of fresh ingredients - herbs and vegetables, very little oil or dairy products, and many textures.

One of the most common ingredients is rice, and it is used in different forms - like noodles, rice paper, and rice flour. It naturally makes the dishes gluten-free, and another characteristic is the low sugar content. The most popular is fish sauce, and the most common flavors used in dishes are bird's eye chili, ginger, lime, mint, Vietnamese mint, lemongrass, long coriander, Saigon cinnamon, and Thai basil leaves. Because the meats are traditionally more expensive, many old recipes are vegetarian (though nowadays, pork, beef, and seafood are widely used in some of the most popular dishes).

What is the philosophy of traditional Vietnamese foods to try?

Most Vietnamese foods you need to try will incorporate a philosophy that has been around for centuries and is deeply embedded in their culture besides their plates. Meaning, each of the plates should predominantly contain one or more of the five elements to attain a particular type of balance. The five elements could be the flavors (spicy, sour, bitter, salty, and sweet), the types of nutrients (powder, water or liquid, mineral elements, protein, and fat), colors, or, most importantly, the five senses. These are visual appeal (food arrangements), sound from crunchy and crispy ingredients, five spices that one can feel on the tongue, herbal aromatics that stimulate the nose, and for particular dishes - also the touch. 

As you can see, it is no simple thing to obey all the principles, but the result is truly divine if you learn to master the balance of all these elements. The great icon Anthony Bourdain himself wrote one of the best descriptions about this cuisine:

"You don't have to go looking for great food in Vietnam. Great food finds you. It's everywhere. In restaurants, cafes, little storefronts, in the streets; carried in makeshift portable kitchens on yokes borne by women vendors. Your cyclo-driver will invite you to his home; your guide will want to bring you to his favorite place. Strangers will rush up and offer you a taste of something they're proud of and think you should know about. It's a country filled with proud cooks—and passionate eaters."

But okay, enough rambling around the topic. Let's get onto this finally!

What are the 10 Vietnamese foods you need to try now?

1. Pho

2. Bun Rieu

3. Bahn Mi

4. Vietnamese Iced Coffee

5. Banh khot

6. Bot Chien

7. Banh Xeo

8. Goi Cuon

9. Che Chuoi

10. Coconut jelly, or Rau Cau