What to eat in Vietnam

A steaming bowl of flavoursome pho is considered Vietnam’s national dish. Pronounced more like ‘fa’ than ‘foe’, this noodle soup features clear rice noodles in a broth with thinly sliced beef or chicken, vegetables and herbs. Think savoury, slightly sweet and a comfort food that's comfy without being heavy.

Banh xeo literally translates to ‘sizzling pancake’ and that’s exactly what it is. A crispy, savoury, stuffed rice pancake tinted yellow with turmeric powder and filled with pork, shrimp and bean sprouts. It’s typically served with fresh herbs, lettuce and a dipping sauce. You’ll hear the sizzling sound as soon as it hits the frying pan.

Take crusty bread, stuff it with meat, coriander, daikon or green papaya, pickled vegetables, pate and mayonnaise, and you’ve got your new favourite lunch. Traditionally on a French baguette, this sandwich is crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and you’ll want a second before you even finish your first.

Vietnamese food is often made with simple ingredients that create a surprisingly complex flavour and bo la lot is a prime example of something simple and delicious. It's minced beef seasoned with herbs, shallots, lemongrass and fish sauce, wrapped in betel leaves and grilled for the perfect street food snack.

If you see a bowl of greens on any table in Vietnam, it’s probably morning glory – a sauteed vegetable dish found on most menus. It’s similar to spinach but has a mild and sweet flavour stir fried with minced garlic. It’s often prepared as a side dish, great for vegetarians and meat eaters alike, and if you fancy, it’ll be ‘rau muong’ on the menu.

Vietnam takes coffee to a whole new level with dark-roasted coffee, sweetened condensed milk and water. Ask your leader about the regional specialties, like egg, coconut and salt coffees in different cities. It’s known to be addictive because it’s seriously that good – strong, sweet and creamy.

Hailing from the town of Hue, this rice noodle beef soup packs a spice and lemongrass-filled punch. Often served with pork knuckle, slices of beef, sausage and onions, it's citrusy, hearty and warming. It’s similar to pho but with more ingredients and thicker noodles.

That smell of charring meat that permeates Hanoi is probably bun cha – patties of fatty pork served in a thin soup alongside assorted greens, herbs and fresh rice vermicelli noodles. The meat is marinated in fish sauce, sugar and spices and usually comes with a savoury-sweet sauce for dipping. There’s a reason it’s Hanoi’s signature dish.

Coffee, duh. But there are so many other things to try, from rice wine to fruit smoothies, here’s a list to get you started.

It depends on where you go and what you do. Vietnam’s weather varies from north to south, making it a year-round destination. But we’ll break it all down for you.

Festivals are a great way to get to know a place and its culture. From Vietnamese New Year to Buddha's birthday, here are some celebrations you can plan your trip around.