Vietnamese Street Foods Earn Top Spots in Southeast Asia Rankings

Alongside pho and banh mi, Vietnamese dishes like crispy pancakes, chicken sticky rice and more made top 100 street foods in Southeast Asia for 2025.

In total, 26 Vietnamese dishes made it to the list, announced by international food magazine TasteAtlas in February.

Banh mi and pho, Vietnam's two most famous dishes, retained high positions, ranking third and ninth, respectively. Various versions of these dishes were also featured on the list.

Other popular street foods such as broken rice ranked 20th, fried spring rolls was 27th with 4.3, and Nam-Vang-style noodles ranked 64th.

Below are some notable Vietnamese street foods that made it to the top 100.

Nem Lui (Grilled Pork Sausage)

Originating from Hue City, nem lui is made from ground pork mixed with pork skin, garlic, and shallots, marinated with fish sauce. The meat is skewered on lemongrass, brushed with oil, and grilled.

Nem lui is served with herbs, rice paper, and either sweet-sour fish sauce or peanut sesame sauce. This dish can be a main course or an afternoon snack.

Banh Xeo (Crispy Pancakes)

Banh xeo in central Vietnam has its roots in Hue City. The batter is made from rice flour, water, eggs, sugar, and salt. It is then fried with fillings like pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts. The pancake is served with a dipping sauce made from sesame and peanuts, accompanied by herbs such as perilla and lettuce.

The southern variety is larger, with a thin and crispy crust, often yellow with turmeric. Its filling includes pork, duck, shrimp, and bean sprouts.

Banh Beo (Steamed Rice Cakes)

Banh beo is made from glutinous rice flour and tapioca, steamed in porcelain cups. It is topped with fish sauce, chili, fried pork lard, shrimp floss, and fried shallots.

There is also a sweet version, popular in Hoi An City. Some international tourists have compared banh beo to tapas, a Spanish snack.

Bun Dau Mam Tom (Vermicelli with Fried Tofu and Shrimp Paste)

Bun dau mam tom is described as a dish consisting of rice vermicelli, fried tofu, and fermented shrimp paste. It is often served with boiled pork and other sides.

Everything is arranged on a platter with herbs. Before eating, a few drops of lime are added to the shrimp paste, which is then stirred and used for dipping. Visitors can find this food from street vendors all over Hanoi.

Bo Bia (Spring Rolls with Chinese Sausage)

Bo bia originates from Fujian and Chaozhou cuisine in Guangdong Province, China. In northern Vietnam, the sweet version is more common, featuring wheat flour wrappers filled with shredded coconut, malt sugar, and black sesame seeds.

In the south, savory bo bia is more popular, with fillings of Chinese sausage, egg, dried shrimp, and herbs. It is served with a sweet-sour chili sauce topped with crushed peanuts and fried shallots.

Banh Ran (Glutinous Rice Balls)

Banh ran is made from glutinous rice flour dough filled with mung bean paste, deep-fried until crispy. Jasmine essence is used to flavor the filling.

In addition to the round sweet version, there is an oval-shaped savory one filled with ground pork, served with sweet-sour fish sauce.

Banh Khot (Savory Mini Pancakes)

Banh khot is made from rice flour, cooked in round earthen molds, and topped with shrimp. It is served with herbs and dipped in sweet-sour fish sauce.

Often confused with banh can (baked rice cakes), which is popular in central Vietnam, banh khot is firmer and has a yellow color of tumeric.

Banh Cuon (Steamed Rice Rolls)

Banh cuon is a common street food in Vietnam. It can be filled or unfilled, with a thin, steamed rice flour wrapper rolled around ground pork and mushrooms.

It is served with sweet-sour fish sauce, herbs, and pork rolls. Banh cuon is commonly enjoyed for breakfast.

Pork Offal Porridge

Pork offal porridge is made from pork bone broth, white rice, and various pork organs such as liver and intestines, along with blood pudding. It is served hot, garnished with scallions, herbs, and a sprinkle of black pepper and chili powder, often accompanied by fried dough sticks.

It is a budget-friendly dish, costing around VND20,000 (80 cents) per serving.

Chicken Sticky Rice

This dish consists of sticky rice served with either fried or boiled chicken, sometimes garnished with char siu pork and pickles. Often served on banana leaves, it is available at both street stalls and restaurants.

Bun Moc (Pork Ball Noodle Soup)

Bun moc is a dish from Moc Village in Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi. It consists of vermicelli and meatballs served in a broth made from simmered pork bones, pork ribs, and shiitake mushrooms.

The noodles are usually served hot with pork rolls and herbs such as bean sprouts, chives, and cilantro.

FAQ

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Vietnamese street food:

What are the most famous Vietnamese street foods?

Some of the most beloved and iconic Vietnamese street foods are pho (beef noodle soup), banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches), and spring rolls. Other popular dishes include banh xeo (crispy pancakes), banh cuon (steamed rice rolls), and bun cha (grilled pork with noodles).

Where can I find street food in Vietnam?

You can find street food vendors all over Vietnam, but some of the best spots are in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and the smaller cities like Hoi An. Markets, street corners, and alleyways are good places to look. Asking locals for recommendations is a great way to find the best hidden gems.

Is street food safe for tourists to eat in Vietnam?

Yes, if you take some basic precautions. Choose busy stalls with high turnover, make sure raw ingredients look fresh, and opt for dishes that are cooked thoroughly. Avoid uncooked produce that you can't peel yourself. Street food in Vietnam is very popular with locals, so vendors are accustomed to foreign tourists.

What are the best street foods to try for breakfast in Vietnam?

Some great Vietnamese street breakfast options include banh cuon (steamed rice rolls), banh mi op la (fried egg banh mi), pho, chao (rice porridge), and bitter melon soup with pork. You can also find snacks like sticky rice, donuts, and coconut jam-filled pastries.

What is a good street food snack for vegetarians in Vietnam?

Good vegetarian street food options include banh beo (steamed rice cakes), nom sam (green papaya salad), bun chay (tofu noodles), chao chay (veggie rice porridge), trung nep cam (lime-stuffed tofu), and a variety of fruity smoothies and juices. Just be sure to specify no meat.