1. BÁNH MÌ SÀI GÒN
Someone once said: “More than a dish, banh mi Saigon is representative of the personality of Ho Chi Minh City people: generous, open-minded, tolerant of new but insoluble.”
It can be said that bread is a very unique feature of Vietnam in general and Saigon in particular because urban life here is inherently busy and rushed, so people do not have much time. And banh mi, with its quick and easy feature, easy to find on any street in Saigon, is the answer for people to solve their hunger. Gradually, it became a cultural feature of Saigon people.
Banh mi is a dish that combines the flavors of many ingredients together. Between the aroma of vegetables, the fatty taste of pate, the delicious taste of meat, spring rolls, the crunchy, aromatic flavor of the pies and the most special is the sauce. Originally a dish that was introduced to Vietnam a few centuries ago, it was originally a bread served with sauce, butter, pate, etc… banh mi has been turned into a dish with a variety of fillings with lots of spices and herbs, creating a unique culinary feature with bold indigenous character. It is because of that harmonious combination that banh mi is one of the few famous and iconic dishes, reminiscent of Vietnam in general and the land of Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City in particular.
Enjoying banh mi is like enjoying a symphony where the maker, with creativity, like a conductor has made bread with many different flavors. It is truly an art!
2. SÚP CUA
The next place that drew our attention was a food stall that sat just a couple of meters from Ms. Xuan’s bánh mì magic. The woman was Ms. Chè, who makes a dish called súp cua and a popular treat called chè kinh. We ordered the súp cua, a traditional chicken soup thickened with tapioca starch, mixed with crab, boiled quail eggs, and spices, and topped with cilantro and hot chili sauce. The thickness of the hot savory soup was comforting. The texture, coupled with the subtle bite of cilantro and red chilies, made clear why this rich soup was so popular.
Ms. Chè didn’t skip a beat as she packaged and served her food to a constant flow of customers. She did so with such ease because she’s been crafting it for 20 years and, in the last two decades, hasn’t changed the cooking methods taught to her by her sister. Ms. Chè remembers eating the same súp cua she served today as a child. Years ago, she too began making street food for the sake of providing for her family, but today, the satisfaction of her customers is her favorite part of making súp cua on street corners.
3. BÁNH TIÊU
Around the corner and up a bustling street, we found Ms. Quyen’s little fried dough stand, and it was not one to pass. Bánh tiêu is a dense piece of fried dough topped with sesame seeds. It looks a bit like a sesame bun that you might find atop a burger patty, but it is not savory. This warm piece of dough is Vietnam’s slightly sweet, uncomplicated version of a donut – no raspberry mascarpone filling, no Himalayan salted caramel frosting, just hand-rolled dough, a bit of sugar, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. This delicious Vietnamese classic has been served up (at an impressive speed) by Ms. Quyen for the better half of her life.
Although Western people are afraid of eating fertilized duck eggs, this food is very popular in South East Asia, including Vietnam. We don’t only boil the fertilized egg but also create many amazing recipes to make the fertilized duck egg tastier. The most favorite recipe is Stir-fried Fertilized Duck Egg with Tamarind Sauce. The sour taste coming from tamarind sauce is the highlight of this food. Stir-fried Fertilized Duck Egg with Tamarind Sauce is not only sour but also sweet which is the favorite taste of Saigon people. This food is more delicious if it’s served with Rau Ram – a spicy herb in Vietnam. Just try, I beg you’ll love it.
4. Cu Chi Beef
Cu Chi region in Ho Chi Minh City is famous for Cu Chi tunnels – a great evidence of Vietnam’s heroic and heart-breaking war against foreign invaders. Cu Chi is also well-known with beef which has become ingredients in many eating places in Saigon. Cu Chi beef is not only tender but also tough. One of the most favorite dishes from Cu Chi beef is boiled beef shank wrapped in rice paper. It’s been said that the simplest recipe is the tastiest dish. You can feel the real taste of Cu Chi beef if it’s cooked without any spices. Slices of boiled beef are wrapped in rice paper with herbs, then the roll is dipped into fish sauce. It’s better to eat this food with some beer. Other delicious receipts are grilled beef and beef salad with banana blossom.
5. Bo Bia
Bo Bia is similar to Fresh Spring Roll which is well-known by many visitors to Vietnam. If you have a local friend or join a food tour in Saigon, you may have a chance to enjoy a hidden food from foreigners – Bo Bia. Boiled jicama, Vietnamese sausage, dried shrimp and salad are wrapped in rice paper into a small roll. The sauce is made from black bean paste, chili, pickles, peanuts, and deep-fried onion. The wonderful taste and cheap price are the reasons which make this food popular among students. Bo Bia is usually sold at small food stalls on the streets so that it’s easy to stop and buy it on a motorbike.
6. Goat Curry
Goat meat, sweet potato are cooked until tender in a flavorful sauce with curry, coconut cream, coconut water, sweet potato, garlic, ginger, lemongrass, and pepper. We love to eat Goat Curry with bread or rice noodles. It’s totally different from other curry dishes you’ve ever tasted.
7. Com Chay Cha Bong
Com Chay Cha Bong one of Top 10 Specialty Foods in Ho Chi Minh City. Com Chay Cha Bong is deep-fried steamed rice, topped with pork jerky, dried shrimp and chopped green onion. It’s one of the most popular snacks in South Vietnam. It’s easy to buy this food in the city because it’s sold in convenience stores, markets, supermarkets… The crispy deep-fried steamed rice and delicious pork jerky and dried shrimp will win your heart and make you keep eating it.
8. Mixed Rice Paper
Rice paper, cut into strips, is the main ingredient of this food. The simple receipt is rice paper strips mixed with special salt from Tay Ninh and kumquat juice. Rice paper strips, beef jerky, mango strips, boiled quail egg, dried shrimp and special sauce are used to make a wonderful snack. Each portion is served in a plastic bag, dinners can mix the ingredients themselves or the sellers will help them to do that. In Saigon, Nguyen Thuong Hien street is famous for many Mixed Rice Paper stalls next to each other.
9. Quail Egg Cake
Quail Egg Cake (or Banh Trung Cut) has just appeared in Saigon but it has become a favorite snack but it couldn’t be missed in the list of Top 10 Specialty Foods in Ho Chi Minh City. Banh Trung Cut is fried on a special small pan before being topped with chopped green onion, dried tiny shrimp, pork jerky, chili sauce, tomato paste, and mayonnaise. It will leave a big memory on your trip to Ho Chi Minh City to see how they cook a Quail Egg Cake and eat it right on the street.
10. Sweet Soup with Tea and Egg
Have you ever eaten a sweet egg or eaten an egg with tea? It’s weird but Saigon people love to eat like that. We have a very funny receipt – Sweet Soup with Tea and Egg. The boiled egg is cooked in tea for about 2 hours and sugar is added later. I beg that you couldn’t imagine how it tastes and I couldn’t describe the flavor for you. The only way to try this exotic food is to travel to Saigon.
