Unveiling Vietnam's Culinary Gems: Underrated Delicacies You Must Indulge In - "Embracing Vietnam, one dish at a time"

Vietnamese cuisine is renowned for its fresh ingredients, complex flavours, and intriguing colours. As with most Asian cuisine, Vietnamese food is achieved by a balance of five fundamental tastes: spicy, sour, bitter, salty, and sweet. The staple ingredients that go into Vietnamese dishes usually include rice/ noodles, fish sauce, a variety of vegetables, seafood, and of course meat. 

Pho is an amazing noodle based dish from Vietnam, it usually comes with an aromatic beef or chicken broth, complimented by an array of vegetables (fresh and/ or pickled). The broth is simmered for hours with bones (chicken or cow), ginger, onions, and spices such as black cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander seeds, fennel seeds, and star anise. This process takes a lot of time, but the final result is worth it, and for any travellers, most locations offering Pho serve it fresh and warm. 

Pho, a flavorful noodle soup typically made with beef or chicken broth, is one of Vietnam's most famous dishes. Another beloved dish is banh mi, a French-inspired baguette filled with pâté, meats like grilled pork or chicken, pickled vegetables, and herbs. Fresh spring rolls, called goi cuon, offer a lighter option with shrimp, herbs, vermicelli noodles, and sometimes pork wrapped in rice paper.

Banh Mi is a dish that is inspired by French cuisine, making it an amazing fusion of French and Vietnamese cuisine packed with flavour and a large volume of culture. This dish is served on a crispy baguette, providing the best base for the filling, making this a must-have dish when visiting Vietnam. The filling usually has a pate, grilled meat (beef, chicken, or pork), pickled vegetables (usually prepared beforehand to pack more flavour), cilantro, and of course ample chilli. The various textures and flavours contrast each other, making this dish a stunning culinary experience for your taste buds. 

Cao Lau is another noodle based dish known for its unique flavours and textures, this dish features chewy noodles made from rice soaked in lye water. This dish is topped with slices of pork, fresh herbs, bean sprouts, and crispy rice crackers, Cao Lau is typically served with a small amount of savoury broth bringing a strong umami flavour to the dish. Cao Lau reflects the cultural influences of Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese cuisines, making it a must-try dish for travellers visiting Hoi An, Vietnam.

Bun Cha is a traditional Vietnamese dish originating from Hanoi, it consists of grilled pork served with rice noodles and a flavorful dipping sauce. The pork elements of this dish are usually served in the form of meatballs and slices of marinated belly, it is usually grilled over charcoal for a smoky taste adding more depth to this dish. This dish is available across Hanoi and it is the second most popular dish, only behind Pho. 

Banh Bao Vac (also known as White Rose Dumplings) is a speciality dish from Hoi An, it is a delicate collection of dumplings made from translucent rice paper filled with a mixture of shrimp, spices, and sometimes pork. This dish gets its name from its shape and it is accompanied by a savoury dipping sauce made from shrimp broth, chilli, lemon, and sugar.