Northern Vietnamese food
Northern Vietnamese food is the austere, savoury end of the spectrum — the cooking of Hanoi and the mountains. Less sugar and chilli than the south, more fish sauce, black pepper, and restraint. This is phở country, the home of bún chả and the herb-forward cha ca, where a good bowl is judged on the clarity of its broth rather than the size of its garnish plate.
Hanoi’s lunch: grilled pork patties and belly in a sweet-sour dipping broth.
© David McKelvey from Brisbane, Australia · CC BY 2.0A Hanoi invention: coffee under a whipped, custard-like meringue of egg yolk and condensed milk.
© Casablanca1911 · Public domainSilky steamed rice sheets rolled around pork and mushroom — a northern breakfast.
© Unknown · CC BY-SA 2.0The world’s cheapest fresh beer, brewed daily and drunk on a street corner at sunset.
© Phương Huy · Public domainHanoi’s theatrical table-grilled fish with turmeric, dill, and a mountain of herbs.
© trungnguyen299 · CC BY-SA 2.0A communal northern platter built around fried tofu and Vietnam’s most divisive dip.
A Hanoi twist: uncut pho sheets wrapped around grilled beef and herbs, no broth.
The clear beef (or chicken) noodle soup that the rest of the world copies badly.
© TarnishedPath · CC BY-SA 4.0A bright, tangy tomato broth with clouds of freshwater-crab paste and tofu.
Northern food — common questions
- What food is northern Vietnam known for?
- Northern Vietnamese food is the austere, savoury end of the spectrum — the cooking of Hanoi and the mountains. Less sugar and chilli than the south, more fish sauce, black pepper, and restraint. This is phở country, the home of bún chả and the herb-forward cha ca, where a good bowl is judged on the clarity of its broth rather than the size of its garnish plate. The dishes to seek out: Bun cha, Egg coffee, Steamed rice rolls, and Fresh draught beer.
- What is the most famous northern Vietnamese dish?
- Bun cha (Bún chả) — Hanoi’s lunch: grilled pork patties and belly in a sweet-sour dipping broth.