17 Must-Try Vietnamese Breakfasts When You Traveling to Vietnam
Ivy
I’m Ivy. Over the past 10 years, I’ve planned private trips for more than 500 travelers, and those journeys have received 100% positive feedback.
In 2018, I traveled solo across Indochina. Since then, I’ve looked at routes differently. Some need another night. Some transfers take too much time for too little reward. And sometimes, an itinerary simply has too much packed into it.
That is the kind of detail I focus on when I write—how long to stay, which route makes sense, and what is actually worth including.
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It’s widely said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but few places take that as seriously as Vietnam. People often rise very early, and a hearty, filling meal is an important way to get the energy needed to get through the day.
You’ll see various savory dishes with regional specialties. Communal dining from street vendors or in small local restaurants is the norm. People like to take a moment to enjoy their first meal and catch up on gossip with friends.
It’s an experience you don’t want to miss on your Vietnam tour, here are 17 must-try Vietnamese breakfasts to help you start each day.
Vietnamese Breakfast Includes Fresh Herbs, Rice, and Vietnamese Sauces
5 Most Popular Vietnamese Breakfast Dishes
3 Best Vietnamese Breakfasts for Vegetarians
3 Typical Vietnamese Breakfast Dishes in Northern Vietnam
3 Typical Vietnamese Breakfast Dishes in Central Vietnam
3 Typical Vietnamese Breakfast Dishes in Southern Vietnam
Most Classic Vietnamese Breakfast Recipes to Make by Yourself
Vietnamese Breakfast Includes Fresh Herbs, Rice, and Vietnamese Sauces
Breakfast foods epitomize the distinct features of Vietnamese cuisine. There is extensive use of fresh herbs and spices like cilantro, lemongrass, scallions, and lime leaf. Chefs strive for a harmonious balance of flavors that allow the distinctive taste of the vegetables and meats to come out.
Rice is a core ingredient. Either steamed, fried, or in rice noodles, rice paper wrappers, sticky rice, or rice porridge. Sauces in dishes or served on the side add splashes of flavor that diners can personalize.
The most popular is Vietnamese fish sauce. It has a pungent, salty taste and is often accompanied by lime juice, sugar, chilies, and garlic.
Vietnamese fish sauce.5 Most Popular Vietnamese Breakfast Dishes
Pho: The National Breakfast Dish
You’ll find pho eaten everywhere in Vietnam. The varied combinations of tender rice noodles, beef or chicken slices, and rich broth can be customized and garnished to fit the palate of every region in the country. It’s a warm and hearty way to start the day with aromatic herbs to add some zest to the dish.
Vietnamese Pho.Bánh Mì: The Iconic Vietnamese Sandwich
The French influence on Vietnam lives on through banh mi sandwiches, albeit localized in a uniquely Vietnamese way. Fresh baguettes are stuffed with minced pork, mushrooms, and tangy fish sauce for an easy, on-the-go meal.
Vietnamese Banh Mi.Xôi: Sticky Rice for Breakfast
Sticky rice is sold everywhere, from street vendors to high-end restaurants. Glutinous rice is combined with other ingredients such as mung beans, sesame, mango, or meat for a warm and tasty dish. The endless variations ensure its continued popularity, and it’s a nutritious and affordable breakfast.
Vietnamese Xoi.Bánh Cuốn: Steamed Rice Rolls
Banh cuon is made from the best quality rice made into a dough that is rolled thin and then boiled. They are then filled with savory ingredients like ground pork, mushrooms, and bean sprouts. After being cooked, the rice rolls are topped with garnishes like spring onions.
Vietnamese Banh Cuon.Cháo: Vietnamese Porridge
Rice porridge is a soul-nourishing dish with deep cultural significance. Porridge made with ground pork is a popular choice for breakfast. Served with scallions and flavored with fish sauce, chicken rice porridge is a comfort food made with tender chicken and aromatic herbs.
Vietnamese porridge.3 Best Vietnamese Breakfasts for Vegetarians
Pho chay is a top choice for vegetarians in Vietnam. A meat-free alternative to the classic pho, pho chay has the same soft, flat rice noodles that are cooked in a vegetable broth. Savory flavors and protein come from deep-fried tofu and mushrooms that infuse the dish with hearty ingredients.
Vietnamese Pho chay.Xoi chay, vegetarian sticky rice, is a a favorite among the city’s vegetarians. You can pick it up anywhere around the city and enjoy the dish made with a range of ingredients like peanuts, mung beans, black beans, sesame, and mango. Vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike enjoy xoi chay all day long, but it’s often best as a nutritious and filling start to the day.
Vietnamese Xoi chay.Vegetarians also have options for enjoying the classic Vietnamese sandwich. Banh mi chay is the vegetarian version that is available with a wide range of fillings. Some of the most popular are stuffed with vegan sausage, deep-fried tofu, and pickled carrots. Like the pork version, fresh herbs, and delicious sauces are used to craft complex flavors.
Vietnamese Banh Mi chay.3 Typical Vietnamese Breakfast Dishes in Northern Vietnam
Breakfast in northern Vietnam is based around a balanced mix of salty, bitter, sweet, and sour flavors. Pho in Hanoi is typical of this. It’s made to be simple with fresh ingredients and a limited amount of herbs like cilantro and scallions to allow the natural flavors to come out.
Pho bo Au Trieu on 34 Au Trieu Street, Hoan Kiem District, is one of Hanoi’s top-rated pho restaurants. Bowls of steaming noodles cost 40,000-70,000 VND (1.5-2.7 USD)
Banh cuon, steamed rice rolls, are another common breakfast food in the north. The delicate rice flour sheets are filled with a savory mixture of minced pork, mushrooms, and fried onions and served with fish sauce.
Bun rieu is a traditional soup with rice vermicelli. It’s made with a tomato broth and topped with minced freshwater crab. Try it at Bun Rieu Cau on 11 Hang Bac Street in the Old Quarter. They make it with bold flavors, and a bowl costs 25,000-45,000 VND (1-1.7 USD).
Vietnamese Bun rieu.3 Typical Vietnamese Breakfast Dishes in Central Vietnam
People in central Vietnam like their food bold and spicy. Central Vietnamese cuisine is heavily influenced by the traditional royal cuisine of Hue.
Bun bo hue is one noodle dish popular for breakfast. It’s a rich and spicy soup with rice vermicelli, tender beef, and pork, and it is topped with lots of fresh herbs. Bun Bo Hue Mu Roi in Hue City is one of the top restaurants. Located at 40 Nguyen Chi Dieu, their creative takes on the traditional dish cost from 25,000-35,000 VND (1-1.5 USD) per bowl.
Vietnamese Bun bo hue.Mi Quang is another of Central Vietnam’s signature dishes. It’s made with turmeric-infused noodles, shrimp, pork, herbs, peanuts, and crispy rice crackers.
Mi Quang Co Sinh, at 170/5 Ly Thuong Kiet, is a great place to try it in Hoi An. They’re only open for breakfast and lunch, and a bowl will cost 20,000-25,000 VND (0.8-1 USD).
Vietnamese Mi Quang in Da Nang.Banh can is a popular breakfast food in the central region. They are pancakes made from rice flour, filled with shrimp, fried, then served with fresh vegetables, fresh chili, and dipping sauce.
Banh Canh Nam Dinh in Da Nang preserves the rich culinary traditions of the region. Located at 123 Le Duan, Hai Chau, banh can costs 15,000-20,000 VND (0.6-0.8 USD).
Vietnamese Banh can.
3 Typical Vietnamese Breakfast Dishes in Southern Vietnam
Southerners in Vietnam like their breakfasts with vibrant, sweet flavors.
Com tam, broken rice, is a signature southern dish. It’s served in a variety of styles, but a classic com tom is paired with marinated, sweet, and sour pork ribs.
Com Tam 352 at 352 Chu Văn An Street in Ho Chi Minh City has been open for twenty years. Don’t be fooled by the no-frills appearance, they serve classic com tom starting from 5 am for only 25,000 VND (1 USD).
Vietnamese Com tam.Bo ne is southern Vietnam’s take on steak and eggs. Served as a sizzling plate of marinated beef steak with a fried egg, sunny side up, pate, and a baguette, it’s a hearty breakfast that will keep you going all day. Bo Ne Ba Nui on 94 Nguyễn Thái Bình in Ho Chi Minh City serves the classic dish for 68,000 VND (2.7 USD).
Vietnamese Bo ne.Authentic southern banh mi is a must-try breakfast during your Vietnam food tours. Ho Chi Minh City has the original Vietnamese sandwich made with pork, pate, pickled vegetables, fresh herbs, and chili sauce. Try it at Banh mi Saigon Hoa Ma, No. 53, Cao Thang Street. For only 50,000-60,000 VND (2-2.4 USD).
Most Classic Vietnamese Breakfast Recipes to Make by Yourself
Classic Vietnamese breakfasts are a great meal to try at home. Pho noodle soup can be a straightforward dish to cook.
For cooking at home, you’ll probably want to buy pre-made rice noodles. Prepare the broth by cooking onion and ginger, and then add water, coriander, clove, fish sauce, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, chili garlic paste, and salt and pepper, then simmer for 30 minutes.
Vietnamese Pho essential ingredients.At the same time, cook the rice noodles according to the directions. Prepare the meat, chicken, beef, or pork by cutting very thin slices. Add the meat to the broth 5 minutes before it’s done.
When finished, discard the ginger and clove from the pot. Add cooked rice noodles to individual bowls, and ladle hot broth over the top. Top with your favorite garnishes.
Conclusion
Breakfast helps you see into the soul of a culture. The hearty, bold, and creative breakfast dishes served across Vietnam show off the skills and palate of the different regions in the country.
Eating like the locals will immerse you into the rhythm of daily life and introduce you to the world of Vietnamese cuisine. Travel across the country and try the specialties in each city for an unparalleled gastronomic experience on your Vietnam tour.
Ivy
I’m Ivy. Over the past 10 years, I’ve planned private trips for more than 500 travelers, and those journeys have received 100% positive feedback.
In 2018, I traveled solo across Indochina. Since then, I’ve looked at routes differently. Some need another night. Some transfers take too much time for too little reward. And sometimes, an itinerary simply has too much packed into it.
That is the kind of detail I focus on when I write—how long to stay, which route makes sense, and what is actually worth including.
Email me about your travel idea
