10 Culinary Specialties Of Central Vietnam

The birthplace of Vietnamese cuisine, central Vietnam, and especially the former imperial city of Hue, offers the most refined, sought-after... and spicy dishes in the country. Here, we love chili, garlic, pepper, ginger, and sometimes all at once.

To discover the best dishes of central Vietnam, we will stroll through the beautiful alleys of Hoi An and then enter the walls of the ancient imperial city of Hue. It’s hard to rank these dishes, to be honest, except for the Banh Ram It, the grand winner of this article. Get your chopsticks ready!

A culinary detour in Hoi An.

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The Unmissable Mi Quang

We are in Quang Nam province with Mi Quang, which joins the large family of Vietnamese soups. This dish is distinguished by its golden color and unique taste. The wide, yellow noodles (turmeric) are served with shrimp, as well as pork, chicken, fish, or beef—depending on where you are. The broth is made from meat bones, fish sauce, black pepper, garlic, and shallots. Finally, you can enhance this savory delight according to your taste with crushed peanuts, chili, banana flowers, and other greens. Now, the question is when to enjoy it: for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Price: between 20,000 and 40,000 VND ($2.00)

The Historic Cao Lau

Tasting this dish is as much a journey for the taste buds as it is through time! It's impossible to visit Hoi An, the famous lantern city, during a trip to central Vietnam without trying it. On the menu of this must-try dish, you'll find Cao Lau ("high floor"), the local culinary pride. To achieve its unique flavor, the dish consists of fresh noodles, thin crispy fried noodles, and a few slices of pork. It is all topped with a sweet broth and vegetables. Its secret: the preparation of the noodles.

At the height of its economy, the ancient trading port served Cao Lau on the best tables in the city, those on the upper floors where the wealthiest merchants ate - hence its name "High Floor". In those times, the rice grains used to make the noodles were soaked in water from the Ba Le well, mixed with the ashes of a tree that grew on Cham Island. Today, traditions have changed, and the water is drawn from family wells, with ashes taken from nearby trees.

Price: between 25,000 and 50,000 VND ($2.00)

The very popular Com Ga

It’s nice to live in Hoi An, let’s stay here a little longer. You’ve been strolling through the charming lantern-lit streets of the town for three hours now, and hunger is starting to set in. It’s time for lunch—what to do? Eat a Com, or more specifically, Com Ga (chicken rice). “Com…” dishes are very popular in Vietnam, perfect for a quick break. In Hoi An, the rice is cooked in chicken broth and turmeric, taking on the golden color of the chicken. Served with a small papaya salad, this simple dish is perfect for a pause between sightseeing and, of course, continuing your immersion in Vietnamese culture.

Price: between 40,000 and 60,000 VND (2.50 $)

The Banh Xeo of Hoi An (part of the journey)

Banh Xeo is a delicious, crispy savory pancake stuffed with whole shrimp, thin slices of pork, and bean sprouts. The ones from the south are huge (it’s quite a spectacle the first time), but the ones from Hoi An fit into your hand. They’re usually served with salad leaves, mint, cucumber slices, or rice paper. You roll your piece, dip it in the nuoc-mam sauce, and voilà! It’s a treat that’s been a hit with our customers! It’s also a specialty often offered in cooking classes.

As a fun fact, we translate Banh Xeo as "sizzling pancake." Take the time to listen carefully while wandering the streets of Hoi An, and you’ll hear the pancakes sizzling on the mobile kitchen stoves.

Price: between 30,000 and 40,000 VND (1.70 $)

Bonus for Banh Mi lovers

This article promised 10 specialties, but we’re breaking the rule… for the famous Banh Mi, our snack of choice at any hour, and not just any one. Imagine you’re in the middle of a day full of discoveries, you want to have a picnic in the beautiful countryside of Hoi An between two bike rides, or you’re saving yourself for a stunning candlelit dinner on the Thu Bon River… It turns out that Hoi An is renowned for the quality of its bread, and one shop stands out in particular: la maison Banh Mi Phuong.

Don’t let the surroundings slow you down, as this is one of the best street food spots in the region. After waiting in line, the hardest part is choosing from the roughly 20 recipes available.

Price: between 15,000 and 40,000 VND (2.00$)

Historical and Culinary Tour in Hue

Hue’s cuisine is considered the best in the country, showcasing the highest level of Vietnamese gastronomy. Here, the plate is elevated to the level of art—both in taste and presentation. From popular street food to fine dining, you’ll find dishes inspired by the food served to emperors of old.

The Warm Bun Bo Hue

Every city has its soup! In the center of Vietnam, Bun Bo Hue takes the gold medal. While there are many variations of this dish across the country, the original stands out with its broth made from beef bones, lemongrass, shrimp paste, and spicy chili oil. After simmering for several hours, thick round noodles, marinated beef slices, pork blood cubes, and pork feet are added. You can then add lemon, chili, banana flowers, and herbs to your taste. Colorful, fragrant, sweet, and spicy, this soup is delicious and hearty.

Price: between 45,000 and 55,000 VND (3.00$)

The Friendly Nem Lui

Don’t leave Hue without trying the famous grilled pork skewers. This dish is a harmonious combination of pork, aromatic herbs we love, and lemongrass. After being grilled over charcoal, the meat is served on a tray with rice paper, pineapple, herbs, and starfruit. Then, it’s up to you to roll your perfect roll, making sure to dip it in the sauce, which contains about ten ingredients: pork liver, tapioca, sugar, brine, cinnamon, star anise, and coconut juice… A social dish that will give you a wonderful family moment!

Price: between 50,000 and 80,000 VND (3.50$)

The Crispy Bánh Khoái from Hue

Similar to Bánh Xèo (a southern delight), Bánh Khoái are small savory pancakes/fritters filled with shrimp, mushrooms, slices of pork, and soybean sprouts. The batter is made from rice flour, eggs, water, sugar, and salt. The dish is fried in a pan to achieve a golden, crispy crust. To balance the greasiness, it is served with some salad leaves—green mango, lettuce, starfruit—and its accompanying sauce. A comforting dish, we prefer to enjoy it when it's cold outside!

Price: between 15,000 and 20,000 VND (1.00$)

The Rich Com Hen

You’ll need about fifteen ingredients to prepare this dish or wait around fifteen minutes for it to be served. Com Hen (Rice with Clams) joins the great family of Vietnamese cooked rice dishes. It is made with corbicula, a type of shellfish, fried pork skin slices, peanuts, sesame, salted shredded meat, banana trunk, banana flowers, sour starfruit, peppermint, lettuce, and more. Although the list seems long, the final concoction offers a surprisingly balanced taste. It's impossible to miss its scent—Com Hen can be found on every street corner!

Price: between 20,000 and 35,000 VND (1.50 $)

Popular Hue Dishes with Imperial Traits

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Banh to snack on without moderation

In French, Banh means cake or pastry. In Vietnam, there are many types of Banh that are specific to each region, whether sweet or savory. While some can serve as a full lunch or dinner, you can also enjoy the pleasure of sampling several varieties at a restaurant in Hue with your friends!

Bánh Ram Ít (Insolite’s Favorite)

This small ball of love (glutinous rice) contains a filling made of shrimp, pork, carrots, oyster sauce, shallots, and soy sauce. We could say that’s more than enough. But no, the genius of Bánh Ram Ít lies in its “Ram”—a crispy chip made with egg white, coconut milk, and rice flour, then fried in oil. Beautiful and delicious, as creamy as it is crunchy! It’s hard not to order a second plate…

Bánh Bèo

Very popular, you can find this “water fern cake” at both a fancy restaurant and on every street corner. Served in a small, round, hollow dish, Bánh Bèo is made from a rice and tapioca flour batter steamed and topped with a filling of sautéed shrimp, onions, and crispy pork skin. Of course, this dish is served with nuoc mam sauce. Delicate and refined, go ahead and indulge!

Bánh Nậm

Just like its counterpart, Bánh Nậm is a rice dough steamed with a filling made of minced pork and shrimp. This dish stands out due to its shape and presentation. Once the rectangular Bánh Nậm is finished, it is wrapped in a softened banana leaf after cooking. Unwrapped, you can enjoy this savory, translucent pastry always accompanied by fish sauce.

Bánh Lọc

Bánh Lọc takes the shape of a translucent dumpling made from tapioca flour, filled with whole shrimp and pork belly. This snack is also wrapped in a banana leaf and served with the essential nuoc mam (fish sauce).

Mea Culpa

Has this article made you hungry? If so, and the timing is not quite right, we apologize. However, let's look on the bright side—traveling in Vietnam is not just about beautiful beaches, breathtaking landscapes, and memorable encounters. Vietnam also promises a journey for your taste buds.

From experience, we encourage our travelers to explore the “big cities” through their street food specialties or dishes served at fine restaurants. It's a way to embrace our culture, albeit caloric, but very enjoyable for both children and adults alike.