14 Vietnamese Street Food That Are Just To-Die-Pho (2026)

Klook Team

Last updated 30 Jan 2026

Street food is the heart and soul of many Southeast Asian countries and Vietnam is certainly one of them. As you walk around, you’ll pass local markets, rustic food places, and small food carts with plastic tables and stools.

Simple and comforting, Vietnamese street food delights your taste buds and slowly wins your heart.

1. Rice noodle soup (Phở)

When it comes to Vietnamese street food, the most obvious choice would have to be Vietnamese noodle soup, phở. This local daily staple is made up of chewy rice noodles in piping hot savory broth with tender slices of beef or chicken and topped with crunchy, spicy, herby garnishes.

Definitely, nothing beats a good bowl of heartwarming rice noodle soup to start your day when you’re in Vietnam. As iconic as it comes, you can explore hidden backstreets to discover the best spot to enjoy your phở on this Saigon motorbike food tour.

2. Vietnamese sandwich (Bánh mì)

An equally popular Vietnamese street food as the phở is the bánh mì, a Viet-style French baguette sandwich which has made a name for itself globally.

The crusty baguette is packed with pickled vegetables, coriander, fresh chilli, cuts of meat, typically pork, and smeared with a coat of pâté. You can include other toppings like egg, chicken, meatballs and more. We’re so thankful that bánh mì is easy to find on every street in Vietnam, especially when you can grab one while hopping on and off the Ho Chi Minh sightseeing double decker bus!

3. Rice paper salad (Bánh tráng trộn)

Source: tintuconline.com.vn

If you’re craving for a salad, you’re either a health nut or it’s because you miss the Vietnamese rice paper salad. The best way to describe this famous food in Vietnam is an explosion of flavours in a bite!

It’s prepared with strips of rice paper, variations of dried protein – beef jerky, squid, shrimp – and tart green mango, fresh mint, sweet basil and lastly, its signature spicy, sweet, sour dressing.

4. Sea snails (Ốc)

A popular snack you can find in street food carts in Ho Chi Minh City is sea snails! Sometimes, you can even find yourself bumping into a snail restaurant with fresh snails and shellfish on display.

You can choose to have this Vietnamese street food cooked in all kinds of ways from fried to steamed, sauteed or grilled. These lil’chewy, savoury snails are great for sharing with a few buddies over some icy cold beer!

Taste your way through Saigon’s lively streets on this guided Ho Chi Minh street food tour. Try local favorites, hear food stories from a local guide, and discover hidden spots you’d never find on your own.

5. Vietnamese sweet dessert (Chè)

Chè, a word to describe sweet dessert beverages in Vietnam, come in many different forms, sizes, flavours and colours! Typically, you can find them in the form of pudding, drinks or soup.

The usual ingredients that you can find in chè include but are not limited to coconut milk, sweetened beans, glutinous rice, colorful jellies, fruits and more. Easily found in local markets, these Vietnamese street foods are great for cooling down on hot afternoon days.

If you’re in Da Nang and craving local favorites like rice dumpling cakes, this Da Nang walking food tour with a local chef is the perfect way to taste the city’s best bites. Join the tour, follow a chef’s lead, and eat your way through Da Nang’s food scene!

6. Hoi An Noodles (Cao lầu)

Cao lầu is a noodle dish that is exclusive to Hoi An only and has quite the mysterious backstory. This Hoi An signature dish consists of udon-like noodles, pieces of barbecued pork (similar to char siu), fresh and crisp greens, and crunchy croutons.

The reason that you can only find cao lầu in Hoi An is that of its unique noodles which have to be made using water from an ancient well, the Ba Le well, and mixed with a special ash native to Hoi An. It’s also been said that the secret behind the precise recipe is known to only a few families in the region!

Aside from this famous food in Vietnam, there are other signature dishes that you can only find in Hoi An. Ride through the streets on a motorbike food tour or go on a street food walking tour to discover what else the region has to offer.

7. Spring rolls (Gỏi cuốn / Chả giò)

Source: pho-8.com

A classic Vietnamese crowd favourite, spring rolls! A variety of fillings like meat, vegetables, shrimps wrapped in rice paper, you can find them deep fried or served fresh. Best eaten with a dipping sauce, this famous food in Vietnam is suitable for everyone. Picky eaters, we’re looking at you!

The fresh ones are called gỏi cuốn and also sometimes referred to as ‘summer rolls’, while the fried ones are called chả giò.

8. Vietnamese pizza (Bánh tráng nướng)

A famous food in Vietnam, this pizza is made up of a rice paper grilled on the barbeque and topped with minced pork, prawn, egg or various other toppings. Topped off with fresh herbs and served with mayo, tamarind or chilli sauce, this pizza is surely one you’ll crave in the middle of the night.

You surely won’t be hangry if you join the Saigon street food night tour where you’ll be taken to the back streets and alleys of the city to discover other local specialty dishes.

9. Spicy green papaya salad (Gỏi khô bò / Gỏi đu đủ)

Similar to Thailand’s som tam, the base of gỏi khô bò consists of a bed of julienned unripe papaya. Layered with roasted peanuts, shreds of beef jerky, basil leaves, coriander and crispy dough crackers, this famous food in Vietnam is also sometimes referred to as gỏi đu đủ.

The star of the show, however, has to be the dressing that goes on the salad, perfectly balanced with zest, saltiness, sweetness, and a hint of spice. It’s the kind of unforgettable flavor you can keep discovering on a guided food walk through Hanoi Old Quarter food tour, where every stop tells a delicious story.

10. Egg coffee (Cà Phê Trứng)

The more commonly found Ha Noi Egg Coffee Class is the Vietnamese drip coffee but another must-try is the egg coffee! Yep, you heard that right. Prepared with black coffee and egg yolks whipped into condensed milk, this makes for a creamy and smooth cup of coffee. Tastes more like a dessert than coffee, it gives you the perfect kick so you can take on anything for the day!

There are different places to try egg coffee. Cafe Giang, the birthplace of egg coffee, is said to have been serving up this Vietnamese street food since the 1940s in their multiple locations.

Dinh Coffee in Hanoi gives you a view alongside their rich and frothy drink, while Luu Gia Cafe in Ho Chi Minh City is a must-visit for those craving for an authentic and well-balanced egg coffee.

11. Vermicelli with fried tofu and fermented shrimp paste (Bún đậu mắm tôm)

Every culture has its own smelly but tasty food and in Vietnam, it’s the bún đậu mắm tôm. The ingredients are simple and uncomplicated but the flavours are complex and robust. Mainly made up of vermicelli noodles, fried tofu, and fermented shrimp paste, other accompanying ingredients usually include cucumber, mint, perilla leaves, and pork belly.

How you eat this famous food in Vietnam is by picking up the individual pieces, dipping into the shrimp paste sauce, popping into your mouth, and repeat! The smell may put you off at first, but trust us, it’s worth a try.

12. Spicy beef noodle soup (Bún bò huế)

If phở had a bolder and hotter sibling, it would have to be the bún bò huế. The main components to this noodle dish are beef broth, thick rice noodles, beef shank, pig’s feet, blood cubes and lemongrass.

It’s served with the usual bean sprouts, fresh herbs, lime and various other toppings and condiments. Savoury, tasty, and addictive, this famous food in Vietnam originally from Hue, Central Vietnam, is one you’ll want to come back for more.

There are more flavours of Hue that are worth discovering. Hop on the back of a motorbike and whizz through the streets like a local in search for the best street food finds.

13. Grilled pork with vermicelli (Bún chả)

Originally from Hanoi, this vermicelli dish can be found throughout Vietnam served with grilled pork and a side of dipping sauce. It’s one of the highlights of this Hanoi street food tour you can find on Klook.

You can choose to eat it one of 2 ways,wrap everything in a big lettuce leaf and dip it into the sauce before taking a bite or mixing everything into the dipping sauce and eat it like you would a bowl of phở.

14. Coconut Coffee (Cà Phê Dừa)

Coconut coffee is another Vietnamese street food that combines robusta coffee with creamy coconut milk and crushed ice, resulting in a rich, tropical, and refreshing drink. Add this to your list of Vietnamese street food to try for hot days in Vietnam!

There are several places to try coconut coffee. One of which is at Cong Ca Phe with multiple branches nationwide. As one of the most famous cafe chains in Vietnam, you shouldn’t miss their signature coconut coffee. Another is at the charming Little Hanoi Egg Coffee, which offers both egg and coconut coffee drinks.

FAQs about street food Vietnam

What is the most popular street food in Vietnam?

Bánh mì is one of the most popular Vietnam street food dishes, known for its crispy bread and tasty fillings. You’ll find it all over the country, from big cities to small towns.

Is it okay to eat street food in Vietnam?

Yes, it’s generally safe to enjoy street food in Vietnam if you choose busy stalls with fresh ingredients. Locals eat street food every day, especially in Vietnam street food Ho Chi Minh, where food stalls are everywhere.

What exactly is xôi?

Xôi is a sticky rice dish topped with ingredients like pork, chicken, or mung beans. It’s a filling favorite in street food Saigon, often eaten for breakfast or as a quick bite.

Is street food cheap in Vietnam?

Yes, Vietnam street food Ho Chi Minh is very affordable, with many dishes costing just a few dollars or less. Street food is a great way to eat well without spending much while exploring the city.