Vietnam is a horticulture based nation, and the wet rice civilization has influenced the Vietnamese food culture greatly. The great diversity of the Vietnamese food culture is due to its geography and climate. The geographical location of Vietnam, along with cultural and historical influences, are the most significant factors in shaping its food culture.
Rice is a staple diet for Vietnamese people, similar to the Asians. Popular dishes like bo kho seasoning specials, rice noodles, pho, etc. are all prepared using rice. Vietnamese people use rice to prepare other dishes like desserts, cakes, soups, etc. Vietnam is the 3rd largest producer of rice next to Thailand. Their breakfast usually begins with noodles or the pho (National dish of Vietnam), lunch is mostly rice vermicelli, and the dinner would be something made of rice.
The use of spices and herbs as the common ingredients in all the dishes is what makes their dishes unique and distinct from others. Spices like cardamom and clove are added to dishes like bo kho seasoning, sandwiches, soups, dipping sauces, noodles, etc. which enhance the taste and flavor. The Vietnamese cuisines are prepared with minimal use of oil keeping them light, unlike the Chinese dishes. Because of these reasons, the Vietnamese food is considered the healthiest ones by people all over the globe.
Though the Vietnamese food culture has been influenced by various cuisines, it remains unique and unbeatable. Did you know that Vietnamese food is also known to express the psychological existence of the Vietnamese individual? Isn’t that astonishing to hear? The bowl of fish sauce is believed to reflect the solidarity. The majority of the Vietnamese people strongly believe that the fish sauce has a significant contribution to the Vietnamese food culture. The best thing about the Vietnamese food culture is that all the family members can be seen together during the meal.
Another interesting fact about the Vietnamese food culture is that it’s the impression of the five-element theory inspired by Buddhists. Thus, all the five natural elements are linked with different flavors. The wood, fire, earth, metal, and water are linked to sour, bitter, sweet, spicy, and salty flavors respectively. The Vietnamese cuisines are more about balancing these flavors using different ingredients like spices, herbs, vegetables, and meat.
Another exciting characteristic feature of the Vietnamese cuisines is that they follow a contrasting feature. For example, the fleshy ingredients like noodles are served with the crispy and crunchy ingredients like vegetables, fatty pork, or fried onions. Ain’t these facts about the Vietnamese cuisines interesting?
Though the cooking styles vary from one region of Vietnam to another, the basic concepts remain the same. The northern Vietnamese people prefer slow-cooked dishes, whereas the southern Vietnamese people prefer grilled or raw dishes.
The street foods of Vietnam does need special mention. You can find delicious and heavenly dishes cooked everywhere on the streets, emitting a sweet fragrance. Banh mi, Cao lau, egg coffee, bot chien, bo kho seasoning, noodles, pizza, and spring rolls are some of the best street foods of Vietnam.
