Iconic dishes, ordering phrases, ingredients, condiments, and market vocabulary — everything you need to eat like a local.
| Dish | Vietnamese | Pronunciation | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pho | phở | fuh | Rice noodle soup — beef (bò) or chicken (gà) |
| Banh mi | bánh mì | bahn mee | Baguette sandwich with pork, pâté, pickled veg |
| Fresh spring rolls | gỏi cuốn | goy koo-uhn | Rice paper rolls — shrimp, pork, herbs, vermicelli |
| Fried spring rolls | chả giò | chah yaw | Crispy fried rolls — pork and vegetables |
| Broken rice | cơm tấm | kum tum | Saigon staple — rice with grilled pork, egg, pickles |
| Sizzling crepe | bánh xèo | bahn say-oh | Crispy turmeric crepe with pork, shrimp, bean sprouts |
| Hue beef noodles | bún bò Huế | boon baw hweh | Spicy lemongrass beef soup — bolder than phở |
| Grilled pork noodles | bún thịt nướng | boon tit nyuh-ung | Cold vermicelli with grilled pork and herbs |
| Hanoi grilled pork | bún chả | boon chah | Grilled pork patties in broth with rice noodles |
| Steamed rice rolls | bánh cuốn | bahn koo-uhn | Thin steamed rice sheets filled with pork & mushroom |
| Hoi An noodles | cao lầu | kow loh | Thick noodles with pork, greens, crispy croutons |
| Southern noodle soup | hủ tiếu | hoo tyew | Clear broth noodle soup — Saigon's everyday comfort food |
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Upgrade to Pro — $9.99/mo →| English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I want to order | Tôi muốn gọi món | toy moo-uhn goy mawn |
| Give me one of these | Cho tôi một cái này | chaw toy moht kai nay |
| One bowl | Một tô | moht toh |
| Two bowls | Hai tô | hi toh |
| The bill please | Tính tiền đi | ting tyen dee |
| Delicious! | Ngon lắm! | ngawn lahm |
| Not spicy | Không cay | khome kay |
| A little spicy | Ít cay | it kay |
| Very spicy | Cay nhiều | kay nyew |
| No ice | Không đá | khome dah |
| Less ice | Ít đá | it dah |
| No sugar | Không đường | khome duh-ung |
| More please | Thêm nữa đi | tem nyuh dee |
| What is this? | Cái này là gì? | kai nay lah yee |
| Vegetarian | Ăn chay | un chay |
| No meat | Không thịt | khome tit |
| You want | Say this | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Extra broth | Thêm nước lèo | tem nyuhk lay-oh |
| Extra noodles | Thêm bún / mì | tem boon / mee |
| Extra meat | Thêm thịt | tem tit |
| Well done beef | Bò chín | baw chin |
| Rare beef | Bò tái | baw tie |
| No MSG | Không bột ngọt | khome boht ngawt |
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Upgrade to Pro — $9.99/mo →| English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Beef | bò | baw |
| Chicken | gà | gah |
| Pork (South) | thịt heo | tit hey-oh |
| Pork (North) | thịt lợn | tit luhn |
| Duck | vịt | vit |
| Shrimp | tôm | tome |
| Fish | cá | kah |
| Squid | mực | muk |
| Crab | cua | koo-ah |
| Clams | nghêu | nyew |
| Shellfish | sò | shaw |
| Snails | ốc | awk |
| Tofu | đậu hũ | doh hoo |
| English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fish sauce | nước mắm | nyuhk mum | Everything — the backbone of Vietnamese cooking |
| Chili sauce | tương ớt | tuh-ung uht | Dipping, noodle soups |
| Hoisin sauce | tương hoisin | tuh-ung hoy-sin | Pho, spring rolls |
| Fresh chili | ớt tươi | uht tuh-ee | Soups, dipping sauces |
| Fresh lime | chanh tươi | chan tuh-ee | Squeeze into pho and noodle soups |
| Bean sprouts | giá | yah | Pho, bánh xèo |
| Fresh herbs | rau thơm | row thum | Spring rolls, noodle bowls |
| Basil | húng quế | hoong kweh | Pho, Southern dishes |
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Upgrade to Pro — $9.99/mo →| English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iced coffee with milk | cà phê sữa đá | kah feh shuh-ah dah | The classic — strong drip coffee + condensed milk + ice |
| Hot coffee with milk | cà phê sữa nóng | kah feh shuh-ah nawng | Same but hot |
| Iced black coffee | cà phê đen đá | kah feh den dah | No milk — intensely strong |
| Drip filter coffee | cà phê phin | kah feh fin | Brewed with the traditional metal drip filter |
| Egg coffee | cà phê trứng | kah feh chung | Hanoi specialty — whipped egg yolk on coffee |
| Coconut coffee | cà phê cốt dừa | kah feh koht yuh-ah | Coffee blended with coconut cream |
| White coffee (more milk) | bạc xỉu | bahk syew | Saigon style — lighter, more milk, less coffee |
| Salt coffee | cà phê muối | kah feh moo-oy | Hue specialty — salted cream on coffee |
| English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Iced tea (usually free) | trà đá | chah dah |
| Hot tea | trà nóng | chah nawng |
| Milk tea | trà sữa | chah shuh-ah |
| Bubble tea | trà sữa trân châu | chah shuh-ah chun choh |
| Fresh fruit smoothie | sinh tố | sing toh |
| Fresh fruit juice | nước ép | nyuhk ep |
| Coconut water | nước dừa | nyuhk yuh-ah |
| Sugarcane juice | nước mía | nyuhk myah |
| Still water | nước lọc | nyuhk lawk |
| Beer | bia | byah |
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