What is the best Vietnamese dish?

Street-stall noodle soups sit beside imperial Hue specialties and a sandwich the whole world has adopted. Some of these turn up on every Vietnamese menu abroad; others rarely leave the province that invented them.

1. 1
   Banh Mi

   A crusty Vietnamese baguette stuffed with pate, cold cuts or grilled pork, pickled carrot and daikon, cucumber, cilantro and chili.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Pho

   Vietnam's national noodle soup: rice noodles and thinly sliced beef or chicken in a clear broth simmered for hours with charred ginger, star anise and cinnamon.
   892pts
3. 3
   Bo Luc Lac

   Shaking beef: cubes of marinated beef seared hot in a wok and served over watercress with a lime, salt and pepper dip.
   815pts
4. 4
   Com Tam

   Saigon's broken-rice plate topped with a grilled pork chop, shredded pork skin, a steamed egg meatloaf and a fried egg, with sweet fish sauce.
   642pts
5. 5
   Che

   The family of Vietnamese sweet dessert soups and puddings made with beans, jellies, fruit, glutinous rice and coconut milk, served hot or over ice.
   582pts
6. 6
   Bun Cha

   A Hanoi specialty of charcoal-grilled pork patties and belly served in a sweet-sour fish sauce broth with cold rice vermicelli and herbs.
   582pts
7. 7
   Goi Cuon

   Fresh summer rolls of shrimp, pork, rice vermicelli and herbs wrapped in translucent rice paper and dipped in peanut-hoisin sauce.
   513pts
8. 8
   Bun Bo Hue

   A spicy, lemongrass-scented beef noodle soup from the former imperial capital of Hue, with thick round noodles and shrimp paste depth.
   513pts
9. 9
   Bo La Lot

   Seasoned minced beef rolled in wild betel leaves and grilled over charcoal, giving a smoky, peppery aroma.
   513pts
10. 10
    Xoi

    Savoury or sweet glutinous sticky rice, a classic breakfast topped with mung bean, fried shallots, shredded chicken or Chinese sausage.
    513pts
11. 11
    Banh Khot

    Bite-sized crispy coconut rice-flour cakes from Vung Tau, each topped with a shrimp and wrapped in lettuce and herbs.
    513pts
12. 12
    Bun Thit Nuong

    A southern bowl of cold rice vermicelli piled with grilled lemongrass pork, fresh herbs, pickles and crushed peanuts, dressed in nuoc cham.
    434pts
13. 13
    Banh Beo

    Tiny steamed rice cakes from Hue, each in its own saucer, topped with dried shrimp, scallion oil and pork cracklings.
    434pts
14. 14
    Banh Xeo

    A sizzling turmeric-yellow rice-flour crepe folded over shrimp, pork and bean sprouts, torn up and wrapped in lettuce and herbs.
    434pts
15. 15
    Hu Tieu

    A southern pork-bone noodle soup of Chinese-Cambodian origin, served wet or dry with pork, shrimp, quail eggs and chewy tapioca noodles.
    434pts
16. 16
    Ca Kho To

    Catfish braised in a clay pot with caramel sauce, fish sauce and black pepper until dark, sticky and intensely savoury.
    342pts
17. 17
    Banh Cuon

    Delicate steamed rice-flour sheets rolled around minced pork and wood-ear mushroom, topped with fried shallots and served with fish sauce.
    342pts
18. 18
    Mi Quang

    A central Vietnamese turmeric noodle dish from Quang Nam served nearly dry with pork, shrimp, peanuts, herbs and a toasted sesame rice cracker.
    342pts
19. 19
    Bo Kho

    A fragrant Vietnamese beef stew with lemongrass, star anise and carrots, eaten with a baguette or over noodles.
    342pts
20. 20
    Bun Rieu

    A tangy tomato and freshwater-crab noodle soup with crab-paste dumplings, fried tofu and a mound of fresh greens.
    233pts
21. 21
    Cao Lau

    Hoi An's signature dish of chewy lye-water noodles, sliced pork, greens and crispy croutons, with just a splash of broth.
    233pts
22. 22
    Cha Ca La Vong

    Hanoi's famous turmeric-marinated fish fried tableside with heaps of dill and scallions, eaten with vermicelli, peanuts and shrimp paste.
    233pts
23. 23
    Cha Gio

    Crispy deep-fried spring rolls (nem ran in the north) filled with minced pork, glass noodles, mushrooms and vegetables.
    0pts

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