Vietnam’s street food is gaining widespread popularity, with tourists opting for new delights like fried bananas and rice paper wraps instead of traditional options such as pho and banh mi.
Having spent over a month exploring Vietnam, Filipino Dannica Refe came back home carrying two suitcases filled with snacks valued at almost VND7 million (US$275).
The 25-year-old remarks: “It’s not even close to what my friends spent. They splurged more than VND10 million ($381) and still wished to purchase additional items.”
She came to Hanoi in mid-June for a vacation but confesses her primary reason was to join the TikTok challenge of sampling local Vietnamese street food.
She immediately went from the airport to convenience shops and grocery stores to purchase the products she had come across as suggested.
She claims she developed feelings for the snacks.
I could devour a bag of grilled coconut cookies without ever growing weary of them. They surpass numerous desserts found in high-end restaurants across the Philippines and are more affordable.
She is also amazed at the variety of Vietnamese snacks. For instance, using just one ingredient such as young green rice (
com
) individuals can prepare glutinous rice, ice cream, and sweets.
Prior to returning home, she and her companions visited supermarkets and stores in Hanoi’s Historic District, looking for treats to bring back as mementos and presents.
A clip she posted displayed snacks and instant coffee being placed inside her suitcase, which gained numerous views on TikTok.
Over the past two months, the “Vietnam snack haul” phenomenon has become popular online, featuring clips of foreigners purchasing instant noodles, treats, and coffee accompanied by tags such as #snackvietnam.
Numerous tourists show astonishment and mention they became hooked on these snacks.
Several people also ask for guidance on transporting significant amounts back home.
Hoang Nghia Dat, chief executive officer of VNA Travel, mentions that international travelers today seek more than just tourism; they are interested in culinary adventures, particularly street foods and traditional restaurants.
Previously, their main interest was trying foods such as pho or Vietnamese cuisine at restaurants. However, nowadays, they are eager to enjoy snacks from roadside stalls, sip locally brewed beer, or look for food vendors offering street-side treats.
bo bia
(Chinese sausage spring rolls).”
Thuy, who runs the Tai Loc sweet soup store located in Hoan Kiem District of central Hanoi, mentions that many international tourists have visited her establishment over the last month, opting for traditional specialties such as cassava dessert and steamed bananas wrapped in glutinous rice.
Many people are amazed to discover that these desserts cost just a few ten thousand VND ($1 to $2), but they can still savor them inside a lovely traditional home.
Thuy further mentions that local convenience stores have grown busy with international customers looking for treats, which was uncommon before.
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Boxes of traditional Vietnamese snacks and beverages that Dannica Refe bought on her visit to Hanoi. Image provided by Tiktok/nicsrefe. |
Nguyen Tien Dat, deputy chairman of the Hanoi Tourism Association, states that social media is transforming the way visitors discover Vietnam. More travelers are now exploring independently, relying on online culinary recommendations.
The range of tastes and affordable costs of Vietnamese street foods attract many tourists, he states.
Towards the start of this year, the culinary guide TasteAtlas featured various Vietnamese street dishes such as
bun dau mam tom
(rice noodles and tofu with prawn sauce) and
banh ran
(deep-fried sticky rice ball) in its list of
The Top 100 Dishes of Southeast Asia
alongside timeless favorites such as pho and banh mi.
Dat states: “Food holds an important position in the growth of tourism. Although the action of tourists purchasing Vietnamese snacks might appear minor, it contributes to promoting our food culture worldwide.”
By June this year, the count of foreign visitors arriving in Vietnam increased by 23% compared to last year.
This highlights the importance of maintaining hygiene in street food and utilizing media to showcase Vietnamese snacks.
Our aim is for visitors to come back because of meals that are delicious, budget-friendly, and leave a lasting impression.
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Zane Hanson (L) and his Vietnamese partner sample local street food in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo courtesy of Zane Hanson |
Twenty-one-year-old Zane Hanson from New Zealand arrived at a school entrance in Ho Chi Minh City and paused near a roadside stall offering popular children’s treats. He mentions that his Vietnamese partner showed him this post-classes snack habit, with items priced between VND5,000 and VND20,000 ($0.20 to $0.80).
He tried
keo chi
A dessert crafted from manually stretched malt sugar encased in a crisp cookie along with grated coconut. He also sampled a bowl of crushed ice soaked in fruit syrup, which he mentioned was the initial refreshment that helped cool him down during the hot weather apart from beer.
I tried instant noodles, pho, and instant coffee that my girlfriend brought with her, thinking these were the essentials, until the Vietnamese snack craze took off online.
He arranged a trip to Vietnam in early July to join the movement.
In New Zealand, snacks usually refer to biscuits or potato chips, and street food is uncommon.
Hanson was surprised by how cheap the snacks were in Vietnam: a bubble tea that costs VND160,000 ($6) back home sells for only VND20,000 ($0.70) on the streets here and includes tapioca balls.
He entered a store with children and was overwhelmed by the taste of hot potato chips,
o mai
(sweetened or seasoned dried fruits), and rice paper wraps.
Nearby school snack kiosks are filled with students and adults enjoying food and conversation.
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Maximilian Rolf (L) sips on beer and savors local cuisine with a companion in Hanoi. Image provided by Maximilian Rolf |
Maximilian Rolf, aged 31, hails from Germany and has been residing in Hanoi for more than three years. Eating snacks has become a regular part of his everyday life. He likes to have light meals with companions at roadside vendors during the afternoon, an activity that aids individuals in unwinding following a tiring day.
He mentions that although Germany also has snacks, it is difficult to find sweets similar to those found in Vietnam.
“Banana fritters (
banh chuoi
They are a weekly necessity for me. It’s incredible how something as straightforward as fried fruit can be so tempting.
He has likewise developed an affection for savory fried rice cakes (
banh ran man
2) soaked in fish sauce along with green papaya. Initially, he thought they were unusual, but quickly became addicted to their mix of tastes.