Unique Feature In Vietnam Food Culture

Vietnam Food Culture - Source: Google.com

For generations, Vietnamese culinary culture has been formed, preserved and developed along with the nation's history. Each region in the territory of Vietnam has its own characteristics in terms of processing, using spices or eating habits, thereby contributing to adorn the colorful panorama of cuisine. Preserving and promoting traditional dishes is a method of preserving Vietnamese culinary culture.

As an agricultural country in the tropical monsoon region, the territory of Vietnam is divided into 3 regions: North - Central - South. Therefore, Vietnamese cuisine is also divided into 3 regions with 3 unique characteristics. Not only are the differences in geographical features, climate and weather but also culture and customs that have formed their own characteristics in eating habits, tastes, and combinations of ingredients. 

This article will clearly introduce Vietnamese cuisine culture. 

• 1. Vietnam Food Culture: Traditional feature

Vietnam is an agricultural country, therefore, Vietnam is one of the largest rice producing countries in the world. In Vietnamese culinary culture since ancient times, the main indispensable ingredients used in Vietnamese dishes are rice and rice-based products such as vermicelli, pho, etc.

The rice crop is an object of worship in many temples in Vietnam. It is believed to have originated from the belief in Mother Goddess worship, the oldest belief in Vietnam. Rice isn't just happiness, it actually shapes Vietnamese. Accordingly, Vietnamese cuisine in ancient times to this day still considers rice as the center of all things.

Rice is a necessary raw ingredient that is utilized in all locations, by all cultural minorities, and in a wide variety of recipes. Rice is used to make a variety of foods, including white rice, sticky rice, banh chung, banh tet, vermicelli, pho, dumplings, porridge, and many more. The popularity of these delicacies transcends the local level and extends to the entire nation.  

A common point in Vietnamese cuisine from the past to the present, through many generations, the dishes are still made simple and unique. Use plant-grown ingredients such as vegetables, tubers, and fruits to eat with white rice. Diverse forms of cooking from boiling, steaming, stewing, mixing salads, etc., help food not be greasy as well as add fiber. Most prominently, in the daily meal, it is indispensable for dipping sauce, especially fish sauce - a kind of seasoning that is both a seasoning for food and for dipping to bring the most perfect taste to the dish.

• 2. Vietnam Food Culture: The harmony and  balance

In general, Vietnam formed from the wet rice civilization for thousands of years, so the main ingredient in the main meals is rice. Vietnam does not use wheat, barley, or grains like countries in North Africa and the Middle East. Furthermore, due to its location in South East Asia with excellent natural, climate, and geographical characteristics, the Vietnamese people have produced an abundance of eatables, which creates good conditions for the creation of Vietnamese cuisine.

Regarding vegetables, Vietnam uses a wide variety of vegetables and fruits and processes them into many types of dishes such as boiled, stir-fried, soup, pickled, and eaten raw. In every Vietnamese meal, it is indispensable for soup dishes. Since Vietnamese cuisine is a combination of protein, spices, herbs, veggies, and even fruits, it is praised for its harmonious flavors. Vietnamese cuisine is among the healthiest in the world, therefore it seems sense that people have also recognized it as such. 

Most people, even celebrity chefs Gordon Ramsey, Anthony Bourdain, and Jamie Oliver, can't resist but be drawn in by Vietnamese cuisine's seductive appeal. Vietnamese food is well-known for its distinctive flavors and peculiarly gratifying flavors.

Besides, Vietnamese people attach great importance to harmony in dishes. A dish must meet two criteria: delicious and eye-catching. Nutritious and healthy ingredients such as vegetables, meat and fish combine smoothly to create a dish.

The number of dishes from animals is less than that of plants. The most commonly used meats are pork, beef, chicken, poultry such as duck and chicken, shrimp, fish, crab, snail, mussel, cockle, etc. Vietnam does not use lamb, turtle, tortoise, or mouse, etc., in daily dishes.

In Vietnamese cuisine, vegetarian dishes are indispensable. Besides the followers of Buddhism, a part of people use dishes made from plants, not derived from animals for other purposes, such as having medical problems. 

The delicious factor is the first priority in Vietnamese cuisine, so daily dishes, if it is not a holiday, will not be elaborately decorated. Because the dishes use a delicate combination of spices. Besides, Vietnamese people prefer to use ingredients with tough, crispy texture such as bamboo shoots or animal organs. Vietnamese dishes also do not set the top goal of eating nutritious food, so the system of dishes with few stews, stews, and stews requires a long time.

• 3. Vietnam food culture: The philosophy of yin and yang 

Vietnam has a lot of influence on Chinese culture. Accordingly, Buddhist philosophy is clearly expressed in Vietnamese cuisine through the five elements of Wuxing. ​​The five elements in yin and yang are associated with the five basic flavors of spicy, sour, salty, sweet and bitter to create uniqueness. And each dish in Vietnamese cuisine must blend between those elements. That's why most Vietnamese dishes have contrasting textures.

With a delicate blend of herbs, fresh vegetables, meat and a selective use of spices, Vietnamese food is not only unlike any other in Southeast Asia, but is also considered one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. This balance means that most traditional Vietnamese dishes use a variety of herbs and spices to give a distinct flavor to the main ingredients of the dish.

• 4. Vietnam Food Culture: Together eating on a tray

Additionally, Vietnamese cuisine reflects Vietnamese culture's mentality. The everyday mealtime rituals of Vietnamese people vary. A small bowl of fish sauce or soy sauce is placed in the middle of the platter together with all of the other dishes that make up the dinner. All members of the family will be present during a traditional Vietnamese daily supper in this fashion. They can debate various meals and other daily subjects while they are eating together, as well as their perspectives on various foods.

If you ever get the chance to learn more about Vietnamese cuisine, you could get quite thrilled when you discover how many sauces they use in their dishes. You might be surprised to see the entire family using a bowl of fish sauce at once, which is what gives Vietnamese cuisine its distinctive flavor. Some individuals believe that the bowl of fish sauce symbolizes unity. Others hold the opinion that fish sauce significantly contributes to the cultural aspects of Vietnamese cuisine.

• 5. Vietnam Food Culture: Varies by region

From the north to the south, there are differences in the eating culture of Vietnam. 

- Northern

Vietnamese cuisine in Northern Vietnam is distinguished by its light, well-balanced tastes, which result from the harmonious blending of several components. Many different meats, including pork, beef and chicken, as well as various types of freshwater fish, crustaceans, and other mollusks, including shrimp, crab, and oysters, have been used in Northern cooking. These items are used to prepare several well-known Vietnamese cuisines, including Bun Rieu. Vietnamese culture in general and Vietnamese cuisine in particular are believed to have originated in northern Vietnam, which is home to many famous dishes including Pho, Bun Rieu, Bun Thang, Bun Cha, Banh Cuon, etc. 

- Central

Then, the Central region carries within itself the ancient royal cuisine of Vietnam. Central people have a preference for spicy and salty foods. The food is often presented very eye-catchingly, when you see it, you want to taste it right away. 

The special thing of the culinary culture of the Central region is the harmony in style: royal cuisine and street food. Especially the city of Hue - the ancient capital of the Nguyen Dynasty, the last dynasty of Vietnam. Where Central dishes are carefully prepared, cooked with skillful techniques to produce dishes that are both delicious and aesthetically pleasing. 

The longevity and development of royal dishes have created a variety of Central cuisine, such as Bun Bo Hue, Quang noodles, Cao Lau, and hundreds of different types of cakes such as Banh Cuon, Banh Beo, Banh Xeo (pancakes), etc.

- Southern

A wide range of fruit, vegetables, and cattle may be grown in Southern Vietnam due to the region's mild climate and good soil. As a result, fresh herbs, garlic, and shallots are frequently added to the meals in the area. 

Southern dishes tend to be simple in preparation, not too complicated in the cooking of Northern and Central Vietnamese. 

In the South of Vietnam, where many rivers are continuously deposited by alluvium, in addition to fresh fruits and vegetables, the South also has a lot of shrimp and fish.

Southern dishes tend to be sweet and delicious because they use sugar, coconut water, coconut milk and use many spices to make the dish rich and attractive. Regional dishes when imported to the South are also more creative than the original version. However, the national identity is still preserved on the Vietnamese dining table.

In addition, there are 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam, spread across several geographical areas. As a result, each ethnic group's food has a wide variety of identities. Highlights include Khâu Nhục in Lang Son, Sour Phở, Dien Bien sticky rice, Phu Tho sour meat, etc. 

• 6. Vietnam Food Culture: Family meal

In Vietnamese culinary culture, family meals are an indispensable feature. For Vietnamese people, a quality meal is not about the quantity of dishes presented or each dish more or less, but the warm reunion of family members. Vietnamese meals usually take place at noon and evening every day. This is not only the time for the family to gather after a long day of work, but also the moment when the members confided and shared the joys and sorrows that had happened. Each Vietnamese meal, besides rice, usually has three to five dishes depending on the economic conditions and eating habits of each family.

During the meal, the members will pour rice into the bowl from the common rice cooker. Each meal usually has a soup in the middle. If you don't have time, it can also be a bowl of vegetable broth. There is also a stir-fry, a savory dish from animal protein that is cooked in a fried, braised, or fried style. Indispensable in every meal is a cup of fish sauce for the whole family to share. Some families also eat more raw vegetables and pickles.

Unlike Western countries that use utensils such as forks, knives or spoons, Vietnamese people often use chopsticks in meals. This has created a typical cultural identity of Vietnam and Asian countries. The practice of using chopsticks to be beautiful and smart, to pick up food and rice to avoid falling, and to make noises is also a sign of family culture education.

Vietnamese people often invite guests to their homes and treat them to delicious food to increase cohesion in relationships. When having the opportunity to organize meals, the owner will arrange the dishes on a large tray / table. The meal is not only fun but also shows the typical hospitality of Vietnamese people.

However, the Vietnamese have a saying "Trời đánh tránh bữa ăn", means “don't make a fuss at mealtimes”, during the meal, one must avoid reprimanding, reminding of shortcomings, not quarreling, and should not talk about things that cause trouble, but only talking about happy things, future plans and showing affection, sharing, and encouraging each other.

Understand other Vietnamese behaviors while eating meals, visit here:  Cultural features in the Vietnamese eating habits.

• 7. Vietnam Food Culture: Street food

Vietnamese street food is diverse and rich. In addition to traditional dishes, there are also dishes that are products of the process of cultural exchange and acculturation with ethnic groups living in Vietnam for a long time such as Chinese, Cham, Khmer or Western countries, and recently there are also snacks from countries like Thailand, Korea, Japan, Turkey, etc. These dishes are received by the Vietnamese and changed more or less depending on the taste and cooking style of the Vietnamese.

Coming to Vietnam, visitors can easily encounter traditional Vietnamese dishes without having to spend a lot of time searching or having to step foot in luxury restaurants. The dishes that are most noticed by foreigners are pho, banh trang tron, banh xeo, spring rolls, banh chung, etc.

Vietnamese street food is famous all over the world. This really contributes to the development of the Tourism industry. Two popular street foods in Vietnam, pho and banh mi, have been included in the Oxford English Dictionary. In 2012, the world culinary magazine "Food and Wine" voted Ho Chi Minh City as one of the cities with the best street food in the world.

The unique feature of street food contributes to the attraction of tourists. The use of natural, environmentally friendly materials such as dong leaves, banana leaves, and bamboo ropes in the processing and decoration of dishes also makes Vietnamese cuisine unique, compared to the cuisine of other countries. In addition, the street food style of Vietnamese people also makes visitors find it interesting. 

When enjoying street food, Vietnamese people often enjoy it together, in a bustling, fun and cool atmosphere. Tables and chairs are usually small, low to not take up too much space on the road and easy to arrange. In addition to using traditional chopsticks, when eating Vietnamese people also use toothpicks and hands to pick up food depending on the dish.

See more: Discovering The Tasty Vietnamese Street Food

• 8. Vietnam Food Culture: Snack

Vietnamese cuisine is also famous for mid-day snacks. They are sold in various forms such as peddlers, homemade or sold in popular eateries. The most famous snacks are cakes made from rice flour, glutinous rice flour. Typical are Banh Gai, Banh Cuon, Banh Khoai, etc., and especially rolls.

Vietnam has just set a record as the country with the most roll food in the world. Vietnamese rolls use a lot of fresh, and low-fat vegetables. Nem leaves and a type of fragrant leaves such as Mắc Mật leaves, piper lolot, and salads are used to wrap the ingredients inside. The most prominent ones are Gỏi cuốn, Nem chua, Bo Bia, Nem tai, Nem ran, etc.

• 9. Vietnam Food Culture: Food on Tet holiday

Lunar New Year is the time when people are most prepared to welcome the new year. Vietnamese cuisine on Tet holiday is the most diverse and unique dishes, which best express and reflect the traditional cuisine through dishes.

The Vietnamese Tet usually has the following dishes:

- Chung cake

Banh Chung is a Vietnamese traditional food. According to an old legend, banh chung appeared in the reign of King Hung. This type of cake symbolizes the earth expressing gratitude to ancestors and heaven and earth. Besides, it emphasizes the important role of rice plants and nature in wet rice culture. Therefore, banh chung is a must-have on Tet holiday. The main ingredients of banh chung are glutinous rice, pork and green beans wrapped squarely with dong or banana leaves, after boiling, they will have a beautiful green color.

- Caramelized pork and eggs

Thit kho trung - Source: Google.com

Caramelized pork and eggs is a rustic dish that appears in daily meals, typical of Vietnam, but it is also considered one of the traditional dishes during the Lunar New Year. On the occasion of Tet, the pot of caramelized pork and eggs brings warmth and comfort, connecting all family members closer together. The taste of Tet holiday cannot be complete without meat and eggs.

- Pickles

Most Tet dishes contain a lot of carbohydrate and fat, so it is easy to get bored. To balance the taste of Tet dishes, Vietnamese people often eat them with pickled radish and pickled scallion heads. This dish is made quite sophisticated and through many processing steps, from soaking in lime water, drying, peeling, pickling, etc.

- Lean Meat Paste

Lean Meat Paste is another popular dish on traditional Tet menus and is often served with steamed rice and pickles. Just like banh chung, Vietnamese Lean Meat Paste are wrapped in banana leaves before being boiled.

See more: Traditional Food In Vietnam: 10 Dishes You Need To Try

In short, Vietnamese culinary culture is formed naturally from the process of daily living activities. For Vietnamese people, cuisine is not only used in meals but also conveys traditions and cultural values. The dishes are not only beautiful and delicious, but also contain a noble meaning. Besides, enjoying regional dishes will help you learn more about the beauty of Vietnamese culinary culture.

Related article: All About Food In Vietnam