The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism has chosen broken rice, noodles, bread and coffee on the sidewalk to introduce to tourists when they come to the city, especially on the occasion of April 30.
Appearing in the tourism promotion film 50 Flashes of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the country's reunification, in addition to famous landmarks, three dishes including broken rice, noodles, bread and coffee on the sidewalk were chosen to introduce as typical images of the city's unique culinary culture.
"These are dishes and drinks that are not only closely associated with the daily lives of the people, but also highly symbolic, easy to recognize, easy to enjoy, and loved by international tourists," said a representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism.
In addition, the cultural image of Ho Chi Minh City is also expressed through the atmosphere of street food, with rustic dishes such as spring rolls, crab noodle soup, and typical fruits including mangosteen, mango, and durian.
Traditional broken rice dish with full ingredients. Photo: Cao Ky NhanBroken rice is a traditional and popular dish of Vietnamese people, especially in the South. Rice is made from broken rice, a type of rice, served with fried eggs, grilled pork ribs, egg rolls, and shredded pork skin. The dish is complete when added with chopped green onions, fish sauce, garlic, chili, tomatoes, cucumbers, and pickled vegetables.
Broken rice has been voted by many of the world's leading culinary and travel websites, such as Taste Atlas and Tripadvisor. The 30-year-old popular broken rice restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City has also been selected by the Michelin Guide as one of the "Good Restaurants, Reasonable Prices" in 2024.
Nam Vang noodles, prepared by the Khmer, were introduced to Vietnam more than 100 years ago and have become popular in Ho Chi Minh City, loved by locals and tourists. Soft and chewy noodles, made from rice flour, are blanched in boiling water and served with rich broth, served with shrimp, minced meat, pork intestines, quail eggs, fried garlic, and raw vegetables. Hu tieu is popular for breakfast or lunch.
Banh mi is one of the famous dishes not only in Vietnam but also around the world. In Ho Chi Minh City, banh mi is diverse and varied, including hamburgers, pan-fried banh mi, grilled beef with butter, beefsteak, grilled meat banh mi, roast pork.
"A crispy banh mi filled with meat, sausage, pate, chili, and vegetables will fascinate diners. Banh mi can be found at street food stalls or sidewalk carts," suggests the Ho Chi Minh City travel guide.
The sidewalk cafe next to Notre Dame Cathedral is often a familiar meeting and chatting place for young people. Here, locals and tourists do not drink coffee on tables and chairs but will be given a newspaper to spread out and sit on the floor. A cup of coffee costs from 20,000 to 30,000 VND. With its comfort and unique way of enjoying, sidewalk coffee is one of the typical cultural features and dating places in Ho Chi Minh City.