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Vietnam’s breakfast menu is made even more diverse thanks to a variety of both dry and soupy dishes. Dishes like bun, pho, mi quang, or com tam are not only easy to enjoy but also warm the hearts of diners. The article below will introduce you to some of the most popular Vietnamese breakfast dishes, meals that are not only beloved by locals but also highly praised by international visitors!
Vietnamese breakfast is more than just a meal, it’s a flavorful start to the day. Vietnamese people often enjoy warm, savory dishes that reflect the culinary diversity of the country. Some of the most popular breakfast choices include Pho, Banh Mi, and Xoi.
In Northern Vietnam, the cuisine is known for its subtle and harmonious flavor profile, with a balanced combination of salty, sweet, sour, and bitter tastes. Popular breakfast choices in this region include Pho, Banh Cuon, and Bun Rieu.
Banh Trang Nuong - Vietnamese pizza
Central Vietnam, especially the city of Hue, is famous for its bold, spicy dishes often influenced by royal cuisine. Breakfast favorites here include the flavorful Bun Bo Hue and the colorful Mi Quang.
Southern Vietnam offers a richer and often sweeter flavor palette. Breakfast in the South is typically hearty and vibrant, with well-loved dishes such as Com Tam, Banh Mi, Bo Ne, and Banh Canh making regular appearances on morning menus.
Unlike many Western countries, breakfast is the most important meal of the day for Vietnamese. It serves as more than morning fuel before a long working day. It is everyday joy, meant to be slowly and thoroughly enjoyed with a cup of Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk.
The Vietnamese can be extra creative when making breakfast dishes. They don’t stick to some foods, they come up with loads of unique dishes to spike up their appetite. And it enriches the beauty of Vietnamese breakfast.
Com Tam has long been a culinary icon of Vietnam. This dish features flavorful grilled pork chops and steamed egg meatloaf, topped with crispy pork fat and shredded pork skin for added texture. The highlight lies in the sweet-and-sour fish sauce drizzled on top, perfectly balanced with pickled vegetables, cucumber, and tomato on the side. It’s a hearty and satisfying breakfast that locals love and visitors quickly grow fond of.
Broken Rice - Cam Tam
If you're not sure what to have for breakfast, Bun Bo Hue is a perfect early-morning option. Originating from Hue in Central Vietnam, this dish has earned a spot on the list of the 50 best foods in the world. Its broth is rich and slightly spicy, made from simmered beef bones. It features tender beef shank, gelatinous pork hock, and fragrant crab cake. Add a squeeze of lime and a touch of chili for a flavor-packed breakfast that’s both bold and unforgettable.
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Hue Beef Noodle Soup - Bun Bo Hue
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Grilled pork vermicelli is a flavorful dry noodle dish that's perfect for a quick and satisfying breakfast. If you're in a rush and need something convenient to bring to the office, this is a great choice.
A typical bowl includes vermicelli noodles topped with golden grilled pork, crispy spring rolls, fresh herbs, pickled vegetables, and a drizzle of sweet-and-savory fish sauce. It’s light yet filling, and once you try it, you'll be served with boiled pork offal such as heart, liver, intestines, and stomach. It’s a comforting dish that’s perfect for a chilly morning or when you want something hearty and nourishing to start your day.
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Grilled Pork Vermicelli - Bun Thit Nuong
If you're a fan of noodle soups and wondering what to eat for breakfast, Hu Tieu Nam Vang is a top pick, especially in Southern Vietnam, where it's particularly loved. Originally from Cambodia, this dish has been adapted into many variations in Vietnam, including versions with pork, beef meatballs, squid, and most famously, the Phnom Penh-style.
The soup features chewy rice noodles in a rich, clear broth made from simmered pork bones. It's typically topped with minced pork, pork offal, quail eggs, and shrimp. Before serving, the noodles are briefly blanched and combined with bean sprouts, chives, and sometimes beef balls or squid. Add a squeeze of lime, a bit of chili sauce, and hoisin sauce for the full experience, both flavorful and satisfying.
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Hu Tieu Nam Vang
Pho is not just a breakfast staple in Vietnam—it’s a beloved dish recognized worldwide. The aromatic broth is slow-cooked with pork, beef, or chicken bones, resulting in a naturally sweet and savory flavor. Pho is typically served with flat rice noodles, tender slices of meat (such as beef brisket, rare beef, chicken, or beef balls), and a side of fresh herbs, lime, chili, hoisin, and chili sauce.
Whether you’re in the North enjoying traditional beef Pho Bo, or in the South where the broth tends to be sweeter, trying pho is a must for any food lover exploring Vietnamese cuisine.
Pho - Vietnam’s Iconic National Dish
In Vietnam, it’s a common and heartwarming sight to see schoolchildren enjoying their sticky rice breakfast wrapped in banana leaves before heading off to class - a simple yet deeply cultural morning ritual you’ll rarely find elsewhere.
With rice being a cornerstone of Vietnamese cuisine, Vietnamese sticky rice holds a special place in the hearts and kitchens of locals. More than just a filling breakfast, it is a showcase of Vietnam’s rich culinary creativity.
Made from glutinous rice with a soft, chewy texture, Vietnamese sticky rice comes in countless variations. It can be topped with Vietnamese sausage, jambon, quail eggs, or a colorful mix of beans. With so many delicious options, it’s no surprise that *xoi* is enjoyed by people across the country, day after day, without ever feeling repetitive.
Vietnamese sticky rice - Xoi
Among all Vietnamese breakfast dishes, banh mi is arguably the most internationally recognized. This humble baguette, introduced during the French colonial era, has since become a canvas for countless delicious variations.
A typical banh mi is filled with a flavorful mix of ingredients like grilled pork, meatballs (xiu mai), pate, pickled vegetables, cucumber, and herbs, topped off with chili sauce and mayonnaise. Popular types include banh mi xiu mai (meatball), banh mi pate, and banh mi cha ca (fried fish cake).
For those who prefer a lighter start to the day, sweet versions are also available, such as banh mi with condensed milk or simply with butter and sugar. Simple yet satisfying, banh mi is a perfect grab-and-go breakfast for both locals and visitors.
Banh Mi
Bun rieu cua is a beloved Vietnamese breakfast choice, especially for those who enjoy flavorful noodle soups. This dish is known for its light yet rich broth made from freshwater crab paste, giving it a naturally sweet and savory taste.
The highlight of the dish is the fluffy crab-paste cakes, served with tender pork sausage, fresh banana blossom, morning glory, and occasionally fried tofu. A dash of fermented shrimp paste enhances the flavor, making each spoonful both comforting and full of depth.
If you’re wondering what to eat this morning, bun rieu cua is a fantastic choice for soup lovers looking for a hearty and traditional Vietnamese breakfast.
Crab Noodle Soup - Bun Rieu Cua
Steamed rice rolls are soft, steamed rice rolls often enjoyed warm, especially in the cool mornings of winter. It is typically filled with minced pork and wood ear mushrooms, then served with grilled pork, Vietnamese pork sausage, fried shallots, and a sweet-and-sour dipping sauce. Steamed rice rolls is similar but usually served plain, paired with savory toppings and fresh herbs.
These dishes offer a light yet flavorful breakfast and are especially delightful when eaten fresh off the steamer next to a warm charcoal stove, an experience that locals and visitors love to discover.
Steamed Rice Rolls - Banh Cuon
Vietnamese beef stew is a popular breakfast dish in Southern Vietnam, known for its rich and aromatic flavors. This hearty stew features tender chunks of slow-cooked beef infused with the bold aromas of lemongrass, star anise, cinnamon, chili, and black pepper.
It’s commonly enjoyed with a banh mi, steamed rice, or even rice noodles, making it a versatile and satisfying choice to start the day. The mildly spicy and fragrant broth is perfect for awakening the senses in the morning.
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Vietnamese Beef Stew - Bo Kho
What is the best way to freshly start your beautiful day? It’s munching a hearty Vietnamese cuisine. Waking up early to savor a traditional Vietnamese breakfast is an unmissable part of any journey through this beautiful S-shaped country with our Vietnam food tour.
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