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Taste Atlas, the go-to platform for food enthusiasts and travelers alike, has recently announced the Taste Atlas Awards 2024. The awards encompass seven distinct categories, and Vietnam has consistently made waves in these rankings.
The 2024 culinary tourism rankings were recently released on December 24th. Photo: Taste Atlas
The top 100 lists for each category are generated from a huge database, using around 500,000 valid votes from global travelers. Let's join Asia King Travel as we explore the culinary triumphs of S-shape country in the past year.
In the "100 Best Cuisines" list, Vietnamese cuisine has secured the 19th position, climbing 3 spots higher than the previous year. It is the second-highest Southeast Asia country after Indonesia, where Bandung cuisine makes all tourists mouth-watering.
Vietnamese cuisine alongside other top cuisines. Photo: Taste Atlas
Beyond the already renowned banh mi and Quang-styled noodles, Taste Atlas recommends beef dishes such as beef dipped in vinegar, Southern Vietnamese noodle salad, and shaking beef for tourists. These dishes have rich flavors and exemplify the Vietnamese's harmonious balance of seasonings.
Central and Southern Vietnam have made their appearance on the list of "100 Best Culinary Regions." These two regions represent Vietnamese cuisine's distinct characteristics, deeply rooted in history and geography.
Central Vietnam has a harsh climate, so the locals cherish simple ingredients. Garlic and chili peppers can be cultivated in this region, so spicy flavors are vital in their dishes. Additionally, the long coastline has provided a source of seafood for making fish sauce. The explosion of salty and spicy flavors is what you can expect from Central Vietnamese cuisine.
Central Vietnam is home to dishes full of flavor. Photo: Chudu24h
Southern Vietnam is completely the opposite. The region has vast plains and many rivers flowing through, so fertile that it's said, "Step outside and you have a meal." Tropical fruits, especially coconuts, grow everywhere, so Southern people prefer sweet and fatty flavors. The dishes are more "rustic and diverse" than in Central Vietnam.
For international travelers always seeking new experiences, the flavors of Vietnam are truly an irresistible attraction.
Cities with the world's most delicious cuisine are a great suggestion for international travelers planning their next trip. Three major cities in Vietnam, Hanoi, Hue, and Ho Chi Minh City, have made it onto this list.
Hue ranks 35th with a score of 4.53 out of 5. The food website comments that in addition to the royal cuisine, the local dishes also create a unique feature of Hue cuisine. Must-try dishes when visiting the ancient capital include Hue beef noodle soup, Vietnamese steamed rice cake (banh beo) and Hue pancake.
Taste Atlas ranks Hue as having the best cuisine in Vietnam. Photo: Bao Lao dong
Hue beef noodle soup is described as spicier than most Vietnamese noodle soups, with a rich and complex flavor. The dish consists of thick rice noodles, beef, pork knuckles, blood pudding, beef balls, and crab paste, all served in a flavorful broth. Although Taste Atlas considers it a breakfast food, Vietnamese people can enjoy it anytime.
Right next door is Hanoi, ranking 40th with a 4.5 out of 5 rating. Alongside the ever-familiar pho, steamed rice rolls (banh cuon), grilled pork with vermicelli (bun cha), and fried tofu and shrimp paste with vermicelli (bun dau mam tom) are recommended to try.
Hanoi gets a special mention for drinks and snacks. Lotus tea and egg coffee are the creations of Hanoians from familiar drinks. Candied fruits are snacks that should be bought in Hang Duong Street when tourists are wandering around the Old Quarter.
Egg coffee is a brilliant creation of Hanoians. Photo: MISA Cukcuk
Ho Chi Minh City ranks 56th with a score of 4.45, and the food website introduces it with representative dishes such as broken rice, banh mi, and hu tieu. The city’s banh mi stands out because of its generous fillings with lots of meat and sliced chili pepper if the customer requests. The abundance of the southern region is reflected in the food itself.
Suggested for you: Hue Trip 1-day: Food Tour
Banh beo originates from Hue and is popular throughout the Central region. Besides Hue, it tastes best in Hoi An. It is small in size, often served in cups, and has a cloudy white color from rice flour. Typically topped with minced shrimp and served with a side of fish sauce, banh beo can also be customized with fried shallots, pork rinds, or roasted peanuts, depending on regional preferences.
The small cake has a big flavor. Photo: Banh ba Chi xu Hue
The bite-sized portions mean you can easily enjoy several servings at once. Rather than dipping, the fish sauce is poured over the cake and then scooped up with a spoon. The savory shrimp and tangy, spicy sauce create a delightful flavor balance, tempered by the mildness of the rice flour.
A lot of international visitors are put off by the idea of trying bun dau mam tom. They can't stand the unattractive color and smell of the shrimp paste. It's no surprise, as even some Vietnamese find the taste too strong. But you will love shrimp paste right after the first taste. The sweet, salty taste, plus the sourness of the squeezed kumquat, makes it perfect for dipping with vermicelli and fried tofu.
You'll deeply regret it if you don't try bun dau mam tom! Photo: Vietnamnet
This is a simple dish, often eaten as a light meal. The dish is served with just vermicelli and fried tofu, but a full serving at a restaurant will include pork leg, pig intestines, green rice patty, and fermented pork sausage. The raw vegetables include Vietnamese basil, lettuce, and perilla. A glass of iced tea is the perfect to cut through the richness of the tofu and shrimp paste. Honestly, bun dau mam tom is much better than it looks, a masterpiece behind a smelly.
Com tam is a traditional Vietnamese dish typically sold as street food. Broken rice has a texture that's similar to normal rice, just smaller. It consists of broken and imperfect rice grains traditionally chucked away after the milling process, but nowadays it uses quality rice and become a signature dish of Ho Chi Minh City.
When served, com tam is accompanied by numerous toppings such as fried eggs, shredded pork skin, grilled pork chops, or deep-fried fish patties. Local eateries are easily found because they usually have a coal-fired grill on the street, dispersing the smoke scented with lemongrass and charred meat, a result of preparing the accompaniments for broken rice.
Vietnamese cuisine continues to be favored by international tourists. Visitors can expect to discover even more delicious dishes, and we hope Vietnam's ranking will improve next year. Contact Asia King Travel to embark on a culinary journey of authentic Vietnamese flavors!
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