Food tours are a must when I travel to any country for the first time and Vietnam was no exception. Food is one of the main reasons I get excited about traveling. I must admit that I love to eat. When I am at home, I spend hours in the kitchen trying to recreate dishes I have tasted around the world. I particularly enjoy Asian food. So, I did a lot of research on Vietnamese cuisine before my first trip to Vietnam. Even if you have a lot of time to explore Vietnam, it will be hard to taste all of the must eat Vietnamese cuisine during your trip. I found the best way to eat my way through the country and to taste all of the traditional and unexpected foods was to by taking a couple of food tours during my trip.
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Why A Food Tour in Vietnam?
As with most food tours, the tour in Vietnam is not just about stuffing yourself silly. Food Tours in Vietnam give you the chance to learn a lot about the people, culture, a little bit of the language and something about the various regions in the country. Vietnamese consider their food to be a reflection of their values. To find the balance that is good for the body. No matter the region, you will certainly hear the Vietnamese talk about a balance of flavors and temperatures to make up the best dish. They really focus on the six senses as well as food texture. It is very fresh and meats are not cooked for a long time. Lots of vegetables and herbs accompany each dish.
Food, even the same dish, varies by region. So, doing multiple food tours throughout Vietnam is worth it. I found that all Vietnamese food had more sugar in it than I normally eat. But, the flavor and spices in food changes as you travel from the north to the south. With the north making more “bland” dishes, the central part of the country makes more spicy food, and very sweet dishes are served in the South.
In Which City Should I do a Food Tour?
If you get to spend a lot of time in Vietnam and plan to travel to multiple destinations, then I recommend that you do a food tour in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. There are only a few dishes that you are likely to taste on both food tours. Even then, those dishes will be different enough that you will appreciate having tasted them in both cities. If I had had time, I would have also done food tours in Central Vietnam. I loved everything I ate in Hoi An. Sadly, I did not really get the chance to enjoy the food in Hue, which is supposed to be some of the best food in the country.
I recommend that you do some research on food tours in Vietnam before you book anything. There are several types to cater to different needs. Possible experiences include night tours, dinner with the locals, street food tours, or off the beaten path tours. You can also choose between private and group tours or if you want to include sightseeing with your food tasting. I booked a private tour with Get your Guide in Ho Chi Minh City and a group tour with Hanoi Street Food Tour in Hanoi. Both tours were absolutely fantastic.
How Much Food Will I Eat?
If you choose similar tours to the two food tour companies I used, then you will generally have between 8-10 tastings at multiple restaurants around the city. Most food tours will accommodate food allergies. But, if you are a picky eater or have a very restrictive diet, then food tours might not be such a great option. All of the food will be small portions, but you will certainly be stuffed by the end of the tour. Several of the tastings may have a communal diner feel. You may participate in a lot of hands on eating. The Vietnamese serve a lot of fresh food that sometimes consist of wrapping savory bites in lettuce.
Most food tours include all of Vietnam’s must eat foods. I had my fill of noodle soups, Vietnamese pancake, and depending on the region, egg coffee. There may even be a few surprises. One surprise for me was coconut ice cream. I had never seen ice cream like this before; served with old and new sticky rice, coconut chips, sweet potato, and coconut jello. It looked weird, but it tasted fantastic.
How Will We Get Around?
Generally, food tours in Vietnam are 3-4 hours long and are walking tours.
That was my experience in Hanoi, where we did the entire tour in a few blocks in the Ancient City. Things were different in Ho chi Minh City, where food tours cover a lot of ground in a busy city. Many food tours make their way around town by motorbike, which are completely part of the culture. Your tour guide will drive you through the city’s busy and congested streets. It seems like rush hour traffic is all day in Vietnam’s big cities. So, if you are uncomfortable riding a on the back of a motorbike, then I recommend that you look for tours that specifically note they are walking tours
No matter what you decide, you will absolutely love eating all of Vietnam’s tasty treats. I hope you enjoy Vietnam’s cuisine as much as I did!