The Best Breakfast Dishes of the Vietnamese

For Vietnamese people, breakfast is an important meal of the day because it allows you to recharge your body after a long night’s sleep, and also to provide energy for a new working day. Vietnamese breakfast dishes can meet the needs of activity and provide sufficient energy and nutrition. Known as a country with the world’s second largest rice export, Vietnamese dishes are generally rice-based.

Phở bò is one of the best Vietnamese breakfasts, flavorful, comforting and full of flavors.

Differences Between French and Vietnamese Breakfast

French and Vietnamese breakfast reflect two very different lifestyles and cultures. In France, morning is synonymous with simplicity and sweetness. The French favor flour-based products: bread, butter, jam, viennoiserie or milky coffee. Their meal is often light, sweet and quick, consumed at home or on the way to work.

In Vietnam, by contrast, breakfast is considered a complete and nutritious meal. Vietnamese people prefer hot and savory dishes, based on rice, the most symbolic and abundant food in the country. Their morning often begins with a bowl of phở bò, a filled bánh mì or xôi (sticky rice), rich in energy to start the day well.

In summary, French breakfast emphasizes lightness and sweetness, while Vietnamese breakfast celebrates the warmth and satisfaction of a complete meal. Two different traditions, but both rooted in the culture and rhythm of life of each people.

When do Vietnamese people have breakfast?

Vietnamese people queue early in the morning to buy their breakfast

At breakfast, Vietnamese people eat quite quickly. The day in Vietnam starts very early for most residents. For students, school hours start at 7am or 7:30am, for workers, work hours start around 8am. Thus, Vietnamese people have the habit of having breakfast quite early, from 6am to 7am. Many people choose to eat on the way to school or work.

It is noted that some Vietnamese people tend to have breakfast outside on the way to work or school. It is also quite common to bring breakfast to the office and eat it there.

What do Vietnamese people eat for breakfast?

In Vietnam, breakfast is an essential meal, often consumed hot and savory, to start the day well. Unlike Western breakfasts, it is a complete meal, nutritious and full of flavors, where rice and noodles occupy a central place. Here are the most common dishes found on Vietnamese tables in the morning:

Phở bò / Phở gà (Rice Noodle Soup with Beef or Chicken)

Phở gà – Vietnamese Chicken Soup

Vietnamese phở is undoubtedly the most emblematic breakfast dish in Vietnam. This rice noodle soup, served with beef (phở bò) or chicken (phở gà), is prized for its clear, fragrant broth rich in aromas, obtained after a long cooking of bones, spices and aromatic herbs. Hot, comforting and balanced, phở embodies both Vietnamese culinary tradition and the art of starting the day well with a complete and tasty meal.

Bánh mì

From North to South Vietnam, bánh mì comes in countless versions, each reflecting local tastes and products. In Hanoi, it is often enjoyed with pâté and slices of Vietnamese ham; in Huế, it is enriched with spicy sauce and marinated vegetables; in Saigon, it overflows with grilled pork, fresh coriander and mayonnaise.

Bánh mì (Vietnamese Sandwich)

Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, bánh mì embodies the perfect fusion between the baguette inherited from French colonization and Vietnamese culinary art. Practical, economical and full of flavors, it has become the favorite breakfast of Vietnamese people, but also an icon of street food recognized worldwide.

Xôi (Sticky Rice)

Xôi thịt — sticky rice with caramelized pork, a typical and comforting Vietnamese breakfast

Xôi is sticky rice steamed, often served with crushed mung beans, meat, eggs, peanuts or fried onions. This simple but very nutritious dish is an integral part of Vietnamese breakfast. Sweet or savory depending on the regions, it accompanies both morning meals and major traditional celebrations.

There are numerous variants: xôi lạc (sticky rice with peanuts), xôi đậu xanh (with mung beans), xôi gà (with chicken), or even xôi ngũ sắc, a five-colored sticky rice made from natural tones, typical of celebrations.

Bánh bao (Vietnamese Steamed Bun)

Bánh bao — Vietnamese steamed bun, convenient for breakfast.

Bánh bao is a soft bun cooked by steam, inherited from Chinese baozi but adapted to Vietnamese taste. Its white and light dough encloses a generous filling of ground pork, hard-boiled egg, Chinese sausage (lạp xưởng) and sometimes black mushrooms or vermicelli. Practical to take away, nutritious and tasty, bánh bao is sold everywhere: in morning markets, in small street stalls or at stations. Appreciated both at breakfast and as a snack, it embodies the fusion between Asian tradition and Vietnamese culinary ingenuity. Its soft texture and slightly sweet aroma make it a comforting food, symbol of simplicity and family warmth.

Cháo (Vietnamese Rice Porridge)

Cháo — Vietnamese rice porridge, simple and comforting, often enjoyed at breakfast

Cháo is a creamy rice porridge, served hot and often accompanied by meat, fish or vegetables. Sweet, comforting and easy to digest, it is enjoyed at breakfast or as a light dish, especially when sick. A simple dish that embodies the sweetness and warmth of the Vietnamese hearth.

Hủ tiếu (Southern Noodle Soup)

Hủ tiếu (Saigonese Soup)

Originating in Saigon and the Mekong Delta, hủ tiếu is an emblematic soup of South Vietnam. Prepared with rice noodles in a clear and fragrant broth, it is garnished with pork, shrimp, fresh herbs and fried onions. Light but flavorful, it reflects the culinary wealth and sweetness of living in South Vietnam.

Cơm tấm (Broken Rice)

Tender grain, delicate taste: broken rice makes the difference

An emblematic dish of Saigon, cơm tấm is prepared with broken rice, accompanied by grilled pork, a fried egg, marinated vegetables and some nuoc mam sauce. Simple, fragrant and generous, it perfectly embodies the popular and convivial cuisine of South Vietnam.

Bánh cuốn (Vietnamese Steamed Ravioli)

Bánh cuốn is appreciated by Vietnamese people at any time of day

Thin rice flour crêpes, filled with ground meat and black mushrooms, served with fresh herbs, fried onions and a bowl of nuoc mam sauce. Light and delicate, bánh cuốn is a typical dish of North Vietnam, often enjoyed at breakfast.

Characteristics of Breakfast Restaurants in Vietnam

Most breakfast restaurants in Vietnam are generally small, because Vietnamese people eat breakfast quickly to respect work schedules, so restaurants don’t necessarily have many seats. Also, street restaurants are extremely popular; walking through the streets of Hanoi, it is not difficult to come across a stall or a small vehicle used to sell bánh mì or small baskets of sticky rice. These rustic images have become deeply embedded in Vietnamese culture, becoming one of the typical images of life in this peaceful country.

Small baskets of sticky rice considered as a typical image of Hanoi

It can be said that Vietnamese dishes always emphasize nutritional balance between proteins, fats and vegetables, creating nutritious and healthy dishes. Known for its rich cuisine, each dish in Vietnam has a different delicious taste, offering new experiences to people. Come to Vietnam, taste the dishes of Vietnamese breakfast to clearly discover the culinary culture here. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us!