Vietnamese cuisine is divided into three regions: North, heavily influenced by China; South, more influenced by the French; and Central, spicier and more complex than cooking in the northern or southern regions of Vietnam. A typical meal might include roasted meat or fish, stir-fry vegetables, rice, soup, and fish and soy sauces.
by Naomi Duguid and Jeffrey Alford
Vietnamese cuisine can be divided into three distinctive regional cuisines: southern, central, and northern. You'll most likely have eaten southern-style food, with its wide variety of fresh herbs and complex tropical flavors. Food from the center tends to have more chile heat; shrimp paste is also used extensively. As you move north, the food has more of a Chinese feel, with greater use of preserved vegetables, tree fungus, and dried mushrooms, and fewer fresh herbs and greens. There are more stir fries, and black pepper is used instead of chiles. People from the north will tell you southern food is flamboyant and unsubtle, while those from the south say northern food lacks taste and freshness. We find it all delicious.
Excerpt from the original Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos Handbook by Naomi Duguid and Jeffrey Alford. Reprinted by permission.
Cookbook Profiles with Recipes
from Kate's Global Kitchen:
Back to the main Vietnam page
Vietnam on Wikipedia
More country Destinations
This page modified January 2007

The Global Gourmet®
Main Page

Mardi Gras &
Fat Tuesday Recipes
Advanced Search
Recent Searches
Kate's Global Kitchen
Kate's Books
Cookbook Profiles
Global Destinations
Holiday & Party Recipes
I Love Desserts
On Wine
Shopping
New Green Basics
Cooking with Kids
Archives
Conversions, Charts
& Substitutions
Search
About the
Global Gourmet®
Contact Info
Advertising
Feedback
Privacy Statement
Blood, Bones & Butter
Cook's Illustrated Cookbook
Essential Pepin
Smokin' with Myron Mixon
Momofuku Milk Bar
Oxford Companion to Beer
Plenty
Vegan Bite By Bite
Happy Herbivore Cookbook
Peas and Thank You
Around My French Table
Nordic Cuisine
Chewy Gooey Cookies
Meat: Kitchen Education
Everyday Family Dinners
New York Times Cookbook
Fried Chicken & Champagne
Food Styling
Flying Pans Two Chefs
Asian Palate
Cooking of Ireland
Wedding Cakes
All IACP Nominees
Lowcountry Cooking
My Sweet Mexico
Sarabeth's Bakery
Sommelier
Bottega
Heart of Artichoke
Cook Italy
Oaxaca al Gusto
Stir-Frying
Jam Cookbook
Tartine Bread
Jewish Food
Good Meat
Ham
Pig
Empires of Food
Four Fish
Peace Meals
All Beard Nominees
Copyright © 1994-2012,
Forkmedia LLC
Global Gourmet®
Shopping
Gourmet Food, Cookbooks
Kitchen Gadgets & Gifts
Global Gourmet®
Shopping
Gourmet Food, Cookbooks
Kitchen Gadgets & Gifts
Bestselling Cookbooks
Cooking Light Store
Kitchen Markdowns
Buy 3 Products, Get 4th Free
Kitchen Bonus Deals
Cookware Rebates
Bestselling Small Appliances