In addition to being a very strange country in North Asia with incredibly kind and helpful people, Vietnam, the land of fish sauce and unique meat dishes, is also worth talking about for its vegetarian regional cuisine. Although the majority of Vietnamese people consume meat, there are some who prefer vegetarian food and place a high priority on their nutrition and health. On the streets, a lot of meals are made and sold. Therefore, it is likely that you will need some additional assistance to fully understand the Vietnamese vegetarian menu.

Features of vegetarian culture in Vietnam

Buddhism has been a part of Vietnamese culture. As a result, our society has long been aware of vegetarianism. The Vietnamese believe that vegetarianism is a way to reduce sin, prevent from killing, cultivate morality, and demonstrate love and equality for all living things. Vietnamese people, who do not practice any religion, yet favor vegetarian food as a method to nurture and improve their health.

We are proud to say that vegetarian cuisine has been a tradition among Vietnamese people for as long as Vietnamese culture has existed.

Northern Vegetarian Culture

The Northerners' cuisine focuses heavily on various spices, giving it an unmistakably distinctive quality. Vegetarian cuisine from the North are consistently harmonious and sophisticated. In the North, it's simple to find restaurants that serve vegetarian food in the Hanoi capital city or in Phu Tho, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa,...

Culture of vegetarianism in the Central region

The Central people's vegetarian cuisine has a distinctive quality that is both traditional and modern since different processing techniques are used to produce delicious and distinctive dishes. Because it is the midsection of the nation and frequently experiences natural calamities, the Central region's residents place a high value on all of the goods produced there.

Hue – the birthplace of Vegetarian Cuisine

While each dish in Hue's vegetarian cuisine is equally complex, it always carries the rich flavor of Central Vietnam's landscape. Everything is taken care of, from form to flavor, including foods like vegetarian spring rolls and vegetarian Hue beef noodles - bun bo Hue chay, vegetarian hot pot - lau chay, banh beo chay. Hue vegetarian food seems to satisfy diners' "taste" and "sight," making them appear to be unintentionally held back in the historical Hue.

Southern vegetarian culture

The vegetarian culture in this area is incredibly rich and diversified, despite the fact that it does not have a lengthy history like the North or the Central region.

Additionally, the vegetarian cuisine of the Southern population also incorporates elements of the Khmer, Cham, and part of the Chinese cultures, giving each meal a unique flavor. A distinctive Southern vegetarian cuisine was created via the blending of customs from many regions and some of the surrounding nations.

Discover a few fresh vegetables that are typically the greatest options for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free food in Vietnam.

Pho chay

Pho is a well-known Vietnamese dish that is enjoyed even outside of Vietnam, so you've definitely previously heard of it. Since the noodles are comprised of rice, they are naturally gluten-free. People who cannot consume nuts may also eat the dish because it does not contain peanuts. Even though some pho will be made with beef broth, there are a ton of vegetarian and vegan options as well. Travelers can get a veggie-based soup with rice noodles, no peanuts, herbs, chilli, lime, and tofu by asking for "pho chay"; this is great for many kinds of dietary restrictions and provides a delicious full snack.

Banh Mi Chay

Tourists get a lot from Vietnam's complicated colonial heritage. Tourists can see this heritage everywhere, from the unique architectural fusion of French and Vietnamese styles to the numerous museums illuminating the fascinating history of the country. Another thing we should be grateful for is that Vietnamese food now includes French baguettes.

It resembles a french baguette that has been filled with delicious ingredients including fresh cilantro and mint, pickled cucumber, carrots, and daikon radish, followed by a protein of your choice and a generous amount of spicy sauce. While meat, typically pig, is the most common protein filling, vegetarians and vegans can request "banh mi chay," which will include seared tofu, an egg, or vegetables as an alternative. The amount of hot sauce used depends on the traveler's level of daring, as is frequently the case with Vietnamese food!

Xoi Chay

Vietnamese sticky rice is named "Xoi", which are subsequently blended with numerous other ingredients. The more perceptive readers will realize that xoi chay refers to vegetarian-only foods made with sticky rice. These foods are common on-the-go snacks that are inexpensive to purchase from street food sellers and are frequently consumed for breakfast. To make xoi chay, cooked sticky rice is cut into flat, circular shapes and then allowed to dry. These are then deep-fried in oil until crisp and golden. Then you may top it with any ingredients you like, which are often onions, mushrooms, broccoli, peppers, and chickpeas. Popular sweet variants include those with coconut or sugar on top.

• Goi cuon (Vietnamese rice paper rolls)
• Nom Du Du (papaya salad)
• Banh It Tran (sticky rice dumplings)
• Lau (hot pot)
• Dau Sot Ca Chua
• Rau Muong Xao Toi

Nowadays, vegetarian food is more than just a simple meal; it is a distinctive aspect of Vietnamese culture. Vegetarianism is a way of demonstrating equality with all things to those who have noble intentions and who progressively value the lives of all animals in the cosmos. You can only get this kind of peace of mind by discovering vegetarian cuisine and Buddhist lifestyles.

Please don't be hesitant to eat this cuisine if you aren't a vegetarian because it will still have a unique flavor and be made with common ingredients.