Got this fun topic through Wandering Chopsticks Food Blog. Going through this list made me think about Vietnam and all the wonderful food I tried. I now have a list of new things to try on my next trip. I'm not sure if I would eat Southern Field Rat though. I have a thing for eating animals in its own form. I get freaked out finding a chicken head in a pot or any kinda of animal head beside fish. Even though Wandering Chopsticks have a great list, I could not resist making a list of my own. Vietnamese cuisine has such a large menu but I feel some of the best dishes are common everyday meals.
Bold the foods you've eaten.
Leave alone the foods you haven't eaten.Strike through the foods you don't ever intend to eat.
Clockwise from top left: Bun Rieu, Goi Ga, Banh Bao, Banh Bot Loc and Banh Be0
Clockwise from top left: Nuoc Mia, Bo Bia, Banh Flan, Banh Tom
Clockwise from top left: Bo Luc Lac, Hu Tieu, Lau Thai, Goi Cuon
Vietnamese 100 Foods to Try
1. Banh Bao (Steamed Bun)
2. Banh Beo (Rice Flour Discs with Dried Shrimp)
3. Banh Bot Loc/Banh Quai Vac (Dumplings with Pork and Shrimp or just Shrimp)
5. Banh Chung/Banh Tet (Lunar New Year Sticky Rice Cakes)
6. Banh Cuon (Rice Noodle Rolls)
7. Banh Gio (Steamed Triangular Rice Dumplings)
8. Banh Hoi (Rice Vermicelli Sheets)
9. Banh It Tran (Round Rice Dumplings with Pork, Shrimp, and Mung Beans)
10. Banh It La Gai (Nettle Leaf Dumplings)
11. Banh Khot/Banh Cang (Mini Savory Pancakes)
12. Banh La/Banh Nam (Steamed Flat Rice Dumplings with Pork and Shrimp)
13. Banh Mi Hot Ga Op La (French Bread with Sunnyside-Up Eggs)
14. Banh Mi (Sandwiches)
15. Banh Pa Te So (Pate Chaud)
16. Banh Tieu (Fry Bread)
17. Banh Tom (Shrimp and Yam Fritters)
18. Banh Trang (Rice Paper) Bonus points for eating soaked, no-soak, and toasted varieties.
19. Banh Uot ("Wet" Rice Noodle Sheets)
20. Banh Xeo (Sizzling Crepes) Bonus points if you've eaten both the palm-sized Central-style ones, and the wok-sized Southern-style ones with turmeric and coconut milk.
21. Be Thui (Beef with Roasted Rice Powder and Fermented Bean Curd)
22. Bo Bia (Spring Rolls with Chinese Sausage, Dried Shrimp, and Jicama)
23. Bo Kho (Beef Stew)
24. Bo Luc Lac (Shaking Beef)
25. Bo Ne ("Stand Back" Steak and Eggs)
26. Bo Nhung Dam (Beef Dipped in Vinegar)
27. Bo Nuong La Lot (Grilled Beef with Wild Betel Leaves)
28. Bo Tai Chanh (Beef Carpaccio with Lemon)
29. Bo Xao voi Khoai Tay Chien (Beef Stir-fry with French Fries)
30. Bo Xao Xa (Beef Sauteed with Lemongrass)
31. Bun Bo Hue (Hue-Style Beef Noodle Soup)
32. Bun Cha Hanoi (Hanoi-Style Rice Vermicelli with Grilled Pork Patties)
33. Bun Nuoc Leo Soc Trang (Soc Trang-Style Noodle Soup with Fish, Pork, and Shrimp) Bonus points for its more pungent cousin Bun Mam (Noodle Soup with Fermented Fish Broth)
34. Bun Rieu (Vermicelli Rice Noodle Soup with Crab Paste)
35. Bun Thit Heo Nuong (Rice Vermicelli with Grilled Pork)
36. Ca Bong Lau Nuong voi Mo Hanh (Roasted Catfish with Scallion Oil)
37. Ca Kho To (Braised Catfish in a Claypot)
38. Ca Phe Sua Da Phin (Iced Drip Coffee with Milk)
39. Canh Bi/Bau Nhoi Thit (Pork-Stuffed Winter Melon Soup)
40. Canh Chua Ca (Sour Fish Soup)
41. Ca Ri Ga (Chicken Curry)
42. Cao Lau (Noodle Soup with Pork from Hoi An)
43. Cha Ca Thang Long (Hanoi-Style Fish with Dill and Turmeric)
44. Cha Gio/Nem Ran (Spring/Egg Rolls) You only get points if you've eaten the Vietnamese egg rolls wrapped in rice paper, not the version with Chinese wheat egg roll wrappers. Bonus points if you've also eaten Central-style Cha Ram (Shrimp Egg Rolls) and Cha Gio Bap/Ram Bap (Corn Egg Rolls).
45. Cha Lua (Steamed Pork Loaf)
46. Chanh Muoi (Salty Lemonade)
47. Chao Tom (Grilled Shrimp Paste Wrapped Around Sugarcane)
48. Che Bap (Corn and Tapioca Pudding with Coconut Milk) or any other coconut milk-based che such as Che Chuoi (Banana Tapioca Pudding) and Che Ba Mau (Three Color Pudding)
49. Che Sam Bo Luong (Dessert Soup with Dried Dates, Dried Longans, Lotus Seeds, and Seaweed)
50. Che Troi Nuoc (Dough Balls in Ginger Syrup)
51. Chuoi Chien (Fried Bananas)
52. Chuot Dong (Southern Field Rats)
53. Com Ga Hai Nam (Hainanese Chicken Rice) must be eaten with #82.
54. Com Hen (Clam Rice)
55. Com Lam (Sticky Rice Steamed in Bamboo)
56. Com Tam (Broken Rice)
57. Com Ruou (Fermented Rice Wine)
58. Cua Rang Muoi Tieu (Salt and Pepper Crab)
59. Dau Phong Luoc (Boiled Peanuts)
60. De (Goat)
61. Dia Rau Song (Raw Herb Platter)
62. Do Chua (Pickled vegetables ie. Carrots and Daikon)
63. Ga Nuong Xa (Grilled Chicken with Lemongrass)
64. Gio Thu (Head Cheese with Pig Ears and Tree Ear Fungus)
65. Goi Du Du Kho Bo (Papaya Salad with Beef Jerky)
66. Goi Cuon (Salad/Spring/Summer Rolls)
67. Goi Ga (Chicken Salad)
68. Goi Mit Ngo Sen (Young Jackfruit and Lotus Root Salad)
69. Hot Vit Lon (Fetal Duck Eggs)
70. Hu Tieu (Tapioca Noodles with Pork and Shrimp) Bonus points for both Saigon, with barbecued pork and shrimp, and Nam Vang (Phnom Penh) style with liver and ground pork.
71. Kem Flan
72. Lau (Hot Pot)
73. Mam Nem (Fermented Anchovy Sauce)
74. Mam Ruoc (Fermented Shrimp Paste)
75. Mi Hoanh Thanh (Wonton Noodle Soup)
76. Mi Quang (Turmeric Noodles with Pork and Shrimp)
77. Mi Vit Tiem (Egg Noodles with Duck and Chinese Herbs)
78. Mi Xao Don (Crispy Chow Mein)
79. Muop Tom Xao (Loofah and Shrimp Stir-fry)
80. Nem Chua (Pickled Pork Sausage with Shredded Pork Skin)
81. Nem Nuong (Grilled Pork Patties)
82. Nuoc Mam Gung (Ginger Fish Sauce)
83. Nuoc Mia (Sugarcane Juice)
84. Oc Buou (Apple Snails) or any other sea snails
85. Pho Ap Chao Bo (Pan-Fried Rice Noodles Sauteed with Beef)
86. Pho Bo (Beef Noodle Soup) bonus points if you've eaten filet mignon pho and for Pho Ga (Chicken Noodle Soup)
87. Rau Ma (Pennywort Juice)
88. Rau Muong Xao (Water Spinach Stir-fried)
89. Soda Xi Muoi (Salty Preserved Plum Drink)
90. Sinh To Bo (Avocado Shake)
91. Sinh To Ca Chua (Tomato Shake)
92. Sinh To Dam (Aloe Vera Shake)
93. Sup Mang Tay Cua (Asparagus and Crab Soup)
94. Tiet Canh (Duck Blood Pudding)
95. Thit Heo Kho Voi Trung (Braised Pork with Eggs)
96. Tom Tau Hu Ky (Shrimp Paste Wrapped in Bean Curd Skin)
97. Tra Atiso (Artichoke Tea)
98. Tuong Ot (Chili Sauce) bonus points for Vietnamese American Huy Fong Sriracha Chili Sauce and extra bonus points if you use it to make Sriracha Buffalo Wings
99. Xiu Mai (Meatballs)
100.Xoi (Sticky Rice)
Clockwise from top left: Bun Mam, Bung Mang, Cua Rang Me, So Huyet
Clockwise from top left: Ga Ta Hap, Ech Chien Bot,Buc Oc, Banh Bot Chien
Clockwise from top left: Mien Xau Cua, Oc Dua Xao Bo, Goi Vit, Nuoc Dua Tuoi
Thuy's List (in no particular order)
1. Goi Vit (Duck Salad)
2. So Huyet (Blood Cockle)
3. Bun Oc (Snail Soup)
4. Canh Bun
5. Oc Gao Hap Xa (Steamed Rice Snails)
6. Ga Ta Hap La Chanh(Steamed Chicken in Lime Leaves)
7. Mien Xao Cua (Cellophane Noodle with Crab Meat)
8. Cua Rang Me (Crab Sauteed in Tamarind)
9. Banh Duc voi Mam Tom
10. Banh Bot Chien
11. Nuoc Dua Tuoi (Fresh Coconut Juice)
12. Bun Mang Vit (Duck and Bamboo Soup)
13. Ech Chien Bot (Fried Frog Leg)
14. Oc Dua Xao Bo (Snail Sauteed with Butter)
15. Ga Xi Dau (Braised Chicekn in Soy Sauce)
16. Dau Hu Chien Nhoi Thit (Stuffed Bean Curd)
17. Banh Day
18. Banh Trang Tron
19. Sinh To Sapoche
20. Chao Long (Pig's Organ Congee)
21. Chao Luon (Eel Congee)
22. Chao Vit (Duck Congee)
23. Che Ba Ba
24. Ga Ro Ti
25. Canh Ca Thia La ( Fish Soup with Dill)
26. Ca Rem Mam Tom
27. Chim Cut (Roasted Quail)
28. Bun Moc (Pork Ball Soup)
29. Kho Muc Nuong (Grilled Dried Squid)
29. Bap Nuong (Grilled Corn)
30. Goi Chan Ga (Chicken Feet Salad)
31. Kem Chuoi (Frozen Banana with Coconut Milk)
32. Banh Bong Lan (Sponge Cake)
33. Banh Bo Nuong
34. Bo Nuong Vi
35. Kho Qua Nhoi Thit (Stuffed Bitter Melon)
36. Dua Cai Chua (Pickled Mustard Green)
37. Canh Dua Chua (Pickled Mustard Green Soup)
38. Canh Ca Chua voi Thit Bo (Tomato with Sauteed Beef Soup) or Canh Ca Chua voi Dau Phu (Tomato and Tofu Soup)
39. Che Dau Den (Black Bean Soup)
40. Mam Ruoc bac voi Thit Ba Roi
41. Com Nep voi Lap Xuong
42. Canh Rau Day voi Muop
43. Canh Mong Toi
44. Trung Luoc dam Nuoc Mam
45. Nuoc Chanh Muoi
46. Mien Me Ga (Cellophane Noodle Soup with Chicken Organs)
47. Nuoc Da Chanh
48. Canh Ca Chuoi Xanh (Fish and Plantain Soup)
49. Goi Dua Leo (Cucumber Salad)
50. Sup Nam Trang (White Fungus Soup)
Source: http://thuyancom.blogspot.com/2009/03/100-vietnamese-foods-to-try.html