Bánh includes various Vietnamese cakes, pastries, noodles, etc., often made from rice or wheat flour, and encompassing both sweet and savory varieties; each has unique ingredients, preparation, and cultural value.
Can be presented with complementary sides like fresh herbs, dipping sauces, or pickled vegetables, depending on the bánh type.
Culinary Festivals
Lunar New Year or festivals (e.g., the Mid-Autumn Festival)
Influence and Fusion
Chinese, Southeast Asian, French, or Western cuisines
Bánh: Origin and Region
Cuisine
Vietnam
Culinary Region
Southeast Asia
Country’s Region
North, Central, South
Types of Bánh
Noodle Soups
They are characterized by their rich, aromatic broths and variety of noodles.
These noodle soups are accompanied by meats (like beef, pork, or chicken) or seafood (like crab) and garnished with fresh herbs.
Traditional recipes for these dishes are not for vegan and vegetarian eaters, but they are suitable for gluten-free diets.
Dry Noodle Dishes
They feature noodles served without broth, usually tossed with sauces.
Meats, vegetables, and herbs are common accompaniments.
Glutinous Rice Dishes
Many bánh are made with glutinous/sticky rice in Vietnam.
They can be sweet or savory, often filled with ingredients like mung beans, coconut (ideal for vegans/vegetarians), or pork.
Most of them are wrapped in leaves.
Dumplings
Most Vietnamese dumplings start with the term “bánh”.
They are commonly made with flour and filled with meats (savory ones) or mung bean paste (sweet ones).
Many dumplings are typically gluten-free because locals use rice/glutinous rice flour to make them.
Cakes And Pastries
These Vietnamese specialties include both savory and sweet options.
Steaming, baking, frying, and boiling are common cooking techniques to make them.
Some are sold as street food items.
Pancakes
Bánh in pancake style are normally made from a rice flour batter.
Some are filled with ingredients like pork, shrimp, and vegetables.
Therefore, they are typically savory and served with dipping sauce.
Sandwiches
The most famous is bánh mì, a fusion of Vietnamese flavors with French baguettes filled with meats, pâté, pickles, and herbs.
Rolls
Some famous rolls in Vietnamese cuisine begin with “bánh”.
They are made with flour batter and fillings made of meat and vegetables; normally steamed.
Rice Paper Dishes
They use rice paper (a thin, edible sheet made primarily from rice flour) as a key ingredient.
The rice paper can be cut into thin slices or in a whole form with a round shape.
These dishes also include a variety of toppings or fillings.
Snacks
They are a wide array of savory and sweet treats.
Bánh in the snack category are easy to find at street vendors, perfect for on-the-go eating.
Desserts
Bánh for desserts have a sweet taste. They can be steamed, baked, or boiled treats.
They are also bite-sized treats and many of them are available at street vendors.
Bánh: Signature Dishes
National Vietnamese Bánh
Bánh Mì
Bánh mì is a Vietnamese sandwich with meats, pickled veggies, and sauces in a short baguette.
Bánh Cuốn
Bánh cuốn is a Vietnamese dish hailing from the northern region and consisting of various savory ingredients rolled in thin rice noodle sheets.
These bánh are classic dishes widely recognized as symbols of Vietnamese cuisine.
Traditional Vietnamese Bánh
Bánh Canh
Bánh canh is a Vietnamese noodle soup with thick strands of tapioca or rice noodles, meat toppings, herbs, and broth.
Bánh Đa Cua
Bánh đa cua is a Vietnamese noodle soup from Hai Phong, featuring flat rice noodles, crab-and-pork broth, and various toppings.
Bánh Hỏi
Bánh hỏi is a Vietnamese side dish prepared by weaving rice vermicelli into flat, rectangular bundles.
Bánh Bao
Bánh bao is a Vietnamese steamed bun made with yeasted dough and a savory ground pork filling.
Bánh Bột Lọc
Bánh bột lọc is a traditional Vietnamese dumpling made from tapioca flour, typically stuffed with shrimp and pork and wrapped in a translucent dough.
Bánh Giò
Bánh giò is a Vietnamese steamed savory rice cake wrapped in banana leaves with pork and mushroom filling.
Bánh Ít
Bánh ít is a popular Vietnamese cake made from glutinous rice flour and mung bean using a steaming method.
Bánh Căn
Bánh căn is a Vietnamese mini pancake often found in the central region, featuring rice flour batter and various toppings.
Bánh Cống
Bánh cống is a Vietnamese fried rice flour-based dish hailing from Soc Trang province in the southern region.
Bánh Mì
Bánh mì is a Vietnamese sandwich with meats, pickled veggies, and sauces in a short baguette.
Bánh Xèo
Bánh xèo is a Vietnamese stuffed pancake consisting of rice flour batter, pork, shrimp, bean sprouts, and other toppings.
Bánh Cuốn
Bánh cuốn is a Vietnamese dish hailing from the northern region and consisting of various savory ingredients rolled in thin rice noodle sheets.
Bánh Chưng
Bánh chưng is a Vietnamese square sticky rice cake made of glutinous rice, mung beans, and pork, all wrapped in lá dong leaves.
Bánh Giầy
Bánh giầy is a round Vietnamese sticky rice cake made from glutinous rice.
Bánh Đúc
Bánh đúc is a traditional Vietnamese cake made from rice flour or tapioca flour and served with various foods.
They are time-honored delicacies deeply rooted in the country’s culture and history.
Some of them are also national dishes.
Most Popular Vietnamese Bánh
Bánh Mì
Bánh mì is a Vietnamese sandwich with meats, pickled veggies, and sauces in a short baguette.
Bánh Xèo
Bánh xèo is a Vietnamese stuffed pancake consisting of rice flour batter, pork, shrimp, bean sprouts, and other toppings.
Bánh Cuốn
Bánh cuốn is a Vietnamese dish hailing from the northern region and consisting of various savory ingredients rolled in thin rice noodle sheets.
Bánh Trung Thu
Bánh trung thu is a traditional Vietnamese mooncake with two varieties of sticky or baked pastry.
Bánh Canh
Bánh canh is a Vietnamese noodle soup with thick strands of tapioca or rice noodles, meat toppings, herbs, and broth.
These dishes are widely loved and consumed regularly by locals and tourists.
Bánh as Vietnamese Street Food
Bánh Mì
Bánh mì is a Vietnamese sandwich with meats, pickled veggies, and sauces in a short baguette.
Bánh Cuốn
Bánh cuốn is a Vietnamese dish hailing from the northern region and consisting of various savory ingredients rolled in thin rice noodle sheets.
Bánh Rán
Bánh rán is a Vietnamese deep-fried glutinous rice ball coated in sesame seeds and filled with a savory mix of ground pork or sweet mung bean paste that is enjoyed as a snack.
Bánh Bèo
Bánh bèo is a type of small, steamed rice cake from Central Vietnam, often topped with savory ingredients and served with a sweet and spicy fish sauce for dipping.
Bánh Tráng Trộn
Bánh tráng trộn is a Vietnamese street food prepared by mixing rice paper strips with savory ingredients and condiments.
Bánh Pâté Chaud
Bánh pâté chaud is a Vietnamese pastry that consists of a flaky puff pastry shell filled with savory minced meat.
Bánh Bao
Bánh bao is a Vietnamese steamed bun made with yeasted dough and a savory ground pork filling.
Bánh Giò
Bánh giò is a Vietnamese steamed savory rice cake wrapped in banana leaves with pork and mushroom filling.
Bánh Căn
Bánh căn is a Vietnamese mini pancake often found in the central region, featuring rice flour batter and various toppings.
Bánh Tráng Nướng
Bánh tráng nướng is a Vietnamese street food made by grilling a thin rice cracker with various toppings.
Bánh Xèo
Bánh xèo is a Vietnamese stuffed pancake consisting of rice flour batter, pork, shrimp, bean sprouts, and other toppings.
Bánh Cam
Bánh cam is a Vietnamese deep-fried glutinous rice ball filled with sweet mung bean paste and dipped in sugar syrup.
Bánh Flan
Bánh flan is a beloved Vietnamese dessert made from eggs, milk, and caramel.
Bánh Giầy
Bánh giầy is a round Vietnamese sticky rice cake made from glutinous rice.
Bánh Tiêu
Bánh tiêu is a Vietnamese hollow doughnut that is deep-fried and coated with sesame seeds.
Street food as bánh style is commonly found in street food markets and stalls.
Some of them are convenient to bring on the go. Some should be enjoyed at the street stalls for the best taste.
They are typically affordable.
Fusion Vietnamese Bánh
Bánh Tro
Bánh tro is a traditional Vietnamese pyramidal dumpling made from glutinous rice soaked in ash water.
Bánh Trung Thu
Bánh trung thu is a traditional Vietnamese mooncake with two varieties of sticky or baked pastry.
Bánh Ú
Bánh ú is a Vietnamese glutinous rice dumpling, savored in sweet or savory varieties and significant in Tết Đoan Ngọ.
Bánh Bông Lan
Bánh bông lan is a light and airy Vietnamese sponge cake, often flavored with various ingredients.
Bánh Flan
Bánh flan is a beloved Vietnamese dessert made from eggs, milk, and caramel.
Bánh Kẹp Lá Dứa
Bánh kẹp lá dứa is a Vietnamese waffle with harmonious hints of coconut milk and pandan leaves.
Bánh Pâté Chaud
Bánh pâté chaud is a Vietnamese pastry that consists of a flaky puff pastry shell filled with savory minced meat.
Bánh Pía
Bánh pía is a Vietnamese treat featuring a flaky pastry crust and various sweet or savory fillings.
Bánh Bao
Bánh bao is a Vietnamese steamed bun made with yeasted dough and a savory ground pork filling.
Bánh Bột Chiên
Bánh bột chiên is a Vietnamese dish of Chinese origin, consisting of fried rice flour dough served with pickles and soy sauce.
Bánh Mì
Bánh mì is a Vietnamese sandwich with meats, pickled veggies, and sauces in a short baguette.
They are innovative dishes that blend Vietnamese culinary traditions with foreign influences.
Introduction to Bánh
Bánh (pronounced bahn) is a Vietnamese term that refers to several types of cakes, pancakes, pastries, sandwiches, noodle dishes, and other food types.
Each type of bánh has its own ingredients, preparation, and cultural significance.
The typical ingredients to make Vietnamese-style bánh are glutinous rice, rice or glutinous rice flour, and more, depending on the bánh recipes.
Common cooking techniques to prepare these bánh are steaming, boiling, baking, frying, etc. They can be sweet delicacies or savory treats.
Most of them come in small shapes so they can be enjoyed by hand or by chopstick and spoon if they are noodle delights.
So keep scrolling to find out various bánh varieties, their importance in Vietnamese cuisine, how they are influenced by other cuisines, and how to enjoy them as a real Vietnamese.
You can check the filter and click on them for more details about these Vietnamese bánh delights. Read on!
List of Bánh with Filters
Bánh Bao
Bánh bao is a Vietnamese steamed bun made with yeasted dough and a savory ground pork filling.