Bánh

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.

Lastest Updated May 27, 2024
Verified by A-Z Cuisines Team
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Basic Information

Bánh: Basic Overview

Common Ingredients

Glutinous rice, glutinous rice flour, rice flour

Common Cooking Methods

Steaming, boiling, simmering, baking, deep-frying, pan-frying, stir-frying, grilling.

Courses

Main course, dessert, appetizer

Meals

Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Key Taste

Sweet, savory

Eating Etiquette

Eaten by hand or with chopsticks and a spoon.

Meal Presentation

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
Origin and Region

Bánh: Origin and Region

Cuisine

Vietnam

Culinary Region

Southeast Asia

Country’s Region

North, Central, South
Vietnam Map
Ingredients and Preparation

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.

Ingredients and Preparation

Bánh: Signature Dishes

  • National Vietnamese Bánh

    These bánh are classic dishes widely recognized as symbols of Vietnamese cuisine.
  • Traditional Vietnamese Bánh

    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

    These dishes are widely loved and consumed regularly by locals and tourists.
  • Bánh as Vietnamese Street Food

    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

    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

Banh Bao

Bánh Bao

Vietnam Flag

Bánh bao is a Vietnamese steamed bun made with yeasted dough and a savory ground pork filling.

Banh Beo

Bánh Bèo