Vietnam: 20 Food And Drink Menu Items You Need To Know. And Seek Out!

While traveling through Vietnam for two weeks with chefs (on a tour sponsored by Red Boat fish sauce) I sampled all sorts of interesting things freshly pickled and plucked. The seafood found in Phu Quoc and Hoi An? Some of the freshest you will find. The pho noodles? They were likely made that morning, if not that hour. In a country where refrigeration is limited to only the most affluent citizens, "exceptionally fresh" and "locally grown" is not marketing jargon, but the way things are done. Vietnam is a country you should visit once in your life, particularly for the food. This is for certain. But English can be very limited and ordering at restaurants (if that's what you call a tiny stand in the corner of a alley way) can be impossible. To help here's a list of 20 food items you should know for you trip to Vietnam.

Also see: How To Eat A Bowl Of Pho Like You Know What You're Doing

Contributing Editor Matt Rodbard was traveling around Vietnam with four American chefs. The trip was organized by our friends at Red Boat Fish Sauce.

Read more about Vietnam on Food Republic:

• Danang: Bowls Of Cau Lau And An Epic Meal At The End Of The Fish Sauce Trail
• In Saigon, On The Back Of A Vespa With Bia And Broken Rice In Our Sights
• Epic Market Time, Phu Quoc Edition: 10 Photos From The Duong Dong Wet Market
• From The Fish Sauce Trail: A First Bowl Of Pho On The Way To Phu Quoc