Chapter 1
Hanoi and the subtle north
Chapter 2
Saigon and the southern sweet revolution
Chapter 3
Central Vietnam and the royal spice
Chapter 4
The colonial fusion and street culture
YOUR GOAL
Master of Vietnamese street food
Ch 2 · Saigon and the southern sweet revolution
sonia Southern Vietnamese Chè
Drizzle coconut cream onto shaved ice, Saigon's cold chè cools the night
sonia Hu tieu reflects Saigon's diverse history, combining Chinese, Cambodian, and southern Vietnamese culinary traditions.
sonia Saigon's banh mi is famous for its rich, multi-layered meats and pickled vegetables that contrast Hanoi's simple style.
BETA
sonia Explore Saigon's southern sweet revolution. Play this interactive game to learn about traditional Vietnamese street food desserts and sweets.
Fun Fact
Broken rice value: Broken rice grains absorb water differently than whole grains, giving com tam its uniquely fluffy and dry texture.
Glossary
chè (noun)
A traditional Vietnamese sweet dessert soup or pudding typically made with beans, tubers, sticky rice, and coconut milk. In Saigon, street vendors popularized ice-cold varieties of this dish to combat the intense tropical heat.
A traditional Vietnamese sweet dessert soup or pudding typically made with beans, tubers, sticky rice, and coconut milk. In Saigon, street vendors popularized ice-cold varieties of this dish to combat the intense tropical heat.
Quiz
Which city's immigrants, along with Cambodian traders, introduced hu tieu noodles to Saigon?
Quiz
What type of rice grain, historically rejected by mills, forms the base of Saigon's famous com tam?
Quiz
Which region's farmers originally created com tam broken rice as a cheap, filling breakfast?
Quiz
In which decade did the popular shredded rice paper snack banh trang tron first emerge in Saigon?