CNN recommends 10 Vietnamese dishes

US famous chef Anthony Bourdain has introduced 10 essential dishes every visitors should try in Vietnam like pho, Bun cha, Xoi, Banh xeo and Goi cuon on CNN.



Bot Chien: Ho Chi Minh City's favorite street snack, bot chien is popular with both the after-school and the after-midnight crowd.



Banh mi. The French may have brought with them the baguette, but Vietnam takes it to a different level. In the north, chefs stick to the basic elements of carbohydrate, fat and protein -- bread, margarine and paté -- but head south and your banh mi may contain a more colorful combination of cheese, cold cuts, pickled vegetables, sausage, fried egg, fresh cilantro and chili sauce.



Goi cuon. These light and fresh spring rolls are a wholesome choice when you've been indulging in too much of the fried food in Vietnam. The translucent parcels are first packed with salad greens, a sliver of meat or seafood and a layer of coriander, before being neatly rolled and dunked in Vietnam's favorite condiment -- fish sauce.



Banh xeo. A good banh xeo is a crispy crepe bulging with pork, shrimp and bean sprouts, plus the garnish of fresh herbs that are characteristic of most authentic Vietnamese dishes.



Pho. This simple staple, consisting of a salty broth, fresh rice noodles, a sprinkling of herbs and chicken or beef, features predominately in the local diet -- and understandably so. It's cheap, tasty and widely available at all hours.



Cao lau. The thicker noodles are similar to Japanese udon, the crispy won-ton crackers and pork are a Chinese touch, while the broth and herbs are clearly Vietnamese.



Cafe trung (coffee egg): The creamy soft, meringue-like egg white foam perched on the dense Vietnamese coffee will have even those who don't normally crave a cup of joe licking their spoons with delight.



Xoi. The glutinous staple comes with any number of mix-ins (from slivers of chicken or pork to fried or preserved eggs), but almost always with a scattering of dried shallots on top.



Bun cha. Pho might be Vietnam's most famous dish, but bun cha is the top choice when it comes to lunchtime in the capital. Bun cha sets often come with the delicious nem cua be -- fried crab spring rolls.

VOV/CNN