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Vietnamese Dishes
Everything Pho
Special Section
Vietnamese-To-English Translations of Dish Names
One of the issues Vietnamese restauranteurs and food enthusiasts face when trying to popularize our cuisine is agreeing on the most appropriate English translations for the names of the Vietnamese dishes. If you are a frequent visitor to Vietnamese restaurants, you might have noticed that a lot of restaurants translate the dishes' names differently from each other. To date, there is no known publication out there that provides a list of "official" translations that most of us could refer to.
As an effort to initiate the movement towards general agreement on Vietnamese-to-English translation of names of Vietnamese dishes and food items, Andrea Nguyen of VietWorldKitchen and Pho411.ca have teamed up to put together this comprehensive list of dishes and their most recognized English labels.
Andrea Nguyen is an author, freelance writer and cooking teacher based in Northern California. You can find out more about her and her work at VietWorldKitchen.com
Since this is a first edition, we expect to get agreements and disagreements from all Vietnamese food enthusiasts. Feel free to send us your thoughts using the form below.
We've broken the dishes and food items down to 12 different categories. All listings are in alphabetical order.
| Types of Food | Types of Food |
| Appetizers | Khai Vị |
| Beverages | Giải Khác |
| Cake (or Crepe / Dumpling / Roll) | Bánh |
| Desserts | Tráng Miệng / Bánh Ngọt |
| Dipping Sauce | Nước Chắm |
| Egg Noodle | Mì |
| Entree / Main Dish | Món Ăn Chính |
| Fermented Fish/Shrimp Sauce | Mắm |
| Fresh Produce | Đồ Tươi |
| Fruits | Trái Cây |
| Herbs | Rau |
| Meat (pork, beef, chicken, etc.) | Thịt |
| Meatballs (Nem Nuong) or Cured Sausage (Nem chua) | Nem |
| Rice | Cơm |
| Salad | Gỏi |
| Side Dish | Món Phụ |
| Soup | Canh |
| Sweet Dessert Soup/Pudding/Drink (depends on consistency) | Chè |
| Vermicelli (or Rice Noodles) | Bún |
| Vietnamese sausage | Chả |
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| Preparation Methods | Preparation Methods |
| Boiled | Luộc |
| Dip | Nhúng |
| Fried | Chiên |
| Grilled | Nướng |
| Pickled | Muối |
| Pour | Đổ |
| Roasted | Rang |
| Simmered | Kho |
| Steamed | Hấp |
| Stewed / Braised / Slow Cooked | Hầm |
| Stir-fried | Xào |
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| Herbs & Vegetables | Herbs & Vegetables |
| Asparagus | Măng Tây |
| Bean Sprouts | Giá |
| Beets | Củ Cải Đường |
| Betel Leafs | Lá Lốt |
| Bitter Herb | Rau Đắng |
| Bitter Melon | Khổ Qua / Mướp Đắng |
| Buffalo Spinach | Ngò Ôm |
| Cabbage | Cải Bắp |
| Carrot | Củ Cải Đỏ (aka ca-rot) |
| Cassava | Khoai Mì |
| Cauliflower | Cải Hoa |
| Celery | Cần Tây |
| Ceylon Spinach | Mồng Tơi |
| Chayote | Trái Su |
| Chilies | Ớt |
| Chinese Broccoli | Cải Rô (aka cai lan) |
| Chinese Celery | Cần Tàu |
| Chinese Spinach | Rau Dền |
| Chives | Hẹ |
| Coriander | Ngò Rí (aka Ngò) |
| Corn | Bắp |
| Crab claw herb | Càng Cua |
| Cucumber | Dưa Leo |
| Culantro | Ngò Gai |
| Daikon | Củ CẢi Trắng |
| Edible chrysanthemum greens | Tần Ô |
| Eggplant | Cà Tím |
| Fish mint | Rau Dấp Cá |
| Fuzzy Gourd | Bí Đao |
| Galangal | Riềng |
| Garlic | Củ Tỏ [aka toi] |
| Ginger | Gừng |
| Green Bean | Đậu Que |
| Green Radish | Củ Cải Xanh |
| Guava Bean | Bầu |
| Jicama | Củ Sắn |
| Lemongrass | Xả |
| Lettuce | Cải Xanh |
| Lotus Roots | Củ Sen |
| Lotus stems | Ngó Sen |
| Mint | Rau Thơm |
| Mung Bean | Đậu Xanh |
| Mushroom | Nấm |
| Okra | Đậu Bấp |
| Parsley | Rau Mùi Tây |
| Parsnip | Cây Củ Cần |
| Peas | Đậu Hột |
| Pennywort | Rau Má |
| Pepper (black or white) | Tiêu |
| Potato | Khoai Tây |
| Pumpkin | Bí Gợ (aka bi do) |
| Shallot | Hành Tăm / Hành Hương |
| Soy Bean | Đậu Nành |
| Spearmint | Rau Húng Lủi |
| Spring Onion/Green Onion/Scallion | Hành Lá |
| Sweet Potato | Khoai Ngọt / Khoai Lang |
| Tamarind | Me |
| Taro | Khoai Môn |
| Taro Stem | Bạc Hà |
| Thai Basil | Quế |
| Thai Eggplant | Cà Pháo |
| Turmeric | Nghệ |
| Vietnamese Coriander | Rau Răm |
| Vietnamese Lettuce | Xà Lách |
| Vietnamese Perilla | Tía Tô |
| Water celery | Cần Nước |
| Water Spinach | Rau Muống |
| Watercress | Xà Lách Son |
| Yam | Củ Từ |
| Yard-Long Bean | Đậu Đũa |
| Yellow Onion | Củ Hành |
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| Fruits | Fruits |
| Apple | Táo |
| Avocado | Bơ |
| Banana | Chuối |
| Cherries | Anh Đào |
| Clementine / Tangerine / Mandarin | Quít |
| Coconut | Dừa |
| Dragonfruit | Thành Long |
| Durian | Sầu Riêng |
| Grape | Nho |
| Grapefruit / Pomelo | Bưởi |
| Guava | Ổi |
| Jackfruit | Mít |
| Lemon | Chanh |
| Lime | Chanh |
| Longan | Nhãn |
| Lychee | Vải |
| Mango | Xoài |
| Mangosteen | Măng Cụt |
| Nectarine | Xuân Đào |
| Orange | Cam |
| Papaya | Đu Đủ |
| Peach | Đào |
| Pear | Lê |
| Persimmon | Hồng |
| Pineapple | Khớm |
| Pomegranate | Lựu |
| Prune | Mận |
| Rambutan | Chôm Chôm |
| Salty preserved plums | Xí Muội |
| Sapodilla | Sa Bô Chê |
| Soursop | Mẩn CẦu Xiêm |
| Star Apple | Vú Sữa |
| Star Fruit | Khế |
| Sweet-sop | Mẩn Cầu Ta |
| Tomato | Cà Chua |
| Watermelon | Dưa Hấu |
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| Beverages | Beverages |
| Beer | Bia |
| Coffee | Ca Phê |
| Egg Yolk Soda Drink | Soda Sữa Hột Gà |
| Fruit Shakes | Sinh Tố Trái Cây |
| Hot Coffee with Condensed Milk | Ca Phe Sua Nong |
| Lime Soda Drink | Soda Đá Chanh |
| Pennywort Juice | Rau Má |
| Pickled Lime Soda Drink | Soda Đá Chanh Muối |
| Salty Preserved Plum Drink | Soda Xí Muội |
| Sugarcane Juice | Nước Miá |
| Vietnamese Iced Coffee with Condensed Milk | Ca Phê Sữa Đá |
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| Appetizers | Appetizers |
| Asparagus and Crab Soup | Súp Măng Cua |
| Classic Vietnamese Sausage | Chả Lụa |
| Fermented Pork Sausage | Nem Chua |
| Fried Spring Rolls | Chả Giò |
| Grilled Sugarcane Shrimp | Chạo Tôm |
| Lotus Stem Salad | Gỏi Ngó Sen |
| Mango Salad | Gỏi Xoài |
| Papaya Salad | Gỏi Đu Đủ |
| Salad | Gỏi |
| Salad Rolls | Gỏi Cuốn |
| Shredded Pork Salad Rolls | Gỏi Cuốn Bì |
| Toasted Dried Squid | Khô Mực |
| Vietnamese Grilled Meatballs | Nem Nướng |
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| Sides | Sides |
| 7 Courses of Beef | Bò 7 Món |
| Beef Dipped in Vinegar | Bò Nhúng Dắm |
| Claypot Fish with Caramel Sauce | Cá Kho Tộ |
| Congealed Duck Blood | Tiết Canh |
| Curry | Cà Ri |
| Grilled Beef in Betel Leaves | Bò Lá Lốt |
| Grilled Lemongrass Chicken | Gà Nướng Xã |
| Pork Meatballs | Xíu Mại |
| Rare Lime Beef | Bò Tái Chanh |
| Shaking Beef | Bò Lúc Lắc |
| Simmered Pork and Eggs | Thịt Heo Kho với Trứng |
| Spicy Stir-fried Lemongrass Beef | Bò Xào Xã Ớt |
| Stir-fried Water Spinach | Rau Muống Xào |
| Tamarind Fish Soup | Canh Chua |
| Vietnamese Beef Stew | Bo Kho |
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| Entrees | Entrees |
| Angel Hair Vermicelli | Bánh Hỏi |
| Bamboo Shoot and Duck Vermicelli Soup | Bún Măng Vịt |
| Broken Rice | Cơm Tấm |
| Chicken Congee | Cháo Gà |
| Crab and Tomato Vermicelli Soup | Bún Riêu |
| Crispy Noodles with Stir-fried Vegetables | Mì Xào Dòn Rau Cải |
| Fish Congee | Cháo Cá |
| Fried Rice | Cơm Chiên |
| Glass Noodles | Hủ Tiếu |
| Glass Noodles Stir-fried with Vegetables | Hủ Tiếu Xào Rau Cải |
| Grilled Chicken Vermicelli | Bún Gà Nướng |
| Grilled Pork Angel Hair Vermicelli | Bánh Hỏi Thịt Nướng |
| Grilled Pork Vermicelli | Bún Thịt Nướng |
| Hanoi Grilled Pork Vermicelli | Bún Chả Hanoi |
| Hanoi Vermicelli Soup | Bún Thang |
| Hot Pot | Lẩu |
| Jumbo Shrimp Rice | Cơm Tôm Càng Rim |
| Mekong Seafood Vermicelli Soup | Bún Mắm |
| My Tho Seafood Glass Noodles | Hủ Tiếu Mỷ Tho |
| Offal Cogee | Cháo Lòng |
| Pho | Phở |
| Plain Congee | Cháo |
| Quang Noodles | Mì Quảng |
| Rice with Grilled Pork Chop | Cơm Sườn |
| Rice with Hainan Chicken | Cơm Gà Hải Nạm |
| Rice with Stir-fried Lemongrass Chicken | Cơm Gà Xào Xã Ớt |
| Rice with Stir-fried Vegetables | Cơm Xào Rau Cải |
| Roasted Duck in Egg Noodle Soup | Mì Vịt Tiềm |
| Silkworm Noodles | Bánh Tằm |
| Sizzling Crepes | Bánh Xèo |
| Spicy Hue Vermicelli Soup | Bún Bò Huế |
| Spring Roll Vermicelli | Bún Chả Giò |
| Vietnamese Hand-cut Rice Noodles | Bánh Canh |
| Wonton Noodle Soup | Mì Hoàng Thánh |
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| In Betweens | In Betweens |
| Baguette / Bread | Bánh Mì |
| Beef Stew with Baguette | Bánh Mì Bò Kho |
| Crispy Rice, Coconut and Shrimp Cakes | Bánh Khọt |
| Curry with Baguette | Bánh Mì Cà Ri |
| Mini Steamed Rice Pancakes | Bánh Bèo |
| Pate Chaud | Bánh Pa Tê Sô |
| Steamed Meat Buns | Bánh Bao |
| Steamed Rice Rolls | Bánh Cuốn |
| Steamed Rice Sheets | Bánh Ướt |
| Vietnamese Baguette Sandwich | Bánh Mì Thịt |
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| Desserts | Desserts |
| Baked Honey Comb Cake | Bánh Bò Nướng |
| Cassava and Coconut Cake | Bánh Khoai Mì |
| Flan | Bánh Flan |
| Fried Banana | Chuôí Chiên |
| Layered Pandan Cake | Bánh Da Lợn |
| Moon Cake | Bánh Trung Thu |
| Sticky Rice | Xôi |
| Sticky Rice Dumplings in Ginger Syrup | Chè Xôi Nước |
| Sweet Corn Porridge | Chè Bấp |
| Sweet Fermented Rice | Cơm Rượu |
| Sweet Fried Bread | Bánh Tiêu |
| Taro Cake | Bánh Khoai Môn |
| Tet Sticky Rice Cake (Cylinder) | Bánh Tét |
| Tet Sticky Rice Cakes (Square) | Banh Chung |
| Three Color Beans (Drink) | Chè Ba Màu |
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| Sauces/Dips | Sauces/Dips |
| Dipping Sauce | Nước Chắm |
| Fermented Anchovy and Pineapple Sauce | Mắm Nêm |
| Fish Sauce | Nước Mắm |
| Ginger Fish Sauce | Nước Mắm Gừng |
| Hoisin Sauce | Tương Ăn Phở |
| Shrimp Sauce | Mắm Ruốt |
| Soy Sauce | Nước Tương |
| Sriracha Hot Sauce | Tương Ớt |
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| Others | Others |
| Half-hatched Duck Eggs | Hột Vịt Lộn |
| Mixed Pickled Vegetables | Đồ Chua |
| Rice Paper | Bánh Tráng |
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