Overview of Vietnamese Cuisine
What exactly is Vietnamese cuisine? Is it like Chinese food but, more warlike? Well, not exactly. Vietnamese cuisine is often described as being light, colourful, healthy, flavourful, and, last but not least, simply delicious. The story of Vietnamese cuisine goes back several hundred years, and was originally influenced by the combined culinary know-how of India and China. In recent history, the French have also added their influence to the already complex cuisine of Vietnam – creating a unique dynamic of East-meets-West. Within the tiny 'S-shaped' country, the culinary practices vary between three distinct geographical regions: The North, Central, and South. Each of these regions differs in soil, climate, and natural resources. As a result, Vietnamese food contains a wide variety of eclectic tastes, each specific to its region of creation, but all connected by the use of ingredients such as rice, noodles, herbs and spices.
After the fall of Saigon, many Vietnamese people fled the Southeast Asian country, and found new homes in Europe, North America, and Australia. They brought with them - along with a rich culture - a vast selection of culinary masterpieces, which were, at the time, foreign to the New World.
Vietnamese Food In Canada
Today, there are over 500 Vietnamese restaurants in Canada, each with its own individual style and flair. Although more than 30 years removed from its origin, Vietnamese-Canadian cuisine still carries many of the traits that are easily recognized by foodies around the world as being distinctly Vietnamese. This allows it to retain its classic flavours and aesthetics, and at the same time be kind to the taste buds of non-Vietnamese admirers.
Although the restaurants in Canada may differ in atmosphere and food presentation, most menus often reflect a core group of dishes that are staples to Vietnamese venues around the world. This group includes salad rolls, pho noodles, rice dishes, vermicelli noodles, and fruit shakes. Typical servings of many dishes come in sizes of small, medium, large, and for the glutton in all of us, extra large. It’s also not out of the question that the main dishes be accompanied by a side plate of fresh vegetables and herbs, if they are not included in the main dish already.
Congratualations! You are now well on your way to discovering Vietnamese cuisine. We invite you to visit all the welcoming Vietnamese restaurants in your area, and we hope that you will enjoy the journey as it takes you through hundreds of years of culinary artistry.
Additional information on some of the typical dishes served in restaurants in Canada can be found throughout the site. While some restaurants have over 200 items on their menu, we have narrowed the list down to only the most common dishes. Please note that the content on this website should only be used as a general guideline, and that the specific ingredients and preparation methods of each dish may differ between the restaurants.
Bon Appétit! - Chuc Ngon Mieng!
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