Explore the Tempting Variety of Steamed Rice Rolls Across Northern – Central – Southern Vietnam

Steamed rice rolls are a culinary delight that graces all three regions of Vietnam. Journey through each region, and you'll have the opportunity to savor these rolls, each with its own unique flavor profile.

Discover the Irresistible Appeal of Rice Rolls Across Northern – Central – Southern Vietnam

Cao Bang Rice Rolls

Cao Bang Rice Rolls stand as one of the humble culinary treasures of this charming land. The rolls here boast a delightful chewiness, rolled with a filling of meat and simple herbs, similar to spring rolls. Typically enjoyed with fresh vegetables, dipping sauce, and sausage.

Nam Dinh Rice Rolls feature meticulously crafted, thin, soft, and elastic sheets. Despite lacking meat filling, the rolls maintain a fragrant taste of the dough and are not at all overwhelming. To make these rolls, water needs to be boiled at 100 degrees Celsius. Once removed, a thin layer of minced garlic-infused lard and finely chopped wood ear mushrooms is applied for a glossy and attractive appearance.

Lang Son Steamed Rice Rolls

Lang Son Steamed Rice Rolls feature thin, flexible rice paper filled with fragrant apricot kernel chicken eggs. Served with a broth simmered from bone marrow, enhanced with spices like scallions, ginger, pepper, and chili. True to its name, the more you indulge, the more you'll be captivated by this dish.

Hà Giang Steamed Rice Rolls are crafted from ground rice flour, with a thin outer layer filled with wood ear mushrooms and minced meat or whole chicken eggs neatly tucked within a thicker rice layer. Each plate is garnished with crispy fried shallots. Accompanied by a dipping sauce enriched with sausage, scallions, and a broth infused with the essence of bones, providing a sweet and aromatic flavor. You can add chili and spices to enhance the experience.

When enjoying Hà Giang Steamed Rice Rolls, locals prefer not to cut them into small pieces but instead immerse the entire roll in a broth made from bone marrow for a richer taste.

Hanoi Steamed Rice Rolls

For Hanoi culinary enthusiasts, Thanh Tri Steamed Rice Rolls are undoubtedly a familiar delight. These rolls are thin, chewy, and served with the fish sauce of Thanh Tri village. The rice paper, when stretched, is about the size of two fingers, then cut into bite-sized pieces. Additionally, there are egg-filled rice rolls, with the yolk and egg whites beaten evenly before being spread on the rice paper. On top of the rolls, dried shallots are added, and they are served with cinnamon pork sausage. Some places also offer grilled pork sausage.

Nghệ An Delightful Rice Cake

At first glance, Nghệ An delightful rice cake resembles northern bánh cuốn and southern bánh ướt but is enjoyed in a diverse manner. The cake is dipped in rustic fish sauce with squeezed lime or served with various accompaniments such as sausage, duck, beef, chicken, or offal (pork organs like heart, liver, lungs, stomach, intestines, and blood pudding). Sometimes, residents in Vinh City (Nghệ An) even enjoy the cake with piping hot eel soup.

Sweet Western-Style Rice Rolls (Sweet Rice Sheets)

Chinese-Style Rice Rolls

Rice rolls made by the Chinese community in Saigon leave an impression with their unfilled rice paper. The process involves spreading the rice flour, rolling it into a circle, cutting it into pieces, and arranging them on a plate. To suit Vietnamese taste buds, some vendors in Saigon also add square-cut Chinese sausage, sour fermented pork rolls, and a sprinkle of fried shallots.

Traditional Rice Rolls

Classic Steamed Rice Rolls with a filling of finely minced meat, wood ear mushrooms, and a touch of wood ear fungus, seasoned and cooked beforehand. A plate of classic steamed rice rolls in Saigon is accompanied by Chinese sausage, sour fermented pork rolls, crispy fried shallots, and fresh vegetables. It is served with a dipping sauce that has a sour and refreshing taste from lime, sweetness from sugar, and a spicy kick from chili.

Grilled Meat Steamed Rice Rolls

Originating from Hue, grilled meat steamed rice rolls have captured the hearts of food enthusiasts in Saigon. The appeal of this dish lies in the grilled meat filling and the flavorful dipping sauce. High-quality pork is marinated with spices and grilled to perfection. The grilled meat is then placed on the freshly rolled rice paper and rolled up. These rolls are often enjoyed with a savory soy sauce, rich satay flavor, a hint of sweetness, or with lettuce and pickled vegetables to balance the flavors and prevent the dish from being too heavy.

According to Mytour

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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide