Vietnam! Just saying the name brings to mind bustling streets, serene landscapes, and a truly unforgettable food scene. Fragrant soups, fresh spring rolls, delicious street food around every corner… it’s a foodie paradise! But if you’re travelling with a little one (or even a not-so-little one!) who views adventurous eating as their personal Everest, the thought of eating Vietnamese food with a picky eater can feel, well, slightly terrifying. All those herbs! The broths! The unfamiliar smells! Take a deep breath. While it’s different from fish and chips, Vietnamese cuisine offers surprising simplicity beneath its complex layers, and there are plenty of ways to find meals that will work for your selective eaters. Trust me, you can do this!
So, What’s Vietnamese Food All About (for Fussy Eaters)?
Vietnamese food is famous for being incredibly fresh and balanced – combining herbs, rice, noodles, and proteins with that distinctive sweet, sour, salty, spicy (optional!) profile. Key players are rice (both steamed and as noodles), chicken, pork, beef, and seafood. While dishes often come with a mountain of fresh herbs, lime, and potent dipping sauces, the brilliant news is that these are almost always served on the side! This means the core of many dishes is often plain and adaptable, which is exactly what we need when eating Vietnamese food with a picky eater.
Making Friends with Vietnamese Food: Tips for Eating Out
Venturing into Vietnamese restaurants or trying street food can be exciting. Here are some tried-and-tested ways to navigate the menu:
Plain Rice to the Rescue (Again!)
Just like in many Asian cuisines, plain white rice (Cơm trắng) is a staple. It’s served with countless dishes and is always a safe, familiar option. It can be eaten on its own or paired with simple pieces of meat.
Decoding Pho (It’s Noodle Soup!)
Pho is arguably Vietnam’s most famous dish – a comforting noodle soup. While the broth is deeply aromatic and it comes with a platter of herbs and chillies, the base is simply rice noodles and thin slices of beef (Phở Bò) or chicken (Phở Gà) in a clear broth. You can ask for the herbs and extras on the side (standard practice anyway!). For a picky eater, you can offer them just the plain noodles, maybe a few pieces of the plain cooked meat, and a tiny sip of the broth in a separate spoon.
Grilled Meats & Rice Noodles (Bun Dishes)
Dishes like Bún Thịt Nướng (grilled pork with vermicelli noodles) are fantastic. They often consist of plain rice noodles, delicious grilled meat (which is often the star and very appealing), and a mix of other things like salad and spring rolls, all served with a dipping sauce. You can easily pick out the plain grilled meat and plain noodles for your picky eater.
The Banh Mi Advantage
Thanks to French colonial influence, baguettes are common! Bánh Mì are delicious Vietnamese sandwiches made with a light, crispy baguette, usually filled with various meats, pâté, pickled vegetables, and herbs. For a picky eater, a plain baguette roll (Bánh Mì) or a simple sandwich with just plain grilled meat inside can feel very familiar and safe.
Simple Fried Rice (Gao Rang)
Cơm Chiên or Cơm Rang (fried rice) is another reliable option. It’s usually less complex than Thai fried rice and can often be ordered very simply with just egg and maybe some plain chicken, crucially asking for it ‘không cay’ (no chilli/spicy) and ‘không rau’ (no vegetables) if needed.
Spring Rolls: Fresh vs. Fried
Vietnamese spring rolls come fresh (Gỏi Cuốn) or fried (Chả Giò). The fresh ones are delicious but contain herbs and noodles which might be tricky textures. Fried spring rolls, on the other hand, have a familiar crispy texture and often a simple meat or vegetable filling. These can be a more appealing option – just go easy on the dipping sauce initially!
Herbs and Sauces: Usually on the Side!
This is a game-changer! In authentic Vietnamese dining, the plate of fresh herbs, lettuce, lime wedges, and dipping sauces (Nước chấm) is almost always served separately. Your picky eater can simply ignore these and focus on the plain components of their dish. You can then experiment with the delicious extras yourself!
Beyond the Restaurant: Finding Safe Bets
Even with restaurant options, having snacks and knowing where to find familiar items is a lifeline.
Supermarket & Local Shop Finds
Vietnamese supermarkets and smaller shops are full of familiar items like biscuits, crisps, yogurt, milk, and packaged snacks. Stock up on these for emergencies or in-between meals.
The Sweetness of Vietnamese Fruit
Vietnam has amazing tropical fruits! Bananas, mangoes, watermelon, dragon fruit – these are sweet, colourful, and a fantastic, low-pressure way to enjoy local flavours. Available everywhere, from markets to street vendors.
Gentle, Fun Introductions to Vietnamese Tastes
Trying new things is a process. Encourage tiny, no-pressure interactions:
- Let them feel the texture of plain cooked rice noodles.
- Offer a tiny sip of plain Pho broth (check it’s not hot!).
- Give them a small peice of plain grilled meat.
- Explore different tropical fruits together.
Focus on the fun of discovering different shapes, smells (the nice ones!), and colours, rather than the pressure to eat.
Conclusion
Exploring Vietnam and eating Vietnamese food with a picky eater is absolutely within reach. By focussing on the simple, adaptable elements like plain rice and noodles, simple grilled meats, and options like Bánh Mì and fried rice, you can find delicious meals. The fact that herbs and sauces are typically served separately is a major advantage! Be prepared with familiar snacks, leverage the amazing fruit, and keep mealtimes positive and pressure-free. Your family can have an incredible adventure in Vietnam, filled with wonderful experiences both on and off the plate!
For more help navigating food challenges while travelling, check out our posts on Picky Eating Solutions for Family Holidays and Fussy Eating Tips: Simple Strategies for Calmer Mealtimes.
If you are interested in Asian cuisines, take a look at our picky eater’s guide for Thai food.