Vietnam Has Rice: 10 of Its Finest Varieties

Chicken Rice in Hội An

In Hội An, chicken rice remains a beloved dish, famous for its savory flavor and widespread appeal among locals and tourists alike. The residents of Hội An take great pride in this culinary specialty. The dish features rice cooked in chicken broth with a hint of turmeric, resulting in a light yellow hue that reflects the infusion of chicken fat.

Although its ingredients are simple—rice, chicken, a flavorful sauce, and pickled vegetables—the preparation of an exemplary chicken rice plate demands skill. Authentic Hội An cooks carefully shred the chicken, blending it with crushed onions, Vietnamese coriander, and other spices to achieve the right flavor profile. This meticulous mixing process highlights the finesse of the chef.

Before being served, the tender chicken pieces and aromatic rice are beautifully garnished with mint leaves, shredded green papaya, and pickled vegetables.

Chicken Rice in Hội An - Photo: @bb_foodie09

Baby Clam Rice in Huế

Next on the culinary journey is baby clam rice—an exquisite delicacy from Huế. This dish has a complex recipe that includes crunchy cold rice, baby clams, fried pork fat, banana flower, fermented shrimp sauce, sliced star fruit, and a medley of spices. Baby clam rice offers a delightful fusion of sweet, buttery, salty, sour, bitter, and spicy flavors all at once.

The intriguing contrast between the cold rice and the hot bouillon of baby clams creates a unique dining experience, while the pickled fruits and vegetables complement the richness of the dried pork fat perfectly. Huế’s baby clam rice is a dish that's hard to resist.

Baby Clam Rice in Huế - Photo: @mmbonappetit

Tấm/Broken Rice – Ho Chi Minh City

Tấm, or broken rice, consists of fractured rice grains (typically in pieces of two or three). Just as phở represents the North, broken rice is emblematic of Southern Vietnamese cuisine. It can be enjoyed at any time of day—from breakfast to dinner—ranging from street food stalls to upscale restaurants.

The dish features affordable broken rice paired with grilled pork, fried pork skin, egg, and fish sauce, delivering an explosion of flavors that tantalize the taste buds.

Tấm/Broken Rice – Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: @food_aroundperth

Cháy/Burned Rice – Ninh Binh

Burned rice, a dish that originated from Chinese culinary traditions over a century ago, was popularized by a visionary named Hoc Thang Hoang. Today, it enjoys nationwide fame, especially in Ninh Binh.

To achieve the perfect golden-brown hue, cooks meticulously select aromatic sticky rice, which is cooked in steel pots and then sun-dried for 2 to 3 days. Once dried, it is shaped into round slices that are pan-fried in hot oil until golden. The crispy burned rice slices are typically served with a flavorful soup made from pig’s heart and kidney.

Burned Rice – Ninh Binh - Photo: @citastyfood

Green Crab Rice in Phú Quốc

The name aptly describes this dish, which features the main ingredients of cooked rice, green crab meat, sliced onions, garlic, cooking oil, and tomato sauce. The green crab is sautéed with garlic and onions until golden before adding the cooked rice and seasoning with spices and tomato sauce.

Green crab rice not only boasts visual appeal but is also a nutritious dish that visitors to Phú Quốc Island should not miss.

Green Crab Rice - Photo: @phuquoc

Coconut Rice – Bến Tre

Coconut rice is made by cooking sticky rice over medium heat until the grains break down into smaller pieces. Coconut milk is then added, along with a pinch of salt, and the mixture is boiled until it thickens.

Originally, this dish was a simple treat for farmers, but today it has grown popular and can be found in luxury restaurants. Regardless of where it's enjoyed, coconut rice is unforgettable once tasted.

Coconut Rice – Bến Tre - Photo: Saigon Riders

Hell Rice – Huế

Despite its intimidating name, Hell rice is a delightful and unique dish from Huế. According to culinary expert Hải Phan Tôn, the seven colors on a plate of Hell rice symbolize the first seven steps of Buddha.

This aromatic dish combines rice, thinly sliced bacon, Huế pork bologna, shrimp paste, grilled spring rolls, egg rolls, herbs, and cucumbers, all artistically arranged on a plate for a nutritious meal.

What makes this dish particularly interesting is not only its diverse nutritional profile but also its affordability, making it a definitive representation of Huế cuisine.

Hell Rice - Photo: @lagomhomehue

Lam/Bamboo Rice

Bamboo rice is crafted from sticky rice and other ingredients, all stuffed into bamboo tubes and grilled over an open flame until fully cooked. This dish is a specialty among the ethnic minorities in Vietnam's mountainous regions. Upon tasting it, diners can truly feel a connection to nature.

Com Lam - Photo: Kenhomestay

Com Dap - Beaten Rice

In Vietnamese culture, clay pots are considered the best vessels for cooking rice, enhancing its flavor. At restaurants, the clay pot containing beaten rice is often gently struck with a small hammer to reveal the round yellow rice inside. This rice is typically served with simmered fish, pickled vegetables, and shrimp sauce.

Com Dap - Photo: Dau Bep Gia Dinh

Nị Rice

Nị rice is a traditional dish of the Chăm people from Châu Giang in An Giang province. It's typically cooked with milk, though some customize it with dried grapes for added flavor.

Chăm people enjoy Nị rice alongside Cà Púa, a special beef dish. The combination offers a unique taste experience featuring the richness of milk, the sweetness of nuts, the savoriness of beef, and a hint of spice from chili.

Discover more about Vietnam’s food culture and culinary uses of rice across the country.

Nị Rice