1. How to Say Food in Vietnamese
The two most common ways to say food in Vietnamese are:
• Food - đồ ăn (Most common in everyday speech)
• Food - thức ăn (Slightly more formal)
• Dish - món ăn (Refers to a prepared dish)
• Meal - bữa ăn (A meal or eating occasion)
Although both đồ ăn and thức ăn mean "food", Vietnamese speakers usually say đồ ăn in casual conversations.
Examples
• Tôi thích đồ ăn Việt Nam.
I like Vietnamese food.
• Đồ ăn hôm nay rất ngon.
Today's food is delicious.
• Thức ăn này quá cay.
This food is too spicy.
2. Meals in Vietnamese
• Meal - bữa ăn
• Breakfast - bữa sáng
• Lunch - bữa trưa
• Dinner - bữa tối
• Midnight meal - bữa khuya
• Snack - đồ ăn nhẹ
• Dessert - món tráng miệng
Examples
• Tôi chưa ăn sáng.
I haven't eaten breakfast.
• Chúng tôi ăn tối lúc bảy giờ.
We eat dinner at seven o'clock.
3. Common Types of Food
Instead of learning every individual ingredient in one article, it is more useful to understand the main food categories used in Vietnamese.
• Rice - gạo / cơm
• Cooked rice - cơm
• Raw rice (or uncooked rice) - gạo
• Bread - bánh mì
• Noodles - mì• Bread - bánh mì
• Rice noodles - bún
• Pho - phở
• Sticky rice - xôi
• Porridge - cháo
• Meat - thịt
• Seafood - hải sản
• Vegetables - rau
• Fruit - trái cây / hoa quả
• Dessert - món tráng miệng
• Bread - bánh mì
• Rice noodles - bún
• Instant noodles - mì ăn liền
• Dumpling - bánh bao
• Cake - bánh
• Candy - kẹo
• Chocolate - sô cô la
• Biscuit - bánh quy
• Cookie - bánh quy
• Ice cream - kem
These are some of the most frequently used words when reading menus or talking about food.
4. Common Dishes
Vietnamese often use món when talking about dishes.
• Dish - món
• Main dish - món chính
• Side dish - món ăn kèm
• Soup - canh
• Salad - gỏi
• Hot pot - lẩu
• Fried rice - cơm chiên
• Fried noodles - mì xào
• Grilled meat - thịt nướng
Examples
• Đây là món yêu thích của tôi.
This is my favourite dish.
• Món này rất nổi tiếng.
This dish is very famous.
5. Meat and Protein
• Chicken - thịt gà
• Duck - thịt vịt
• Fish - cá
• Shrimp - tôm
• Crab - cua
• Squid - mực
• Egg - trứng
• Tofu - đậu phụ
• Bean curd - đậu phụ
6. Vegetables
• Vegetable - rau
• Cabbage - bắp cải
• Lettuce - xà lách
• Spinach rau - rau chân vịt
• Morning glory - rau muống
• Water spinach - rau muống
• Tomato - cà chua
• Potato - khoai tây
• Carrot - cà rốt
• Cucumber - dưa chuột
• Pumpkin - bí đỏ
• Onion - hành tây
• Mushroom - nấm
7. Fruits
• Fruit - trái cây / hoa quả
• Apple - táo
• Banana - chuối
• Orange - cam
• Mango - xoài
• Pineapple - dứa
• Watermelon - dưa hấu
• Grapes - nho
• Papaya - đu đủ
• Dragon fruit - thanh long
• Coconut - dừa
8. Seasonings and Dipping Sauces in Vietnamese
• Seasoning - gia vị
• Dipping sauce - nước chấm
• Fish sauce - nước mắm
• Soy sauce - nước tương
• Oyster sauce - dầu hào
• Chilli sauce - tương ớt
• Salt - muối
• Sugar - đường
• Pepper - tiêu
• Chilli - ớt
• Garlic - tỏi
• Shallot - hành tím
• Ginger - gừng
• Lemongrass - sả
• Turmeric - nghệ
• Lime - chanh
• Vinegar - giấm
• Cooking oil - dầu ăn
• MSG - bột ngọt / mì chính
• Seasoning powder - hạt nêm
These seasonings and sauces are commonly used in Vietnamese dishes such as pho, bun cha, spring rolls, grilled meats, and stir-fried dishes.
9. Cooking Methods in Vietnamese
• Cook - nấu
• Fry - chiên
• Deep fry - chiên ngập dầu
• Stir-fry - xào
• Boil - luộc
• Steam - hấp
• Grill - nướng
• Roast - quay
• Bake - nướng
• Slice -thái
• Chop - băm
• Peel - gọt
• Wash - rửa
• Mix - trộn
• Season - nêm
• Serve - dọn
10. Food Flavours
• Delicious - ngon
• Sweet - ngọt
• Sour - chua
• Salty - mặn
• Bitter - đắng
• Spicy - cay
• Hot - nóng
• Cold - lạnh
• Fresh - tươi
• Crispy - giòn
• Soft - mềm
• Chewy - dai
• Oily - nhiều dầu
• Bland - nhạt
11. Useful Food Phrases
• Let's eat - Ăn thôi.
• This is delicious - Món này ngon.
• The food is spicy - Đồ ăn cay.
• I like Vietnamese food - Tôi thích đồ ăn Việt Nam.
• I don't eat meat - Tôi không ăn thịt.
• I don't eat seafood - Tôi không ăn hải sản.
• Can I have the menu? - Cho tôi xem thực đơn.
• I'd like to order - Tôi muốn gọi món.
• Enjoy your meal - Chúc ngon miệng.
• Thank you for the meal - Cảm ơn vì bữa ăn.
12. Example Sentences
• Tôi thích đồ ăn Việt Nam.
I like Vietnamese food.
• Cơm rất ngon.
The rice is very delicious.
• Tôi ăn sáng lúc bảy giờ.
I eat breakfast at seven o'clock.
• Chúng tôi ăn tối cùng nhau.
We have dinner together.
• Món này hơi cay.
This dish is a little spicy.
• Tôi muốn một bát phở.
I would like a bowl of pho.
• Tôi không ăn thịt bò.
I don't eat beef.
• Bạn có thích hải sản không?
Do you like seafood?
13. Food Culture in Vietnam
Food plays a central role in Vietnamese culture and everyday life. Meals are often shared with family members, with several dishes placed in the centre of the table for everyone to enjoy together. Rice is the staple food in most households and is commonly served with vegetables, meat, fish, soup, and dipping sauces. Fresh herbs are another defining feature of Vietnamese cuisine, adding aroma and freshness to many dishes. Popular herbs include mint, coriander, Thai basil, and Vietnamese balm, which are frequently served alongside noodle dishes, grilled meats, and fresh spring rolls. Fish sauce (nước mắm) is one of the country's most important seasonings and is used in countless traditional recipes. Vietnam is also famous for iconic dishes such as pho, banh mi, bun cha, bun bo Hue, com tam, and goi cuon. Although these dishes are enjoyed throughout the country, each region has its own unique cooking style, ingredients, and flavours, making Vietnamese cuisine both diverse and distinctive.
14. Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Vietnamese word for food?
The most common words are thức ăn and đồ ăn. Both mean food, but đồ ăn is more common in everyday conversation.
How do you say delicious in Vietnamese?
The word is ngon.
Example:
• Món này ngon.
This dish is delicious.
What is the difference between thức ăn and đồ ăn?
Both mean food. Thức ăn is slightly more formal, while đồ ăn is the expression most people use in daily speech.
15. Conclusion
Learning food in Vietnamese is one of the most practical ways to improve your vocabulary. Words related to meals, ingredients, cooking, and flavours appear in everyday conversations, restaurants, markets, and travel situations. By mastering these common expressions, you will find it easier to communicate with Vietnamese speakers and enjoy Vietnam's rich culinary culture with greater confidence.
Vietnamese often use món when talking about dishes.
• Dish - món
• Main dish - món chính
• Side dish - món ăn kèm
• Soup - canh
• Salad - gỏi
• Hot pot - lẩu
• Fried rice - cơm chiên
• Fried noodles - mì xào
• Grilled meat - thịt nướng
Examples
• Đây là món yêu thích của tôi.
This is my favourite dish.
• Món này rất nổi tiếng.
This dish is very famous.
5. Meat and Protein
• Beef - thịt bò
• Pork - thịt lợn / thịt heo• Chicken - thịt gà
• Duck - thịt vịt
• Fish - cá
• Shrimp - tôm
• Crab - cua
• Squid - mực
• Egg - trứng
• Tofu - đậu phụ
• Bean curd - đậu phụ
6. Vegetables
• Vegetable - rau
• Cabbage - bắp cải
• Lettuce - xà lách
• Spinach rau - rau chân vịt
• Morning glory - rau muống
• Water spinach - rau muống
• Tomato - cà chua
• Potato - khoai tây
• Carrot - cà rốt
• Cucumber - dưa chuột
• Pumpkin - bí đỏ
• Onion - hành tây
• Mushroom - nấm
7. Fruits
• Fruit - trái cây / hoa quả
• Apple - táo
• Banana - chuối
• Orange - cam
• Mango - xoài
• Pineapple - dứa
• Watermelon - dưa hấu
• Grapes - nho
• Papaya - đu đủ
• Dragon fruit - thanh long
• Coconut - dừa
8. Seasonings and Dipping Sauces in Vietnamese
• Seasoning - gia vị
• Dipping sauce - nước chấm
• Fish sauce - nước mắm
• Soy sauce - nước tương
• Oyster sauce - dầu hào
• Chilli sauce - tương ớt
• Salt - muối
• Sugar - đường
• Pepper - tiêu
• Chilli - ớt
• Garlic - tỏi
• Shallot - hành tím
• Ginger - gừng
• Lemongrass - sả
• Turmeric - nghệ
• Lime - chanh
• Vinegar - giấm
• Cooking oil - dầu ăn
• MSG - bột ngọt / mì chính
• Seasoning powder - hạt nêm
These seasonings and sauces are commonly used in Vietnamese dishes such as pho, bun cha, spring rolls, grilled meats, and stir-fried dishes.
9. Cooking Methods in Vietnamese
• Cook - nấu
• Fry - chiên
• Deep fry - chiên ngập dầu
• Stir-fry - xào
• Boil - luộc
• Steam - hấp
• Grill - nướng
• Roast - quay
• Bake - nướng
• Slice -thái
• Chop - băm
• Peel - gọt
• Wash - rửa
• Mix - trộn
• Season - nêm
• Serve - dọn
10. Food Flavours
• Delicious - ngon
• Sweet - ngọt
• Sour - chua
• Salty - mặn
• Bitter - đắng
• Spicy - cay
• Hot - nóng
• Cold - lạnh
• Fresh - tươi
• Crispy - giòn
• Soft - mềm
• Chewy - dai
• Oily - nhiều dầu
• Bland - nhạt
11. Useful Food Phrases
• I'm hungry - Tôi đói.
• I'm full - Tôi no rồi.• Let's eat - Ăn thôi.
• This is delicious - Món này ngon.
• The food is spicy - Đồ ăn cay.
• I like Vietnamese food - Tôi thích đồ ăn Việt Nam.
• I don't eat meat - Tôi không ăn thịt.
• I don't eat seafood - Tôi không ăn hải sản.
• Can I have the menu? - Cho tôi xem thực đơn.
• I'd like to order - Tôi muốn gọi món.
• Enjoy your meal - Chúc ngon miệng.
• Thank you for the meal - Cảm ơn vì bữa ăn.
12. Example Sentences
• Tôi thích đồ ăn Việt Nam.
I like Vietnamese food.
• Cơm rất ngon.
The rice is very delicious.
• Tôi ăn sáng lúc bảy giờ.
I eat breakfast at seven o'clock.
• Chúng tôi ăn tối cùng nhau.
We have dinner together.
• Món này hơi cay.
This dish is a little spicy.
• Tôi muốn một bát phở.
I would like a bowl of pho.
• Tôi không ăn thịt bò.
I don't eat beef.
• Bạn có thích hải sản không?
Do you like seafood?
13. Food Culture in Vietnam
Food plays a central role in Vietnamese culture and everyday life. Meals are often shared with family members, with several dishes placed in the centre of the table for everyone to enjoy together. Rice is the staple food in most households and is commonly served with vegetables, meat, fish, soup, and dipping sauces. Fresh herbs are another defining feature of Vietnamese cuisine, adding aroma and freshness to many dishes. Popular herbs include mint, coriander, Thai basil, and Vietnamese balm, which are frequently served alongside noodle dishes, grilled meats, and fresh spring rolls. Fish sauce (nước mắm) is one of the country's most important seasonings and is used in countless traditional recipes. Vietnam is also famous for iconic dishes such as pho, banh mi, bun cha, bun bo Hue, com tam, and goi cuon. Although these dishes are enjoyed throughout the country, each region has its own unique cooking style, ingredients, and flavours, making Vietnamese cuisine both diverse and distinctive.
14. Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Vietnamese word for food?
The most common words are thức ăn and đồ ăn. Both mean food, but đồ ăn is more common in everyday conversation.
How do you say delicious in Vietnamese?
The word is ngon.
Example:
• Món này ngon.
This dish is delicious.
What is the difference between thức ăn and đồ ăn?
Both mean food. Thức ăn is slightly more formal, while đồ ăn is the expression most people use in daily speech.
15. Conclusion
Learning food in Vietnamese is one of the most practical ways to improve your vocabulary. Words related to meals, ingredients, cooking, and flavours appear in everyday conversations, restaurants, markets, and travel situations. By mastering these common expressions, you will find it easier to communicate with Vietnamese speakers and enjoy Vietnam's rich culinary culture with greater confidence.