US magazine calls Vietnam ‘best culinary destination’ in Asia

“If there’s one cultural cuisine that bursts with umami goodness, it’s Vietnamese cuisine,” said the magazine.

“Everywhere you go, you’ll be met with local, regional delicacies that will bowl you over.”

Pho (Vietnamese noodle soup), banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches) and banh cuon (steamed rice rolls) are must-try dishes on a food tour in Vietnam, the magazine recommended.

A bowl of pho in Vietnam, traditionally served with chicken or beef broth, costs from VND30,000 to 50,000 ($1.32-$2.20), and usually more in major cities like Hanoi and Saigon.

Banh mi can be purchased from carts at almost every street corner in the country.

A banh mi with all the toppings, such as cha lua (Vietnamese pork bologna), fried eggs, grilled pork, meat balls and vegetables costs from VND15,000 to VND50,000.

Steamed rice rolls, or banh cuon, are made from a mixture of rice and cassava flour. The thin noodle sheet is steamed over a thin layer of fabric on top of boiling water. It is often served with minced pork and a dipping sauce.

Travel+Leisure hailed Bangkok as the “best shopping destination” in Asia, Bali as the “best destination to get close to nature,” India’s Uttarakhand the “best emerging destination” and Cambodia the “best destination to get a taste of royalty.”