Foreigners Hooked on Vietnam's Street Breakfasts, Overwhelmed by Choices

Vietnam's vibrant street breakfast scene is drawing in tourists from around the globe, with social media trends like #vietnambreakfast playing a significant role in its rising popularity. Italian traveler Alessandro Perasso, 31, cycled over five kilometers from his hotel in Da Nang to try "bo ne," a sizzling beef, egg, and bread dish served on a hot cast-iron skillet, a meal whose name roughly translates to "dodging beef" due to diners instinctively leaning back to avoid splattering oil. Perasso noted that deciding what to eat in Vietnam is the hardest part, a stark contrast to his usual breakfast of coffee with a pastry or oatmeal back home in Italy. "There are so many choices, from pho and noodle soup to sticky rice, porridge and banh mi. I can have something different every day," he said. A serving of bo ne costs around VND50,000 (US$2), significantly less than a protein-rich breakfast in Italy, which he estimated would cost US$15-20. He also enjoyed the lively atmosphere of roadside breakfast stalls where people gather on small plastic stools to eat and chat before starting work. For 36-year-old American Marquez Ryan, living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam introduced a new breakfast habit: grabbing food to go. He was surprised to see locals buying meals from street vendors and eating while commuting, even on motorbikes, a convenience uncommon in the U.S. where breakfasts are usually eaten at home or while seated. While eating breakfast out in the U.S. often costs around US$25, Ryan now spends just VND20,000-60,000 (US$0.80-2.30) on dishes like banh mi or sticky rice. Like Perasso, he finds the sheer variety the biggest challenge each morning. The appeal of Vietnamese breakfasts has recently gained momentum online, with videos tagged #vietnambreakfast attracting tens of millions of views on TikTok and Instagram. Some travelers have even challenged themselves to try a different Vietnamese breakfast every day for a month. Vietnam's culinary scene is gaining international acclaim. In 2025, CN Traveller ranked the country among the world's top culinary destinations, while TasteAtlas included Vietnamese beef stew and Hue spicy beef noodle soup among the world's 100 best breakfasts. This year, Michelin inspectors praised Vietnamese cuisine for its depth, distinctiveness and sustainable approach. Associate Professor Pham Ngoc Trung, former faculty head at the Academy of Journalism and Communication, believes Vietnam's breakfast diversity reflects its geography, climate, and agricultural traditions. The tropical climate encourages early work starts, making hearty breakfasts essential for energy, unlike the later schedules and colder climates of many Western countries. "International visitors' enthusiasm for Vietnamese breakfasts shows that street food has become both a cultural bridge and a powerful tourism draw," Trung stated. Ray Kuschert, an Australian who has lived in Ho Chi Minh City for over a decade, initially found rice-based breakfasts unusual but now sees their logic. Even after 10 years, he admits he still hasn't sampled every regional breakfast dish the country offers. Source: VnExpress International