The Vietnamese have a special affinity with herbs, which they call fragrant leaves (rau thom). Handfuls of fresh herb leaves are served as a salad with almost every dish, along with lettuce, sprouts and julienned carrots, radishes, and cucumber. What could be healthier or simpler? In cooking, too, herbs flavour soups and piquant dipping sauces, with minced lemongrass or chopped coriander leaves added to beef, chicken or fish dishes.
Vietnamese style
Expect something completely different
As more and more tourists make their way to Vietnam, they discover a style of cooking that is quite different to that of its Asian neighbours. Most main dishes are served in a wrapper of lettuce or edible rice-paper. Meatballs, minced or thinly sliced meat, along with herbs, slivers of raw veggies, and cooked rice…