It’s hard to define the characteristic of the cuisine in Southern Vietnam,because Southern Vietnamese eating many dishes that originated from other regions and countries. Many say Southern Vietnamese love sweet dishes than other regions. But in reality that yes Southern Vietnamese do eat some sweet things,but they also love many of sour,spicy,bitter and salty dishes . With abundance of resources such as rice,fish and vegetables ,alongside with other outside influences that have made up the characteristic of Southern Vietnamese cuisine.
Here’s some Southern Vietnamese dishes that may(or may not) influence from others:
Phở -a beef noodle brought to the South by Northern Vietnamese immigrants during the 1950s but with different that the Northern Phở that the Southern Phở use less MSG than the Northern ones,and they also eating Phở with more vegetables,sauces and herbs.
Bánh bò -many say it came from China,Cantonese region(GD+GX+HK)- White sugar sponge cake . But “Bánh bò” does have coconut inside this cake,while the Cantonese one doesn’t.
Bánh bông lan -this sponge cake is come from the West,maybe from the French during their occupation in Vietnam.
Bò kho -a classic dish in Saigon,some saying it’s a unique dish in Saigon and the Southern Vietnam region,not being influenced from other Vietnamese regions. Though it look very like a “Westernized” dish.
Curry chicken with coconut milk ,I guess you know this dish originated from(India).
Bánh xèo -somewhat similar to crepe but not originated from Europe. There are many evidence that dish is come from Cham and Khmer people or mixture and created based on their dishes.
There are some dishes that created by Southern Vietnamese in their journey to settling in the South and after that like:
Canh chua cá lóc
Kho quẹt
Lẩu mắm
Cá nướng trui
Khổ qua nồi thịt
Gỏi đu đủ
Bò nướng lá lốt
Chả đùm
Cơm tấm
