Top 10+ Strange Vietnamese Foods to Try in 2025 – Dare to Eat in Vietnam?

Strange Food in Vietnam – A Journey Through the Weirdest and Most Wonderful Vietnamese Dishes

Vietnam is a paradise for food lovers—but not just because of pho or banh mi. Beneath its world-famous street food lies a culinary culture filled with bold, bizarre, and unforgettable dishes. From fertilized duck eggs to coconut worms, strange food in Vietnam is a category of its own, offering adventurous travelers the chance to experience something completely new.

Whether you’re a foodie in search of unique flavors or a traveler curious about local traditions, this guide introduces you to the most weird Vietnamese food you’ll find across the country. Prepare to challenge your palate, learn the stories behind these strange delicacies, and discover how food reflects Vietnam’s deep-rooted culture and fearless creativity.

Why Vietnamese Cuisine Includes So Many Unusual Dishes

Vietnam’s geography, history, and cultural diversity have all contributed to a food scene that’s both deeply resourceful and daringly creative. During times of war, scarcity made people utilize every part of the animal. Centuries of tradition and regional influence have since transformed these survival-based dishes into delicacies that many Vietnamese locals treasure.

To understand strange Vietnamese food, you must first understand that “weird” is subjective. What shocks one traveler might be a childhood comfort food for another. These dishes are not gimmicks—they’re living heritage.

Top 15+ Weird Vietnamese Foods You Should Try

Balut (Trứng Vịt Lộn) – Fertilized Duck Egg

Perhaps the most famous of Vietnam’s weird Vietnamese food, balut (or trứng vịt lộn) is a fertilized duck egg with a partially developed embryo inside. Boiled and served warm, the top of the egg is cracked open and typically eaten with a pinch of salt, pepper, and fresh herbs like coriander. While the concept might seem off-putting at first glance, anyone who tastes it often finds it surprisingly rich, nutritious, and deeply rooted in local street food culture 

Tiết Canh – Raw Blood Pudding

Not for the faint of heart, tiết canh is a raw duck (or pig) blood dish served cold. It’s mixed with minced organs, herbs, and fish sauce, then left to coagulate. Usually garnished with peanuts and coriander, it looks like jelly but delivers a salty, iron-rich punch.

This dish is becoming less common for hygiene reasons, but it’s still one of the most iconic examples of strange food in Vietnam.

Coconut Worms (Đuông Dừa)

These fat, wriggling larvae live inside coconut trees and are typically eaten raw—alive—and dipped in chili fish sauce. It’s a dare-worthy dish for thrill-seeking foodies and often found in southern Vietnam, particularly in the Mekong Delta.

For a slightly easier entry, try them grilled with butter. This is definitely among the weird Vietnamese food that even some locals won’t touch.

Chả Rươi – Sandworm Omelette

A seasonal delicacy, chả rươi is made from live sandworms harvested in autumn. The worms are mixed with egg, mandarin peel, and herbs before being fried into golden patties. It’s earthy, fatty, and strangely aromatic.

Available mostly in northern Vietnam, especially Hanoi, this dish is a unique fusion of seafood, spice, and tradition.

Snake Heart and Snake Wine

In Le Mat Village near Hanoi, visitors can watch a live cobra be prepared for a meal—and sometimes drink its still-beating heart in rice wine. Snake wine, with an entire cobra coiled inside the bottle, is also sold widely and believed to have medicinal benefits.

Though not for everyone, it’s among the most extreme weird food in Vietnam.

Sa Sung – Dried Peanut Worm

Dried peanut worms, or sa sung, look more like crunchy white slugs. Found in coastal areas, they’re often toasted and served with beer or added to pho broth for a rich umami flavor.

They’re expensive, rare, and distinctly chewy—definitely a unique entry in the world of strange Vietnamese food.

Phá Lấu – Pork Offal Stew

Phá lấu is a southern street food made of pig’s stomach, intestine, and liver, slow-cooked in coconut milk and Chinese five-spice. Served with bread or rice noodles, it smells intense and tastes surprisingly mellow.

It may not look appealing at first glance, but many locals consider it a beloved comfort food.

Frog Dishes

Frog legs are common across Vietnam, grilled, fried, or served in porridge. More bizarre, however, are whole-grilled lizards or geckos, especially in rural or mountainous areas. Often seasoned with lemongrass and chili, they’re chewy, spicy, and deeply rooted in local food culture.

If you’re hunting for weird Vietnamese food in smaller towns, you’ll likely find these on the menu.

Insect Snacks – Crickets, Grasshoppers, Silkworms

Vietnamese street markets often sell deep-fried bugs: crickets, grasshoppers, and silkworm pupae (nhộng). Crunchy, salty, and high in protein, they’re an eco-friendly snack that tourists are increasingly curious to try.

Served with chili salt or lime, they’re both a novelty and a tradition.

Chicken Feet (Chân Gà)

A classic example of a dish that may be ordinary in one culture but considered strange food in Vietnam by visitors, chicken feet—or chân gà—are commonly grilled, steamed, or soaked in spicy lemongrass fish sauce. The appeal lies not in the meat (there’s little), but in the chewy texture and flavorful marinades that cling to every tendon and cartilage.

In Hanoi, grilled chicken feet are especially popular among young locals during late-night street food sessions. The chewy bite, paired with spicy chili salt and a cold beer, turns this weird Vietnamese food into a beloved social snack.

Oc – Vietnamese Sea Snail Dishes

Ask any local about their favorite street food, and chances are ốc will come up. It refers to a wide variety of sea snails—big, small, spiral, flat, even razor clams—cooked in a dizzying array of styles: stir-fried with tamarind sauce, steamed with lemongrass, grilled with scallion oil, or tossed in chili-garlic butter.

While delicious to locals, these slippery shellfish are considered weird food in Vietnam to many travelers who aren’t used to eating mollusks this way. That said, the experience is deeply social, incredibly flavorful, and a must-try for curious foodies.

What makes oc even more exciting is the dipping sauces—each vendor has their own signature blend of fish sauce, lime, chili, and lemongrass that transforms the snails into an explosion of flavor.

Where to Try These Weird Vietnamese Foods in Hanoi

While some of the most strange food in Vietnam can be found in rural provinces or seasonal markets, Hanoi is a fantastic place to experience the country’s boldest dishes in a safe, accessible, and authentic setting. From vibrant night markets to traditional “quán nhậu” (casual drinking spots), the capital is full of places where you can taste the best (and weirdest) flavors Vietnam has to offer. Here’s where to start your culinary adventure.

Dong Xuan Market 

Located in the heart of the Old Quarter, Dong Xuan Market is one of the most iconic spots to try strange Vietnamese food. Vendors here serve up everything from grilled chicken feet to fried silkworm pupae (nhộng chiên) and snake wine—sometimes all in one alley.

It’s the perfect place for first-time adventurers to test their limits. The chaotic atmosphere, low plastic stools, and sizzling woks only add to the authenticity. Come hungry, bring small bills, and don’t be afraid to point and ask.

Address: Dong Xuan Street, Hoan Kiem District
Try: Chicken feet, silkworms, sea snails, fermented shrimp paste

Le Mat Snake Village 

Just 7 km northeast of Hanoi’s Old Quarter lies Le Mat Village, a neighborhood famous for its snake-catching heritage. Here, multiple restaurants offer entire snake-based meals, from stir-fried cobra to snake spring rolls—and even the infamous snake heart shot, served still beating in a shot glass of rice wine.

While it’s not for the faint of heart, this is one of the few places where you can experience this level of weird Vietnamese food in a clean, controlled, and culturally immersive setting. Local guides often include Le Mat in food tours for daring tourists.

Address: Le Mat Street, Viet Hung Ward, Long Bien District
Try: Grilled snake, snake wine, snake heart shot, snake egg soup

Tong Duy Tan Night Food Street

If you’re hunting for weird food in Vietnam after dark, Tong Duy Tan is the place to go. This pedestrian food street is open until midnight and features dozens of stalls and small restaurants serving dishes like phá lấu (organ stew), grilled frog legs, and spicy fermented squid.

The area is popular among students and young Hanoians, creating a buzzing, youthful vibe. It’s a great place to people-watch, sip local beer, and nibble your way through the city’s edgiest snacks.

Address: Tong Duy Tan Street, Hoan Kiem District
Try: Grilled chicken feet, frog legs, coconut worms (seasonal), offal stew

Truc Bach Lakeside 

The Truc Bach area isn’t just famous for its lake views—it’s also where locals go to indulge in fermented and raw seafood, including raw octopus dipped in pungent “mắm tôm” (fermented shrimp paste). If you want to push your flavor boundaries, this is the place.

Small beer joints along the lakeside serve a combination of pickled fruits, snail dishes, and raw seafood. The strong flavors may shock first-timers, but for adventurous eaters, it’s an unforgettable journey into strange Vietnamese food culture.

Address: Truc Bach Street, Ba Dinh District
Try: Raw octopus with mam tom, fermented shrimp paste, snails with chili sauce

Ốc Quán

For those ready to dive into the slimy yet sensational world of sea snails, Hanoi offers a wide variety of “quán ốc” (snail restaurants) across the city. These casual eateries often have dozens of options cooked in garlic butter, tamarind sauce, lemongrass broth, or grilled on charcoal.

While some varieties are beginner-friendly, others—like blood cockles or razor clams—are considered strange food in Vietnam for outsiders. Eating snails with your hands, surrounded by locals and dipping into chili-lime fish sauce, is a rite of passage in Hanoi’s food scene.

Suggested spot: Ốc Luong Dinh Cua, Ốc Dao Duy Tu
Try: Tam vong snails, grilled blood cockles, razor clams in coconut sauce

Quán Nhậu – Nhậu Restaurants

Want to eat like a local? Head to a quán nhậu—a Vietnamese-style drinking restaurant where people gather over beer, laughter, and plates of daring dishes. It’s in these lively settings where you’re most likely to find strange Vietnamese food like pig brain hotpot, duck tongue, fried bull testicles, or boiled goat intestines.

These spots are best visited with a local guide or friend who can help you navigate the menu (and the etiquette). The dishes might be intense, but the sense of community is unforgettable.

Popular area: Khuong Thuong (Dong Da), Lang Ha, or any local beer alley
Try: Goat brain, fried intestines, duck tongue, bull testicles

Travel Tips for Trying Weird Vietnamese Food in Hanoi

Tasting strange food in Vietnam can be one of the most unforgettable highlights of your trip—if approached with curiosity, respect, and a bit of preparation. Hanoi, in particular, offers countless opportunities to explore the boldest flavors in Southeast Asia. To help you get the most from your experience, here are essential tips for sampling weird Vietnamese food safely, enjoyably, and authentically.

Start with Mildly Strange Before Going Full Exotic

If it’s your first time trying weird food in Vietnam, ease into it. Begin with dishes like grilled chicken feet (chân gà), tamarind sea snails (ốc xào me), or balut (trứng vịt lộn). These are widely available, safer for sensitive stomachs, and offer just enough “shock factor” without overwhelming your senses.

Once you’ve warmed up, you can move on to more challenging experiences like raw octopus with fermented shrimp paste or blood pudding (tiết canh).

Go With a Local Guide or Join a Food Tour

Navigating strange dishes on your own can be intimidating, especially if you don’t speak Vietnamese. Joining a local food tour—such as those offered by Hanoi Local Tour—ensures you’ll have a knowledgeable guide who can explain ingredients, customs, and preparation methods.

Guided tours not only help you try strange Vietnamese food safely, but also provide cultural insight that makes each bite more meaningful. Plus, your guide can steer you away from low-quality or unhygienic spots.

Choose Busy and Well-Reviewed Eateries

One rule of thumb in Hanoi: if a place is busy with locals, it’s probably safe and delicious. Whether you’re trying fermented seafood, snails, or offal stews, look for places with a steady stream of customers and freshly prepared ingredients.

Avoid stalls with lukewarm food sitting out too long. For dishes involving raw or undercooked meat, make sure they’re made to order and prepared with care.

Bring Essentials Things Like Tissues, Sanitizer, and Cash

When exploring local markets or “quán nhậu” eateries, be prepared. Some places won’t have napkins, sinks, or card machines. Pack a few tissues, hand sanitizer, and small Vietnamese bills to make transactions easier.

Having these on hand will make your weird food in Vietnam experience smoother and more comfortable.

Try It with Beer

Many weird Vietnamese foods are best enjoyed in a “nhậu” setting—Vietnam’s version of a beer hall. From grilled intestines to coconut worms, these dishes are often paired with local lagers like Bia Hanoi or Bia Saigon. The beer helps balance the flavors and adds to the fun, social atmosphere.

Don’t be surprised if locals cheer you on or offer a toast when they see you trying something out of the ordinary—it’s a great way to connect across cultures.

Learn the Names in Vietnamese

Knowing key food words will help you identify dishes, ask questions, and avoid surprises. Here are a few to remember:

• Trứng vịt lộn – balut (fertilized duck egg)
• Tiết canh – raw blood pudding
• Chân gà nướng – grilled chicken feet
• Bạch tuộc sống – raw octopus
• Mắm tôm – fermented shrimp paste
• Ốc – snails
• Phá lấu – organ meat stew

Being able to read or recognize these names makes you feel more confident when ordering strange Vietnamese food.

Capture the Moment

Trying weird food in Vietnam is often a once-in-a-lifetime moment, so yes—take the photo! But also take time to put your phone down and engage with the experience. Enjoy the smells, the textures, and the reactions of locals around you.

Some dishes, like coconut worms or snake heart, are served with performance-like preparation. Filming is okay—but always ask first, and don’t treat it like a zoo exhibit.

Say “Cảm Ơn” and Smile

Whether you finish the plate or not, saying “thank you” (cảm ơn) with a smile shows appreciation. Even if the dish challenges your comfort zone, your willingness to try says a lot. It builds connection and respect—core values of any great travel experience.

Ready to go beyond the usual pho and banh mi? Let our experts at Hanoi Local Tour guide you through the fascinating world of Hanoi street food – from classics to curiosities. Join our Hanoi Food Tour to safely sample the city’s boldest dishes, learn their origins, and discover the real flavor of Vietnam. Dare to taste the strange. Discover the unforgettable.