Japan and Vietnam have both been influenced by Chinese food culture. For that reason, Vietnam is often said to have many dishes that Japanese people find easy to eat. However, some foods make you want to say, “Absolutely not!” This time, we introduce four unusual Vietnamese foods that can be a bit tough for Japanese people.

Unusual Vietnamese Food 1: Duck Eggs Just Before Hatching

When Japanese people travel to Vietnam, many try duck eggs just before hatching after seeing them featured in guidebooks.

An ingredient widely eaten across Southeast Asia

Duck eggs just before hatching are known to Japanese people as “balut.” Although famous as a Vietnamese ingredient, they are also eaten in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines and Cambodia, and even in China. In Vietnam, they are served much like boiled eggs. When you crack the shell, you see the yolk of a boiled egg along with the form of a chick just before hatching. The appearance is unsettling, but when you try it, the flavor is like eating egg yolk and chicken tenderloin together—more delicious than you might imagine.

How to eat balut in Vietnam

In Vietnam, balut is sold everywhere—at street stalls, eateries, and restaurants. It is mainly favored by older people, but because it is believed to have restorative benefits, you also see parents giving it to young children. Eating it is simple: crack open about one-third of the shell and slurp the contents, broth and all. Sipping it with the chicken-like broth lets you enjoy the yolk even more juicily. People bothered by the organ-like smell eat it with lime and herbs.

Unusual Vietnamese Food 2: Silkworm Pupae

Alongside duck eggs just before hatching, silkworm pupae are considered a restorative food in Vietnam.

A valued ingredient as a precious source of protein

Silkworm pupae are called nhộng in Vietnam and have long been valued as a precious source of protein. A common dish you see around town is silkworm pupae stir-fried until fragrant in plenty of oil and seasoned with soy sauce. The outside has a crispy, savory taste, but when you bite down, a soft, squishy interior comes out, which some people dislike. Older people and those living in mountainous areas love them enough to eat them as a snack, but young Vietnamese people often find them “gross” and do not actively eat them.

Where to eat nhộng in Vietnam

If you want to try nhộng in Vietnam, peeking into a roadside bento shop is recommended. Vietnamese bento shops use a combo style where you choose your favorites from a variety of side dishes. Nhộng is often among them, so you can ask for just a little. If the appearance does not bother you, you can eat them with a crispy, tsukudani-like feel.

Unusual Vietnamese Food 3: Dog Meat

Although the custom of eating it is fading in Vietnam, dog meat can still be seen in northern Vietnam, including Hanoi.

Dog meat, a traditional dish of northern Vietnam

In Vietnam, whole roasted dogs hang at street stalls and similar places. Because they are sold by weight, the dog’s shape gradually disappears over time. People who love dogs may feel distressed seeing dogs reduced to just a head or just a torso. Besides street stalls, it can also be eaten at restaurants specializing in dog meat.

The Vietnamese government warns against eating dog meat

That said, as more households keep dogs as pets, the culture of eating dog meat in Vietnam is gradually fading. Not a few Vietnamese people dislike dog-meat culture after having a beloved pet dog stolen. Also, because foreigners may view it as barbaric, the Vietnamese government warns people not to eat dog meat. As a result, even shops that still handle dog meat increasingly tend to sell it quietly without displaying it at the storefront.

Unusual Vietnamese Food 4: Shellfish Dishes

Especially in southern Vietnam, the custom of eating shellfish is well established, and you can enjoy shellfish that are rarely eaten in Japan.

Pond snails are a staple of Vietnamese shellfish cuisine

Vietnam has spots where shellfish specialty street stalls cluster, and you can eat many kinds of shellfish, large and small. Japan is not entirely without a custom of eating pond snails, but as an everyday food they are a minority. In Vietnam, the standard is to slowly boil pond snails with herbs and the like, then eat them with lime salt. Because they are cheap and you can eat a lot, many people order pond snails as their first dish.

Giant razor clams, a rare delicacy in Japan

A shellfish dish unique to Vietnam is stir-fried razor clams. Because of their claw-like appearance, Vietnamese speakers of Japanese sometimes introduce them as “tsume-gai” (claw clams). In Japan they are small, but Vietnamese razor clams are quite large. The standard razor clam dish is stir-fried with plenty of garlic, dried red chili, and water spinach. You can also stir-fry razor clams, water spinach, and instant noodles together and eat them as a Vietnamese-style yakisoba.

Summary

Vietnam has many somewhat unusual foods that are not commonly eaten in Japan. Some are hard to handle visually, but when you actually try them, they are often surprisingly delicious. So if you get the chance in Vietnam, why not try challenging yourself with these unusual foods?