No doubt Vietnam cuisine is among the best not only in Asia, but across the globe. Surely, it can’t be that appreciated if it isn’t special. Though it is known that a few of their dishes are similar to some of their neighbors, Vietnam has its own way of making their food a lot more memorable to dine on. The selectiveness of spices involved in its preparation is one important factor that brings out its complex flavors. Considered among the healthiest cuisines in the world it is also well-recognized having balance in every plate. Here are a few interesting things you might have not known yet about Vietnamese food:

In preparation: Vietnamese dishes are always prepared using fresh ingredients. It is very seldom to find processed food in Vietnemese kitchens. Most Vietnamese dishes use minimal oil as possible. Vietnamese cooks utilize almost all parts of an animal for food, including meat, bone, internal organs and skin. As much as possible, nothing should be thrown away. There is no preferred meat. Different ingredients are used in cooking varying dishes at certain months of the year. During summer, the food is lighter and a lot of vegetables are used in preparing dishes. In winter pork and beef are used more in cooking. Vietnamese cooks use lotus. Every part of the lotus is used to prepare different dishes and root plants are used a lot in different dishes.

In creating flavors: Vietnamese dishes always include a combination of several herbs mostly including lemongrass, mint, Vietnamese mint, long coriander and Thai basil leaves. Each dish is accompanied by a kind of herb. Vietnamese cuisine is known for four distinct flavors: fish sauce, rice vinegar, salt, and sugar. Foreign visitors consider shrimp paste the worst Vietnamese flavor used in preparing its dishes. Shrimp paste is a liquid paste made from shrimp and used for various dishes including Bun Dau Mam Tom, dog meat.

In serving: Plating their food in the an appealing way is essential in any Vietnamese dishes. Vietnamese cooks decorate their dishes using simple herbs to more complex flowers made from veggie, sauce, pastes, etc. Decorating food is more complex in Northern Vietnam.

Beverages: The most tempting dish for male visitors is snake wine, which is considered to provide positive benefits to one’s skeletal health. It is also one of the most popular traditional wines across Vietnam. The wine, however, is believed to be unfavorable to one’s sexual ability, thus, young men rarely drink this type of wine. The most popular Vietnamese drink is the tea, Thai Nguyen tea being a popular favorite. Only few locals drink tea as they look at the drink as something not very good for one’s sleep. Beer hoi or cheap street beer is the most favorite drink during summer. Hanoi beer hoi is the most popular in Vietnam.

Other Facts: Vietnamese cuisine depends heavily on rice, which is the key and most important dish throughout the day. Spring Rolls is the most popular food prepared during family events. However, the most popular dish in the world is Pho. Spring Rolls only ranks as second. Along with Pho, Goi Cuon is also among the top 50 best dishes in the world voted by CNN Travel. Goi Cuon is made from beef, lettuce, herbs, and noodle and rolled into a rice paper, then used with a special sauce. The dish most foreign visitors are hesitant to try is Blood soup, made from blood and internal organs of pigs, ducks, goats and even dogs. Vietnamese, on the other hand, consider the dish highly nutritious. In Vietnam, colds are cured not by medicine but by hot rice soup containing lots of onion and foliumperillae. Hot pot is the most popular family meal during weekends during winter. Interestingly, it is not the original Vietnamese dish but is copied from Korea and China.