Southeast Asia is hot among backpackers, because the food is cheap and ABSOLUTELY delicious. We've selected 8 gorgeous dishes to tantalise your taste buds!
#1 BaBaBa... Banh Mi
This is an absolute must-try for any baguette lover planning to go backpacking in Vietnam. You'll find plenty of street food stalls selling these baguettes that are as crunchy and yummy as their French counterparts. It's sometimes a bit of a surprise knowing what you'll get in your Banh Mi, which makes the experience even more exciting. It typically comes with meat, veggies, nice herbs and a slightly spicy sauce. And what's more... this Banh Mi can be yours for less than half a dollar!
#2 This one's PHO you
Another Vietnamese top dish: Pho! It's cheap, it's filling and it's healthy. So if you need your daily portion of vitamins, Pho will be your friend. It consists of broth, rice noodles, fresh herbs and meat (either beef or chicken). Yum!
#3 Coconut coffee
Do you remember the day you discovered the life-changing concept of iced coffee? You probably thought that was the happiest day of your coffee-consuming life. Nah-ah, my fellow latte lover! Try coconut coffee and live another happiest day of your life. By the way, someone may or may not have told us that coconuts can help you lose weight!
#4 Pad Thai
You may already know this one. If you don't, then jump on a plane to Thailand, hit the first street food stall you bump into and buy this heaven-on-earth dish. What's in it? Stir-fried rice noodles, shrimps, eggs, chopped tofu, red chilli pepper... Oh and it's often sprinkled with roast peanuts. Yet another delicious Southeast Asian dish that's all yours for less than a dollar!
#5 Feeling hot hot pot!
Food is even better when you can share it with old or new travel friends. Hot Pot is a traditional Chinese dish that is perfect for sharing and it's a lot of fun. It's a stew containing a variety of East Asian foodstuffs. Could be meat, could be seafood... could be BOTH! The simmering hot pot is placed in the middle of the table and you just throw the ingredients in until they're cooked - it's like fondue, but healthier!
#6 Fruit shakes
Okay, maybe not traditional South East Asian food, but you can find it in basically every country there and it'll cost you ten times less than the fancy smoothies you buy at home. Did we mention that they make a lovely healthy breakfast or afternoon snack?
#7 Spring or Summer rolls
Oh yes, more street food stall delights for less than a dollar! Spring rolls or summer rolls. In Vietnam, you can even assemble your own summer rolls and stuff them up with whatever you like, dip them in a bunch of sauces and enjoy a yummy dish.
#8 Pancakes
No meal is complete without a dessert! There's no better way to finish a foodie-licious evening than with a lovely pancake. Stop by some food stalls in the bustling streets of Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh and get yourself a freshly made pancake. You can top them up with bananas, chocolate sauce, nutella and go to bed feeling deliciously full.
