What are the imported effects on eating habits in Thăng Long-Hà Nội?

September 26, 2010 2:34 PM GMT+7

VGP - Over the last several millennia of development, Việt Nam has interacted with many countries and cultures, but only a few have had major, lasting effects on the Vietnamese eating and drinking culture.

A bowl of beef noodle soup

The influence of Chinese culture comes from the restaurants run by Chinese people here. At first they only served Chinese people. Then, Thăng Long’s people tried the food and learnt to cook the dishes such as soya curd, phở, hủ tiếu, and dumplings.

During French domination (1884-1945), French food had a large influence on Hà Nội’s people. Particularly important was the introduction of French foods such as bread, salad, and soup. The French also introduced some new kinds of plants such as kohlrabi, cabbage, cauliflower, and potato.

Rather than simply accept these new foods as the French or Chinese ate them, Hanoians Vietnamized them - that is, they began to cook and eat them in Vietnamese way. For example, Chinese phở is made from wheat flour but Vietnamese phở is made from rice flour; Chinese people eat dumpling (bánh bao) as a main course, but Vietnamese people use it as a snack; and, in Việt Nam, the French dish of beef cooked with potatoes has many more vegetables.

The most important Chinese influence on Vietnamese drinking culture is the introduction of tea. Chinese tea was loved by Vietnamese aristocrats in the 18^th century and gradually became a popular drink among working people. The most significant French-introduced drinks are beer and Western-style wine. At first, these drinks were enjoyed only by government officials and a few Hà Nội residents, later, they became more and more popular. In the early 20^th century, the colonial government built two factories to produce beer and wine, both of which are still producing today: Hà Nội Wine Factory (at the end of Lò Đúc street, Hai Bà Trưng District) and Hà Nội Beer Factory (Hoàng Hoa Thám street, Cầu Giấy District). Two drinks produced in these factories - Lúa Mới wine and Hà Nội beer - are especially loved by foreign tourists.