Vietnamese keto guide
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Keto friendliness
Vietnamese cuisine offers naturally keto-friendly components but requires careful navigation and modifications to avoid ubiquitous carb-heavy staples.
Top ingredients
Excellent traditional keto ingredients include various grilled or stewed meats (pork, beef, chicken), seafood, eggs, abundant fresh herbs (basil, mint, cilantro), leafy greens, bean sprouts, and healthy fats from oils or fatty cuts of meat.
Danger zones
Beware of all forms of rice (steamed, broken, sticky), rice noodles (pho, bun), vermicelli, banh mi, sweetened dipping sauces (nuoc cham), sugar in marinades, and fried spring rolls made with rice paper or wrappers.
Best for
This cuisine works best for adaptable keto dieters who enjoy high protein, fresh herbs, and are comfortable with requesting modifications or making careful menu selections.
What to drink
Drinks you will see at Vietnamese restaurants, cafés and stalls, rated the same way as the food.
Order these
- KetoFree Iced Tea trà đá · 0g net carbs as usually served
- Ask firstIced Black Coffee cà phê đen đá · 12g net carbs as usually servedSay 'không đường' (no sugar).
- Ask firstPennywort Juice nước rau má · 20g net carbs as usually servedAsk for 'rau má nguyên chất, không đường' (plain, no sugar).
- Ask firstFresh Lime Juice or Soda nước chanh / soda chanh · 25g net carbs as usually servedSay 'không đường' (no sugar). Some places will add salt instead.
- Ask firstAvocado Smoothie sinh tố bơ · 40g net carbs as usually servedAsk for 'không sữa đặc, không đường' (no condensed milk, no sugar). Many stalls will blend it with ice and a little fresh milk instead.
Skip these
- SkipSoy Milk sữa đậu nành · 15g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order trà đá instead.
- SkipHerbal Cooling Drink nước sâm · 20g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order trà đá instead.
- SkipLime Tea trà chanh · 25g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order trà đá instead.
- SkipIced Coffee with Condensed Milk cà phê sữa đá · 25g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order cà phê đen đá, không đường instead.
- SkipSalt Coffee cà phê muối · 25g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order cà phê đen đá, không đường instead.
- SkipEgg Coffee cà phê trứng · 25g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order cà phê đen nóng, không đường instead.
- SkipCoconut Coffee cà phê cốt dừa · 40g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order cà phê đen đá, không đường instead.
- SkipSugarcane Juice nước mía · 45g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order trà đá instead.
- SkipSweet Dessert Soup chè · 50g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order trà đá instead.