Bánh tráng trộn (meaning ''mixed rice paper'' or ''rice paper salad'' in Vietnamese), is a popular Vietnamese street food made of

rice paper Rice paper is a product constructed of paper-like materials made from different plants. These include: *''Thin peeled dried pith of Tetrapanax papyrifer'': A sheet-like "paper" material was used extensively in late 19th century Guangdong, China ...

mixing with a varieties of other ingredients. Originated as a snack for school students, ''bánh tráng trộn'' has since gained popularity in all over Vietnam and with oversea Vietnamese communities.

Ingredients and variations

Ingredients of bánh tráng trộn are varied regions by regions, but the core ingredients typically include rice paper strips/cuts, seasoned salt, chili powder, dried shrimp, flavoring oils and seasoned fried onions. Other popular ingredients are dried beef jerky strips, minced green

mango A mango is an edible stone fruit produced by the tropical tree '' Mangifera indica''. It originated from the region between northwestern Myanmar, Bangladesh, and northeastern India. ''M. indica'' has been cultivated in South and Southeast As ...

, peanuts, fresh

mint Mint or The Mint may refer to: Plants * Lamiaceae, the mint family ** ''Mentha'', the genus of plants commonly known as "mint" Coins and collectibles * Mint (facility), a facility for manufacturing coins * Mint condition, a state of like-new ...

basil Basil (, ; , ; ''Ocimum basilicum'' (, )), also called great basil, is a culinary herb of the family Lamiaceae (mints). It is a hardiness (plants), tender plant, and is used in cuisines worldwide. In Western cuisine, the generic term "basil" r ...

, soft

quail eggs Quail eggs or quails' eggs (British English) are a kind of eggs as food, eaten and considered a delicacy in many parts of the world, including Asia, Europe, and North America. In Japanese cuisine, they are sometimes used raw or cooked as ''tam ...

and many kinds of sauces. Bánh tráng trộn is known as a satisfying and enjoyable snack due to its many unique regional combinations of textures. The chewy rice paper mix is a combination of sour, sweet, nutty, spicy and richness and can be further enhanced by the addition of fresh herbs and dressings. Some chefs even offer prepackaged Vietnamese rice paper salad kits, which include most of the necessary ingredients for the dish. In Vietnam, the dish is often served by

street vendors A hawker is a vendor of merchandise that can be easily transported; the term is roughly synonymous with costermonger or peddler. In most places where the term is used, a hawker sells inexpensive goods, handicrafts, or food items. Whether stationa ...

in plastic bags or box, along with a set of chopsticks for easy consumption.

In Vietnam culture

Bánh tráng trộn is often considered as one of symbols of Vietnamese street food culture, particularly in

Southern Vietnam Southern Vietnam () is one of the three geographical regions of Vietnam, the other two being Northern and Central Vietnam. It includes 2 administrative subregions, which in turn are divided into 19 ''First Tier units'', of which 17 are provi ...

and

Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) ('','' TP.HCM; ), commonly known as Saigon (; ), is the most populous city in Vietnam with a population of around 14 million in 2025. The city's geography is defined by rivers and canals, of which the largest is Saigo ...

. The dish gains international exposure and can now be found in various countries around the world, such as Australia and the United States. In 2021, Miss Grand winner

Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien Nguyễn (阮) (sometimes abbreviated as Ng̃) is the most common surname of the Vietnamese people. Outside of Vietnam, the surname is commonly rendered without diacritics as ''Nguyen''. By some estimates 30 to 39 percent of Vietnamese peopl ...

chose bánh tráng trộn as the representative food of Vietnam during her

Miss Grand International Miss Grand International, also known as Miss Grand, is an international beauty pageant franchise that is based in Thailand. It consists of the annual national pageant Miss Grand Thailand, as well as the international competition Miss Grand In ...

pageant audition.

Andrew Zimmern Andrew Scott Zimmern (born July 4, 1961) is an American chef, restaurateur, television and radio personality, director, producer, businessman, food critic, and author. Zimmern is the co-creator, host, and consulting producer of the Travel Channe ...

, a celebrity chef, has called bánh tráng trộn "''Vietnam in a bag''".

References

{{Vietnamese cuisine Vietnamese rice dishes