What Can You Eat in Vietnam for $10.10 (255,000 VND)? A Budget-Friendly Meal for Overseas Vietnamese

Enjoy a Delicious and Affordable Meal in Vietnam for $10.10 (255,000 VND)

If you are an overseas Vietnamese returning home or living in Vietnam, one of the most common daily questions is: “What should I eat today?”

With $10.10 (~255,000 VND), you can prepare a hearty and delicious four-dish meal that satisfies both taste and nutrition. Today, let’s explore a typical meal for overseas Vietnamese in Vietnam, featuring:

• Braised catfish in clay pot (Cá hú kho t?)
• Stuffed bitter melon soup (Kh? qua nh?i th?t)
• Stir-fried squid with vegetables (M?c xào hành c?n)
• Omelet with basil (Tr?ng chiên lá qu?)

1. Braised Catfish in Clay Pot – A Traditional Vietnamese Dish

Braised catfish in clay pot is a signature Southern Vietnamese dish, known for its rich, savory flavor. The fatty catfish is slow-cooked in fish sauce, black pepper, shallots, and coconut juice, creating a flavorful and slightly sweet taste.

• Ingredients & Estimated Cost in Vietnam:
  • Catfish: 100,000 VND (~$4.00)
  • Shallots, chili, black pepper, fish sauce: 20,000 VND (~$0.80)
  • Coconut juice: 10,000 VND (~$0.40)

? Total cost: 130,000 VND ($5.20)

2. Stuffed Bitter Melon Soup – A Nutritious and Light Dish

Stuffed bitter melon soup is a common Vietnamese dish that combines the slightly bitter taste of bitter melon with a flavorful pork filling. Many Vietnamese believe this dish helps cool the body and detoxify the liver.

• Ingredients & Estimated Cost:
  • 2 bitter melons: 15,000 VND (~$0.60)
  • 200g ground pork: 40,000 VND (~$1.60)
  • Green onions, black pepper, seasoning: 10,000 VND (~$0.40)

? Total cost: 65,000 VND ($2.60)

3. Stir-Fried Squid with Vegetables – Fresh and Flavorful

Squid stir-fried with onions and celery is a simple but delicious dish. Fresh squid, lightly sautéed with aromatics, gives a sweet and slightly chewy texture, perfectly paired with steamed rice.

• Ingredients & Estimated Cost:
  • 200g fresh squid: 50,000 VND (~$2.00)
  • Onion, celery, garlic: 10,000 VND (~$0.40)
  • Oyster sauce, seasoning: 10,000 VND (~$0.40)

? Total cost: 70,000 VND ($2.80)

4. Omelet with Basil – Quick and Tasty

A simple dish but incredibly flavorful, omelet with basil (tr?ng chiên lá qu?) adds a unique herbal aroma to the usual egg dish. It’s an easy and affordable dish to complement the meal.

• Ingredients & Estimated Cost:
  • 3 eggs: 15,000 VND (~$0.60)
  • Basil leaves: 5,000 VND (~$0.20)
  • Fish sauce, black pepper: 5,000 VND (~$0.20)

? Total cost: 25,000 VND ($1.00)

Total Cost for the Full Meal

When we add up all the costs, the total price for this four-dish meal is:

130,000 + 65,000 + 70,000 + 25,000 = 255,000 VND (~$10.10)

With just $10.10 (~255,000 VND), overseas Vietnamese in Vietnam can enjoy a delicious, nutritious, and satisfying meal that would cost significantly more abroad.

This is one of the reasons why many overseas Vietnamese appreciate Vietnam’s affordable and flavorful cuisine.

Why Eating in Vietnam is a Great Choice for Overseas Vietnamese

1. Lower cost compared to foreign countries: In the U.S. or Canada, $10 might only buy a single fast-food meal, while in Vietnam, it provides a complete meal with freshly cooked, homemade flavors.
2. Fresh ingredients: Local seafood, meats, and vegetables are fresher and more affordable than in Western countries.
3. Authentic Vietnamese flavors: Meals in Vietnam often balance sweet, salty, spicy, and sour flavors, making them both tasty and healthy.

Final Thoughts

This $10.10 meal showcases how affordable and delicious food in Vietnam can be. Whether you’re an overseas Vietnamese visiting home or living in Vietnam, you can enjoy traditional dishes at a fraction of the cost compared to abroad.

? Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel for more content!

VietnameseFood #OverseasVietnamese #VietnameseCuisine #BudgetMealVietnam #BraisedCatfish #StuffedBitterMelon #StirFriedSquid #OmeletWithBasil #AffordableMealsVietnam