What makes Vietnamese cuisine so unique and delicious is the smorgasbord of dipping sauces we have just for about everything.
From the mild peanut sauce to the more exotic pungent fermented fish dipping sauce, there’s always a sauce that complements a dish.
Below are the top 10 popular Vietnamese sauces that we simply can’t go without.
Click on the picture to learn more about each sauce and get the recipe!
1. Vietnamese Dipping Sauce (Nước Chấm)
Nước Chấm, Vietnam’s mother sauce, is the sauce that complete many Vietnamese dishes.
Made from fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, garlic, and chili peppers, it offers the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and salty flavors. It’s the mildest of all Vietnamese sauces and the go-to default when other sauces are too strong.
It’s the perfect, essential pairing for Vietnamese egg rolls (Chả Giò).
Learn how to make this must-have sauce at home and discover why no Vietnamese fridge is complete without a gallon of it ready to go.
5. Vietnamese Fermented Anchovy Sauce (Mắm Nêm)
Here is another sauce made with fermented fish sauce to wake you up.
Mắm Nêm is made with fermented anchovy, crushed pineapples, sugar, lemon juice, Thai chili pepper, lemongrass, and garlic.
It’s a hardcore pungent alternative to the very first sauce on this list, Vietnamese Fish Sauce Dipping Sauce (Nước Mắm Chấm). But once mixed with the right ingredients, it’s glorious.
You will find this sauce commonly served as a dipping sauce for Vietnamese Lemongrass Grilled Beef Spring Rolls (Thịt Bò Nướng Cuốn Bánh Tráng).
6. Vietnamese Salt, Pepper & Lime Sauce (Muối Tiêu Chanh)
Sometimes simplicity is key.
Muối Tiêu Chanh is a traditional and simple Vietnamese dipping sauce that’s perfect for steamed seafood like crabs or even dipping the beef pieces from Vietnamese Beef Stew (Bò Kho).
Made with just salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lime, it complement the natural flavors of the seafood and other proteins without overpowering them.
7. Vietnamese Green Seafood Sauce (Muối Ớt Xanh)
This sauce is perfect for any seafood lover.
Vietnamese green seafood sauce combines green chili peppers, limes, lime leaves, and the most interesting ingredient of them all, sweetened condensed milk for a rich and sweet creaminess.
Serve it alongside boiled, grilled, or steamed seafood. If you prefer a milder spice level, substitute some of the green chili peppers with green bell peppers for color and less heat.
8. Vietnamese Vegetable Sauce with Caramelized Fish Sauce (Mắm Kho Quẹt)
Originally a peasant dish derived from necessity, Mắm Kho Quẹt is a savory dipping sauce made by caramelizing fish sauce and sugar with a small amount of pork and dried shrimp.
Served alongside a platter of fresh and boiled vegetables like cucumbers, carrots, broccoli, and squash, this sauce transforms simple ingredients into a flavorful and satisfying meal.
It’s a taste of the past that’s making its way back into mainstream Vietnamese cuisine and is a delicious way to enjoy your vegetables.
9. Soy Dipping Sauce (Nước Chấm Xì Dầu)
Looking for a quick and easy dipping sauce that requires no cooking?
This dipping sauce is made by simply tossing together some pantry ingredients.
It offers oy sauce with a sweet and sour component that pairs nicely with pot stickers (dumplings), wontons, blanched vegetables, and steamed or fried fish. It’s a sauce to complete your meal when you’re short on time.
10. Orange Sauce for Vietnamese Pork Sausage Spring Rolls (Nước Chấm Nem Nướng)
Here’s a savory orange sauce that’s often served warm and paired with Vietnamese pork sausage (Nem Nướng). This popular recipe is inspired by Brodard Restaurant in Orange County and brings the same rich, savory flavors to your kitchen.
Made with annatto oil or prawn head fat for its signature color, dried shrimp for deep umami, sweet rice powder for thickness, this sauce has a creamy texture and layers of bold flavor.
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