For many people, Vietnamese Culinary art, especially for foreigners, is always an interesting and controversial topic. The distinction of trying Vietnamese Food, compared with the western cuisines is the sauce served on side. The sophisticated and magical combination between foods and sauces, currently, seems to be much interested in any tourists coming to Vietnam.

Mam Tom - Shrimp sauce or paste

“Mam Tom” should be one of the best examples. “Mam Tom” (shrimp sauce or paste) is widely eaten in Vietnamese daily meals and more popular in the North of Vietnam. In order to make this sauce, local people need to collect and gather a number of small shrimp from the sea, then wash it and crush it. In next step, the minced shrimp must be dried up for few days before adding a special enzyme from a leave. It often takes few months of fermenting to be used for the best taste. The best part of this sauce is its smell, which is extremely stinky and hard to smell for any persons tasting it at the first time. However, if any one can enjoy this distinct sauce, it is absolutely easy to be addicted. This sauce seems to be perfect if it is served with tofu, noodle, pork and so on.

Visiting Vietnam, trying Mam Tom, you will definitely pass the test to join Vietnamese community!