A more common version of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall soup contains tender braised meat, chestnuts, and various herbs believed by locals to be beneficial for health. Photo: Phuong Anh

In 2025, Taiwan (China) is a popular destination for Vietnamese tourists, drawing over 400,000 visits. Beyond its advantageous flight routes, short travel times, and scenic beauty, the island also attracts Vietnamese visitors with its rich cuisine.

The Taiwan Tourism Bureau in Vietnam and the culinary guide Taste Atlas recommend several iconic and approachable dishes for first-time visitors to the island.

Youfan Sticky Rice

Youfan, also known as savory sticky rice or oil rice, is a traditional dish enjoyed by locals when a new baby is born into the family.

"When a family has a son, they give friends a box of youfan for the full moon celebration; for a daughter, they give cake," said Dinh Gia Bao, a Taiwan resident.

Today, the dish is served at family gatherings and banquets. The savory sticky rice appeals to diners with its plump, tender grains, topped with stir-fried mushrooms, dried shrimp, meat, or Chinese sausage. Photo: Cooking in chinglish

{"caption_all":"Street food in Taiwan. Photo: Phuong Anh","caption_items":["Unlike fried rice, where ingredients are mixed and cooked together, youfan requires the accompanying ingredients to be stir-fried first before the rice is added. Locals believe this method allows the savory sticky rice to achieve its most authentic flavor, as the savory components blend with the rice without making it sticky. Youfan is also often served in small bamboo sections at parties. Photo: Phuong Anh","Typically, youfan features a layer of sticky rice at the bottom, topped with savory ingredients such as: stir-fried dried shrimp, mushrooms, meat, or seafood. Locals prefer long-grain glutinous rice, believing it retains its appealing shape and doesn't become mushy when cooked. Visitors can find youfan at night markets and street stalls. Photo: Phuong Anh"]}

Beef Noodles

Taste Atlas, a culinary guide, describes beef noodles as "a great source of pride for locals." This winter dish features beef, broth, vegetables, noodles, and spices.

In the 1940s, many mainland Chinese who settled on Taiwan island created this dish, using chili sauce and Sichuan peppercorns in its preparation. Photo: Phuong Anh

Braised beef noodles have many variations, such as: oyster noodles, eel noodles, and pole-carried noodles. Side dishes include seaweed and braised dried tofu.

Currently, an annual beef noodle festival is held in Taipei, where many restaurants and chefs compete for the title of "Best Beef Noodles." Photo: Phuong Anh

Buddha Jumps Over the Wall

Buddha Jumps Over the Wall originates from Fujian province and is popular on Taiwan island. Key ingredients include premium seafood such as: sea cucumber, shark fin, fish maw, abalone, and scallops. It also contains deer tendon, ginseng, and goji berries. Not only nutritious, this dish is also very expensive and was once listed by BBC Travel as one of the world's most costly dishes. Photo: Fzixing

A more common version of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall soup contains tender braised meat, chestnuts, and various herbs believed by locals to be beneficial for health. Photo: Phuong Anh

Hot Pot

Hot pot is a preferred choice for locals and tourists alike when visiting Taiwan, especially during winter.

Diners should order beef, pork, various kinds of meatballs, or seafood, with fish balls wrapped in salmon roe being a popular choice.

Taiwanese people typically eat hot pot with rice instead of vermicelli or noodles. Photo: Phuong Anh

{"caption_all":"Shrimp and mixed soup are also popular in Taiwan. Photo: Phuong Anh","caption_items":["Diners can order additional seafood to add to the hot pot, or as separate dishes. Pictured are steamed shrimp with a lightly spicy wine-flavored broth, featuring firm and sweet shrimp meat. Photo: Phuong Anh","If you've had enough hot pot, for subsequent meals, visitors can order a mixed soup, complete with: vegetables, meat, and vermicelli. Photo: Phuong Anh"]}

Street Snacks

Street snacks are widely available at night markets on Ali Shan and Yangmingshan mountains, including: braised eggs, sweet potatoes, pig liver, braised pork belly, gua bao (pork belly buns), and milk tea. Photo: Phuong Anh

{"caption_all":"Street food in Taiwan. Photo: Phuong Anh","caption_items":["Taiwanese braised eggs. Photo: Phuong Anh","Braised pork belly, one of the famous dishes in Chinese cuisine. The meat used is pork belly, cut into square pieces and simmered until very tender, easily falling apart with chopsticks. Photo: Phuong Anh","Taiwanese sweet potatoes are small but loved by many tourists and locals for their intense sweetness and soft, floury texture. Photo: Phuong Anh"]}Phuong Anh