Vietnamese Herbs
An Essential Part of Vietnamese Cuisine
To describe Vietnamese food would not be complete without the inclusion of herbs. The textures, flavors, scents and overall freshness that these herbs contribute to everyday Vietnamese dishes is what makes the cuisine stand alone. Although herb use in other…
Vietnamese Herbs
Herb vs. Spice vs. Vegetable?
“Herb” vs. “Spice” vs. “Vegetable?” vs. “Rau Thơm”? Our consideration of the following plants may be deemed a non-herb by some. With broad definitions from numerous sources ranging from botanists, herbalists and horticulturists, comparing the similarities and differences between the…
Info and Contact Us
Browse our Viet Herb Directory to find out more about your favorite Vietnamese herb, or to discover a new herb. We are always seeking new herbs to add and discovering more information to share, so check back to find out what is new. If you have questions or have some new info to share , please contact us at td@whiteonricecouple.com Thank You. Hope you enjoy the site.
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Additional Herb Info
Grow & Propagate
The rewards of growing edible herbs are gratifying. Not only will you have access to fresh herbs for your dishes, ...
Storage & Preservation
Maximizing Herb Shelf Life & Freshness Cut Stems Under Water! -Wash & rinse herbs. -Take herbs and place stems in bowl of ...
Recipes
Fresh and delicious recipes using Viet Herbs Fresh Spring rolls Pork and Pineapple Spring rolls Curry Tofu and Basil Spring Rolls Turkey Spring Rolls Vietnamese ...
Other Useful References
Books: Edible Wild Plants of Vietnam: The Bountiful Garden by. Yoshitaka Tanaka Medicinal Plants of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos by. Nguyen ...
Herb Directory
Basil - Thai/Asian - Húng Quế
Vietnamese Herb Name: Rau Quế, Húng Quế
Common Culinary Herb Name: Thai Basil (Queenette / Siam Queen / Anise Varieties), Asian Sweet Basil, Purple Basil.
Botanical Family & Herb Name : Lamiaceae, Ocimum Spp.
Vegetative Description: Stems are purple with small purple/white flowers. …
Basil - Vietnamese - Húng Quế Viet-NamVietnamese Herb Names: Rau Quế VietNam, Húng Quế VietNam
Common Culinary Herb Name: Vietnamese Basil
Botanical Family & Herb Name : Lamiaceae , Ocimum Spp.
Vegetative Description: Stems are purple with small purple/white flowers. Leaves are green on top and purple spotted/streaked underneath,…
Bitter Herb - Rau Dắng
Vietnamese Herb Name: Rau Dắng
Common Culinary Herb Name: No common culinary name has really been established. We use Bitter Herb (Greens) from the literal translation of the Việt name. Slender Carpetweed is occasionally used in scientific context of Glinus Oppitisifolus.…
Chinese Chives (flat leaf) - HẹVietnamese Herb Name: Hẹ
Common Culinary Herb Names: Chinese Chives, Chinese Leek
Botanical Family & Herb Names: Allium
Vegetative Description: Pictured above is the “leaf” type with slender, narrow flat leaves. Base of stalk is tubular, gradually tapering flat. The “flowering” type…
Cilantro - Ngò
Vietnamese Herb Names: Ngò, Rau Mùi
Common Culinary Herb Name: Cilantro, Coriander, Chinese Cilantro, Chinese Parsley
Botanical Family & Herb Name : Apiaceae, Coriandrum Sativum
Vegetative Description: Mature Ngo leaves are broadly lobed and new, tender leaves are slender and feathery. The Ngo…
Dill - Thì LàVietnamese Name: Thì Là
Common Culinary Name: Dill
Botanical Family & Name : Apiaceae, Anthenum Graveolens
Vegetative Description: Finely divided, soft delicate, threadlike leaves.
Native Habitat & Ecology: Southwest, Central Asia & Europe
Tasting Note: Tastes like…dill!!
Culinary Uses: Used widely in Northern Vietnam. It is…
Elephant Ear Stalks - Bạc Hà
Vietnamese Name: Bạc Hà
Common Culinary Name: Elephant ear stalks/stems
Botanical Family & Name: Araceae, Alocasia Odora
Vegetative Description: Large bulbous (with rhizomes) plant with large palm like leaves and thick, spongy stalks.
Native Habitat & Ecology: Asia, South America
Tasting Note: The thick,…
Edible Chrysanthemum - Tần ÔVietnamese Name: Tần Ô, Rau Cú, Caỉ Cúc
Common Culinary Name: Edible Chrysanthemum, Garland Chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum Greens, Chop Suey Greens
Botanical Family & Name : Asteraceae, Chrysanthemum Coronarium
Vegetative Description: Green, serrated looking leaves look much like the ornamental Chrysanthemum varieties, only broader…
Fish Mint (Herb) - Diếp Cá
Vietnamese Names: Diếp Cá, Dấp Cá, Lá Giáp
Common Culinary Name: Fish Herb, Việt Fish Mint
Common Ornamental Names: Chameleon plant
Botanical Family & Name: Saururaceae, Houttuynia Cordata
Vegetative Description: Vietnamese edible variety is all green (non-variegated), unlike most ornamental “ex. Chameleon” varieties of…
Lemongrass - XảVietnamese Name: Xả
Common Culinary Name: Lemongrass, citronella grass
Botanical Family & Name: Poaceae, Cymbopogon Citratatus
Vegetative Description: A long tough grass with sharp edged leaves. Bulb and most of the stalk have a tough fibrous texture.
Native Habitat & Ecology: Europe, Asia, Africa,…
Pennywort - Rau MáVietnamese Name: Rau Má
Common Culinary Name: Pennywort
Botanical Family & Name: Araliaceae, Hydrodoctyle Asiatica (small) or Centella Javanica (large)
Vegetative Description: Rounded, slightly rippled outside leaves.
Native Habitat & Ecology: Water loving plant native to warm temperate climates. Native to many…
Peppermint - Húng CayVietnamese Name: Húng Cay
Common Culinary Name: Peppermint
Botanical Family & Name: Lamiaceae, Mentha Piperita
Vegetative Description: Simple, slightly toothed leaves, but slightly smoother than Spearmint.
Native Habitat & Ecology: Native to central, southern Europe & Asia
Tasting Note: A stronger, more bright mint taste…
Rice Patty Herb - Ngổ Ôm
Vietnamese Names: Ngổ Ôm, Rau Ôm, Rau Ngổ
Common Culinary Name: Rice Patty Herb
Botanical Family & Name: Plantaginaceae, Limnophilia Aromatica or Chinensis
Vegetative Description: Thin, spongy stems have small fine hairs.
Native Habitat & Ecology: South East Asia. Flooded rice fields, swamps, warm…
Sawtooth Herb - Ngò Gai
Vietnamese Name: Ngò Gai
Common Culinary Names: Sawtooth Herb, Mexican/ Wild /Thorny coriander, Culantro
Botanical Family & Name: Apiaceae, Eryngium Foetidum
Vegetative Description: Long, slender green leaves with serrated edged leaves.
Native Habitat & Ecology: Native Mexico, Central & South America
Tasting Note: Strong cilantro…
Sorrel - Rau Chua
Vietnamese Names: Rau Chua, Lá Chua
Common Culinary Name: Common Sorrel, French Sorrel
Botanical Family & Name: Polygonaceae, Rumex Acetosa(French Sorrel) or Scrutatus (Garden Sorrel)
Vegetative Description: Broad long leaves with wavy edge.
Native Habitat & Ecology:
Tasting Notes: Sour, tart
Culinary Uses: The introduction of…
Spearmint - Húng Lũi
Vietnamese Names: Húng Lũi
Common Culinary Name: Spearmint, Common Mint
Botanical Family & Name: Lamiaceae, Mentha Spicata
Vegetative Description:
Native Habitat: Much of Europe, Mediterranean and Asia
Tasting Note: Tastes like…mint!
Culinary Uses: Eaten raw. Found on most common herb & salad plates. Used widely…
Vietnamese Balm - Kinh Giới
Vietnamese Name: Kinh Giới
Common Culinary Name: Vietnamese Balm, Vietnamese Lemon Mint
Botanical Family & Name: Lamniaceae, Escholzia Ciliata
Vegetative Description: Leaves are usually a brilliant green with serrated edges.
Native Habitat & Ecology: South East Asia
Tasting Note: Lemon scented flavor with a suggestion…
Vietnamese Coriander - Rau Răm
Vietnamese Name: Rau Răm
Common Culinary Name: Vietnamese coriander/cilantro, Vietnamese mint, false mint,
Botanical Family & Name: Polygonaceae, Polygonum (Persecaria) Odoratum
Vegetative Description: This trailing plant has long, slender leaves with a slight dark coloration in the center.
Native Habitat & Ecology: South…
Vietnamese Crab Claw Herb - Rau Càng Cua
Vietnamese Names: Rau Càng Cua
Common Culinary Name: Vietnamese crab claw herb, salad pepperomia
Botanical Family & Name: Pepperomia Pellucida
Vegetative Description: Small, crawling plant with shiny, slightly heart shaped leaves. Succulent stems and leaves with long flower spikes. Leaves are…
Vietnamese Perilla - Tiá Tô
Vietnamese Name: Tiá Tô
Common Culinary Name: Vietnamese Perilla, Perilla
Botanical Family & Name: Lamiaceae, Perilla Frutescens?
Vegetative Description: Leaves are green on top, purplish color on the bottom. Broad finely haired leaves with slightly serrated edges. The beautiful contract in colors makes…
Watercress - Xà Lách SonVietnamese Name: Xà Lách Son
Common Culinary Name: Watercress
Botanical Family & Name: Brassicaceae, Nasturtium sp.
Vegetative Description: Shiny green leaves grow on central stem with terminal leaf being the largest. Leaf edges are slightly wavy.
Native Habitat & Ecology: North America, Europe &…
Wild Betal Leaf - Lá Lốt
Vietnamese Name: Lá Lốt
Common Culinary Name: Wild Betal Leaf
Botanical Family & Name: Piperaceae, Piper Sarmentosum or Betle
Vegetative Description: Shiny & slightly heart shaped, bright green leaves.
Native Habitat & Ecology:
Tasting Note: Smoky, slightly bitter & hot-like
Culinary Uses: Leaves are wrapped around…
