Due to its geographical features and economic activities, Western Vietnamese (Mekong Delta) cuisine has been shaped by a riverine civilization, where the main food sources are rice, fish, and vegetables.

The West is a land of honest, rustic, and simple people. Perhaps it is the open and harmonious nature of the locals that has brought a diverse and balanced culinary color to this region. Exploring Western cuisine is always a fascinating topic that attracts a great deal of interest.

Cuisine is a general term referring to eating and drinking. Culinary culture encompasses the methods of preparation, presentation, and the enjoyment of each dish and drink—ranging from simple and frugal meals to elaborate delicacies. So, what has created the culinary culture of the West?

First and foremost, it can be said that the natural riverine conditions have strongly influenced the culinary culture here. People take advantage of what nature provides—such as fish, shrimp, snakes, crabs, turtles, and frogs—to prepare dishes that bear the distinct hallmark of this countryside.

In addition to using natural resources, Southern people constantly plant new varieties of crops to provide ingredients for cooking. Furthermore, utilizing wild vegetables has created a very unique culinary characteristic for this region. With the style of “eating whatever the season provides” and the philosophy of “eating to live” to have enough nutrients for labor, they have shown great sophistication in combining the highest requirements of a meal: fragrant, delicious, nutritious, and healthy. The palate of Southern people in general, and Westerners in particular, is also very distinct: everything must be intense! If it is salty, it must be tongue-curling (like pure and abundant fish sauce for a “sticky” dip; or “kho quẹt” must be cooked until salt crystals form); if it is spicy, it must be old ginger and stinging chili (biting a chili without the lips trembling or tears flowing means it’s not “satisfying” yet!); and if it is sweet, it must be as sweet as dessert soup…

At this point, we can somewhat imagine the characteristics of the culinary culture of the Western people. A multi-colored picture, combining and varying styles from other regions to create a unique nuance for their own land, is exactly what the people of the West have achieved. Enjoying Western cuisine is not just about the taste buds; we must sense it with an open soul to truly absorb all the flavors that this land offers.

According to kinhdo20nam