3 FAMOUS VIETNAMESE LOANWORDS IN ENGLISH

A loanword is a word used directly from another language with little or no translation. For the first time in Vietnamese language, three words have been recognized at the most prestigious English Dictionary – Oxford, namely Ao Dai, Pho and Banh Mi. Let An Insider Of Vietnam show you how special they are to international travelers.

1. Ao Dai

For those who have visited Vietnam by air, little did they know that Ao Dai are outstandingly the Vietnam Airline’s standard uniform, whose purpose is to promote our traditional dress normally worn at special occasions and national events.

Though Ao Dai traditionally used to be for everyone, regardless of age and sex; life’s changing daily and Ao Dai’s also in the same trends with various modern designs chosen by women representing the national beauty of Vietnam. Its presence is at every formal ceremonies from State Television’s female MC to the beauty contests. After the ups and downs of history, its value and significance have been unchanged. Traveling around Hanoi, you can catch sight of beautiful girls smiling each other in Ao Dai school uniform confidently and gracefully. 

At Oxford dictionary, Ao Dai /ˈaʊ ˌdʌɪ/ is defined as the traditional dress of Vietnamese women that consists of a long tunic with slits on both side and wide trousers.

2. Pho (Rice noodle)

Do not let your feet at ease when you have chance to visit Hanoi where thousands of local food are sold in every corner and street in Hanoi. Do not let hundreds of online website’s advice complicate your mind to find the best food in Vietnam. Just go for Pho that has been listed as one of the world's 50 most delicious foods.

Initially developed from wet-rice agriculture, 90% of Vietnamese food are mainly made from rice and Pho is a great creation well-chosen for breakfast.  Pho is a kind of noodle served with beef or chicken, garlic, onion and extra herbs depending on each one’s taste. Tourism has been significantly flourished for recent decades. For that, Pho has won many travelers' hearts as a must-try specialty when visiting Vietnam.

Pho \ˈfə, ˈfō\, which first appeared in print in English in 1935 in definition as a soup made of beef or chicken broth and rice noodles. In spite of its popularity, you can hardly find an authentic Pho in any part of Vietnam, excepting Hanoi.

3. Banh Mi \ˈbän-ˈmē,  ˈbæn-\

“A usually spicy sandwich in Vietnamese cuisine consisting of a split baguette filled typically with meat (such as pork or chicken) and pickled vegetables (such as carrot and daikon) and garnished with cilantro and often cucumbers” Merriam Dictionary wrote.

If you have travelled around the world including Vietnam and enjoyed Banh Mi once, you probably realize its own flavor difference. Unlike Hamburger and Sandwich, it is a tasteful combination of cheese, eggs, pate, meat, vegetables, etc. known as street food in Vietnam.

Simple recipe and easy-to-find ingredients make Banh Mi a popular dish with Vietnamese locals. Moreover, it is just sold less than a dollar that sounds affordable for all levels of society. Try it right after a terrible jet lag. Banh Mi’s aroma absolutely makes you refreshed, especially when eaten instant and hot.

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