Want to cook Vietnamese food at home but don’t know where to start?

A lot of people think Vietnamese cooking is hard. Too many ingredients. Too many steps. Too intimidating.

I get it.

But honestly, so many of the dishes we grew up eating start with the same few pantry staples used over and over again. Once you have the basics, everything feels easier.

A little fish sauce. Garlic in hot oil. Rice cooking in the background. Something savory, something balanced, something that tastes like home.

You do not need a giant grocery haul to get started.

Here are the 10 Vietnamese pantry staples I think every beginner should have if you want to cook flavorful Vietnamese meals at home.

What Does “No Measures” Mean? The name No Measures was inspired by my mom—like a lot of Vietnamese moms, she never used measurements when she cooked. No cups, no spoons, no recipes written down. Just instinct. Just feeling. And somehow, it always came out right.

In many Vietnamese households, meals are served family-style. Several dishes are placed in the center of the table and shared together.

When I think of comfort food, I think of cơm gia đình—the family meal. I didn’t grow up having it every day. My parents were always working, and most meals fell into what I call the “when Mom was tired” category. Quick, simple, made just to get us fed.

But on the days we did gather for cơm gia đình, everything felt different.