Do Vietnamese Eat Rats?

Vietnam is a wonderful country to visit for a variety of reasons but there are some strange questions that are commonly asked. A decent amount of these questions are about what food is there in Vietnam to eat and do the Vietnamese eat insects, dogs, or rats. And is food in Vietnam safe to eat? So do the Vietnamese eat rats?

Yes, they are rats on the menu in Vietnam. Now, these rats are not your typical street rats that eat the rubbish on the streets of Saigon or Hanoi. These rats come from the countryside mostly from the Mekong Delta where their diet is mostly rice and other crops in the countryside.

In this post, we will go through do Vietnamese eat rats. Let’s get started!

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Do Vietnamese Eat Rats?

Yes, they are rats on the menu in Vietnam. Now, these rats are not your typical street rats that eat the rubbish on the streets of Saigon or Hanoi. These rats come from the countryside mostly from the Mekong Delta where their diet is mostly rice and other crops in the countryside.

The eating of ricefield rats was started by poor farmers. The rats would eat the rice in the farmer’s paddy fields and the farmer would try to protect the paddy fields. Doing so would catch the rats, and it’s a case of no waste.

There are stories floating around that the Vietnamese regularly substitute rats for normal meat. Which are not true.

What Other Countries Eat Rats?

Several other countries eat rats regularly, these are as follows.

• Cambodia.
• Laos.
• Myanmar.
• The Philippines.
• Indonesia.
• Thailand.
• Ghana.
• China
• And of course Vietnam.

What Is Rat Meat Called?

It is called ricefield rat as this is the rat meat eaten in Vietnam.

What Is The Most Consumed Meat In Vietnam?

Pork is the most consumed type of meat in Vietnam, followed by chicken.

Is Street Food In Vietnam Safe To Eat?

Yes, street food in Vietnam is generally safe. Not all street food is safe, especially in street small shops and vendors you need to go to places that already have plenty of people there already, especially if you see locals eating there.

Also, you need to keep an eye on the cleanliness of the general area along with the spoons, chopsticks, and basic hygiene cleaning of cleaning your hands before you eat.

Remember that street food is fresher and tastier than in a restaurant, and if you pick a place with plenty of people you should be safe.

Is It Safe To Eat Vegetables In Vietnam?

Eating salads and raw vegetables is not the best idea in Vietnam. Boiling the vegetables will kill any bacteria and salads need to be washed with bottled water before eating.

Is It Easy To Get Food Poisoning In Vietnam?

Yes, it is easy to get food poisoning in Vietnam especially if you don’t have a strong stomach, There are several ways to reduce the risk of food poisoning. These are as follows.

• Eat at places that are busy, more than likely they are preparing the food properly and cooking the food properly. And the ingredients will be fresher.
• It’s best to eat from places that are preparing and cooking the food in front of you.
• Avoid any raw or undercooked meat, fish, and eggs. This is a sure way of getting sick.
• Be wary of eating raw foods such as salads or fruits that aren’t peeled. This is because they are often washed using local water.
• Only drink bottled water. This includes brushing your teeth.
• Ask for drinks without ice. Ice is often made with tap water.
• Try and wash your hands regularly and if possible bring a hand sanitizer around with you.
• Many of the street vendors will serve food and drinks on freshly washed plates and cups. That washed with tap water. Ensure that they are completely dry before they serve you.

Is It Safe To Drink The Tap Water In Vietnam?

It is NOT advised to drink tap water in Vietnam, their treatment plants put too much chlorine into the water for treatment. As well poor water pipe infrastructure has led to the water getting contaminated.

Vietnamese locals don’t drink straight out of a tap cause they don’t trust the water and there is a smell that is mostly caused by the chlorine.

Wrapping Up

Finally, there are rats on the menu in Vietnam. Now, these rats are not your typical street rats that eat the rubbish on the streets of Saigon or Hanoi. These rats come from the countryside mostly from the Mekong Delta where their diet is mostly rice and other crops in the countryside.

And that’s it for now! I’d love it if this post on whether the Vietnamese eat rats was helpful to you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there is more to add.

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