Xôi: Vietnam's Traditional Sticky Rice

About Xoi

Xoi is a traditional Vietnamese sticky rice dish made from glutinous rice and enjoyed in many different forms across Vietnam. It can be served as a simple breakfast, a savory main meal, a sweet dessert, or a popular street food snack. With its soft, chewy texture and wide variety of toppings, Xoi is an important part of Vietnamese everyday food culture.

From simple steamed sticky rice topped with mung beans and sesame salt to elaborate versions served with grilled pork, chicken, sausage, or shredded meat, Xoi reflects the diversity of Vietnamese cuisine. It is especially popular for breakfast and is often sold at local markets, street stalls, and small neighborhood eateries.

What Is Xoi?

Xoi is made primarily from glutinous rice, also known as sticky rice.

Unlike ordinary rice, glutinous rice becomes soft, sticky, and chewy when steamed. The grains remain relatively intact while developing a rich and satisfying texture.

The rice can be prepared with sweet or savory ingredients, creating many different varieties of Xoi throughout Vietnam.

Sticky Rice

Glutinous rice is the foundation of every Xoi dish.

The rice is usually soaked in water before being steamed. This allows the grains to absorb enough moisture to become tender while maintaining their characteristic chewy texture.

Depending on the recipe, the rice may also be mixed with ingredients such as mung beans, corn, pandan, coconut milk, or natural coloring ingredients.

Savory Xoi

Savory Xoi is commonly eaten as breakfast or a quick meal.

Popular toppings include Vietnamese pork sausage, shredded chicken, grilled pork, shredded pork, fried shallots, mung beans, and Vietnamese pork floss.

One popular version is Xoi Man, or savory sticky rice, which combines sticky rice with several savory toppings and sauces.

The combination creates a filling meal with a satisfying balance of soft rice, savory meat, and crunchy toppings.

Sweet Xoi

Sweet Xoi is often enjoyed as a dessert or snack.

It can be prepared with mung beans, black beans, corn, coconut, bananas, or other sweet ingredients. Sugar, sesame seeds, and coconut milk may be added to enhance the flavor.

Sweet varieties are particularly popular at traditional markets and during festivals or special occasions.

Mung Beans

Mung beans are one of the most common ingredients used with Xoi.

They can be cooked separately and mashed into a smooth paste or steamed alongside the sticky rice. Their mild, slightly nutty flavor complements both sweet and savory preparations.

Mung bean toppings also provide additional texture and make the dish more filling.

Fried Shallots

Crispy fried shallots are a popular topping for savory Xoi.

They provide a fragrant aroma and crunchy texture that contrasts with the soft sticky rice. Their slightly sweet and savory flavor works particularly well with pork, chicken, and other savory toppings.

Pork and Other Toppings

Savory Xoi can feature a wide variety of meats.

Vietnamese pork sausage, shredded pork, grilled pork, chicken, and pork floss are common choices. Some versions also include Chinese-style sausage, pâté, eggs, or other local ingredients.

Each combination creates a different flavor profile while keeping sticky rice as the central ingredient.

What Does Xoi Taste Like?

The flavor of Xoi depends heavily on the variety.

Plain sticky rice has a mild, slightly sweet and nutty flavor with a soft and chewy texture. Savory versions become richer with pork, chicken, sausage, and sauces, while sweet versions can have creamy coconut, earthy mung bean, or fruity flavors.

Crispy shallots, sesame, and other toppings add additional texture and aroma.

Xoi in Vietnamese Food Culture

Xoi has a long-standing role in Vietnamese everyday and traditional food culture.

It is commonly served during breakfast and can be purchased from street vendors carrying large baskets of freshly steamed sticky rice. Families also prepare different varieties of Xoi during festivals, ceremonies, holidays, and special occasions.

Sticky rice is particularly important in Vietnamese celebrations because it is associated with abundance and togetherness.

Xoi for Breakfast

Xoi is one of Vietnam's popular breakfast foods.

Street vendors often serve warm sticky rice early in the morning, adding toppings according to customers' preferences.

Because glutinous rice is filling and energy-dense, a small portion can provide a satisfying start to the day.

Travelers can often find Xoi near traditional markets, bus stations, schools, and residential neighborhoods.

Where to Try Xoi

Xoi can be found throughout Vietnam, with Hanoi particularly well known for its variety of sticky rice dishes.

Local markets, street food stalls, and small breakfast restaurants are excellent places to try it.

Different regions offer their own combinations of toppings and preparation methods, so travelers may discover new versions as they move from Northern to Central and Southern Vietnam.

How to Eat Xoi

Xoi is usually served warm and can be eaten with a spoon or chopsticks.

For savory versions, diners can mix the sticky rice with meat, mung beans, fried shallots, and sauces. Sweet versions may be eaten with coconut milk, sesame, sugar, or other toppings.

Because the rice is naturally sticky, it is easy to combine with toppings in each bite.

Discover Xoi

Xoi is a simple but incredibly versatile part of Vietnamese cuisine. Soft glutinous rice can be transformed into countless sweet and savory dishes by combining it with mung beans, coconut, pork, chicken, sausage, sesame, fried shallots, and other local ingredients.

For travelers exploring Vietnam, trying Xoi at a local market or street food stall is an excellent way to experience everyday Vietnamese food culture. Whether enjoyed as a savory breakfast or a sweet snack, Xoi offers a comforting taste of Vietnam's traditional culinary heritage.