The cuisine of Vietnam has been influenced by many countries; some with common borders, such as Thailand, others – like China and France – that have historically occupied the area.

The Chinese dominated the region for almost 1,000 years and the French were a colonial power from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century.

Indian culture has also had a lasting influence as the south of modern-day Vietnam was part of the Indian kingdom of Funan from the first to the sixth centuries AD and the Hindu kingdom of Champa covered the region from Danang to Nha Trang by the eighth century AD. There was a healthy trade in spice and cotton between Vietnam and India for many years and a large Indian population in Vietnam until the late 1970s.