Fried Spring Rolls – Fresh Spring Rolls : What Are They? Delicious Vietnamese Cuisine

What is Fried Spring Rolls?

Fried Spring Rolls is one of the most iconic traditional dishes of Vietnamese cuisine. It is known by different names depending on the region, such as chả giò, chả ram, or chả đa nem. In Northern Vietnam, people usually simply call it nem, while in Central Vietnam it is commonly known as ram (in Thanh Hóa, it is often called chả). In Southern Vietnam, the most familiar name is chả giò.

Traditional fried spring rolls is made from familiar ingredients such as minced pork, glass noodles, eggs, wood ear mushrooms, combined with typical seasonings like spring onions, pepper, fish sauce, and other spices. The filling is carefully wrapped in thin rice paper, then deep-fried until the outer layer becomes golden, crispy, and fragrant.

When served, fried spring rolls is usually enjoyed with sweet and sour fish sauce, pickled vegetables, and fresh herbs such as lettuce, Vietnamese mint, basil, fish mint, and other greens. This creates a perfect balance between the rich, crispy flavor of the fried rolls and the freshness of the vegetables.

Each region has its own unique variations. In Northern Vietnam, besides the familiar cylindrical nem rolls, there is also the famous square-shaped version called nem cua bể from Hải Phòng, which is made with crab. Fried Spring Rolls is also commonly served as part of meals featuring bún chả Hà Nội.

Besides the traditional way of eating it, nem can also be combined with rice vermicelli to create the delicious dish bún nem. Today, in addition to the classic fried spring rolls, many creative variations have become popular, such as seafood fried spring rolls, vegetarian fried spring rolls, and other innovative versions, further enriching Vietnamese cuisine.

What is Fresh Spring Rolls?

Gỏi cuốn (also known as Fresh Spring Rolls in some regions of Northern Vietnam) is one of the most famous and beloved traditional dishes in Vietnamese cuisine. Originating from Southern Vietnam, fresh spring rolls is impressive for its harmonious combination of fresh ingredients, light flavors, and unique preparation method.

Unlike crispy fried rolls, fresh spring rolls uses soft rice paper made from rice flour to wrap the ingredients inside. A traditional fresh spring rolls usually includes lettuce, fresh herbs, basil, perilla leaves, fresh rice vermicelli, boiled pork, fresh shrimp, dried shrimp, and many other ingredients depending on personal preferences and regional characteristics. All ingredients are skillfully rolled together to create a dish that is both visually appealing and nutritious.

The special feature that makes fresh spring rolls so appealing is the dipping sauce served with it. Depending on the region, the dish may be enjoyed with fermented soybean sauce mixed with crushed roasted peanuts and fragrant fried shallots, or with sweet and sour dipping sauces, chili sauce combined with peanuts, creating a rich, savory, and nutty flavor while still maintaining the dish’s natural freshness.

Fresh Spring Rolls is not only popular in Southern Vietnam but is also widely enjoyed across all three regions of Vietnam: North, Central, and South. Each region has its own variations using distinctive ingredients such as beef, pork, duck, shrimp, fish, crab, or local vegetables, creating diversity and richness in Vietnamese culinary culture.

There is no fixed recipe for rice paper rolls, as every family and region has its own way of combining ingredients and flavors. This flexibility has made nem cuốn a symbol of creativity, balance, and refinement in Vietnamese cuisine.

Today, fresh spring rolls is not only a familiar appetizer in Vietnamese family meals but also a dish loved by many international visitors exploring Vietnamese cuisine. With the combination of fresh greens, nutritious ingredients, and distinctive dipping sauces, gỏi cuốn beautifully reflects the philosophy of Vietnamese cuisine: simple yet sophisticated, natural yet captivating.

Ingredients for Making Fried Spring Rolls and Fresh Spring Rolls

Main Ingredients of Fried Spring Rolls

A traditional Fried Spring Rolls usually includes:

• Minced pork
• Wood ear mushrooms
• Glass noodles
• Carrots
• Shallots
• Eggs
• Traditional seasonings
• Rice paper wrappers

The ingredients are mixed together, wrapped into small rolls, and then deep-fried until the outer layer turns into a beautiful golden color and becomes crispy.

What Are the Ingredients of Fresh Spring Rolls?

A traditional serving of Fresh Spring Rolls usually includes:

• Rice paper
• Boiled shrimp
• Boiled pork
• Fresh rice vermicelli
• Fresh herbs
• Lettuce
• Bean sprouts
• Chives or other local vegetables

The ingredients are placed on the rice paper and carefully rolled into small fresh rolls.

Differences Between Fried Spring Rolls and Fresh Spring Rolls

Criteria	Fried Spring Rolls	Fresh Spring Rolls
Preparation method	Deep-fried until golden and crispy	Freshly rolled without frying
Wrapper used	Dried rice paper wrapper	Soft rice paper
Flavor	Crispy, rich, and savory	Fresh, light, and refreshing
Ingredients	Pork filling, glass noodles, wood ear mushrooms	Vegetables, rice vermicelli, meat, shrimp, etc
How it is eaten	Served with sweet and sour fish sauce	Served with fermented anchovy sauce, peanut sauce, or dipping sauce

If you enjoy food that is crispy, fragrant, and rich in flavor, Fried Spring Rolls is a great choice.
If you prefer something fresh, light, and less oily, Fresh Spring Rolls may be more appealing.

Both dishes reflect the elegance of Vietnamese cuisine: using simple ingredients to create unique and unforgettable flavors.

Conclusion

Fried Spring Rolls and Fresh Spring Rolls are both iconic Vietnamese dishes, reflecting the skillful combination of ingredients and cooking techniques.

While Fried Spring Rolls impresses diners with its golden, crispy outer layer and rich, savory flavor, Fresh Spring Rolls wins people over with its freshness, lightness, and balance.

Whether enjoyed in a family meal or at Vietnamese restaurants, these two types of nem remain familiar symbols of Vietnamese culinary culture.

If you have any questions related to Spring Rolls or anything about Vietnam that you would like to learn more about, please contact us here.

Expand:Things you need to know about Vietnamese cuisine, What is pho? What is bun cha? What is banh mi?