While Thailand may be Asia's go-to destination for street food lovers, Vietnam is not far behind thanks to its burgeoning street markets and roadside restaurants. Whether one is visiting the country to savour authentic Vietnamese delights or is hoping to enjoy some local grub during a business trip, there are strategies that foreigners must employ to enjoy the best of Vietnamese cuisine. Here are some practical guidelines on how to find and eat the finest street food in Vietnam.

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The first step when it comes to enjoying street food in Vietnam is knowing when to head out for a meal. Most street food hubs and restaurants are open during specific times of the day so tourists must visit these areas at the right hour to explore the culinary treats set out for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast nooks across Vietnam are open from 7am onwards in Vietnam and it's best to be at these street food spots bright and early. Lunch hours fall between 11.30 am and 1 am while dinner is from 5 pm to 6.30 pm so tourists must get used to early dinners if they are to wine and dine at pop-up shops and street kiosks.

The easiest way to spot the most coveted street food joints in Vietnamese cities is by the size of the plastic chairs placed outside the kiosk. The minuscule chairs are part and parcel of the street food experience in Vietnam as locals like to huddle together and enjoy their meals on these makeshift chairs while knocking knees with strangers.

Although it's customary to place one's order before sitting at most fast food hotspots, tourists need to do the opposite when dining out in street food districts in Vietnam. As most food vendors specialise in one or two speciality dishes or meals, all patrons have to do is take a seat and wait until a server brings over the vendor's signature bowl of noodles or dish to the table. If a venue has more than one meal option on its menu, then it may be necessary to point to what someone at another table has ordered and ask for the same.

When dining at a fine dining establishment at Anantara Mui Ne Resort or any other hotel, using the right hand for chopsticks and a spoon on one's left is the correct etiquette to follow when consuming street food in Vietnam. This unspoken rule is a part of food culture so visitors must become adept at enjoying noodle soup with the use of chopsticks and a spoon.

Street food tables in Vietnam always feature a number of herbs, sauces and side dishes that are considered the perfect accompaniment for any local dish. Although most tourists ignore these condiments, sauces and seasonings, locals know that these elements make a big difference in the flavour of a dish.

While ordering a cup of green tea is among the best things to do in Mui Ne after a day of sightseeing or shopping, this healthy beverage is also what locals use to wash down their street food. The practice of eating street food with a glass of green tea is so commonplace that few locals even think of ordering a bottle of water or a soft drink. What's more, the green tea flows free in most street food spots so it's a treat that anyone can enjoy at no extra cost.

Tourists should also keep in mind that a street food meal should set one back no more that USD 2 in Vietnam. Street food that's priced above USD 2-3 are likely not the best street food on offer as locals usually flock to venues where the average price of a dish is a little over a dollar.