Vân Vân Bang Bang Onion Vietnamese Herbs Review

Growing up, I always knew something good was coming when I detected the scent of garlic and onion wafting from the kitchen. It meant that my mom was starting on one of her dishes, and a chorus of aromatics was sure to follow. Vietnamese cooking is filled with flavorful herbs and spices like star anise and lemongrass, but củ nén, an allium grown in the country’s central region, is a staple that I personally think goes well with anything. It tastes like a hybrid of garlic and shallots, lending a sweet yet savory note to noodle dishes, soups, or braises. Vân Vân’s củ nén, aptly named Bang Bang Onion, is sourced directly from farmers in Vietnam and adds depths of flavor to everything I sprinkle it on.

Why I Love Vân Vân Bang Bang Onion

It Tastes Good on Everything

Củ nén was never easily accessible to me and my family (unless a relative brought bags of it back from Vietnam) until Vân Vân came into my life. Bang Bang Onion allows me to do more than just recreate my favorite childhood dishes (like mì quảng). Ever since I got my hands on this herb packet, I’ve been using it nearly every time I cook a meal. It goes into my weeknight stir-fries and weekend dumplings, and I even top my salads with a quick shake of Bang Bang Onion. It’s also great on congee in lieu of crispy shallots and adds the perfect garlicky, oniony aroma to noodle soups. 

It’s Super Easy to Use

Vân Vân’s dehydrated herbs can all be bloomed in water for a couple of minutes before draining and tossing into a pan. However, I like a bit of toastiness to the herb, so I skip the rehydration altogether and shake the packet with reckless abandon over everything I cook. When I’m caught without fresh garlic or onions at home, my Bang Bang Onion seasoning comes to the rescue to add that extra kick to my dishes. Even when I do have fresh garlic and onions available, I sometimes use the packet anyway to speed up the cooking process without cutting any corners on flavor.

Do I Recommend It? 

Vân Vân Bang Bang Onion

Now I may be biased because, well, I’m Vietnamese and Bang Bang Onion lets me enjoy flavors from my childhood that I otherwise wouldn’t be able to access very easily. But, since incorporating the herb into my daily cooking, I’ve found that it’s a versatile seasoning for a myriad of dishes, including, but not limited to, salads, soups, stir-fried noodles, and more. (And it ends up being cheaper than fresh alliums, too.)

Why We’re the Experts

• An Uong is a writer for Serious Eats.
• An has been testing kitchen gear for Serious Eats for over two years.
• She’s currently working on a recipe series of vegetarian Vietnamese dishes.