Beef is an incredibly nutritious type of red meat that is versatile and can be used in a myriad of delicious dishes. With Vietnam’s current integration and development, in addition to domestic cattle, the country has also imported many delicious and high-quality beef varieties.
In this article, let’s explore and rank the most popular types of beef in Vietnam, ranging from affordable to premium choices.
1. Vietnamese Young Beef
Young Beef
Young beef, or “bò tơ” in Vietnamese, is obtained from cattle that are around five months old, which have not yet reached sexual maturity or full adulthood. Each young beef cattle typically weighs between 30kg – 40kg.
Young beef is favored for its moderate tenderness, rich flavor, and delicious taste. Unlike the tougher meat of older cattle or the more immature texture of veal, young beef offers a perfect balance of tenderness and flavor.
Young beef is mostly lean meat with very little fat. Therefore, it is best suited for quick cooking methods such as grilling or stir-frying to retain its sweetness and tenderness.
This type of beef is rich in ammonia acids, which help enhance muscle strength, making it a preferred choice among athletes and fitness enthusiasts.
Young beef is typically sold at prices ranging from 180,000 – 250,000 VND/kg ($7.76 – $10.83/kg), depending on the specific cut. It is important to be cautious when purchasing young beef to avoid buying older, tougher meat.
2. Australian Beef
Australian Beef (Droughtmaster)
Australian beef, also known as Droughtmaster, is a breed native to the Queensland region of Australia. It is a cross between 50% ShortHorn cattle (from England) and 50% Brahman cattle (from India). When slaughtered, these Australian cattle typically weigh between 400kg – 500kg each.
Australian beef is characterized by its lean meat and low fat content. During cooking, the small amount of fat melts, ensuring the meat remains tender, moist, and imbued with a distinctive buttery flavor. Consequently, Australian beef is often used in stewed dishes.
Australian beef is rich in CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), a type of unsaturated fatty acid. CLA is one of two essential fatty acids required for the body’s metabolic processes and has been associated with various health benefits, including cancer prevention, cystic fibrosis management, skin inflammation reduction, and diabetes control.
In Vietnam, Australian beef is sold at an average price range of 250,000 – 400,000 VND/kg ($10.83 – $17.30/kg) for the common variety. Premium and high-grade Australian beef can cost anywhere from 350,000 – 700.000 VND/kg ($15.12 – $30.23/kg).
3. Wagyu Beef
Premium Wagyu Beef
Wagyu beef is the collective term for Japanese beef (“wa” meaning Japan and “gyu” meaning cow). Wagyu beef is renowned worldwide as the most premium, delicious, and tender beef available.
The hallmark of Wagyu beef is its intricate marbling of fat within the muscle fibers. This unique characteristic results in beef that is exceptionally tender, aromatic, buttery, and literally melts in your mouth.
Wagyu beef boasts higher levels of monounsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6, and lower levels of cholesterol and saturated fat compared to regular beef.
There are numerous types of Wagyu beef, each with distinct characteristics and grades. The three most famous varieties in Vietnam include: Kobe beef, Tokachi beef, and Matsuzaka beef.
Wagyu beef is graded on a scale of 15, from C1 to A5, with A5 being the highest grade for the ultimate premium Wagyu experience.
Kobe Beef
Kobe Beef
Kobe beef is a type of Japanese beef that comes from the Tajima breed of cattle. It is a specialty of Kobe, a port city in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
Kobe cattle are raised in the Hyogo region from birth and are not transported elsewhere. Additionally, the slaughtering process must take place in one of five designated cities: Kobe, Sanda, Kakogawa, Himeji, or Nishinomiya. For female cattle, it is essential that they have never given birth, and male cattle must be castrated to ensure purity.
Each Kobe cattle, when slaughtered, should not exceed a weight of 470kg to guarantee the ideal tenderness without being too flaky or chewy.
Kobe beef is typically prepared using Sumiyaki (charcoal grilling) or Ishiyaki (stone grilling) methods to fully unlock its sweetness and tenderness.
In the market, Kobe beef is priced at a premium, ranging from 7,000,000 – 15,000,000 VND/kg ($302.33 – $646.15/kg), depending on the specific cut.
Tokachi Beef (Holstein)
Tokachi Beef (Holstein)
Tokachi beef is a brand of cattle raised by farmers in the Tokachi region of Hokkaido. These are male Holstein dairy cattle that are fed on clean grass grown in the Tokachi region, along with a blend of herbs, resulting in meat that is tender yet lean and exceptionally flavorful.
Tokachi cattle, when slaughtered, typically weigh around 500kg to ensure the highest quality and most aromatic meat.
Compared to Kobe beef, Tokachi beef has larger fat marbling, resulting in a richer, more buttery flavor with hints of herbal notes. Consequently, Tokachi beef is often enjoyed in Sukiyaki hot pot dishes to fully appreciate its unique taste.
In Vietnam, the most sought-after cut of Tokachi beef is the Sirloin (outer thigh), which currently costs approximately 8,000,000 VND/kg ($345.45/kg).
Matsuzaka Beef
Matsuzaka Beef
Matsuzaka beef comes from young female Kuroge Washu cattle with black hair, raised and cared for by experienced farmers in the Mie region of central Japan.
When slaughtered, Matsuzaka cattle typically weigh between 500 – 600kg to ensure optimal tenderness and aroma.
While Kobe beef may be more famous internationally due to its aggressive marketing, Matsuzaka beef is favored by professional chefs. Compared to Kobe beef, Matsuzaka beef is leaner, sweeter, and notably more aromatic.
One distinctive feature of Matsuzaka beef is that it does not emit any odor unless it is heated. The meat’s aroma and flavor are at their peak when grilled quickly or prepared as a steak.
Currently, Matsuzaka beef is priced between 11,000,000 – 24,000,000 VND/kg ($475.61 – $1,038.46/kg).
4. American Beef
American Beef
American beef originates from the Angus breed of cattle native to Scotland. It has gained worldwide recognition for its distinctive marbling, which lends a buttery texture and unique aroma to the meat. American beef reaches the ideal slaughter weight of approximately 500kg.
This type of beef is incredibly nutritious, containing nine times more iron than pork, twice the amount of zinc found in chicken, and four times the amount of vitamin B12 found in pork.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grades American beef into eight categories. In Vietnam, the three highest-quality varieties are the most popular:
Differences Between the Three Types of American Beef
USDA Prime
This is the highest-quality grade, featuring prominent marbling and a rich flavor that eliminates the need for additional seasoning during cooking. Only 2% of all cattle raised in the United States meet the stringent standards for USDA Prime beef.
Prime American beef is commonly used for steak and is priced at an average range of 1,000,000 – 2,000,000 VND/kg ($43.30 – $86.60/kg), depending on the specific cut and region.
USDA Choice
Ranked as the second-best grade, Choice beef has slightly less marbling than Prime, resulting in a drier texture after cooking.
While it can still be used for steak, Choice beef may not be as tender as Prime. It is typically sold at prices ranging from 500,000 – 1,500,000 VND/kg ($21.65 – $66.65/kg), depending on the cut and region.
USDA Select
Select grade American beef is predominantly lean meat. Therefore, it is crucial to cook it properly to avoid dryness.
Compared to the higher grades, Select beef has a less intense flavor and often requires additional seasoning during cooking. It is currently priced at 400,000 – 800,000 VND/kg ($17.30 – $34.60/kg).
In conclusion, this article has provided an overview of the most popular and delicious types of beef available in Vietnam, ranging from affordable to premium options. We hope that this information will help you choose the right type of beef for your family and inspire you to create delectable dishes.
