The meat is typically flavoured with chopped shallots, crushed garlic, fish sauce, sugar and black pepper.

Nước chấm is fish sauce diluted with water and flavored with sugar, lime juice, chopped raw garlic, chopped fresh bird's eye chili (Thai chili)/cayenne pepper,[2] and sometimes with vinegar.

Nem nướng is a common filler in gỏi cuốn (meat/seafood, fresh vegetables and herbs wrapped in transparent rice paper).

[2] The deliciousness of nem nướng depends on the accompanying bowl of soy sauce, which is also considered the secret of each restaurant.

The bowl of soy sauce with all the attractive flavors of sour, salty and sweet is made from more than 20 spices according to each chef's own heirloom secret.