There are plenty of pigs in Vietnam, and lots of pork is eaten. A great many Vietnamese dishes require finely minced meat - the vast majority of which is pork. They also eat pork in the form of chops and spare ribs, and as slow-cooked stews and a delicious pate which is quite unlike a Western one. Pork has an affinity with sweetness, and the Vietnamese use of caramelized sauces proves the point. Beef is something of a treat in Vietnam. In reality, quite a lot of the meat that is served as beef is actually buffalo and sometimes venison. Beef is so highly thought of that there is a special traditional banquet, called 'Seven Styles of Beef', for which seven completely different beef dishes are prepared. Unlike any other banquet or formal dinner, these dishes are presented sequentially, each one enhancing the next.