Vietnamese cuisine is distinctive and delicious. Here is a list of 20 popular Vietnamese dishes you need to try when you travel to Ho Chi Minh City
- Com tam
- Banh mi
- Banh mi chao
- Pho – Vietnamese rice noodle soup with beef broth
- Hu Tieu – Southern rice noodle soup
- Banh xeo – Vietnamese pancake stuffed with meat
- Bun bo Hue – Hue style spicy beef noodle soup
- Oc – Seafood dishes in general
- Banh uot, Banh cuon – Steamed rice pancake stuffed with minced pork
- Banh trang tron – Mixed rice paper
- Xoi – Vietnamese sticky rice
- Lau bo – Vietnamese beef hotpot
- Bun dau mam tom – Rice vermicelli with fried tofu and shrimp paste sauce
- Bo la lot – Grilled beef in lolot leaves
- Mi Quang – Quang style noodle with pork and shrimp
- Bun rieu – Vietnamese crab soup with rice vermicelli
- Bun mam – Vietnamese fermented fish paste soup with rice vermicelli
- Bun thit nuong – Vietnamese rice vermicelli with grilled pork
- Goi cuon – Vietnamese summer rolls
- Che – Vietnamese traditional sweet dessert
Vietnamese dishes in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) stand out, not only because it’s delicious but also because of their variety – just like the people who live here. Therefore, the food experience in Ho Chi Minh City is like a buffet, all the best Vietnamese dishes are available here.
Here is a list of 20 popular Vietnamese dishes you need to try when you travel to Vietnam in general and in Ho Chi Minh City especially:
1. Com tam
Who doesn’t love Com tam—Vietnamese broken rice with grilled pork chop, shredded pork skins, and meat patty? Ho Chi Minh City people eat Com tam ALL THE TIME, proudly.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s a rushed breakfast, or a dinner in a Vietnamese restaurant, you can always have Com tam.
The secret of a delicious dish of Com tam, according to some local people, is not about the beautifully grilled pork cutlet, or about the “cha trung” – steamed eggs with pork patties, but it is about the hot delicious rice, combined with special sweet fish sauce and lots of onion oil.
You can try this at:
- Com tam Nguyen Van Cu
Address: 74 Nguyen Van Cu Street, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1 (here)
Open hours: 07:30–15:30
Price: ~110,000 VND ($4.8)
- Com tam Moc
Address: 85 Ly Tu Trong, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1 (here)
Open hours: 06:00–21:30
Price: 78,100-101,200 VND ($3.45-4.47)
Price: ~110,000 VND ($4.8)
2. Banh mi
Banh mi—Vietnamese baguette stuffed with meat and veggie—is the most popular street food in Vietnam. You can find any Banh mi stall on every street in Ho Chi Minh City.
The filling of a basic Banh mi may include mayo, pate, Vietnamese ham, jambon, pickles, cucumber, spring onion, cilantro, chili, and soy sauce.
However, that’s not the only combination for Banh mi. In Ho Chi Minh City, you can also enjoy Banh mi with grilled pork, fish cakes, sardines in tomato sauce, roasted pork, etc. Vietnamese creativity for banh mi has no limits!
You can try this at:
- Banh mi Huynh Hoa
Address: 26 Le Thi Rieng, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1 (here)
Open hours: 13:30–23:00
Price: 58,000 VND ($2.56)
- Banh mi Bay Ho
Address: 19 Huynh Khuong Ninh, Da Kao, District 1 (here)
Open hours: 07:00-09:00 and 13:30–19:00
Price: 20,000 VND ($0.88)
3. Banh mi chao
Banh mi chao—Banh mi served over a hot pan—is another famous version of banh mi. If Banh mi itself is famous for its convenience and can be carried everywhere, Banh mi chao needs to be enjoyed on the spot.
The reason why this variation exists is that many Vietnamese people like to dip the bread in the sauce, or they want to enjoy Banh mi with something hot. People often eat Banh mi with a pan of toppings including sunny side eggs, Vietnamese ham, meatball, pate, mayo, and tomato sauce.
You can try this at:
- Chao Restaurant
Address: 31 Tran Quang Dieu, Ward 14, District 3 (here)
Open hours: 10:00–22:00
Price: 49,000-99,000 VND ($2.16-4.37)
- Banh mi chao Hoa Ma
Address: 53 Cao Thang, Ward 3, District 3 (here)
Open hours: 06:00–11:00
Price: 50,000-60,000 VND ($2.21-2.65)
4. Pho – Vietnamese rice noodle soup with beef broth
Without a doubt, Pho is one of the extremely popular Vietnamese dishes, not only in Vietnam but also around the world.
Pho in HCMC is a combination of tradition and modernity, of traditional Northern taste and Southern taste. Unlike traditional pho, Pho in HCMC has a richer taste and is served with more vegetables.
Don’t forget to order a poached egg with soup when eating pho!
You can try this at:
- Pho Hoa Pasteur
Address: 260C Pasteur, Ward 8, District 3 (here)
Open hours: 05:00 – 23:30
Price: 55,000-95,000 VND ($2.43-4.20)
- Anan Saigon
Address: 89 Ton That Dam, Ben Nghe, District 1 (here)
Open hours: 17:00 – 00:00
Price: 50,000-250,000 VND ($2.21-11.00)
5. Hu Tieu – Southern rice noodle soup
Hu Tieu is one of the Vietnamese dishes that originating from Chinese and Cambodian cuisine, then modified to suit the taste of Vietnamese people.
In a bowl of Hu Tieu, we have rice noodles, a rich broth made from pork bones and pickled radish, and often served with sliced pork, shrimp, pork ribs, minced pork, quail eggs, and bean sprouts.
Another very popular version of this dish is Hu tieu kho, aka. “dry” Hu tieu. Instead of having rice noodles and soup in one bowl, you’ll have two separate bowls, and the rice noodles will be mixed with the owner’s secret sauce. This is a must-try version of Hu tieu!
You can try this at:
- Hu tieu Ca Can
Address: 110 Hung Vuong Street, Ward 9, District 5 (here)
Open hours: 06:00 – 23:55
Price: 37,000-75,000 VND ($1.63-3.31)
- Hu tieu Thanh Dat
Address: 34 Co Bac, Cau Ong Lanh Ward, District 1 (here)
Open hours: 00:00 – 04:30 and 05:30 – 23:59
Price: 54,000-80,000 VND ($2.39-3.53)
6. Banh xeo – Vietnamese pancake stuffed with meat
Banh xeo, aka. Vietnamese pancake is one of the most popular Vietnamese dishes from the Mekong delta area. The name “Banh xeo” originates from the way it is made, when the chef pours the batter into the pan, it will sizzle, and the word “sizzle” in Vietnamese is “xèo”.
Banh xeo batter is made from rice flour, coconut milk, a little turmeric powder. The fillings of Banh xeo usually are sliced pork belly, shrimp, bean sprouts, and jicama.
Although being fried with a lot of oil, Banh xeo is not so greasy, because it is very thin, crispy, and is eaten with a lot of green vegetables.
You can try this at:
- Banh xeo 46A
Address: 46 Dinh Cong Trang, Tan Dinh, District 1 (here)
Open hours: 10:00 – 13:00 and 16:00 – 21:00
Price: 100,000-200,000 VND ($4.42-8.84)
- Banh xeo An La Ghien
Address: 11A Tu Xuong, Vo Thi Sau, District 3 (here)
Open hours: 09:00 – 23:00
Price: 70,000-108,000 VND ($3.09-4.77)
7. Bun bo Hue – Hue style spicy beef noodle soup
“Bun” aka. vermicelli is a type of fresh Vietnamese rice noodle. It is often served with different types of broth, and Bun Bo Hue is one of the most famous vermicelli dishes.
Originating from Hue, Bun bo Hue soup is full of Hue flavor. The broth is rich and spicy, fragrant with lemongrass and chili. The savory taste of the broth is from shrimp paste and beef bones. This dish is usually served with sliced beef brisket, beef shank, and pork leg.
Don’t forget to ask for beef marrow, it’ll enhance the taste of the broth but not everyone knows that!
You can try this at:
- Bun bo Ganh
Address: 110 Ly Chinh Thang, Ward 8, District 3 (here)
Open hours: 06:00 – 21:00
Price: 60,000-70,000 ($2.65-3.09)
- Bun bo Nam Giao
Address: 248 Bui Vien, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1 (here)
Open hours: 06:00 – 23:00
Price: 60,000-100,000 VND ($2.65-4.42)
8. Oc – Seafood dishes in general
In Ho Chi Minh City, you will often be invited by Vietnamese people to “eat snails”. However, the “snail” mentioned is not the name of the Vietnamese dishes, but generally, it’s seafood.
At “Oc” restaurants, there are a hundred ways to cook, like grilled, stir-fried, steamed, boiled, etc. Seafood in HCMC is transferred every day from the nearest seas, so its freshness is always guaranteed.
The best way to enjoy seafood dishes is to bring a Vietnamese friend along, they know what type of seafood is good and what is the best way to cook it.
You can try this at:
- Ut Ca Mau Restaurant
Address: 215 Dien Bien Phu, Ward 6, District 3 (here)
Open hours: 10:00 – 23:00
Price: 90,000-200,000 VND ($3.98-8.84)
- Oc Dao
Address: C79 Nguyen Trai, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1 (here)
Open hours: 10:00 – 22:00
Price: 60,000-110,000 VND ($2.65-4.86)
9. Banh uot, Banh cuon – Steamed rice pancake stuffed with minced pork
Banh cuon and Banh uot are some of the most popular Vietnamese dishes for breakfast. Made with rice flour and tapioca flour, Banh uot is like a whole piece version of Pho noodles, but a bit chewy and thinner. Banh cuon is Banh uot, but with minced pork and stir-fried wood ear mushroom inside.
Usually, Banh cuon and Banh uot are served with sweet and sour fish sauce, crispy fried shallot, and Vietnamese ham. Banh cuon and Banh uot are made fresh every time you order, so the food is always hot and delicious.
Tips: Try ordering the dishes with an egg mixed with the batter!
You can try this at:
- Banh cuon Thien Huong
Address: 179A 3/2 Street, Ward 11, District 10 (here)
Open hours: 06:00-21:30
Price: 24,000-64,000 VND ($1.04-2.83)
- Banh cuon Hong Hanh
Address: 17A Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1 (here)
Open hours: 06:00 – 23:00
Price: 43,000-69,000 VND ($1.90-3.05)
10. Banh trang tron – Mixed rice paper
Banh trang tron, or “Mixed rice paper”, is a portion of famous street food in HCMC. You can find this dish almost everywhere, on the street, markets, supermarkets, cafes, even restaurants.
The recipe of this dish is quite simple, just chopped rice paper mixed with shrimp salt, satay, green mango, Vietnamese coriander, quail eggs, and dried beef, chicken, squid.
You can try this at:
- Banh trang tron Chu Vien
Address: 38 Nguyen Thuong Hien, Ward 5, District 3 (here)
Open hours: 11:30 – 19:00
Price: 25,000-40,000 VND ($1.10-1.77)
- Banh trang tron Ba Bac
Address: 40 No. 11, Ward 4, District 4 (here)
Open hours: 10:00 – 22:00
Price: ~23,000 VND ($1.00)
11. Xoi – Vietnamese sticky rice
Sticky rice, or sticky rice, is also a popular Vietnamese dish. There are many types of sticky rice, but can be divided into two main branches: savory and sweet sticky rice.
Savory sticky rice is served with pate, grilled chicken, char siu, Vietnamese ham, and soy sauce. Sweet sticky rice is more like a dessert, usually with sugar, mashed mung beans, coconut milk, and shredded coconut.
Sticky rice can come in a variety of colors, based on the ingredients you’re cooking with, if you can, try them all out!
You can try this at:
- Xoi La Chuoi
Address: 85 Cao Thang Street, Ward 3, District 3 (here)
Open hours: 07:00 – 22:00
Price: 12,000-34,000 VND ($0.53-1.50)
- Xoi ga 310
Address: 297 Hai Ba Trung, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1 (here)
Open hours: 06:00 – 10:00 and 17:00 – 23:59
Price: 25,000-50,000 VND ($1.10-2.20)
12. Lau bo – Vietnamese beef hotpot
In Ho Chi Minh City, you can enjoy many different kinds of hot pot, but beef hotpot is always the most popular one.
Although the broth is also cooked from beef and beef bones, the taste of beef hot pot is completely different from Pho and Bun bo.
Beef hot pot usually includes beef brisket, beef bones, oxtail, served with taro, egg noodles, and lots of fresh vegetables. However, don’t be surprised when you see a balut served with the hot pot!
You can try this at:
- Lau bo Ti Chuot
Address: 1-3 Cao Ba Nha, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1 (here)
Open hours: 09:00 – 23:59
Price: 100,000-415,000 VND ($4.42-18.33)
- Lau bo Nha Go
Address: 162 Ly Thai To, Ward 1, District 3 (here)
Open hours: 11:00 – 23:00
Price: 150,000-500,000 VND ($6.63-22.09)
13. Bun dau mam tom – Rice vermicelli with fried tofu and shrimp paste sauce
Bun dau mam tom is a traditional dish of Northern Vietnam, but it is also very popular for HCMC people.
The rice vermicelli in Bun dau mam tom is compressed into bite-sized pieces, presented in a tray with crispy fried tofu, cha com (a special version of Vietnamese ham, mixed with green rice flakes), rolled pork, and Vietnamese sausages. You dip all of them into the shrimp paste – a kind of sauce that is quite strong-smelling, but also very addictive.
You can reduce the smell by adding some lime, sugar, and chili to the shrimp paste and whisking it up!
- Dau Homemade Restaurant
Address: 6 Hong Ha, Ward 2, Tan Binh (here)
Open hours: 10:00 – 22:00
Price: 50,000-100,000 VND ($2.20-4.40)
- Ngo Nho Pho Nho Restaurant
Address: 158 Pasteur, Ben Nghe, District 1 (here)
Open hours: 10:00 – 20:00
Price: 40,000-165,000 VND ($1.77-7.29)
14. Bo la lot – Grilled beef in lolot leaves
Vietnamese love grilled dishes and rolls, and interestingly, Bo la lot combines the two.
Minced beef is mixed with spices, rolled in guise leaves, and then grilled. The aroma and slightly strong taste of guise leaves will make the beef taste very special, but not so greasy.
You can roll Bo la lot with rice paper, rice vermicelli, and fresh vegetables and enjoy it.
Bo la lot has an extremely attractive scent when being grilled, you will not be able to resist when passing by!
- Bo la lot Hoang Yen
Address: 121 Co Giang, Co Giang Ward, District 1 (here)
Open hours: 15:30 – 22:00
Price: ~35,000 VND ($1.55)
- Bo la lot Co Lieng
Address: 321 Vo Van Tan, Ward 5, District 3 (here)
Open hours: 08:30 – 21:30
Price: 50,000-165,000 VND ($2.20-7.29)
15. Mi Quang – Quang style noodle with pork and shrimp
Among many Vietnamese dishes that come from Central Vietnam, Mi Quang is the star.
Mi Quang is made from rice flour, quite thick compared to ordinary noodles. Mi Quang especially has a lot of versions: beef, chicken, shrimp, pork, seafood. You can also order yourself a mixed bowl to try it all at once.
And try the Mi Quang with braised frog if you can, it sounds odd but tastes very nice with a traditional flavor!
- Mi Quang Moc Vi Quan
Address: 732 Su Van Hanh, Ward 12, District 10 (here)
Open hours: 08:30 – 21:30
Price: 49,000-59,000 VND ($2.16-2.61)
- Com Que Muoi Kho Restaurant
Address: 27 Tran Quoc Thao, Ward 6, District 3 (here)
Open hours: 08:00 – 22:00
Price: 60,000-150,000 VND ($2.65-6.63)
16. Bun rieu – Vietnamese crab soup with rice vermicelli
Bun rieu is quite different from other Vietnamese dishes, its broth is made from rice field crabs. Along with tomatoes, the broth not only tastes delicious but also has a beautiful color.
In a bowl of Bun rieu, there are meatballs made from crab and minced pork, tomatoes, fried tofu, and sliced pork, additionally. Vietnamese people can eat Bun Rieu at any meal of the day.
You can try this at:
- Bun rieu Ganh Ben Thanh
Address: 4 Phan Boi Chau, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1 (here)
Open hours: 08:00 – 19:00
Price: 30,000-57,000 VND ($1.33-2.52)
- Bun rieu Nha
Address: 63B Tran Quoc Thao, Vo Thi Sau, District 3 (here)
Open hours: 08:30 – 22:00
Price: 55,000-68,000 VND ($2.43-3.00)
17. Bun mam – Vietnamese fermented fish paste soup with rice vermicelli
“Mam“, aka. Vietnamese fermented fish paste is a general name for many different types of fermented fish paste. Many popular Vietnamese dishes have “mam” as the key ingredient.
And Bun mam is one of those. This creates an extremely rich flavor for the broth. Bun mam is often served with roasted pork, seafood, and freshwater fish, along with fresh vegetables and edible flowers of the Mekong Delta.
You can try this at:
- Bun mam Mien Tay
Address: 124 Tran Khac Chan, Tan Dinh, District 1 (here)
Open hours: 14:00 – 22:00
Price: 35,000-45,000 VND ($1.55-1.99)
- Bun mam 444
Address: 375 Le Quang Dinh, Ward 5, Binh Thanh District (here)
Open hours: 09:00 – 21:00
Price: 78,000-88,000 VND ($3.45-3.89)
18. Bun thit nuong – Vietnamese rice vermicelli with grilled pork
Not all Vietnamese dishes that have vermicelli are served with broth. Bun thit nuong, aka. vermicelli with grilled pork is a mixed dish, which is different from other vermicelli dishes served with broth. However, it is still delicious in its way.
In a bowl of Bun thit nuong, there are fresh vermicelli, grilled pork, grilled meatballs, and spring rolls, served with onion oil, peanuts, lots of fresh vegetables, and sweet-sour fish sauce.
You can try this at:
- Bun thit nuong Anh Ba
Address: 126 Le Van Sy, Ward 10, Phu Nhuan District (here)
Open hours: 06:15 – 22:30
Price: 65,000-74,000 VND ($2.87-3.27)
- Hoang Tam Restaurant
Address: TK22/1 Nguyen Canh Chan, Cau Kho Ward, District 1 (here)
Open hours: 10:00 – 23:00
Price: 54,000-109,000 VND ($2.39-4.81)
19. Goi cuon – Vietnamese summer rolls
Vietnamese people love vegetables, that’s why Goi cuon aka. Vietnamese summer rolls are one of the best Vietnamese dishes. Goi cuon is made from a lot of fresh vegetables, vermicelli, and meat, wrapped in rice paper and dipped in black soy sauce.
Besides the traditional Goi cuon wrapped with pork and shrimp, you can also try many other modern Goi cuon.
You can try this at:
- Wrap & Roll Restaurant
Address: 5th floor, Saigon Center, 65 Le Loi, District 1 (here)
Open hours: 10:00 – 21:00
Price: 40,000-165,000 VND ($1.77-7.29)
- Cuon va Cham Restaurant
Address: 93Bis Nguyen Van Thu, Da Kao Ward, District 1 (here)
Open hours: 10:00 – 21:00
Price: ~15,000 VND each roll ($0.66)
20. Che – Vietnamese traditional sweet dessert
Che is the best Vietnamese dish when we talk about dessert. There are many different types of Che, but in general, they are all sweet and served warm, most of them are made from various beans, sweet potatoes, and coconut milk.
However, if you want a cool dessert to cool off the heat while in HCMC, you should try Sam Bo Luong. Sam Bo Luong is a special type of Che originating from Chinese cuisine, made from seaweed, red apple, longan, jelly, and lotus root, served with ice and taste fresh.
You can try this at:
- Che Ky Dong
Address: 16C Ky Dong, Ward 9, District 3 (here)
Open hours: 09:00 – 22:00
Price: 17,000-35,000 VND ($0.75-1.55)
- Che Hien Khanh
Address: 718 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Ward 1, District 3 (here)
Open hours: 09:00 – 12:30 and 14:30 – 22:00
Price: 23,000-55,000 VND ($1-2.43)
Article by Chau Pham published in http://www.local-insider.com
Are you planning a trip to Vietnam ? We invite you to contact us at MustSeeInVietnam@Gmail.com and to visit the No 1 Vietnam Travellers Podcast website https://www.whataboutvietnam.com and http://www.Local-Insider.com
Must See in Vietnam 