FALL SALE: Save up to $1,058 on our trips! Limited spots. Book Now.

Ho Chi Minh City is one of the best cities in the world for street food. Every stall has a signature dish, and no experience says ‘Saigon’ more than a bumpy scooter ride between the many food stands in the city. Here are some great places to grab a bite.

Did you know you can now travel with Culture Trip? Book now and join one of our premium small-group tours to discover the world like never before.

Chợ Bến Thành (Bến Thành Market)

Market

This historic market in District 1 is as good for eating and people-watching as it is for shopping (there are tacky souvenirs and fashion fakes aplenty). The many food stalls vie for your attention with delicious-smelling specialities ranging from filled bao buns to punchy green soups served in plastic bowls. It’s not to be confused with the nearby Bến Thành Street Food Market (26-28-30 Thủ Khoa Huân), although this hipper, more sanitised food hall also has plenty to offer, especially if you’re looking for a gentle intro to Vietnamese street food. Le Loi Street, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Vĩnh Khánh Street (Seafood Street)

Architectural Landmark

Lined with restaurants spilling out onto the sidewalk, this is street-food central, with lots of sizzling outdoor grills and bubbling vats of aromatic treats working their magic in an atmosphere of joyful conviviality. Snails are a speciality here, cooked in a variety of ways – in coconut milk, with morning glory (a local vegetable) or covered in chilli. Ốc Oanh is among the most famous joints; however, have a wander around and go where the regulars seem to be congregating. Book a guided street food tour of the city and you’ll no doubt end up on Seafood Street at some point.

Nam Giao

Another standout in hectic District 1, tucked away down an alley near Bến Thành Market, is Nam Giao – a long-established restaurant revered for its street-food dishes. Don’t miss the cơm hến (rice with baby clams and shrimp sauce) or the gooey bánh bèo (a steamed rice cake with a crispy shrimp topping). 136/15 Le Thanh Ton, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Banh Xeo 46A

A favourite with Anthony Bourdain, this sweet little spot in District 1 specialises (albeit not exclusively) in bánh xèo – ‘sizzling pancakes’ with turmeric, cooked in skillets and filled with the likes of pork, shrimp, mung beans and vegetables, according to taste. Be careful not to over-order – the regular-size crêpes can be big enough for two. 46A Dinh Cong Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Phở Bò Viên Thập Cẩm

This minuscule District 1 phở street kitchen is a full-on authentic experience. No English is spoken, so smile and point to bag a bowl of the super-cheap but surreally good rice-noodle soup chock-full of herbs in a rich broth. The Saigon iced coffee is a winner, too. 7 Nguyen Thai Binh Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Quán Thúy

Of the two basic, similarly named joints famed for their crab dishes, which are located within a few metres of each other in the evolving Bình Thạnh district (which is popular with immigrants), this one receives the most plaudits. That said, there’s not that much in it when it comes to price or quality, so by all means, head down to Quán 94 if this place is full. Expect everything from gleaming whole steamed crabs to crab soup, crab fried noodles and crab-stuffed spring rolls. 84 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Phan Văn Hân Street

This long and narrow thoroughfare is the place to have something to eat among students from local universities in an intimate, lively and unpretentious atmosphere beneath naked fluorescent lights. Many of the stalls, some set up on residents’ very doorsteps, focus on snails and shellfish, although there’s a vast array to choose from in terms of street-food classics, including bột chiên (fried rice-flour cakes). Bình Thạnh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

The Best Vegan Street Food Stalls in Ho Chi Minh City

Recommended by Piumi Rajapaksha.

Che mam Khanh Vy

Food Stall, Vietnamese

Sweet soup is one of the delicious specialties that Ho Chi Minh City has to offer. With so many different kinds of sweet soups, its so hard to decide what to go for. The Khanh Vy sweet soup stall will solve your problems. Here, you can order a whole feast – up to 16 different types of sweet soup for just over a dollar! Typically, your options are mung bean, red bean, taro, corn, lotus seed, coconut and various types of fruit. We suggest you go for the platter, but if you only want to choose one flavor, it’s VND$5,000 (USD$0.25). Join a vegan street food tour of the city to find the best sweep soup in town.

Kalochi Trieu Chau

Kalochi is a dish that originated from Guangzhou, China. The dish is made from a giant dough cut into smaller pieces, rolled and then sprinkled with crushed peanuts and sweetened black sesame. You can find it in a small stall on Hau Giang Street, in Chinatown (Cho Lon), prepared by a sweet middle-aged man. It’s a bit difficult to find this stall since he keeps moving up and down the street, but generally his fixed spot is at 199 Mai Xuan Thuong Street, right at the corner it cuts with Hau Giang street. He is here from 09.00 a.m. till 11.00 a.m. You can call him in advance to locate him.

Fried banana Co Bac

If Ho Chi Minh City’s desserts were a nation, then fried banana would be king. This dish originated in the south, so obviously the best version of it is found here. This is probably because of the quality of the banana itself — brought directly from the orchards of the Mekong Delta. You can find fried banana in most local markets, but this stall on Co Bac street is special. Instead of preparing it the normal way, the banana is dipped into flour liquid, deep fried with corn and black sesame sprinkled on top. Tuck into some fried banana on a street food tour of the city.

Vegan Banh Mi

To start your day, here’s a vegan stall that serves banh mi – Vietnam’s favorite breakfast. Located in District 5, this might be a little bit far from the city center, but it’s definitely worth the drive. The stall specializes in making vegan banh mi with all sorts of greens and veggies, but also has other options for you to pick such as vegan sticky rice and vegan dough dumplings.

Banh bo Ngoc Dung

At the intersection of Phung Van Cung and Phan Xich Long streets, is a small stall selling banh bo, a cake made from rice. To eat, you dip it in a mixture of salt, crushed peanuts, and sugar. The lady also serves cassava with coconut milk.

Ba Kiem xoi

Ba Kiem started her breakfast stall over 60 years ago, right after she moved to Ho Chi Minh City from Hanoi. Here she sells northern-style sticky rice using banana leaves to wrap it, adding extra flavor than plastic boxes do. The leaves keep the rice hot and moist as well. It’ll also only cost you VND$15,000 (USD$0.8) to get a taste of the north at this stall.

Chuoi nuong Tran Dinh Xu

Banana again, but this time it is wrapped with sticky rice, another layer of banana leaves, and then grilled over charcoal. The sticky rice at the stall on Tran Dinh Xu is one of the absolute best. It’s soft, well-cooked and chewy. Afterwards, just when you thought it couldn’t possibly get any better, the banana is cut into small pieces and drenched in thick coconut cream.

Banh da lon A Muoi

Banh da lon is “pigskin cake”: a steamed layered cake made from rice flour, tapioca starch, and smashed mung beans, taro or durian, and eaten with coconut milk. The pigskin cake can come in all shapes and sizes. With a nice look, a soft and gelatinous texture, and a pleasant taste, it’s often a favorite dessert of the locals.

Durian sticky rice Le Van Luong

This is exclusive to durian fans as people have a love-hate relationship with this fruit. It may have an unpleasant smell, but when you have taught your gag reflexes to overcome that, you will realize it is one of the best-tasting fruits in the world. At this stall, durian is mixed with sticky rice with four choices for added ingredients: beaten durian, smashed peanuts, shredded coconut, and condensed coconut milk. Just don’t walk around with this in your handbag. The smell will stick around for days.
This is an update of an original article by Jing Xuan Teng.

Culture Trip Fall Sale

Save up to $1,058 on our unique small-group trips! Limited spots.

toast-message-image
close-ad
Edit article