Food · Ho Chi Minh City · Vietnam
What to eat in Ho Chi Minh City
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Ho Chi Minh City, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Start with Broken rice, Bánh mì and Southern phở. Ride pillion with a local guide to eat in Districts 4, 5 and 10, tasting snails, bánh xèo and desserts you would struggle to find alone. Many street stalls specialise in one dish and sell out; cơm tấm and phở are mostly breakfast and lunch, ốc and bột chiên are evening foods.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Broken rice
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 2
- Tipping
- Tipping is not traditionally expected but is appreciated.
- Food experiences
- 4
11 foods to try
Dish
1.Broken rice (Cơm tấm)
Fractured rice grains served with a grilled lemongrass pork chop, shredded pork skin, steamed egg meatloaf and a fried egg, with pickles and sweet fish sauce. It is Saigon's signature breakfast and lunch.
Where: Street stalls and specialist cơm tấm restaurants in every district, with the smoke of charcoal grills marking the best ones.
Street food
2.Bánh mì
Saigon-style bánh mì is generously stuffed: pâté, butter, several cold cuts, pickled carrot and daikon, cucumber, coriander and chilli in a light, crisp baguette.
Where: Street carts and famous bakeries across Districts 1 and 3; queues at the best-known ones move quickly.
Breakfast
3.Southern phở (Phở)
Saigon's phở has a slightly sweeter broth than Hanoi's and comes with a plate of bean sprouts, Thai basil, saw-tooth herb and lime, plus hoisin and chilli sauces on the table.
Where: Long-running phở shops in Districts 1 and 3, busiest at breakfast.
Dish
4.Hủ tiếu Nam Vang
A clear pork-bone noodle soup of Cambodian-Chinese origin, with chewy rice noodles, minced pork, liver, shrimp and quail eggs, served in broth or 'dry' with the soup on the side.
Where: Specialist shops in District 1, District 3 and Chợ Lớn, usually from breakfast to early afternoon.
Dish
5.Bánh xèo
A large, crisp turmeric and coconut-milk pancake folded over pork, shrimp and bean sprouts. Break off pieces, wrap them in mustard greens and herbs, and dip in fish sauce.
Where: Specialist bánh xèo restaurants with open griddles, especially in District 1 and District 3.
Snack
6.Fresh spring rolls (Gỏi cuốn)
Rice paper rolled around prawns, pork, rice vermicelli, lettuce and herbs, served cold with a peanut and hoisin dipping sauce.
Where: Street stalls, markets and family restaurants; vegetarian versions with tofu are common at vegetarian (chay) restaurants.
Dish
7.Grilled pork with vermicelli (Bún thịt nướng)
Room-temperature rice vermicelli topped with charcoal-grilled lemongrass pork, crushed peanuts, spring onion oil, herbs and pickles, dressed with fish sauce. A light, fresh meal for hot days.
Where: Street stalls and lunch shops throughout the city.
Dish
8.Snails and shellfish (Ốc)
Dozens of types of snails, clams and shellfish, stir-fried or grilled with garlic butter, tamarind, coconut, lemongrass or salted egg, eaten with beer in the evening.
Where: Vĩnh Khánh street in District 4 and ốc restaurants around the city from late afternoon.
Street food
9.Fried rice-flour cake (Bột chiên)
Cubes of rice-flour cake fried until crisp on a griddle, bound with egg and topped with spring onion, pickled green papaya and soy-chilli sauce. A Chinese-Vietnamese snack from Chợ Lớn.
Where: Evening griddle stalls in Chợ Lớn and around District 1 and District 3.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Iced coffee with condensed milk (Cà phê sữa đá)
Strong robusta coffee dripped through a metal phin filter onto sweet condensed milk, then poured over ice. Saigon's cafés open early and stay busy all day.
Where: Street-side coffee stalls, chain cafés and old-style cafés with low chairs everywhere in the city.
Dessert · Vegetarian
11.Chè
A family of sweet soups and puddings made from beans, jellies, tapioca, fruit and coconut milk, served warm or over ice.
Where: Dessert stalls and chè shops in markets and in Chợ Lớn, often open late into the evening.
Food experiences
Motorbike street-food tour
Ride pillion with a local guide to eat in Districts 4, 5 and 10, tasting snails, bánh xèo and desserts you would struggle to find alone.
Snail night in District 4
Share plates of grilled shellfish and snails with cold beer at the plastic tables on Vĩnh Khánh street.
Chợ Lớn food walk
Combine temples and Bình Tây Market with dim sum, noodle soups and bột chiên in the Chinese quarter.
Coffee culture
Try iced coffee with condensed milk at a pavement stall, coconut coffee in a café apartment on Nguyễn Huệ, and egg coffee in a District 3 villa café.
Quick bites and street food
- Bánh mì — Street carts and famous bakeries across Districts 1 and 3; queues at the best-known ones move quickly.
- Southern phở — Long-running phở shops in Districts 1 and 3, busiest at breakfast.
- Fresh spring rolls — Street stalls, markets and family restaurants; vegetarian versions with tofu are common at vegetarian (chay) restaurants.
- Fried rice-flour cake — Evening griddle stalls in Chợ Lớn and around District 1 and District 3.
Vegetarian options
Of the 11 foods in this guide, 2 are usually vegetarian: Iced coffee with condensed milk and Chè. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Many street stalls specialise in one dish and sell out; cơm tấm and phở are mostly breakfast and lunch, ốc and bột chiên are evening foods.
- Busy stalls with local customers are the best guide to quality and freshness.
- Check prices at seafood places that charge by weight before ordering.
- Wet wipes and snacks left on the table are often charged if used.
- Ask for 'chay' to find vegetarian dishes; many Buddhist vegetarian restaurants serve meat-free versions of local favourites.
Tipping
Tipping is not traditionally expected but is appreciated. Upscale restaurants may add a service charge; tip tour guides and drivers, spa staff and hotel porters, and round up for good service elsewhere.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Xin chào | Hello |
| Cảm ơn | Thank you |
| Bao nhiêu tiền? | How much is it? |
| Không cay | Not spicy |
| Tính tiền | The bill, please |
| Chay | Vegetarian |
| Dô! | Cheers! |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Ho Chi Minh City famous for?
Broken rice, Bánh mì, Southern phở and Hủ tiếu Nam Vang. Fractured rice grains served with a grilled lemongrass pork chop, shredded pork skin, steamed egg meatloaf and a fried egg, with pickles and sweet fish sauce.
+Is Ho Chi Minh City good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Iced coffee with condensed milk and Chè.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City?
Tipping is not traditionally expected but is appreciated. Upscale restaurants may add a service charge; tip tour guides and drivers, spa staff and hotel porters, and round up for good service elsewhere.