Ho Chi Minh City, still widely called Saigon, is Vietnam's largest city and commercial engine, a dense, motorbike-driven metropolis on the Saigon River where French colonial landmarks, war-era history and a fast-growing skyline stand within a few kilometres of each other. Most visitors base themselves in District 1 and District 3, and the city is also the usual gateway to the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta.
Ho Chi Minh City cooking is southern Vietnamese: sweeter and more herb-heavy than the north, with fresh basil, bean sprouts and chilli on the table, and a street-food culture built around single-dish specialists. The city also holds Chinese-Vietnamese dishes in Cholon, a Michelin-recognised modern scene in District 1 and a seafood-and-snail district in District 4.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Ho Chi Minh City.
Phở bò
Southern-style beef noodle soup served with a plate of basil, bean sprouts, lime and hoisin
Where to try: Phở Hòa Pasteur, 260C Pasteur, District 3; Phở Lệ, 413-415 Nguyen Trai, District 5
Price: 70,000-130,000 VND (~$2.66-4.94)
Bánh mì
A crusty baguette filled with pate, pork, pickles and herbs
Where to try: Bánh Mì Huỳnh Hoa, 26 Le Thi Rieng, District 1; Bánh Mì Hòa Mã, 53 Cao Thang, District 3
Price: 35,000-90,000 VND (~$1.33-3.42)
Bánh xèo
A crisp turmeric pancake with pork and shrimp, wrapped in lettuce and herbs
Where to try: Bánh Xèo 46A, 46A Dinh Cong Trang, District 1
Price: 100,000-200,000 VND (~$3.80-7.60)
Bún thịt nướng
Cold vermicelli with grilled pork, herbs, peanuts and fish-sauce dressing
Where to try: Bún Thịt Nướng Chị Tuyền, 195/29 Co Giang, District 1
Price: 45,000-90,000 VND (~$1.71-3.42)
Ốc (snails and shellfish)
Snails and clams stir-fried with coconut milk, garlic or salted egg yolk
Where to try: Ốc Oanh, 534 Vinh Khanh, District 4
Price: 150,000-350,000 VND (~$5.70-13.31)
Cá kho tộ
Fish caramelised in a clay pot with fish sauce and pepper, eaten with rice
Where to try: Cục Gạch Quán, 10 Dang Tat, District 1
Price: 250,000-500,000 VND (~$9.51-19.01)
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Vietnamese
Food tours & tastings in Ho Chi Minh City
Eat your way through Ho Chi Minh City with a guide.
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Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Bánh mì stalls around Ben Thanh Market
Baguette stalls on Le Thi Rieng and Phan Chu Trinh that sell sandwiches from early morning
Find it at: Le Thi Rieng and Phan Chu Trinh, District 1
Vinh Khanh seafood street
A kilometre of pavement restaurants selling grilled snails, clams and prawns from late afternoon
Find it at: Vinh Khanh Street, District 4
Bui Vien and Pham Ngu Lao pho and cơm tấm shops
Late-opening shops serving noodle soups and rice plates to backpackers and locals
Find it at: Pham Ngu Lao, District 1
Ben Thanh evening food stalls
Stalls that open outside the market from about 18:00, with grilled skewers, noodles and sweet soups
Find it at: Phan Boi Chau and Phan Chu Trinh, around Ben Thanh Market
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Ben Thanh Market
The central covered market with food stalls selling noodle soups, rice plates, sweet soups and fresh fruit
Hours: About 06:00-18:00 daily; night stalls on the surrounding streets until about midnight
Tan Dinh Market
A neighbourhood market in District 1 with a cooked-food section on the ground floor
Hours: About 05:00-18:00 daily
Binh Tay Market
Cholon's large wholesale and retail market, with dried goods, Chinese-Vietnamese snacks and food stalls inside
Hours: About 06:00-19:00 daily
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Most pho and banh mi shops use plastic stools and shared tables; sit where there is space and a server will come
Many street stalls have no printed menu; point to the dish, or ask the price before eating (about 40,000-80,000 VND, ~$1.52-3.04)
Table napkins and wet wipes on tables are usually charged at 1,000-3,000 VND if opened
Tipping is not expected at street stalls; 5-10 percent is usual at sit-down restaurants where service is not included
Use the Grab app to reach Vinh Khanh and Cholon after dark; metered taxis are available but fares are easiest to agree through the app
Check card acceptance before ordering at street stalls; cash is the norm
- Vegetarian
- Look for signs reading 'cơm chay' or 'quán chay' (vegetarian restaurant) and say 'tôi ăn chay'; fish sauce and shrimp paste appear in most regular dishes. Hum Vegetarian, 2 Thi Sach, District 1, is a dedicated vegetarian restaurant.
- Halal
- Limited. Cholon and the Dong Du area have a few halal-certified restaurants near the Saigon Central Mosque on Dong Du Street; confirm status with the restaurant.
- Gluten free
- Rice is the staple, but soy sauce and hoisin are common; ask for no soy sauce ('không nước tương').
- Allergies
- Peanuts, shrimp paste and fish sauce are common; say the allergen clearly in Vietnamese or show a translation card.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | 40,000-100,000 VND (~$1.52-3.80) per meal | Street-food noodle soup, banh mi or broken rice at a stall |
| Mid-range | 200,000-500,000 VND (~$7.60-19.01) per meal | Sit-down Vietnamese restaurants with several shared dishes |
| Upscale | 1,500,000-3,500,000 VND (~$57.03-133) per person | Tasting menus and fine-dining restaurants in District 1 |