15 Amazing Places to Eat in Vietnam
For some sad, strange reason, the only Vietnamese food I had ever really heard of before traveling through Vietnam was (you guessed it) Pho. Coming from a California native where there are nearly 1,000,000 Vietnamese people, which accounts for roughly 25% of all Vietnamese living abroad in the entire world (Wikipedia), I can only imagine the lack of Vietnamese food knowledge in the rest of the United States and throughout the globe. Let’s change that.
Over the course of 6 weeks in Vietnam, I had Western food less than five times total. In addition, as a budget traveler, I stuck exclusively to cheap, delicious street food. That is the best Vietnamese food. Sometimes the street vendor stands can look a little…disconcerting, but don’t let that scare you off.
At the beginning of my trip, I did a street food tour through Saigon Street Eats. The tour was fantastic and our guide provided an overly extensive list of restaurants and vendors throughout the entire country. The list below is broken down by city and includes a mix of restaurants my guide recommended and places I found on my own.
Ho Chi Minh City
Pho Bo from one of the famous restaurants in HCMC
Ho Chi Minh City is unique in that it brings together all of the different Vietnamese foods from around the country. Even if a meal was invented/created in a different city, you can bet HCMC has it and that it’s delicious. Most tourists stick to District 1 in the city, so here are three options in that area. In addition, you can read more and see some photos of HCMC food here.
Meal: Banh mi
Restaurant: Huynh Hoa
Location: 26 Le Thi Rieng Street, District 1, HCMC
Meal: Pho bo (beef)
Restaurant: Pho Phuong
Location: 25 Hoang Sa Street, District 1, HCMC
Meal: Bun thit nuong
Restaurant: Chi Thong
Location: 195 Co Giang Street, District 1, HCMC
Da Lat
The crowds of the weekend night market in Da Lat
The night market in the city center of Da Lat happens every weekend. Thousands of people fill the city to eat, shop, and listen to music. Some of the specialty foods to try in the market include noodle soup with congealed pigs bloods, grilled meat skewers, and fried desserts.
Nha Trang
Thit Bo Nuong La Lot from one of the street vendors on Bach Dang Street
It’s easy to get sucked into the tourist restaurants in Nha Trang, as it is packed with beach resorts and families on vacation. To get the best local food, wander into town away from the beach.
Meal: Thit bo nuong la lot
Restaurant: Street vendors
Location: Bach Dang Street (walking away from the beach look for tiny plastic chairs)
Meal: Bun thit nuong
Restaurant: Street vendor
Location: Dam Market (walk along the market until you see a suitable stall – pick an older women to buy from)
Hoi An
Traditional Cao Lau from the food market in Hoi An
Although custom suits and dresses are the most popular thing to focus on in Hoi An, don’t forget about the local food. The local market offers authentic Central Vietnamese food and there are hidden gems around the city.
Meal: Cao Lau
Restaurant: Market vendor
Location: Hoi An Food Market on Tran Quy Cap street
Meal: Thit bo nuong la lot
Restaurant: Com Ga “Ty”
Location: 27 Phan Châu Trinh, Minh An, tp. H?i An, Qu?ng Nam
Da Nang
Mi Quang from Mi Quang 1A on Hai Phong Street
I hate to say it, but I think Da Nang is an ugly city. The sprawling industrial buildings and construction are a far cry from Hoi An’s charming streets. But, the food is top-notch!
Meal: Mi Quang
Restaurant: Mi Quang 1A
Location: 1 H?i Phòng, H?i Châu 1, ?à N?ng
Meal: Banh Xeo
Restaurant: Ba Duong
Location: K280/23 Hoang Dieu Street, Hai Chau District, Da Nang
Hue
Banh Khoai, Nem Lui, and Banh Beo from Hanh Restaurant
Hue might be the best place to eat regional food in all of Vietnam. Local dishes like Banh Khoai, Nem Lui, and Bun Bo Hue are famous throughout the country. When on holiday in Hue, try to go the whole time without eating any western food – I challenge you. To see more photos and read more about the food in Hue click here.
Meal: Bun Bo Hue
Restaurant: Co Chau (Ty) Market Vendor
Location: Dong Ba Market
Meal: Nem Lui, Banh Khoai, and Banh Beo
Restaurant: Hanh Restaurant
Location: 11 Phó ??c Chính, tp. Hu?, Phú H?i (get there early for dinner, it sells out)
Hanoi
Bun Cha from Bun Cha Dac Kim
Similar to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi is full of a variety of tasty meals. It is hard to go wrong stumbling around the Old Quarter of the city and randomly choosing street stalls and restaurants. To try some of the highly touted restaurants by locals, see the options below. You can see more photos and read about food in Hanoi here.
Meal: Bun Cha
Restaurant: Bun Cha Dac Kim
Location: 01 Hang Manh, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Meal: Nem Lui, Banh Khoai, and Banh Beo
Restaurant: Pho Bat Dan
Location: 49 Bat Dan Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Do you have any other amazing restaurants or hidden street vendor foods to eat in Vietnam? Please comment and share! If you are looking to
15 Amazing Foods to Eat in Vietnam was written by Pete Vrouvas of TheOnlyPete.com. Pete is a California-based traveler, food lover, beer drinker, and adventurer focused on sharing experiences and tips on travel, technology, and food.
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