15 Must-try Local Dishes in Ho Chi Minh City

Local cuisine is always an intriguing feature of the travel experience. Cuisine tells you more about the local culture, distinctive meals you’ve never had, or familiar dishes in new ways. If you’re visiting Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for the first time and have no idea what to try? Check out this list of 14 must-try local dishes in Ho Chi Minh City to ensure you don’t miss out on some of the best cuisines in this dynamic, multicultural city.

Read also:

• 7 Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh Any Time of the Year!
• Ultimate Vietnam Travel Guide for Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Da Nang
• Local Markets In Hanoi: Where Is The Best Place To Go Shopping?
• Top 5 Best Foods in Hanoi and Where To Enjoy

Top Local Dishes in Ho Chi Minh City

Banh Mi

When it comes to Vietnamese food, banh mi is a must-mention. It’s one of the best street foods and a popular sandwich worldwide. Alongside “Pho” and “Ao Dai,” “Banh mi” has even made it into the Oxford dictionary, showing just how popular it is.

A banh mi has a tasty filling inside a thin, crispy crust. Depending on the region, the crust is made from either wheat or rice flour. The bread is baked just right, giving it a golden, crackly outside and a soft, fluffy inside.

Typical fillings include pâté, roasted pork, pork meatloaf, sausages, eggs, chicken, grilled fish, beef, and sardines. These come with cucumbers, cilantro, chili, carrots, and pickled radish, and are topped with sauces. Fillings can vary by region, and you can mix and match ingredients however you like. Popular fillings to try include grilled fish, omelet, and shumai.

Recommendations

Banh mi Huynh Hoa

• Address: 26 Le Thi Rieng, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hours: 11 AM – 9 PM daily
• Price: 1.4 USD

Banh mi Hong Hoa

• Address: 54 Nguyen Van Trang, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1
• Open hour: 5 AM – 9 PM daily
• Price: 0.8 USD

Com Tam – Broken Rice

Com tam, or broken rice, started as an affordable meal for workers and students in Vietnam. Today, it’s a popular dish across the country, especially known as a signature meal in Saigon.

This dish uses broken rice grains from the milling process, giving it a unique texture. A typical plate includes steamed egg meatloaf, shredded pork skin, and grilled pork ribs, with cucumber and pickled carrot on the side for freshness.

The key to Com Tam is the fish sauce. Each plate comes with a small bowl of sauce made from fish sauce, lemon, garlic, chili, and sugar, for a balanced sweet and sour taste. In Saigon, people usually pour the sauce over the dish instead of dipping, adding flavor to each bite.

Recommendations

Com tam Moc

• Address: 85 Ly Tu Trong, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1 
• Open hours: 9 AM – 8:30 PM daily
• Price: 3.45 – 4.47 USD

Com tam Nguyen Van Cu

• Address: 74 Nguyen Van Cu Street, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1 (here)
• Open hours: 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM daily
• Price: ~4.8 USD

Hu Tieu Nam Vang

Hu Tieu Nam Vang, a rice noodle dish, originally comes from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It was introduced to Vietnam by the Chinese community from Phnom Penh, known in Vietnamese as Nam Vang. Over time, more spices were added to suit Vietnamese tastes, making it a beloved specialty in Saigon.

There are two ways to enjoy Hu Tieu Nam Vang: hu tieu kho, or “dry” noodles, and hu tieu nuoc, which comes with broth. The broth version includes noodles, pork liver, shrimp, minced meat, quail eggs, fresh veggies, and a rich bone-based broth. The dry version is served in two bowls: one with noodles mixed with a special sauce and toppings like shrimp, quail eggs, liver, and bean sprouts, and the other with a hot, tasty bone broth on the side. If you haven’t tried it, the “dry” version of hu tieu is a must!

Recommendations

Hu tieu Ca Can

• Address: 110 Hung Vuong Street, Ward 9, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hours: 6 AM – 11:55 PM daily
• Price: 1.63 – 3.31 USD

Hu tieu Nam Vang Thanh Dat

• Address: 34 Co Bac, Cau Ong Lanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hours: 6 AM – 4 PM  daily
• Price: 2.39 – 3.53 USD

Banh Mi Chao

This is a unique twist on the classic banh mi, served in a completely different style. Instead of a sandwich, sausages, omelets, pate, ham, char siu, tomato sauce, and more are heated together in a small pan. When brought to the table, the pan sizzles invitingly. Diners tear off pieces of baguette, dip them into the rich, flavorful sauce, and enjoy them with the tasty ingredients in the pan. It offers a new experience of bread, far from the usual fast-food style.

Recommendations

Chao Restaurant

• Address: 31 Tran Quang Dieu, Ward 14, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hours: 9:30 AM – 10 PM daily
• Price: 2.16 – 4.37 USD

Banh mi chao Hoa Ma

• Address: 53 Cao Thang, Ward 3, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hours: 6 AM – 11 PM daily
• Price: 2.21 – 2.65 USD

Bun Thit Nuong – Vietnamese Grilled Pork With Rice Noodles

This cuisine is very common throughout southern Vietnam, especially in Saigon. Still a noodle dish, but served dry instead of with broth. Grilled pork, which is what Thit Nuong means in Vietnamese, is most likely the main component. The marinated pork slices will be roasted over charcoal while emitting a delicious aroma. A bowl of bun thit nuong will consist of vermicelli, grilled meat, pickled veggies, and a sprinkle of peanuts and fried onion. This dish is accompanied by a little cup of sweet and sour fish sauce. The traditional way to enjoy this is to pour the fish sauce over it and mix it all.

Recommendations

Bun thit nuong Anh Ba

• Address: 126 Le Van Sy, Ward 10, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hours: 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM daily
• Price: 2.87 – 3.27 USD

Hoang Tam Restaurant

• Address: TK22/1 Nguyen Canh Chan, Cau Kho Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hours: 10 AM – 11 PM daily
• Price: 2.39 – 4.81 USD

Pho

In Vietnam, Pho is unquestionably the national dish. You’ve probably heard of it before, even if you haven’t tried it. Most frequently, pho is prepared as either dinner or breakfast in the morning.

In a bowl of Pho, you’ll find noodles and toppings like shredded chicken and rare beef, all in a pot of flavorful broth that has been simmering from the bones. There are many more spices, including soy sauce, pepper, lemon, fish sauce, chili, and many others. However, Ho Chi Minh City Pho has a richer flavor than the Pho in Hanoi. In contrast to Hanoi, where Pho is typically consumed, this version will be slightly sweet and served with herbs and bean sprouts.

Recommendations

Pho Hoa Pasteur

• Address: 260C Pasteur, Ward 8, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hours: 5 AM – 11:30 PM daily
• Price: 2.43 – 4.20 USD

Anan Saigon

• Address: 89 Ton That Dam, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hours: 5 PM – 12 AM daily
• Price: 2.21 – 11.00 USD

Banh Xeo Nam Bo – Vietnamese Pancake

This dish is one of the most worth-trying street foods in the world. The word Xeo means “sizzle.” The cake batter will sizzle when it is poured into the heated pan. That is where the name Banh xeo comes from.

Southern pancakes have a crunchy edge and are soft and chewy overall. The ingredients used to make Banh Xeo vary from place to place, but the basic dough recipe is the same everywhere: rice flour mixed with a little turmeric powder to give the cake a vibrant yellow hue. The flavor of coconut milk is always present in Southern Banh Xeo, which is the main distinction from other places. Southern pancakes always have a buttery, aromatic flavor.

The filling is typically fatty pork, minced meat, shrimp, bean sprouts, spring onions, and, most notably, coconut core. Banh xeo will be served with a sweet and sour fish sauce and vegetables such as young cabbage leaves and herbs. And in particular, this area will feature typical vegetables that can only be found in the Mekong Delta and are commonly eaten with Banh Xeo, such as Mango young leaves, Creek premna leaves, and Common sesban. Even though the ingredients appear simple, this cake is the perfect balance of texture, flavor, and temperature that will captivate anyone from the first bite.

Recommendations

Banh xeo 46A

• Address: 46 Dinh Cong Trang, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hours: 10 AM – 12PM and 4 PM – 9PM daily
• Price: 4.42 – 8.84 USD

Banh xeo Ba Hai

• Address: 119 Le Van Linh, 13 Ward, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hours: 11 AM – 7 PM daily
• Price: 1.48 – 2.8 USD

Bun Mam – Vietnamese Fermented Fish Noodle Soup

Originally from Cambodia, Bun mam is one of the specialties of the southwest of Vietnam. What sets bun mam so unique is the broth. The sauce of either sac fish (snakeskin gourami) or linh fish (moustached danio) is typically used to make the broth. People will add coconut water, pork, or chicken bones to naturally sweeten the soup. Vermicelli noodles are added to a bowl of rich broth and toppings like roasted pork, shrimp, squid, grilled eggplant, and other spices. Bun mam is frequently combined with keo neo (limnocharis flava), water lily, banana blossom, water spinach, bean sprouts, and lettuce.

Recommendations

Bun mam Mien Tay

• Address: 124 Tran Khac Chan, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hours: 8 AM – 9 PM daily
• Price: 1.55 – 1.99 USD

Bun mam 444

• Address: 375 Le Quang Dinh, Ward 5, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hours: 9 AM – 9 PM daily
• Price: 3.45 – 3.89 USD

Vietnamese Crab Paste Vermicelli Soup–Bun Rieu Cua

Undoubtedly, Vietnam is a noodle lover’s utopia. The crab paste noodle soup is one of the best vermicelli recipes. This meal has a sour taste and is quite cool to enjoy in the summer, which is why Vietnamese people love it so much.

Bun rieu cua typically comes with a soup comprised of bones, crab paste, and tomatoes. However, these dishes in Saigon and Hanoi are significantly different. The southerners use tamarind juice instead of vinegar to give the soup a naturally sour flavor. Additionally, the toppings for vermicelli noodles are more varied in Saigon and include blood jelly, pork meatloaf, crab paste, snails, and fried tofu. People will add shrimp paste, lemon, and chili to the bun rieu cua to give it the best flavor.

Recommendations

Bun rieu Ganh Ben Thanh

• Address: 163 Le Thanh Ton, Ben Thanh Ward, District, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hours: 8 AM – 7 PM daily
• Price: 1.33 – 2.52 USD

Bun rieu Nha

• Address: 63B Tran Quoc Thao, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hours: 8:30 AM – 10 PM daily
• Price: 2.43 – 3.00 USD

Bo La Lot – Vietnamese Grilled Beef Wrapped In Piper Lolot Leaf

This is a classic southern recipe. Beef and lolot leaves are the main ingredients. Ground beef is properly seasoned before being rolled in lolot leaves and grilled over a charcoal fire. You will stop when you pass the sidewalk vendors due to the scent of lolot leaves and the greasy roast beef fragrance.

The wrapped beef can also be served in a rice noodle bowl with chopped lettuce, various Vietnamese herbs, toasted peanuts, thinly sliced green banana, sour star fruit, and a sweet and sour dipping sauce on the side. For self-assembly, it can alternatively be offered with rice paper.

Recommendations

Bo la lot Hoang Yen

• Address: 121 Co Giang, Co Giang Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hours: 3 PM – 11 PM daily
• Price: ~1.55 USD

Bo la lot Co Lieng

• Address: 321 Vo Van Tan, Ward 5, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hours: 7:30 AM – 10 PM daily
• Price: 2.20 – 7.29 USD

Goi Cuon – Spring Rolls

This dish comes from the South and has a light, refreshing taste, making it perfect for hot days. CNN even named it one of the world’s top 50 most delicious foods. It’s popular in Saigon, found everywhere from street carts to fancy restaurants. The recipe is simple but full of flavor and nutrients.

The dish is made by rolling ingredients like lettuce, herbs, basil, perilla, shrimp, boiled meat, and fresh shrimp in rice paper. The ingredients can change depending on the region. The dipping sauce is what makes the dish special, with three options: fermented fish sauce, sweet and sour fish sauce, and soy sauce. The fermented fish sauce is the most flavorful, but if you don’t like the strong fishy smell, you can try the other two.

Recommendations

Goi cuon Hanh

• Address: 420A Hoa Hao, Ward 5, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hours: 11 AM – 8:30  PM Mon to Sat, 11 AM – 7:30 Fri to Sunday
• Price: 0.42 – 1.6 USD

Goi cuon Tom nhay

• Address: 424 Lac Long Quan, Ward 5, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hour: 11 AM – 5:30 PM daily
• Price:0.25 – 1.05 USD

Banh Trang Tron – Mixed Rice Paper

This is the most popular snack in HCMC, and you can easily find vendors selling it on almost every corner of the city. The main ingredient is dew-dried rice paper from Trang Bang-Tay Ninh. The vendor cuts it into small pieces and mixes it with dried beef, dried shrimp, quail eggs, mango, laksa leaves, shrimp salt, and a bit of kumquat. If you like your food sour, you can add extra kumquat or tamarind juice.

The rice paper stays soft but chewy after mixing. When you take a bite, you’ll experience the sweet and sour flavor, the chewiness and fragrance of dried beef, the richness of roasted peanuts, and the creamy taste of quail eggs. Adding hot chili and chopped laksa leaves gives it a unique kick.

Recommendations

Banh trang tron Chu Vien

• Address: 38 Nguyen Thuong Hien, Ward 5, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hours: 10 AM – 8 PM daily
• Price: 1.10 – 1.77 USD

Banh trang cuon tron Ba Bac

• Address: 40 Street No. 11, Ward 4, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hours: 8 AM – 9 PM daily
• Price: ~1 USD

Che – Vietnamese Sweet Soup For Dessert

Vietnam’s best dessert is Che. It’s made from nuts and fruit skins boiled with sugar, then served with jellies, fruits, coconut milk, grated coconut, and other nuts. Che can be eaten warm or cold.

There are many types of Che, each from a different region. In the South, you can try Khuc Bach sweet gruel, banana with coconut gruel, or cassava gruel. In the North, there’s lotus seed gruel, young rice soup, and rice ball sweet soup.

With Saigon’s hot weather, ginseng tonic is a refreshing choice. This cool tea, originally from China, is made with ingredients like pearl barley, dried longans, lotus seeds, and seaweed, mixed with sugar, water, and crushed ice. It’s perfect for cooling off and recharging.

Recommendations

Che Ky Dong

• Address: 16C Ky Dong, Ward 9, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hours: 7:30 AM – 10 PM daily
• Price: 0.75 – 1.55 USD

Che Hien Khanh

• Address: 718 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Ward 1, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hours: 9 AM – 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM – 10 PM daily
• Price: 1 – 2.43 USD

Sup Cua – Vietnamese Crab Soup

Nothing beats a hot crab soup on rainy days in Saigon. This is a simple soup made with crab meat, chicken, maize, mushrooms, chicken or quail eggs, and chicken bones to give sweetness and nutrition. You can also add different toppings, the most popular of which are century eggs and hog brain. Mix in some pepper, coriander, chile, soy sauce, or fish sauce when eating. As a result, the flavor will become more comprehensive.

Recommendations

Sup cua Nha tho Duc Ba

• Address: 86 Nguyen Du, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hour: 10:30 AM – 10 PM daily
• Price: 0.63 – 1.55 USD

Sup cua Cho Thiec

• Address: 166 Pho Co Dieu, Ward 6, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City
• Open hour: 12:30 PM – 9 PM daily
• Price: 0.63 – 2.1 USD

Tré Trộn

Tré Trộn is a flavorful dish made with fermented pork, pork sausage, young green mango, laksa leaves, and red chili, all mixed together to create a tasty treat. Originally from Central Vietnam, Tré Trộn is typically enjoyed as a snack, often dipped in chili sauce. However, in Saigon, vendors have put their own spin on the dish, adapting the preparation to suit a broader range of tastes and making it even more popular among locals and visitors alike. You can get it from any random vendors in this city.

These are the top 15 must-try local dishes in Ho Chi Minh City. You won’t be disappointed with those delicacies, I promise you. Now try the local dishes in Ho Chi Minh out, and don’t forget to share with us which one you like the best.