14 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? Read 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.

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• Top 5 Best Foods in Hanoi and Where To Enjoy

Top Local Dishes in Ho Chi Minh City

Banh Mi

One must undoubtedly bring up banh mi when discussing Vietnamese cuisine. One of the best street foods and the tastiest sandwich globally, this delicacy is lauded. Along with “Pho” and “Ao Dai,” even “Banh mi” was given the honor of being one of the three Vietnamese terms included in the Oxford dictionary data. All of these are sufficient to demonstrate the dish’s ubiquity and allure.

The Banh mi has a tasty filling within and a thin, crunchy crust on the outside. Depending on each region’s recipe, flour or rice flour is used to make the crust. The baguette is baked to perfection, yielding a loaf of bread with a crisp, slightly golden, cracked surface and a soft, white inside.

The major stuffing elements are pate, roasted pig, pork meatloaf, sausages, eggs, chicken, grilled fish, beef, and sardine. They are served with thinly sliced cucumbers, coriander, chili, carrots, and pickled radish. Finally, drizzle on the sauces. Fillings vary according to region. And because bread fillings are infinitely customizable, practically anything is imaginable. Some types of filling you should try are traditional 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

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Com Tam – Broken Rice

The cuisine of Com tam (broken rice) has long been considered a life-saving food for underprivileged laborers in Vietnam. Because broken rice is inexpensive, it can be utilized in daily meals to save money. Previously, this cuisine was entirely reserved for workers, poor farmers, or students without financial means. However, Com Tam has become a specialty and is regularly referenced across the country. It has become the most typical cuisine of Saigon in particular.

When rice is milled, the head of the grain is broken off, and this sort of broken rice is used for cooking this dish. Broken rice differs from other types of rice meals in this particular way. Cha trung – Vietnamese steamed egg meatloaf, spice-mixed shredded pig skin, and savory charcoal-grilled pork ribs are typical additions to a classic plate of com tam. To balance the flavor of this dish, cucumber and carrot pickled will be served.

The final component, which serves as the dish’s soul, is fish sauce. Each plate of com tam comes with a little ramekin of sauce. This sauce combines fish sauce, lemon, garlic, chili, and sugar in the proper proportions for the perfect balance of sweet and sour flavor. One unique aspect of the Saigonese way of eating is to sprinkle the sauce on the plate and eat it that way instead of dipping food into the sauce as is customary.

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

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Hu Tieu Nam Vang

The cuisine known as Hu Tieu Nam Vang originates from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This meal was reprocessed and then transported to Vietnam by the Chinese minority in Nam Vang (the Sino-Vietnamese translation of Phnom Penh). Later, more flavorful spices were added to the Nam Vang rice noodle soup to match the Vietnamese people’s culinary tradition, and it became a delicacy of Saigon.

There are two ways to enjoy Hu tieu Nam Vang: Hu tieu kho aka “dry” Hu tieu and Hu tieu nuoc – served with broth. In a bowl of water-based noodle soup, there will be noodles, pork liver, shrimp, minced meat, quail eggs, raw veggies, and a mouthwatering bone-based broth. In contrast, hu tieu kho serves in two separate bowls. One bowl contains noodles blended with a special sauce and toppings with shrimp, quail eggs, liver, and bean sprouts. The second one is a hot, flavorful bowl of bone broth. Believe me, “dry” hu tieu is a must-try.

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 another version of classic banh mi that is consumed in an entirely different way. There will also be sausages, omelets, pate, ham, char siu, tomato sauce, and so on, all of which will be heated in a small pan. The sound of the pan rang pleasantly when it was carried to the table to serve guests. Diners break a slice of baguette, dip it in a fragrant, greasy sauce, and serve it alongside the delicious foods in the pan. It is an entirely different cuisine than the idea of bread as fast food.

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, chile, 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 consume 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 has Southern origins and a cold, mild flavor that balances ingredients on hot days. CNN once named the dish one of the world’s top 50 most delectable foods. This meal is widely available in Saigon, from curbside carts to upscale dining establishments. Although this recipe is straightforward, it is nonetheless nutrient- and flavor-rich.

All ingredients, such as lettuce, bean sprouts, herbs, basil, perilla, dried shrimp, herbs, boiled meat, and fresh shrimp, will be rolled in rice paper. There are no fixed recipes for this because the components used to roll vary greatly depending on location and region. Aside from the fresh ingredients, the dipping sauce also decides whether or not the dish is excellent. Dipping sauce comes in three varieties: fermented fish sauce, sweet and sour fish sauce, and soy sauce. The fermented fish sauce is the tastiest, but many people won’t be able to taste it because of the strong fishy scent so you can try the other two sauces.

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

In Saigon, mixed rice paper is the most attractive local snack. You can easily find vendors selling mixed rice paper on every corner of this city. 

Dew-dried rice paper from Trang Bang-Tay Ninh is the major component. The vendor cut rice paper into small pieces and mixed it with dried beef, dried shrimp, quail eggs, mango, laksa leaves, shrimp salt, and a small amount of kumquat. Customers who prefer their food sour can add more kumquats or tamarind juice.

The crazy part is that the rice paper is soft but remains chewy after mixing. When you bite into a piece, you’ll taste the sweet and sour flavor, the chewiness and perfume of dried beef, the fleshy flavor of roasted peanuts, and the addition of fatty, aromatic quail eggs. Adding some hot chili and chopped laksa leaves boosts the distinct flavor of mixed rice paper. Such an ideal combination. It was a wonderful experience to enjoy a mixed rice paper while seated on the corner of Saigon Street and in front of the small local stores. 

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 greatest dessert is Che. This sweet dish is made from nuts and fruit skins boiled with sugar. It is served with jellies, fruits, coconut milk, grated coconut, and other nuts to enhance the flavor. Che can be served either warm or cold.

Tea comes in various flavors, each specific to a certain region. Khuc Bach sweet gruel, sweet banana with coconut gruel, and Cassava gruel, for instance, are available in the South, whereas sweet lotus seed gruel, young rice soup, and rice ball sweet soup are available in the North. You may still find unusual tea dishes like Thai Sweet gruel and Cambodian Sweet gruel in Saigon, which has seen cultural merging with its neighbors.

Given the humid weather in Saigon, it would be best if you tried ginseng. Originally from Guangdong, China, ginseng tonic is now a popular sweet tea in Vietnam. This particular cool tea is the ideal blending of all-natural components and can cool and nourish the body. Although the exact recipe varies, the drink is typically made with yi mai (Chinese pearl barley), dried longans, red jujubes, lotus seeds, and thinly sliced seaweed, along with water, sugar, and crushed ice.

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

These are the top 14 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.

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