Top 10 must-try Vietnamese food in Saigon

Explore Vietnamese food in Ho Chi Minh City: Top 10 must-try food in Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, is Vietnam's largest city. Not only is it a leading economic and political center, but this city is also famous for its diverse cuisine with many famous delicacies. Each bustling street with the aroma of typical dishes will take you on an exciting culinary adventure. From delicious Vietnamese street food to warm bowls of pho, the city's culinary scene is a playground for food enthusiasts looking for authentic flavors. Join us as we stroll around bustling markets and wonderful eateries to discover the top 10 foods to try in Ho Chi Minh city that shape the essence of Vietnamese cuisine that are must-tries. 

Com tam

Com tam is one of the best Vietnamese foods, especially famous and popular in Ho Chi Minh City. Com tam gets its name from the cracked grains caused by the milling process, which were initially considered less valuable. However, what might be considered a byproduct has evolved into the highlight of this delectable dish. Usually served with a variety of side dishes, the centerpiece is a delicious bowl of rice with a soft texture and ability to absorb flavors. Grilled pork, shredded pork skin and fried eggs are often decorated on the plate, accompanied by pickled vegetables, cucumber slices and a little fish sauce. The blend of textures and flavors, from the smoky char of grilled meat to the crunch of pickles, creates a symphony of flavors that makes Com tam one of the most beloved dishes, reflecting the art associated with Vietnamese culinary traditions.

Below are some top restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City for you to try this traditional vietnamese food:

• Com suon Ba Cuong

Address: 263 Tran Quang Khai, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1

Operating hours: 7am - 9:30pm

Price: 45,000 - 80,000 VND

• Com tam Minh Long 

Address: 607 Nguyen Thi Thap, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City

Operating hours: 7am - 9pm

Price: 20,000 - 60,000 VND

• Com Tam Nho

Operating hours: 7am - 10pm

Price: 30,000 - 60,000 VND

• Com tam 135

Address: 135 Doan Van Bo, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City

Price: 35,000 – 55,000 VND

Operating hours: 4:00 p.m. - 4:00 a.m

Banh mi

Banh mi is considered the famous Vietnamese food, widely known around the world.

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The main ingredients to make Vietnamese Banh mi are animal meat processed into sausages, pork rolls, shumai, roasted pork, liver pate, minced meat stewed with spices, sausage... There are also eggs, shredded chicken, onion fat, cold meat, butter... Traveling across the three regions of the country, you will see that each region has its own unique bread flavor, but everywhere it is delicious, it also makes the hearts of many diners sobbing.

What surprises people around the world when enjoying Vietnamese bread loaves is the wonderful delicious flavor created with very rustic and familiar ingredients. The beauty of Vietnamese people is in their simplicity but still exuding sophistication, from the most ordinary ingredients but when combined together, they create a delicious Banh mi.

Some famous Banh mi restaurants in Saigon you can refer:

• Banh Mi Huynh Hoa

Address: 26 Le Thi Rieng, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hours: 13:00 – 33:00

Selling price: 24,000 VND - 33,000 VND.

• Banh Mi Nhu Lan

Address: 50 Ham Nghi, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1

Opening hours: 5:00 a.m. – 00:00 a.m

Selling price: 15,000 VND - 55,000 VND.

• Banh Mi Hoa Ma

Address: 53 Cao Thang, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hours: 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m

Selling price: 50,000 VND - 60,000 VND.

Pho 

Pho is an iconic dish of Vietnam. Hailing from the vibrant streets of Vietnam, pho is a harmonious blend of aromatic broth, delicate vermicelli noodles and tender slices of meat, typically beef or chicken. Infused with a combination of herbs, spices, and seasonings like basil, lemon, bean sprouts, and chili, Pho is more than just a dish—it's an experience that engages all the senses.

Pho in Ho Chi Minh City is a little different from pho in Hanoi. If in Hanoi, pho usually has a clear, light broth, then in Saigon, pho is seasoned with more spices, and the broth is also richer and creamier. The difference between Northern pho and Southern pho also lies in the accompanying spices. If Northern pho is eaten with stir-fry and spices such as lemon, chili, garlic vinegar, ground chili... then Southern pho is often served with raw vegetables, bean sprouts, soy sauce, chili sauce…

If you have visited Ho Chi Minh City, you cannot miss the following pho restaurants to enjoy the typical taste of Southern Pho Vietnam:

• Pho Hoa

Address: 260C Pasteur, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hours: 7:00 – 22:00

Reference price: 75,000 VND - 85,000 VND

Phone number: 02838297943

• Pho Phu Vuong 

Address:

+ Branch 1: 333 Le Van Sy, Ward 1, Tan Binh District, City. HCM

+Branch 2: 120 Nguyen Thai Binh, District 1, City. HCM

Opening hours: 07:00 – 13:00 | 17:00 – 21:30

Reference price: 50,000 VND - 80,000 VND

Phone number: 0903833007

• Pho Le Nguyen Trai

Address: 413 – 415 Nguyen Trai, Ward 7, District 5, City. HCM

Opening hours: 06:00 – 01:00

Reference price: 38,000 VND - 55,000 VND

Phone number: 02839234008

Bun thit nuong 

Bun Thit Nuong (Grilled Meat Vermicell) is a favorite and popular Vietnamese food in all three regions of the country, so this is also one of the indispensable dishes in Ho Chi Minh City. The ingredients to make this dish are quite rich, including raw vegetables, bean sprouts, cucumber, sweet and sour fish sauce and the most important and indispensable ingredient, which is grilled meat. This is obvious, because the name of this dish is exactly “Grilled Meat Vermicelli”! 

This is the top Bun Thit Nuong restaurant in Ho Chi Minh city:

• Bun Thit Nuong Chi Tuyen

Address: 175C Co Giang, Co Giang Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Price: About 30,000 - 66,000 VND

Opening hours: 7:00 am - 8:00 pm

Phone number: 0908538079

• Bun Thit Nuong Hai Dang

Address: 149 Chan Hung, Ward 6, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City

Price: About 15,000 - 35,000 VND

Opening hours: 11:00 - 22:00

Phone number: 0773155278

• Bun Thit Nuong Quan 339

Address: 7 To Hien Thanh, Ward 13, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City

Price: About 20,000 - 25,000 VND

Opening hours: 7:00 am - 10:00 pm

Phone number: 0989014833

Banh canh cua 

Banh canh cua  is a familiar dish to people in Saigon and is considered one of the typical Vietnamese foods. This soup is made from rice flour and water, and is often prepared with crab, shrimp and herbs.

The dish has a unique taste and great flavor because of the perfect combination of sweetness from crab and shrimp, and spiciness from herbs. Crab soup is often eaten with a little cooking oil and salt, depending on each person's preferences. This is a particularly popular food in Ho Chi Minh City.

Try Banh Canh Cua at one of these places when you visit this beautiful city:

• Banh canh cua 14

Address: 221 Tran Binh Trong, Ward 3, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City

Price: About 50,000 - 150,000 VND

Opening hours: 7:00 - 21:00

Phone number: +84902781268

• Banh canh cua Hien

Address: 395 Bui Dinh Tuy, Ward 14, Binh Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City

Price: About 50,000 - 100,000 VND

Opening hours: 6:00 - 21:45

Phone number: +84908248366

• Banh canh cua Hoang Lan

Address: 484 Vinh Vien, Ward 8, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City

Price: About 50,000 - 100,000 VND

Opening hours: 11:00 - 20:00

Bun dau

Bun dau is rice noodle eaten with tofu and shrimp paste - right from the name, it is easy for visitors to know the harmonious combination of vermicelli with tofu and shrimp paste. Visitors will see a "plate" of vermicelli with tofu and shrimp paste that includes many side dishes: golden fried tofu, pork leg meat, fried spring rolls, sausage, pork intestines and the specialty "Cha Com". Just enjoying a serving of vermicelli and tofu like that, visitors already feel like they will have a delicious, cheap and filling meal.

Originally a famous dish in Hanoi, Bun dau has long become popular and famous in Ho Chi Minh City. Here is some Bun dau restaurants for you to try:

• Bun dau Homemade

Address: 1 Nguyen Van Trang, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

Price: About 23,000 - 55,000 VND

Opening hours: 10:00 - 22:00

Phone number: 02866895577

• Bun dau 46

Address: 1 Nguyen Van Trang, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

Price: About 50,000 - 100,000 VND

Opening hours: 10:00 - 22:00

Phone number: 0936368980

• Tien Hai Quan

Address: 804 Su Van Hanh, Ward 12, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City.

Price: About 22,000 - 55,000 VND

Opening hours: 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m

Phone number: 0963853858

Banh cuon

Banh cuon is known as a type of cake made from steamed rice flour, rolled thinly and then rolled with a filling of meat, wood ear mushrooms, chopped shiitake mushrooms, sprinkled with a little dried onion, served with sour dipping sauce.

It is not difficult to come across Banh cuon shops on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City because Banh cuon are not only loved by Vietnamese people but their delicious flavor also attracts foreign guests. Just enjoy it and you will never forget it.

Some favorite Banh Cuon shop in Saigon:

• Minh Tu Banh Cuon

Address: 57 Nguyen Hau, Tan Thanh Ward, Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City

Price: About 18,000 - 30,000 VND

Opening hours: 06:00 - 13:00 from Monday - Sunday (Usually crowded at 09:00 am)

Phone number: 02862679877

• Thien Huong Banh Cuon

Address: 179A 3/2 Street, Ward 11, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City

Price: About 18,000 - 39,000 VND

Opening hours: 06:00 - 21:30 from Monday - Sunday (Usually crowded at 08:00 - 09:00 am and 3:00 pm)

Phone number: 02838323396

• Banh Cuon 16

Address: 16 Nguyen Van Lac, Ward 19, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City

Price: About 15,000 - 22,000 VND

Opening hours: 07:00 - 12 noon from Monday - Sunday

Banh xeo

When talking about Banh Xeo, people often immediately remember the delicious and attractive snack cake of Southern Vietnam. Banh Xeo is available in all regions of our country, each region will have its own unique flavor. Coming to Ho Chi Minh City, diners will enjoy golden pancakes, served with fresh fruits and vegetables, bringing an indescribable delicious feeling to the enjoyer.

The dipping sauce creates the unique flavor of each Banh Xeo. The cake is served with fresh vegetables and fruits such as sour mango, raw vegetables, lettuce... People enjoy Banh Xeo in their own very special way, which is to roll and eat with your hands, not with chopsticks or forks.

Banh Xeo restaurants not to be missed in Ho Chi Minh City include:

• An La Gien

Address: 11A Tu Xuong, Vo Thi Sau, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City

Price: About 25,000 - 110,000 VND

Opening hours: 10:00 - 21:30

Facebook: Banh Xeo is addictive when eaten

Phone number: 0933418844

•  Ba Hiu

Address: 46/9 Street 12 Tran Nao, Binh An Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City

Price: About 25,000 - 50,000 VND

Opening hours: 11:00 - 21:00

Phone number: 02838786369

• Dien Bien Phu

Address: 335 Dien Bien Phu, Ward 4, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City

Price: About 8,000 - 60,000 VND

Opening hours: 15:00 - 22:00

Phone number: 0931807828

Goi cuon

Goi cuon - shrimp and meat salad rolls are easy to find in Saigon, from sidewalk stalls to luxury restaurants. This is a light dish but still full of nutrients and rich in flavor.

To eat this dish, diners do not hesitate to use their hands. After finishing each roll, it will be delicious. Made from ingredients including lettuce, bean sprouts, herbs, basil, perilla, dried shrimp, herbs, boiled meat, fresh shrimp... all rolled in a rice paper shell.

If you have never eaten spring rolls, try the following restaurants in Saigon:

• Ngon Ngon

Address: 322/13 An Duong Vuong, Ward 4, District 5, City. HCM

Price: About 5,000-10,000

Opening hours: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m

• Goi Cuon Hanh 

Address: 420A Hoa Hao, Ward 5, District 10, City. HCM

Price: About 6,000-10,000 VND

Opening hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m

• Thu Thuy

Address: Hoc Mon Town, Hoc Mon, Ho Chi Minh City

Price: About 5,000-25,000

Opening hours: 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m

Phone number: 0985745392

Oc 

Oc (Snails) is another popular Vietnamese food delicacy with many types of snails such as disc snails, jackfruit snails, sweet snails, conch snails, giant snails, stone snails... Each type of snail has its own way of cooking as well as its own delicious taste. From these types of snails, diners will enjoy dishes with unique preparation methods, attractive and new flavors. Especially the bowl of dipping sauce. The same dipping sauce is made from fish sauce, sugar, ginger, and lemongrass, but each type of snail has its own way of adding flavor to the bowl of dipping sauce.

Saigon people have many different ways to prepare snails such as stir-frying, roasting with salt, frying in butter... Saigon snail dipping sauce also has its own characteristics, so almost anyone who tries it for the first time will find it interesting.

This is definitely a strange dish for many tourists. Try it now to have unforgettable experiences with this Vietnamese food in Ho Chi Minh City:

• Oc Nhu

Address: 650/4/29D Dien Bien Phu Street, Ward 11, District 10, City. HCM

Price: About 20,000 - 110,000 VND

Opening hours: 11:30 - 20:30, 2 days off a month (15th and 1st day of the lunar calendar) (Usually most crowded from 12:00)

Phone number: 0908337360

• Oc Nho

Address: 178 Le Quoc Hung Street, Ward 12, District 4, City. HCM

Price: About 30,000 - 70,000 VND

Opening hours: 16:00 - 22:00 (Usually crowded from 18:00)

Phone number: 0933649047

• Oc Dao

Address: 212B/C79 Nguyen Trai Street, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1, City. HCM

Price: About 60,000 - 110,000 VND

Opening hours: 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. (Usually crowded from 7:00 p.m.)

Phone number: 0909437033

A gourmet journey through Ho Chi Minh City's busy streets leaves a trail of delectable tastes and life-changing encounters. In addition to showcasing the diversity of Vietnamese food, the top 10 dishes in this energetic city also provide a vivid picture of the cultural mosaic of the area. Every dish, from crisp, fragrant bread that awakens the senses to cool bowls of pho that calm the soul, is a tribute to the creativity, culture, and resiliency of the people of Saigon. Hopefully the lingering flavors will serve as an invitation for you to return to Ho Chi Minh City—a culinary paradise where every meal is a celebration and every dish is a story waiting for you to enjoy.