Top Must-Try And Flavorful Food In Ho Chi Minh City

Food in Ho Chi Minh City is a memorable part that travelers can’t miss out on. Try 9 dishes you must eat, and the best places to eat in Ho Chi Minh City, in the guides below from Seni World.

Pho (Vietnamese Noodle Soup)

Pho, which is called Vietnamese Noodle Soup, is not only the best food in Ho Chi Minh City, but it is also the iconic dish in Vietnam. This food in Ho Chi Minh City has a Southern flavor in comparison to the Northern style, with the lighter and slightly sweeter broth. You can be happily served rice noodles with beef or chicken and hot broth, as well as an abundance of fresh herbs, lime, and bean sprouts. You can also enhance the taste with hoisin sauce and chili paste.

Local people and vacationers can eat Pho at any time of the day, particularly for breakfast. Sitting in a street-side Vietnamese Noodle Soup and trying a steaming bowl while seeing the dynamic and energetic vibe of the most modern city in Vietnam is one of the most authentic and exciting Saigon experiences.

Where to try Vietnamese Noodle Soup in Ho Chi Minh City:

• Pho NHON: 52 Nguyen Thong, Ward 10, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
• Pho Long Bo – Bo Kho Dung: 251/5 Nguyen Thien Thuat, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
• Pho Bo Phu Gia: 146E Ly Chinh Thang, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City

Banh Mi (Vietnamese Baguette Sandwich)

Banh Mi or Vietnamese Baguette Sandwich is an iconic Ho Chi Minh City street food, which mixes a hot, crispy baguette with delicious savory fillings, consisting of grilled pork, cold cuts, pâté, numerous types of fresh herbs, pickled vegetables, and chili sauce. Enjoying Banh Mi when strolling through Saigon roads is one of the interesting things to do in Ho Chi Minh City for both local people and travelers.

Ho Chi Minh City is world-famous for having many different types of the most creative Vietnamese Baguette Sandwich vendors, with various variations. All of them have a low price and delicious taste, so it is a go-to snack and nutritious meal for everyone in this city. If you are searching for the real flavors of Saigon, don’t miss out on buying Banh Mi and enjoying it with your group of friends and family.

Where to try Vietnamese Baguette Sandwich in Ho Chi Minh City:

• Banh Mi Huynh Hoa: 26 Le Thi Rieng, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Banh Mi Bay Ho: 19 Huynh Khuong Ninh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Banh Mi Chao Dang Tran Con: 8 Dang Tran Con, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Com Tam (Broken Rice)

Cơm Tam (known as Broken Rice) originated from humble beginnings, produced with fractured rice grains after milling. At present, Cơm Tam is a Southern symbolic dish, which is eaten with grilled pork chops, shredded pork skin, steamed egg cakes, as well as a fried egg, and after that, this Ho Chi Minh City food is topped with tasty, sweet fish sauce.

Com Tam showcases Saigon’s convenient food culture and society, which is enjoyed daily by both local people and vacationers, especially international travelers. This food is particularly suitable for breakfast or lunch. Com Tam’s smoky grilled meat aroma fills the Ho Chi Minh City streets, so it is irresistible to passersby. Let’s go to a small local restaurant or vendor and try this food.

Where to try Broken Rice in Ho Chi Minh City:

• Quan Cubo: 122 Nguyen Cu Trinh, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Com Tam Ba Muoi: 294/35 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh, Ward 21, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City
• Com Tam Minh Long: 607 Nguyen Thi Thap, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City

Hu Tieu (Southern Rice Noodle Soup)

Hu Tieu or Southern Rice Noodle Soup is a lighter alternative to Pho, with clear beef broth, thin noodles, and delicious toppings like pork, shrimp, and quail eggs. Hu Tieu can be eaten with soup (also called Hu Tieu Nuoc) or dry (also called Hu Tieu Kho), paired with a small hot bowl of broth. You should try the 2 types, and then the next time, freely choose the version that fits your taste.

Southern Rice Noodle Soup is also a wonderful food in Ho Chi Minh City and in the Southern Vietnam itinerary, which impresses numerous local people and travelers all over the world. You can learn the unique eating way of the local people by customizing Hu Tieu soup with lime, chili, and fresh herbs.

Where to try Southern Rice Noodle Soup in Ho Chi Minh City:

• Xe Hu Tieu Giang Cau Ki: Stall 41, Tan Dinh Market, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Hu Tieu Nam Vang Dat Thanh: 607C Cach Mang Thang 8, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City
• Hu Tieu Muc Ong Gia Cali: Apartment 001, A3 Phan Xich Long, Ward 7, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City

Banh Xeo (Vietnamese Sizzling Pancake)

Banh Xeo (known as Vietnamese Sizzling Pancake) is a crispy and golden crepe cooked with rice flour, golden turmeric, and coconut milk. It is filled with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts. The name “Vietnamese Sizzling Pancake” (“Banh Xeo” in Vietnamese) is derived from the sound “sizzling cake” (“xeo xeo” in Vietnamese) due to the sound the batter makes on the hot pan.

You will wrap pieces of Banh Xeo in fresh lettuce or thin rice paper with unique local herbs. After that, let’s dip the delicious wrap into special fish sauce and enjoy them in a combination of tastes. On Social media platforms, this type of food in Ho Chi Minh City is very well-known for its exciting and interactive eating experience at small local restaurants and vendors.

Where to try Vietnamese Sizzling Pancake in Ho Chi Minh City:

• Banh Xeo An: 71/5 – 71/6 Mac Thi Buoi, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Banh Xeo Du: 274 Nguyen Van Dau, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City
• Banh Xeo Ba Hai: 64 Nguyen Trong Tuyen, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City

Bun Thit Nuong (Grilled Pork With Vermicelli)

Bun Thit Nuong (also called Grilled Pork With Vermicelli) is a unique dish that combines rice vermicelli noodles with flavorful lemongrass-marinated grilled pork, fresh herbs, pickled vegetables, and particularly crispy spring rolls. All the ingredients are tied together with a sweet-savory fish sauce dressing, attracting everyone, even the pickiest diners.

Grilled Pork With Vermicelli is a preferred lunchtime dish in Saigon, especially being the lunch of officers. For travelers, this type of food brings you a combination of unique, smoky, fresh, and crunchy textures that never forget. For local people, Bun Thit Nuong is adored for its refreshing yet fulfilling features, as well as being comfortable to eat everywhere.

Where to try Grilled Pork With Vermicelli in Ho Chi Minh City:

• Bun Thit Nuong 339: 339/7 To Hien Thanh, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City
• Bun Thit Nuong Nguyen Trung Truc: 01 Nguyen Trung Truc, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Bun Thit Nuong Chi Tuyen: 175C Co Giang, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Banh Cuon (Steamed Rice Rolls)

Banh Cuon, or Steamed Rice Rolls, is another iconic food that you should not miss out on in this Ho Chi Minh City itinerary. This food is made by steaming skinny sheets of rice batter together. After that, the cook will fill them with minced pork and fresh mushrooms. When you enjoy Steamed Rice Rolls, don’t forget to top with fried shallots and fish sauce to make it more and more delicious.

Steamed Rice Rolls is a relatively mild but flavorful dish, so it is regularly eaten for breakfast and sometimes lunch by officers. In Ho Chi Minh City, this type of food is served at both street stalls and family-style restaurants, as well as sold on online eating apps, bringing everyone a delicate start to a new and energetic day of work and reveling.

Where to try Steamed Rice Rolls in Ho Chi Minh City:

• Banh Cuon Thien Y: 274 Ba Hat, Ward 9, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City
• Banh Cuon Trung Van Kiep: 55/19 Van Kiep, Ward 3, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City
• Banh Cuon Minh Tu: 57 Nguyen Hau, Tan Thanh Ward, Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City

Bo La Lot (Beef Wrapped In Betel Leaves)

Bo La Lot, or Beef Wrapped In Betel Leaves, features minced beef seasoned with special spices in Vietnam. It is wrapped in aromatic betel leaves and then grilled until smoky. Beef Wrapped In Betel Leaves is usually served with rice noodles, local herbs, and dipping sauce.

With travelers, especially international vacationers, the aroma of the grilled betel leaves is unmistakable and is a memorable experience in food culture in Vietnam in general, and in Ho Chi Minh City in particular. Beef Wrapped In Betel Leaves is very popular at Ho Chi Minh City street barbecue stalls, where the smoky fragrance impresses many hungry customers.

Where to try Beef Wrapped In Betel Leaves in Ho Chi Minh City:

• Bo La Lot & Ga Nuong Thanh Vy: 267A Minh Phung, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City
• Bo La Lot 105: 105 Nguyen Van Cu, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City
• Bo La Lot 143 – Goc Pho: 143 Co Giang, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Bun Rieu (Crab Noodle Soup)

Another best food in Ho Chi Minh City that you can not miss out on enjoying when travelling, is Bun Rieu (known as Crab Noodle Soup). Crab Noodle Soup is a unique tomato-based crab noodle soup of Ho Chi Minh City with a tangy taste. It is usually eaten with tofu, pork, and crab paste, which attracts local people and vacationers who love rich and hearty tastes.

The Crab Noodle Soup broth’s balance of savory, sour, and umami flavors. So it makes the food specific among many types of Vietnamese noodle soup. Many local people in Saigon see Bun Rieu as a delicious and comforting dish, in particular on cooler evenings in the dry season, December and January, which is the best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City.

Where to try Crab Noodle Soup in Ho Chi Minh City:

• Bun Rieu Hem Ong Tien: 96/1/5 Phan Dinh Phung, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City
• HANOIAN Cuisine – Bun Rieu 199: 199 Hoang Sa, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Quan Bun Rieu Ganh: 163 Le Thanh Ton, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Final Thoughts

One of the fascinating ways to understand a city more deeply when exploring it is through its food, and food in Ho Chi Minh City is no exception. The mixture of local street and authentic flavors, Southern vibe food, as well as family recipes, makes many different types of food in this energetic city something you can not forget after the adventure ends. If you want to take a Ho Chi Minh City journey, as well as consult things to do or where to eat in Ho Chi Minh City, and receive support for the visa process, let’s contact Seni World, a trusted tour operator in Vietnam.