Each region and province in Vietnam has its own unique specialties. If Hanoi is famous for its pho, Da Nang has Quang noodles, Nha Trang has vermicelli with jellyfish, and Da Lat has grilled rice paper, what is Ho Chi Minh City’s specialty? The following article will summarize for you the famous specialties in Ho Chi Minh City that you must not miss when traveling here.
1. Introduction to Ho Chi Minh City tourism
Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, is the economic, cultural, and tourism center of Vietnam. With its rich history, diverse culture, and famous landmarks, Saigon attracts millions of tourists from all over the world.
When visiting Saigon, tourists can explore famous destinations such as Notre Dame Cathedral, Reunification Palace, Vietnam History Museum, Ben Thanh Market, and Ho Chi Minh City Opera House. In addition, the city also offers many ancient streets, bustling roads, unique cafes, and restaurants, providing visitors with a variety of exciting and unique experiences.
Saigon is also famous for its characteristic, rich, and diverse cuisine. Tourists can enjoy street specialties such as banh mi, pho, bun bo Hue, and banh xeo, among others.
Introduction to Ho Chi Minh City tourism
2. Top 21 Ho Chi Minh City specialties to try
Specialties to try when in Ho Chi Minh City
Broken Rice
Broken Rice
Broken rice is a familiar dish to Saigonese and it would be a shame to miss out on this dish when visiting the city. Locals can eat broken rice at any time of the day, from breakfast to late at night. Just order a plate of “suon, bi, cha” (grilled pork chop, shredded pork skin, and steamed pork cake) and you’ll have a filling meal to start your day. Nowadays, besides the familiar “suon, bi, cha”, side dishes for broken rice have also been diversified and include items such as fried eggs, … You can easily find broken rice restaurants on every street corner in Saigon.
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Reference price: VND 30,000 – 60,000
Famous broken rice restaurants:
- 294/35 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh, Ward 21, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City
- 129 Doan Van Bo, Ward 12, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City
- 99A Cong Hoa, Ward 4, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City
Hu Tieu
Hu Tieu
Like broken rice, hu tieu (rice noodles) or hu tieu Nam Vang (rice noodles with pork offal) is a common dish that can be found anywhere in Saigon, from street stalls to high-end restaurants.
The white, chewy rice noodles go well with a flavorful broth, a few slices of tender meat, and fresh herbs such as bean sprouts, sawtooth herb, and water spinach. Hu tieu has also been diversified with variations such as hu tieu kho (dry rice noodles), hu tieu xao (fried rice noodles), hu tieu gan (rice noodles with liver), and hu tieu sa te (spicy rice noodles).
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Reference price: VND 25,000 – 50,000
Famous hu tieu restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City:
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Hu Tieu Nam Vang Ngan Phat: 2 Duong so 1 Cu Xa Lu Gia, Ward 15, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City.
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Hu Tieu Nam Vang Thanh Dat: 29 Nguyen Thi Nho, Ward 9, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City.
Banh Mi
Banh Mi
Banh mi is widely considered to be the best street food in Vietnam. It is a harmonious combination of ingredients such as cha lua (Vietnamese pork sausage), thit nguoi (cold cuts), nem nuong (grilled pork sausage), dua chua (pickled daikon and carrots), and spicy chili peppers, creating a delicious dish. Banh mi is a memorable dish for tourists visiting Vietnam.
Reference price: VND 25,000 – 45,000
Famous banh mi shops in Ho Chi Minh City:
- Breadtalk Bakery: 586-588 Thong Nhat, Ward 16, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City
- The Boys’ Banh Mi Shop: 143 – 145 Nguyen Tri Phuong, Ward 8, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City
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Goi Cuon
Goi Cuon
Goi Cuon, or fresh spring rolls, is another familiar snack for Saigonese. The ingredients include pork, vermicelli, shrimp, bean sprouts, and lettuce, all wrapped in a soft rice paper wrapper. It is best enjoyed with a dipping sauce made from hoisin sauce and crushed peanuts, with a few slices of pickled carrots added for extra flavor.
Reference price: VND 7,000 – 10,000/roll
Famous Goi Cuon restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City:
- Tom Nhay LLQ Spring Roll Restaurant: 424 Lac Long Quan, Ward 5, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City
- Le Van Sy Spring Roll Restaurant: 359/1/9A Le Van Sy, Ward 13, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
- Goi Cuon Ngon Ngon (Delicious Spring Rolls): 322/13 An Duong Vuong, Ward 4, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City
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Bot Chien
Bot Chien
Bot Chien, or fried rice flour, is a popular snack among young people in Saigon. The dish consists of crispy fried rice flour on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, served with a fried egg, shredded green papaya, and crispy pork belly skin, accompanied by a mildly sweet and sour dipping sauce. You will definitely enjoy this dish and keep praising its delicious taste.
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Reference price: VND 25,000 – 80,000
Famous Bot Chien restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City:
- Dat Thanh Bot Chien Restaurant: 277 Vo Van Tan, Ward 5, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
- Sau’s Bot Chien Restaurant: 426 Ten Lua Street, Binh Tri Dong B Ward, Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City
Banh Trang Tron
Banh Trang Tron
Banh Trang Tron, or mixed rice paper, is another popular street food among students in Saigon. The dish consists of small pieces of rice paper mixed with quail eggs, dried beef, green mango, herbs, and a special sweet and sour sauce, creating a delicious snack with a variety of flavors. Banh Trang Tron has since been modified in many different ways and has become a trademark dish of young people in Saigon.
Reference price: VND 15,000 – 30,000
Famous Banh Trang Tron restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City:
- Bien Vuong Banh Trang Cuon & Tron (Seaweed Rice Paper Rolls & Mix): 62 Tran Nhan Ton, Ward 2, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City
- Huong’s Banh Trang Tron (Mixed Rice Paper) Stall: 146/27 Nguyen Che Nghia, Ward 12, District 8, Ho Chi Minh City
- Nhat Quynh Banh Trang Tron (Mixed Rice Paper) Stall: 78/10 Ho Thi Ky, Ward 1, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City
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Phá Lấu
Phá Lấu
Phá Lấu, a dish of offal in a flavorful broth, originated from the Teochew people but has become a trademark dish of young people in Saigon. The chewy texture of the offal and the rich broth will keep you coming back for more. Phá Lấu is often enjoyed with French bread or instant noodles, and is a popular snack for both adults and children.
is a delicious and simple dish that anyone can make.
Reference price: VND 25,000 – 40,000
Famous Phá Lấu restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City:
- Co Thao’s Phá Lấu Bo (Beef Offal) Stall: 243/29G Ton Dan Street, Ward 15, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City
- Di Nui’s Phá Lấu Stall: 30 Ton Dan, Ward 15, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City
- Marie Curie’s Ha Cao (Won Ton) & Phá Lấu Bo (Beef Offal) Stall: 433/44 Le Dai Hanh, Ward 11, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City
Goi Kho Bo
Goi Kho Bo
Goi Kho Bo, or beef jerky salad, is a popular snack among young people in Saigon. The dish consists of crispy beef jerky, green papaya, and beef tendons, creating a delicious and addictive snack. If you’re visiting Ho Chi Minh City, don’t miss out on this specialty.
Famous Goi Kho Bo restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City:
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Goi Kho Bo & Bot Chien Nguyen Van Thu (Beef Jerky Salad & Fried Rice Flour) Stall: 76 Nguyen Van Thu, Da Kao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
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Goi Kho Bo since 1976 Stall: 31d Lac Long Quan, Ward 5, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City.
Sui Cao
Sui Cao
Sui Cao, or Chinese-style dumplings, is a traditional and famous dish in Saigon. The dumplings are similar to wontons but with the addition of shrimp in the filling, creating a delicious and flavorful dish.
When in Saigon, you can try different variations of sui cao, such as sui cao nuong (grilled dumplings), sui cao nuoc (dumpling soup), and sui cao cha (dumplings with a type of sausage called “cha”).
Reference price: VND 30,000 – 80,000
Famous Sui Cao restaurants in Ho
“Tempt Your Taste Buds with These 7 Mouthwatering Snakehead Fish Dishes”
Are you ready to get creative in the kitchen? Asian Seabass, or Cá he, provides a unique flavor and delightful texture that cannot be matched. As this type of fish is part of the grouper family, it has a fatty and fragrant taste to it. All you need to do now is look to the 7 mouthwatering recipes we have for you to try! So, fire up the stove – it’s time to start cooking!