Local Food Ho Chi Minh: 10 Best Dishes to Try

Ho Chi Minh City, still affectionately called Saigon by many, is a foodie’s paradise. The local food scene in Ho Chi Minh is a vibrant tapestry of flavors, where street food reigns supreme and every alley hides a culinary gem. Here, some of the best meals aren’t found in fancy restaurants but rather on plastic stools at sidewalk eateries or from roaming street vendors. In this culinary journey through Ho Chi Minh, we’ll explore 10 iconic local food Ho Chi Minh City that capture the essence of this bustling metropolis.

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Goi cuon – A fresh start

Goi cuon, often referred to as fresh spring rolls, are a light and refreshing option in the local food Ho Chi Minh. These translucent rice paper rolls are filled with a bundle of fresh herbs, rice noodles, and usually some shrimp or pork. What sets goi cuon apart from other spring rolls is that they’re not fried. Instead, the ingredients are wrapped in soft rice paper, allowing the fresh flavors and textures of the fillings to shine through. Dip them in peanut sauce, and you’ve got yourself a light yet satisfying dish.

Goi cuon is everywhere in Ho Chi Minh, from street food stalls to high-end restaurants. Some places even let you roll your own, which is half the fun. It’s the perfect dish for Ho Chi Minh’s hot, humid days when you want something light but flavorful.

Com tam – The humble rice dish fit for everyone

Com tam, or “broken rice,” is the ultimate comfort local food Ho Chi Minh. Don’t let its simple appearance fool you – this dish packs a flavor punch that’ll keep you coming back for more. A typical com tam plate consists of broken rice grains, grilled pork chop (suon nuong), a slice of steamed egg meatloaf (cha trung), and a generous helping of pickled vegetables. The dish is often garnished with green onions and served with a side of nuoc cham, a tangy fish sauce-based dressing. Drizzle some nuoc cham over a plate of broken rice, and you’ve got yourself a meal that’s pure Saigon in every bite.

In Ho Chi Minh, you can find com tam served at countless street food stalls and local eateries. Pro tip: follow the locals during lunchtime. If you see a place buzzing with office workers and students, you know you’ve struck gold.

Hu tieu – The soul-warming noodle soup

Hu tieu is another popular noodle dish that showcases the diversity of local food Ho Chi Minh. This soup-based dish has Chinese origins but has been adapted to suit Vietnamese tastes over the years. The dish typically features thin, translucent rice noodles in a savory pork-based broth. Toppings can vary but often include sliced pork, shrimp, quail eggs, and various types of offal. Garnishes like bean sprouts, chives, and fried shallots add freshness and crunch to the dish.

What makes hu tieu special is its versatility. You can have it with broth (hu tieu nuoc) or dry (hu tieu kho) with the soup on the side. Either way, it’s a flavor explosion waiting to happen. For the best hu tieu experience, head to Cho Lon, Ho Chi Minh’s Chinatown. The tiny restaurants here have been perfecting their recipes for generations.

Banh mi Sai Gon

When the locals in Ho Chi Minh need a pick-me-up, they turn to banh mi Sai Gon. This iconic sandwich is Vietnam’s gift to the world, a delicious reminder of the country’s French colonial past. Banh mi starts with a crispy baguette, sliced lengthwise and filled with a variety of ingredients. Common fillings include pate, cold cuts, pickled vegetables (usually carrots and daikon), cucumber slices, cilantro, and chili peppers.

In Ho Chi Minh, you can find banh mi vendors on almost every street corner. Try the traditional pork and pate version, or go for something different like banh mi op la with a fried egg or banh mi xiu mai with meatballs. Whatever you choose, your taste buds are in for a treat of local food Ho Chi Minh.

Pha lau – For the adventurous foodie

For the more adventurous eaters exploring local food Ho Chi Minh, pha lau is a must-try dish. This aromatic stew is a favorite among locals, made with various beef or pork offal slow-cooked in a fragrant coconut milk-based broth. Pha lau is typically served with a banh mi for dipping or can be enjoyed over rice or noodles. It’s often garnished with fresh herbs and a squeeze of lime to brighten the flavors.

While pha lau might be an acquired taste for some, it’s a beloved dish among locals and a testament to the “nose-to-tail” eating philosophy prevalent in Vietnamese cuisine. To find the best pha lau in Ho Chi Minh, look for street-side stalls or small local eateries that specialize in this dish, particularly in the evening when it’s most commonly enjoyed.

Oc – The snail trail

Believe it or not, snails are a big deal in local food Ho Chi Minh scene. In fact, there’s an entire street food culture built around these mollusks, often referred to as “oc culture.” In Ho Chi Minh, you’ll find a wide variety of snails and shellfish, each prepared in its own unique way. Some popular varieties include oc len xao dua (sea snails in coconut milk), so huyet xao toi (blood cockles with garlic), and oc buou nhoi thit (stuffed snails).

Eating oc is as much about the experience as it is about the food. Oc restaurants, or “quan oc,” are usually casual, open-air establishments where friends gather to share plates of snails, drink beer, and socialize late into the night. It’s a unique and quintessentially Saigonese experience that offers insight into the city’s vibrant street food scene.

Bun thit nuong – A bowl of Saigon sunshine

Bun thit nuong is like summer in a bowl. This dish consists of thin rice vermicelli noodles (bun) topped with grilled pork (thit nuong), fresh herbs, pickled vegetables, and a generous sprinkling of crushed peanuts. Thinly sliced pork is marinated in a mixture of lemongrass, garlic, shallots, and fish sauce before being grilled to perfection. All of this is typically served with a side of nuoc cham, the ubiquitous Vietnamese dipping sauce made from fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and chili. To eat bun thit nuong, you mix all the components together, allowing the flavors to meld.

This dish is a lunchtime favorite among locals in Ho Chi Minh. It’s light enough for the hot weather but satisfying enough to power you through the day. You’ll find it at street food stalls and local restaurants all over the city.

Banh xeo – The sizzling pancake

Banh xeo might look like an omelet, but don’t be fooled – this crispy, savory pancake is in a league of its own. The name “banh xeo” literally means “sizzling cake”, which is exactly what you’ll hear when the rice batter hits the hot pan.

This crispy, golden pancake is made from a batter of rice flour, coconut milk, and turmeric, which gives it its characteristic yellow color. The batter is poured into a hot skillet and filled with savory ingredients like pork, shrimp, bean sprouts, and onions.

Eating banh xeo is an experience in itself. Tear off a piece, wrap it in lettuce and herbs, dip in nuoc cham, and prepare for a flavor explosion. It’s messy, it’s fun, and it’s absolutely delicious. As you explore the local food Ho Chi Minh, be sure to seek out a good banh xeo spot for the best experience.

Banh trang – the famous local food Ho Chi Minh

Banh trang, or rice paper, is the chameleon of Ho Chi Minh’s street food scene. You’ll find it in two popular forms: banh trang tron and banh trang nuong.

Banh trang tron, or rice paper salad, is a popular after-school snack among local students. It consists of shredded rice paper mixed with a variety of ingredients such as dried shrimp, beef jerky, quail eggs, peanuts, herbs, and fried shallots. The mixture is tossed with a sauce made from chili, lime juice, and fish sauce, creating a tangy, spicy, and incredibly addictive snack.

On the other hand, banh trang nuong, often referred to as “Vietnamese pizza,” is a grilled rice paper snack. A sheet of rice paper is grilled over charcoal until crispy, then topped with various ingredients such as quail eggs, spring onions, dried shrimp, and cheese. The result is a crispy, savory snack that’s popular among locals and tourists alike.

Bot chien – The late-night comfort food

Rounding out our list of must-try local food Ho Chi Minh is bot chien, a popular street food snack that’s especially beloved as a late-night treat. This dish of crispy fried rice flour dough cubes stir-fried with eggs is the ultimate comfort food. It’s often served with a tangy soy sauce and some pickled papaya on the side.

Bot chien is best enjoyed at a street-side stall late at night. Watch the vendor skillfully fry up your portion, grab a plastic stool, and join the late-night diners. It’s a quintessential Ho Chi Minh experience.

To truly immerse yourself in the vibrant local food Ho Chi Minh, why not join a guided culinary adventure?

The local food Ho Chi Minh is a vibrant tapestry of flavors, textures, and culinary traditions. Remember, these 10 dishes are just the beginning. Ho Chi Minh’s food scene is constantly evolving, with new twists on traditional favorites popping up all the time. The best way to discover the city’s culinary treasures is to dive in headfirst. Don’t be afraid to point at what your neighbor is eating or follow your nose to a busy food stall.

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For a deeper dive into Ho Chi Minh’s food scene, consider joining a food tour. Asia Encounter can help you navigate the labyrinth of street food stalls and hidden restaurants, ensuring you don’t miss any of the city’s delicious secrets. So grab your chopsticks, bring your appetite, and prepare for a culinary adventure. Bon appétit, or as they say in Vietnam, “Chúc ngon miệng!”