Ho Chi Minh City (“HCMC”) is the center of a diverse food and modern culture in Vietnam. HCMC is also the largest city in Vietnam and home to approximately 9 million people and growing. The city has gone through many iterations from an important Khmer seaport up to the 17th century to a romantic city under French colonization and now a vibrant metropolis in 2016. With its diverse history, it is no wonder that the variety of food is present in HCMC. I asked a good friend of mine to scout her favorite places to eat in HCMC and the following places are her recommendations.

Ốc Đào (Seafood Restaurant)

Address: 214/C84 Nguyễn Trãi St, Nguyễn Cư Trinh Ward, District 1 Hồ Chí Minh, Việt Nam

Open: noon – 9:00 pm

This is a quintessential local hangout for friends and co-workers. This restaurant serves many different types of snails and seafood at reasonable prices and has good quality. Don’t be afraid to check this restaurant out as they have pictures for non-Vietnamese speakers.

Banh Mi Huynh Hoa (Vietnamese Sandwiches)

Address: 26 Lê Thị Riêng St. Ben Thanh Ward. District 1. Ho Chi Minh City

Phone: +84 8 3925 0885

Open: 03:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Price: 33,000 Vnd / 1 baguette

This is the most famous Vietnamese sandwich shop in HCMC. There is always a line even at night. The sandwich is more expensive than most places but you do get a lot of high quality ingredients.

Cục Gạch Quán  (Vietnamese Country Style Restaurant)

Address: 10 Dang Tat | Ward Tan Dinh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Phone:+84838480144

Open: 9:00 am – 11:30 pm  everyday

This restaurant specializes in Vietnamese country style cuisine and is a great place to have lunch or dinner. The food tastes great and is an authentic representation of home-style cooking.

Bánh Xèo Đinh Công Tráng

Address: 46 Đinh Công Tráng Street, Tân Định Ward, District 1, Ho chi minh City

Phone: +84 38 241 110

Open: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm

This is a good spot to try out Vietnamese savory rice crepes.

Lunch Lady Nguyen Thi Thanh (Food Stall)

Address: 23 Hoang Sa St., Da Kao Ward, District 1  Ho Chi Minh City.

Open: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

The Lunch Lady (Nguyen Thi Thanh) is a street vendor who sells only one type of noodle soup per day, and she changes her dish everyday. For example: Monday is Pho, Tuesday is Bun Bo Hue, Wednesday is Bun Mam, etc… She gained notoriety when Anthony Bourdain visited her for his travel show. After the show aired, her food stall became very popular with foreigners. Her noodle soups are very tasty and is my friend’s favorite spot for lunch.

Check back soon for more local recommendations for HCMC.

For related articles, visit the TRAVEL page.

Author: Trang Nguyen and Chau Hoang

Featured Photo: Sylvain Marcelle from Asian Hideaways Photography