Discover the culinary paradise of Saigon

Saigon is not only famous for its glamorous shopping centers but also known for its rich and diverse culinary scene. Saigon's culinary culture is likened to a 'mixed hotpot', where various East-West, ancient, and modern cultural features converge. It is for this reason that the cuisine here is increasingly attracting domestic and international tourists to come and enjoy. Let's explore what Saigon's cuisine has to offer!

Delicious Saigon cuisine

1. Broken Rice

Cơm Tấm is one of the delicacies of Saigon, an integral part of the city. Why is that? Because those living here can eat this dish all day from breakfast to dinner without getting tired. Even more, Cơm Tấm is the perfect choice for late-night meals, especially for those who work night shifts.

Marvel at the Saigon culinary dish Cơm Tấm (Photo: Collectible)

A complete plate of Cơm Tấm has many things. You will be amazed when you see a plate of Cơm Tấm with countless items. First, there must be broken rice, followed by grilled pork ribs shining with a layer of fat, delicious and attractive, pork skin cake, sunny-side-up eggs, Chinese sausage, and a bit of pickled vegetables. To make the rice more appealing, some minced shallots or lard are added to make Cơm Tấm truly irresistible.

Delicious and affordable Cơm Tấm in Saigon (Photo: Collectible)

Cơm Tấm not only looks satisfying and appealing, but it also carries a distinct flavor that once tasted, tourists will never forget. The creativity of Cơm Tấm lies in the accompanying fish sauce. The sweet fish sauce seeps into every grain of rice, blending with the richness of shallot oil, delivering a flavor that few can resist. Particularly enticing is the meticulously marinated grilled meat, grilled over charcoal, seducing tourists with its charm. It offers a glimpse into the meticulousness and discernment of food connoisseurs.

This fragrant and rich Cơm Tấm from Saigon (Photo: Collectible)

The average price of a serving of Cơm Tấm ranges from 25,000 to 40,000 VND, sufficient for a quality meal for one person. In Saigon, there are many Cơm Tấm establishments, but let me suggest one: visit 113 Nguyen Phi Khanh, District 1. You can try it here because it's always crowded with satisfied customers, even the most discerning ones. So, why hesitate? When you set foot here, don't miss out on tasting this fragrant and rich Cơm Tấm from Saigon.

2. Chicken rice with fat sauce

This image of Chicken rice with fat sauce is a culinary delight that attracts many tourists to savor (Photo: Collectible)

Chicken rice with fat sauce is also a delicious dish that many tourists want to enjoy when they come here. You will be pleasantly surprised because it's unlike any chicken dish you've ever had. Chicken rice with fat sauce still retains its unique flavor, tenderness, and even ripeness, neither undercooked nor overcooked, nor dry. The crispy skin perfectly complements the tender meat inside, enjoyed with a bit of rice and lettuce or cucumber and dipped in soy sauce. Surely, tourists here will exclaim, 'this is truly delicious,' and it's no less than Saigon's Broken Rice.

As a richly flavored dish, the chicken meat is tender without being oily, evenly infused with the spices of Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: Collectible)

The chicken skin here is crispy, full of flavor, and the chicken meat is tender without being oily, evenly infused with spices. However, the secret to achieving crispy chicken skin and just-right saltiness is not easy. Many people like to pair it with a bowl of seaweed soup cooked with pork liver, fish balls, and minced pork, with a fragrant aroma and very enticing flavor. The price of a serving of chicken rice with fat sauce ranges from 45,000 to 60,000 VND per portion.

The dish Chicken rice with fat sauce – a famous Saigon lunch option (Photo: Collection)

There are many places to enjoy delicious Chicken rice with fat sauce, but you should try visiting Lao Huong Than Chicken Rice with Fat Sauce at 402 Tran Phu, Ward 7, District 5. One special thing is that when you come here to eat, remember to order a side of seaweed soup, then you will feel the difference in Chicken rice with fat sauce compared to many other types of chicken rice and you will definitely never forget it. So, bring your friends and family here to enjoy.

3. Canh Trang Bang Cake

Trang Bang Cake is also an indispensable dish for Saigonese. Originating from Tay Ninh, Trang Bang Cake has now become an indispensable dish for Saigonese. Easily entering the list of Saigon's rich cuisine and attracting many tourists who come here wanting to enjoy it.

Trang Bang Cake, a famous Saigon delicacy (Photo: Collection)

At first glance, the ingredients seem quite simple, only consisting of lean meat and pig trotters. However, the sophistication and allure lie within the ingredients, which can only be fully appreciated by the eater upon tasting. The boiled meat pieces served with the bowl of Trang Bang Cake are typically pork thigh meat, boiled to a tender texture but not falling apart. The translucent white strands of Trang Bang Cake are made from fragrant rice, kneaded and pressed into smooth, chewy, and glossy strands.

Saigon cuisine in District 1 (Photo: Collection)

The highlight that creates the allure of Trang Bang Cake is the broth. The broth is usually simmered from bones. The bones must simmer for a long time for the broth to become sweet. Seasoning is extremely important, as it is the 'soul' of the dish. No matter how delicious the strands of cake are, if the broth is not flavorful, it is considered a failure.

Indulge in a bowl of Trang Bang Cake with assorted toppings (Photo: Collection)

Many who have eaten here have nodded in agreement, saying, “Eating this bowl of Trang Bang Cake is no different from having a daily meal with rice, meat, spices, dipping sauce, and fresh herbs…but eating Trang Bang Cake is much more enjoyable than having a regular meal.” If you have the chance, visitors can stop by Trang Bang Cake locations at 180-182 Ly Thai To, Ward 1, District 3 or 70-72 Vo Van Tan, Ward 5, District 3 to savor it. For only 30,000 – 60,000 VND/bowl, you can feel the sweetness of the broth, the fragrance, chewiness, and softness of the cake strands, the sourness of lime, the spiciness of chili combined with the salty taste of fish sauce will make diners ecstatic, eat once and remember forever.

4. Nam Vang Noodle Soup

Noodle soup is originally a dish of Chinese immigrants brought into the Mekong Delta region. In Saigon, there are many noodle soup stalls, but this dish has gradually become the main taste of people in the South.

Saigon's Nam Vang Noodle Soup (Photo: Collection)

Saigonese cook Nam Vang noodle soup using pig's bone marrow along with a bit of dried squid, dried shrimp to create a slightly yellowish, subtly sweet broth. You can easily see, spread over the strands of noodles are lean meat, heart, liver, and fresh boiled shrimp with a naturally sweet taste.

“..The fresh pink color of the shrimp hiding beneath a few strands of bright green onions (Photo: Collection)

Nam Vang noodle soup has a unique flavor because it's seasoned with a few spoonfuls of minced garlic soaked in vinegar. A bowl of noodle soup submerged in clear broth consists of white, translucent noodles, garnished with slices of meat, liver, and the fresh pink color of the shrimp hidden beneath a few strands of bright green onions. Drizzle with a few spoonfuls of soaked garlic along with a few slices of golden-brown chili and some coriander leaves create an overall colorful appearance.

Nam Vang noodle soup has become an indispensable taste in the culinary world of Saigon(Photo: Collection)

Noodle soup has truly become the flavor of the busiest and most bustling city, contributing to enriching the culinary scene of Saigon. There are many noodle soup stalls in Saigon, ranging from 45,000 VND to 60,000 VND per bowl. You can visit Nam Vang noodle soup stall at 389-391 Vo Van Tan, District 3 or visit Lien Hua noodle soup stall located at 312 An Duong Vuong to enjoy.

5. Hue Beef Noodle Soup

Hue Beef Noodle Soup is a familiar dish in many provinces and cities. While in Hue, it's simply called 'beef noodle soup with pork knuckle,' elsewhere it's known as 'Hue beef noodle soup.' In Saigon, Hue beef noodle soup is as diverse as the people who come to this city.

Night cuisine in Saigon with Hue beef noodle soup (Photo: Collection)

Enjoying a bowl of piping hot Hue beef noodle soup on a cool evening, with clear broth, shimmering golden hues, infused with lemongrass and chili aroma, along with thinly sliced beef tendon and tender pork knuckle, is truly 'fantastic.' In Saigon, it's not difficult to find a noodle soup stall, but to find one that serves exceptional Hue beef noodle soup, you might consider some addresses like Hue Thanh Noi at 47A Tran Cao Van, District 3, or Hue beef noodle soup at My Phuc area, Nguyen Duc Canh street, District 7, and 295 Le Hong Phong, Ward 2, District 5. Besides the mentioned stalls, Saigon is dotted with small noodle soup spots where you can enjoy a flavorful bowl of Hue beef noodle soup for only 45,000 - 65,000 VND per bowl.

Tender pork knuckle blends harmoniously with the rich, spicy flavor of satay chili. It's truly 'fantastic.' (Photo: Collection)

6. Crab Soup

In Hanoi and many northern provinces, crab soup is usually found only in restaurants or at banquets. But in Saigon, it's a popular and very local street food. Indeed, in Saigon, you can enjoy a bowl of quality crab soup right on the sidewalk.

Saigon culinary scene - Crab Soup (Photo: Collection)

A bowl of crab soup comes in various forms, including crab meat, shredded chicken, quail eggs, mushrooms, and in some places, even pork brain, to make the soup richer and look hearty and high-quality.

A bowl of crab soup comes in various forms, including crab meat, shredded chicken, quail eggs, mushrooms (Photo: Collection)

The golden color of crab soup, accompanied by cilantro and pepper, emits a fragrant aroma with natural sweetness. It's truly enticing for tourists to enjoy and doesn't create a feeling of satiety. Crab soup is also easy to eat and suitable for both adults and children, so despite being amidst many delicious dishes in Saigon, this dish still holds a special place and doesn't mix with any other dish.

Crab soup still holds a special place and doesn't mix with any other dish (Photo: Collection)

Saigon's weather is pleasantly cool and comfortable. This greatly delights and attracts tourists to stop for a meal immediately after work or to dine out on weekends. Or even just to drop by and take away, regardless of whether it's sunny, rainy, or stormy. Visit Crab Soup at 84 Nguyen Du Street (near Notre-Dame Cathedral). For only 15,000 - 20,000 VND/bowl of hot and delicious crab soup, you'll experience a variety of flavors that combine beautifully, making it a delightful taste sensation.

7. Mixed/Roasted Rice Paper

Bánh tráng trộn, originating from the salted shrimp rice paper dish of Tay Ninh province, becomes one of Saigon's beloved street snacks with its simple yet irresistible ingredients. With basic elements like shredded rice paper, fried dried shrimp, cilantro, pickled papaya strips, peanuts... depending on the vendor, when mixed with sweet tamarind fish sauce and cilantro, this dish exudes a delightful aroma and remains endlessly satisfying.

Saigon's cuisine offers delicious and affordable mixed rice paper snacks (Photo: Collection)

This dish can be found at school gates, parks... or even along Nguyen Hue pedestrian street. Priced from 10,000 to 20,000 VND, a 'standard' pack of mixed rice paper in Saigon contains no less than 10 ingredients now. Tourists can easily get their hands on this dish and experience its balanced flavors of sour, spicy, salty, and sweet, whether for immediate consumption or as a souvenir. It's sure not to disappoint.

A 'standard' pack of mixed rice paper in Saigon now contains no less than 10 ingredients(Photo: Collection)

Bánh tráng nướng is cooked over a charcoal grill along with its ingredients, topped with quail eggs, minced meat, and scallion oil, grilled until golden brown and fragrant, with the aroma of eggs spreading, enhanced by a drizzle of butter on top. Everything blends together, making the fragrance even more irresistible.

Món bánh tráng nướng – One of the famous specialties of Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: Collection)

Bánh tráng nướng is truly an irresistible dish that makes it hard for anyone to resist this hot, crispy, and fragrant cake. Just stroll along Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, and you'll easily spot vendors sitting, fanning the grilled rice paper over charcoal to quickly sell to passersby. Priced from 15,000 to 25,000 VND/cake, you'll easily feel the crispy, fragrant taste of bánh tráng nướng, buttery and trust me, you'll definitely want to buy another one.

Bánh tráng nướng is truly an irresistible dish that makes it hard for anyone to resist (Photo: Collection)

8. Sandwiches

As one of the familiar street foods in the busy life of Vietnamese people in general and Saigonese in particular, sandwiches now also capture the hearts of foreign tourists. You'll taste the unique flavor of Saigonese sandwiches, distinct from those in other provinces.

Experience the unique flavor of Saigonese sandwiches, distinct from those in other provinces (Photo: Collection)

The difference lies in the crispy golden crust, not soft and spongy. The soft inner filling is infused with the flavors of fatty meat, thinly sliced sausage, butter, and creamy pate, along with the spicy taste of chili and the fragrance of herbs like coriander, spring onion, and cucumber. All of these create a perfect harmony between Western cuisine and the quintessence of Vietnamese cuisine.

Sandwiches (Photo: Collection)

What's special when eating Saigon sandwiches is a flavor that I will never forget, distinct from any other dishes. It's the aroma and spiciness of chili. The spiciness of chili when sandwiched in the bread, you'll feel how truly spicy chili is and remember it forever. So, here's a little tip, make sure to ask before buying a sandwich to match your preference.

Sandwiches from alley 39 (Photo: Collection)

Sandwiches are on the list of street foods favored by domestic and international tourists. Therefore, you'll find every corner of Saigon filled with sandwich shops crowded with people lining up. You can visit Huynh Hoa sandwich shop – it's a place promoted by many foreign bloggers worldwide with a price of 37,000 VND/loaf, hence many people say it's “expensive but worth it”. Or the Seven Tigers sandwich shop on Huynh Khuong Ninh Street, District 1, Hoa Ma sandwich shop at alley 53 Cao Thang, District 3. With only 15,000 VND – 25,000 VND/loaf, it's affordable for tourists to enjoy here. “The shortest way to the heart is through the stomach”, so if you come to Saigon, come and enjoy it right away.

9. Saigon Phá Lấu

Phá lầu is a familiar dish to the Chinese and has long been a popular street food among Saigonese. It's made from animal offal, with beef phá lầu being the most preferred. Phá lầu has a strange allure not only to young students but also to office workers.

Saigon's Delicious Phá Lầu (Photo: Collection)

The phá lầu broth consists of spices like five-spice powder, cinnamon, star anise, clove, etc., along with some Chinese herbs. The meat can be from the tongue, ear, intestine, or stomach of the pig. When you visit a phá lầu eatery, you'll see the pot of broth boiling vigorously with a hint of coconut flavor. When ordering, the vendor will use scissors and tongs to cut the phá lầu into small pieces into a bowl before pouring the broth in.

The fragrance of fish sauce blending with a hint of sweetness and a touch of chili heat will surely captivate your senses (Photo: Collection)

Just one bowl of phá lầu is not enough; the dish becomes even more delicious when accompanied by the irresistible sweet and spicy fish sauce dip. The fragrance of fish sauce blending with a hint of sweetness and a touch of chili heat will surely captivate your senses. Phá lầu can be enjoyed with bread or instant noodles, both are equally delicious.

Phá Lầu Noodles in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: Collection)

Phá Lầu Sandwich (Photo: Collection)

This is also a dish that you can only find in Saigon, so no matter what, it's a street food that's very 'Saigon' that you should try. You can go try Aunt Nui's Phá Lấu (243/30 Tôn Đản, Ward 15, District 4) or head to the student area in District 4, where you can also find this dish to enjoy. The price for this dish is also very reasonable, ranging from 18,000 VND to 20,000 VND. Surely, the first time you eat it, it may seem normal, but by the second or third time, you'll be hooked right away.

10. Beef Popiah

Hearing the name Beef Popiah, people might easily confuse it with the coconut-filled beef popiah in Hanoi that you can find along Thanh Nien Street or West Lake, where you'll see women cycling with baskets behind them to make beef popiah. But no, Beef Popiah in Saigon is another kind of rustic street food, and the way of making it is quite simple too.

Specialty Beef Popiah in Saigon (Photo: Collection)

A roll of mixed ingredients such as jicama, dried shrimp, lettuce, herbs, Chinese sausage, and egg in a thin rice paper is already a Beef Popiah. Especially, the deliciousness of Beef Popiah lies in the dipping sauce. Hoisin sauce, served as a dipping sauce, is an indispensable part of Southern-style Beef Popiah. The sauce has just the right balance of sweetness from sugar and a bit of spiciness from chili. If you try it for the first time, you'll find the taste very strange and unfamiliar, but once you've had it, you'll find it hard to forget the flavor of this dipping sauce.

A roll of mixed ingredients such as jicama, dried shrimp, lettuce, herbs, Chinese sausage, and egg in a thin rice paper is already a Beef Popiah accompanied by dipping sauce (Photo: Collection)

Try heading to Đinh Tiên Hoàng Street, District 1, and you'll come across a Beef Popiah stall that has been around for 13 years run by Mrs. Ly. Every day, it's always crowded with many people coming to eat. For only 4,000 VND to 8,000 VND per roll, you'll experience the different taste of Beef Popiah in the South compared to the North.

11. Salad Rolls

For a long time, Salad Rolls in Saigon have been a popular food because they are easy to eat and please people. Similar to rolled pho, Salad Rolls can be eaten as a snack, for leisure, or even as a substitute for a main meal to avoid feeling too full.

Culinary of Salad Rolls in Saigon (Photo: Collection)

With only 5 main ingredients: rice paper, fresh vegetables, rice vermicelli, meat, and shrimp. The pork is both fatty and lean, while the boiled or steamed shrimp looks bright red and appealing. Add some vermicelli, bean sprouts, herbs... then roll them all tightly in rice paper, creating a very attractive appearance. Therefore, the person rolling the Salad Rolls must be skillful, wrapping them tightly to prevent them from coming apart or breaking.

With only 5 main ingredients: rice paper, fresh vegetables, rice vermicelli, meat, and shrimp (Photo: Collection)

Salad Rolls are easy to eat, reasonably priced at 3,000 - 9,000 VND per roll. Just eating with family or friends makes you feel full, and experiencing the distinctive flavor of Saigonese cuisine will make you want to come back here to explore these dishes again, no matter where you go.

12. Butter-fried Quails

Butter-fried quails attract passersby with their fragrant aroma. The quails are cleaned, chopped into pieces, and fried with butter sauce. I believe you will be captivated by the appealing color of the golden brown quails along with the sweet taste of the quail meat combined with the rich buttery flavor.

Butter-fried quails are a Saigon delicacy (Photo: Collection)

Quail, served in small, easy-to-eat pieces, paired with cool and sweet cucumbers. This dish can be enjoyed with bread, making it unforgettable for visiting tourists.

The dipping sauce, with its sweet, savory flavor, gradually soaking into the bread, leaving a lingering taste (Photo: Collection)

What if we don't mention the special element that defines the brand of butter-fried quails? That's the dipping sauce. The artistry of the sauce maker. The sauce has a sweet, savory flavor, seeping into the bread, leaving a lasting unforgettable taste. Some even visit the restaurant just to savor the bread dipped in that sweet sauce, which is enough to captivate anyone.

Butter-fried quails cuisine (Photo: Collection)

Quail butter-fried is priced at 17,000 VND per serving. Tourists can visit 54 Dong Nai Street, District 10 to enjoy the flavor of quail butter-fried at Mrs. Nam's stall, always bustling from afternoon till evening. And rest assured, you won't just order one serving but many to share with family or friends. This is a snack that you should definitely add to your must-try list.

13. Saigon Stir-Fried Corn

Have you ever noticed the mobile carts along the roadside or pedestrian streets? Those are selling snacks that if you just step into Saigon, you'll easily recognize - the 'stir-fried corn' carts, a lesser-known dish.

Saigon Stir-Fried Corn (Photo: Collection)

Passing by the corn stir-fry cart, the rich aroma of butter blending with the warm scent of onions makes many people stop their cars and buy a box immediately. Holding a hot box of stir-fried corn in hand, each golden kernel soaked in butter and onion grease, accompanied by tiny shrimps with a savory taste, is truly delicious.

A hot box of stir-fried corn in hand, each golden kernel soaked in butter and onion grease, accompanied by tiny shrimps with a savory taste (Photo: Collection)

Why hesitate? Give it a try now, just spend 15,000 - 25,000 VND/box. What's there to ponder about? Just rush over and say 'give me a box of stir-fried corn.' You'll definitely not be disappointed and even want to come back here for more.

14. Sweet Desserts

Most alleys within Ho Chi Minh City are adorned with vibrant-colored dessert stalls, making them easily noticeable.

Desserts come in a wide variety of types and preparations (Photo: Collection)

Sweet desserts, particularly a wide array of chè (sweet soups), are highly popular in Vietnamese culinary culture, often served as a dessert option on menus. Chè comes in various types and preparation methods such as Thai-style chè, Hue-style chè, and Southern-style chè. Therefore, the ingredients for making a bowl of sweet, fragrant chè are quite diverse, ranging from beans, seeds, rice, glutinous rice, cereals, fruits, to tubers, etc.

Sài Gòn's egg seed chè (Photo: Collection)

In districts 5 and 6 of the city, areas predominantly inhabited by the Chinese community often boast numerous Chinese-style dessert shops scattered throughout both districts. The Chinese-made desserts not only taste delicious but also provide nutritional benefits, often serving to cool the body, such as ginseng sweet soup or egg seed chè... The main distinction of Chinese-style desserts lies in the absence of coconut milk.

Varieties of desserts in Saigon (Photo: Collection)

In other districts, most dessert shops offer the rustic flavors of Southern-style chè, with a wide range of options like green bean sweet soup, floating rice cake sweet soup, pomelo sweet soup, banana sweet soup... which are all familiar to Saigonese. Not to mention some Thai-influenced chè varieties found in Ho Chi Minh City, each spoonful of which carries its own unique aroma and flavor, making it hard for sweet lovers to resist. Since Saigon has dessert shops in every alley, the prices are quite reasonable, averaging from 15,000 to 25,000 VND per cup. If you come to Saigon to enjoy the sunshine and breeze, don't forget to indulge in these treats.

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