Anyone traveling to Ho-Chi-Minh-City, or Saigon as it is still called by almost all locals, for the first time can easily be overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by the intense heat, which soon raises the thermometer to 38 degrees Celsius and shows little mercy even at night. But also overwhelmed by the chaos of everyday traffic. And of the sheer endless number of mopeds that come roaring in from all directions and have a major impact on the streets. But equally overwhelmed by the culinary variety. It ranges from diverse street food to Michelin-starred cuisine and modern, stylish vegan restaurants. The food in Saigon can do so much more – impossible to summarize in just a few words, but we still have a few tips for our readers.
Streetfoodtour with Saigon Vespa Tours
Definitely THE tipp. Participants not only experience the city from a unique perspective, but also see neighborhoods that are guaranteed not to be found in any travel guide. What’s more, the food is sometimes simply great. Starting point is your hotel. From here, continue on the pillion to the meeting point. And it’s in a rooftop bar. As darkness falls over the city, the tour takes us to another bar after two street food restaurants.
However, the restaurants and the food on offer are the main protagonists alongside the Vespa riders. The culinary temptations range from deep-fried crab to incredibly spicy lemongrass soup, Vietnamese omelettes and jumping chicken. If you haven’t heard of this species yet, we’d like to take this opportunity to explain: it’s a frog. The original (?) name was given because of the similar taste, but firmer meat, to the well-known chicken. True to the company’s motto, the ride itself is indeed an experience. And a great way to gain confidence in the local traffic flow.
Vegan Food in Saigon: La Moi
In a city where the vegetarian version of a dish may well be the mere absence of beef or pork (chicken often doesn’t count as meat!), a purely plant-based restaurant is the exception rather than the rule. Especially one that is as sophisticated and modern as La Moi. With colorful furnishings, great air conditioning and a friendly service team, the restaurant impresses right from the start. Fresh dishes, designed to reflect a healthy lifestyle, do the rest to inspire us. A total of over 60 different dishes are on offer here. We stuck to tasty salad variations, hand rolls and the fantastic mushroom stew. But the range goes much further. The culinary journey ranges from rice and stews to vegan hot pots.
La Moi
84 Đ. Nguyễn Du, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Ben-Thanh-Market
Admittedly, it’s not an insider tip. But still a place worth experiencing in Saigon. The beautiful market hall was built in 1912 and is of considerable size. If you want to experience them in all their splendor, you should allow some time for this. And also prepare for 3 important factors. First things first: as already mentioned, it is very hot in Ho Chi Minh City for the majority of the year. As the hall is not significantly air-conditioned, this is also the case inside the market. Secondly, there is always a lot going on, which makes it difficult to make progress. And thirdly, retailers are very extroverted in their sales approach. But it is a market after all, so this behavior is perfectly justified. Goods of all kinds are available, from suspected counterfeit goods from the fashion industry, souvenirs and fabrics to virtually every imaginable foodstuff. The hall is therefore an exciting place to experience food in Saigon in many facets.
Ben-Thanh-Market
Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
El Gaucho – Argentinian Steakhouse
There are countless exciting Vietnamese dishes. So many, in fact, that the overwhelming choice can sometimes make it difficult to make a decision. If you’re in the mood for something completely different, El Gaucho is the place for you. The internationally operating chain (not to be confused with the steakhouses that operate under the same name in Austria) has several branches in Saigon. We opted for the one at the Fusion Center. In a pleasant ambience not far from the market and practically right next to the nightlife hotspot, Le Loi Boulevard, you can enjoy very good steak in different varieties at reasonable prices. From the terrace, you can catch a wonderful view of the hustle and bustle and the original routes of the thousands of mopeds. Top tip: To round off the taste experience, the house brand El Caramel – a dangerously palatable caramel vodka – is an excellent choice.
El Gaucho
74/1 Hai Ba Trung, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, HCMC
Like Coffee – Banh Mi
One of those dishes that every traveler to Vietnam wants and should try is banh mi, which literally means bread. In this case, it refers to a special type of sandwich. Baguettes are used for this, and this goes back to the French colonial era, which is still present in many facets of daily life. This classic sandwich comes with pickled vegetables and pâté, plus fish, egg, chicken and herbs as desired.
However, you often don’t know exactly beforehand. Especially if the purchase is made at one of the street stalls. They can be found in practically every corner of the city and usually sell good quality products at very low prices. But if you want to be on the safe side and are guaranteed a meat-free sandwich when ordering, Like Coffee is the place to go. The busy restaurant makes delicious baguettes, tasty smoothies and excellent coffee. Cà phê, as it is spelled in the local language, is a really big thing in this Southeast Asian country anyway. But that’s another story …
Like Coffee
175 Phạm Ngũ Lão, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
