Ho Chi Minh City Street Food: Top 10 Must-tries

As a vibrant metropolis, Ho Chi Minh City street food is extremely diverse and has unique flavors. Enjoying street food in Saigon is a wonderful experience that any tourist should not miss when coming here. Let’s explore the best street foods in Ho Chi Minh City with Lua Viet Tours!

10 Must-try Ho Chi Minh City Street Food

Ho Chi Minh City street food list has countless delicious dishes suitable for everyone. Let’s explore 10 must-try dishes with Lua Viet Tours.

Banh beo (Water fern cake)

Banh beo is a renowned Ho Chi Minh City street food enjoyed by both residents and tourists. It is made out of miniature steamed rice cakes topped with savory toppings such as dried shrimp, crispy pig rinds, and scallions. The explosion of flavors from the toppings combined with the soft, smooth texture of the rice cakes makes for a delicious meal that will leave you wanting more.

Banh beo is a popular Ho Chi Minh City street food. (Image Source: Internet)

Banh canh cua (Crab noodle soup)

Another Ho Chi Minh City street food is banh canh cua. It is a well-liked Vietnamese street food that provides a satisfying bowl of noodles. This meal consists of chewy, thick rice noodles submerged in a rich broth with crab as its foundation. A mouthwatering scent is produced by the infusion of aromatic herbs and spices into the broth.

Banh canh cua is a delicious and nutritious street food in Saigon. (Image Source: Internet)

Banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich)

Banh mi is one of the most famous street foods in Vietnam, it even appears in the Cambridge Dictionary. This special sandwich is made of a crispy baguette stuffed with delectable components, including pickled veggies, grilled pig or chicken shreds, and sour sauce. Crunchy bread, delectable fillings, and an array of flavors come together to produce an incredibly fulfilling experience.

Banh mi is a well-known dish in Vietnam. (Image Source: Internet)

Goi cuon (Spring rolls)

When it comes to Ho Chi Minh City street food, you can’t miss goi cuon. Rice paper wrappers stuffed with a variety of fresh ingredients are used to make goi cuon. They usually consist of vermicelli noodles, crunchy lettuce, bean sprouts, shrimp, and fragrant herbs. A flavorful peanut sauce is dipped into each roll, giving it a creamy, somewhat sweet taste.

Spring rolls with special sauce create an unforgettable flavor. (Image Source: Internet)

Banh khot (Vietnamese mini pancake)

Banh khot is a must-try Ho Chi Minh City street foood. The savory combination of rice flour, turmeric, and coconut milk creates these little pancakes. The batter is cooked until it becomes crispy and golden brown by pouring it into a unique cast-iron shape. Banh khot are topped with a range of contents, including pork, shrimp, and scallions. When served with lettuce and fresh herbs, it is a delicious appetizer or snack that will definitely satisfy your cravings.

Banh khot looks like a mini banh xeo. (Image Source: Internet)

Banh xeo (Vietnamese Crispy Pancake)

Banh xeo is a popular street food in Ho Chi Minh City and almost everywhere in Vietnam. It is a savory and crispy Vietnamese pancake made with rice flour, coconut milk, and turmeric batter. It’s the ideal fusion of tastes and textures, loaded with a delectable mix of shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts.

Banh xeo dipped in sweet and sour fish sauce creates an explosion of taste. (Image Source: Internet)

Com tam (Broken rice)

Com tam is a Ho Chi Minh City street food that every food enthusiast should try. Your appetites will be satisfied by the distinctive blend of flavors and textures in this dish. A side of fish sauce dressing, a crispy fried egg, succulent grilled pork chops, and aromatic broken rice are served on top. With every bite, the succulent pork, light rice, and tart pickled veggies create a mouthwatering fusion of flavors.

The taste of com tam will satisfy even the most demanding diners. (Image Source: Internet)

Bun mam (Fermented fish noodle soup)

Fish, veggies, shrimp, and squid are all combined in a savory soup cooked with fermented fish sauce, known as bun mam— a delicious Ho Chi Minh City street food. You can personalize each bowl with your choice of fresh herbs, lime wedges, bean sprouts, and thick rice noodles. Fresh herbs, flavorful broth, and succulent fish come together to create a dish that is sure to please everyone.

Rich broth combined with seafood creates a delicious bum mam dish. (Image Source: Internet)

Bun thit nuong (Grilled pork with vermicelli)

Bun thit nuong, a renowned street food in Saigon, delivers a delicious blend of textures and flavors. A colorful assortment of fresh herbs, soft vermicelli noodles, and flavorful grilled pork combine to create a harmonious dish. The spicy kick from the tangy fish sauce dressing makes for a really filling and revitalizing dine.

Delicious ingredients combined with sweet and sour fish sauce create a delicious grilled pork vermicelli dish. (Image Source: Internet)

>>> Explore Ho Chi Minh City Street Food and Sightseeing with Lua Viet Tours!

Where to Eat Street Food in Ho Chi Minh City

Street food is sold almost everywhere in Saigon, however, to make it easier for you to find and enjoy, Lua Viet Tours will suggest some popular places.

Co Giang Street

Co Giang Street is located in District 1, where all Saigon street food is concentrated at reasonable prices. Coming here, you can enjoy the famous grilled pork vermicelli or crab vermicelli. One of the restaurants you cannot miss when coming to this street is “Che” (Co Giang’s sweet soup), which is highly appreciated by many people.

Co Giang street corner is bustling with people coming to eat. (Image Source: Internet)

Ben Thanh Market

Ben Thanh Market is a popular destination to enjoy street food in Ho Chi Minh City.  You can find a plate of banh beo, banh nam, banh loc, banh it tran,… Or you can try the flavor of bun mam with rau dang, a rustic dish from the Southwest. Many stalls selling the most famous sweet desserts in the market are concentrated at gate number 7.

Ben Thanh Market is a popular place to enjoy Ho Chi Minh City street food. (Image Source: Internet)

Ho Thi Ky Food Street

The next place to enjoy Ho Chi Minh City street food is Ho Thi Ky food street, District 10. There is always plenty of food and drink stalls along both sides of the 100m stretch of road. The famous snail noodle dish in the alley is a new variation with seafood ingredients cooked in a spicy broth with lemongrass and chili. In addition to noodles, there is also pha lau oc, similar to curry but the broth is thin and thick, very delicious when dipped in bread.

Ho Thi Ky food street is bustling at night. (Image Source: Internet)

Ho Con Rua (Turtle Lake)

Ho Con Rua is the name of the fountain lake located right in the middle of the International Square roundabout, District 3. Here, street food is sold at affordable prices, such as spring rolls, rice paper, sweet rice cakes, soft drinks,… mainly attracting young locals. At night, snack stalls from all over gather, creating an extremely bustling scene.

Ho Con Rua is a popular street food spot for young people in Ho Chi Minh City. (Image Source: Internet)

Enjoying Ho Chi Minh City street food is a culinary experience that is not to be missed. Street food in Saigon is sure to wow your taste buds, whether you want to explore the lively markets, meander through the busy streets, or just follow the enticing fragrances. Thus, begin planning your trip now with Lua Viet Tours and get ready for an experience that will satisfy all of your desires!

>>> Read more: Ho Chi Minh City Food – Eating Like A Local