Ho Chi Minh City's Must-Try Specialties: Essential Eats for Your Trip

What are the must-try local specialties in Ho Chi Minh City that you absolutely have to experience when you visit? 63Stravel is here to answer that very question for you, so let's dive in and explore!
Ho Chi Minh City boasts countless delicious specialties and dishes that you might not have tried yet. These include braised duck noodles (mì vịt tiềm), mixed rice paper salad (bánh tráng trộn), Saigon ice cream, and more. The delectable flavors and appealing presentation of these dishes are sure to captivate any food lover. Join63Stravelto discover the must-try specialties in Ho Chi Minh City when you visit!
Must-Try Specialties in Ho Chi Minh City for Travelers
If you're visiting Ho Chi Minh City for the first time and looking for culinary delights to explore, these suggestions will surely help you find delicious dishes that suit your taste.
Braised Duck Noodles (Mì Vịt Tiềm)
A very popular dish in Ho Chi Minh City is braised duck noodles (mì vịt tiềm). Influenced by Chinese culture, this dish is a nutritious herbal remedy highly favored by locals.

Braised Duck Noodles (Mì Vịt Tiềm) - A Delicious Ho Chi Minh City Specialty You Must Try
Savoring mì vịt tiềm means enjoying chewy noodles combined with tender, fragrant duck meat – a truly enticing blend. Served with sweet mustard greens and shiitake mushrooms, the dish's deep flavors are truly brought to life. This unique taste is something you absolutely must experience when visiting the city.
Saigon Banh Mi
Banh mi is a popular dish not only among Vietnamese people but also in many countries worldwide. So, when you come to Ho Chi Minh City, banh mi will be a familiar sight. However, Saigon banh mi still boasts a distinct character and flavor that you won't find in other provinces.
Banh mi is adapted into many diverse dishes, such as banh mi with cold cuts, butter-grilled banh mi, pan-fried banh mi, roasted pork banh mi, and more. But for most people, the 'true love' remains the classic banh mi with cold cuts. Each crispy banh mi, generously filled with meat, Vietnamese sausage, pâté, chili, and pickled vegetables, will make you fall in love and forget your way home.
Mixed Rice Paper Salad (Bánh Tráng Trộn)
A Ho Chi Minh City specialty you absolutely shouldn't miss when you visit is mixed rice paper salad (bánh tráng trộn). Thin rice paper is cut into strips and mixed with quail eggs, aromatic herbs, dried beef, and other ingredients to create an enticing flavor. The spicy, sour, sweet, and salty notes of bánh tráng trộn will tantalize your taste buds, making you want to keep eating.
Vietnamese Sweet Soups/Desserts (Chè)
On a sweltering day in Ho Chi Minh City, enjoying a refreshing glass of iced chè is simply delightful, isn't it? The city offers a full array of chè varieties, including Hue chè, Thai chè, floral chè, Cambodian chè, and more, with prices starting from just 15,000 VND per bowl. Chè is not just a snack or a refreshing treat; it's also a distinctive culinary highlight of Saigon.
Broken Rice (Cơm Tấm)
Cơm tấm – a rustic yet incredibly unique dish in Ho Chi Minh City. Made from broken rice, it's served with grilled pork, egg, cucumber, and a sweet and sour dipping sauce, creating a truly special flavor.
Today, Saigon cơm tấm comes in many varieties for you to choose from, such as grilled pork chop broken rice, broken rice with steamed egg meatloaf, broken rice with shredded pork skin, and more. Each dish offers a delicious and satisfying taste that you should definitely try at least once when you visit Ho Chi Minh City.
Goat Hotpot (Lẩu Dê)
Nutritious goat hotpot is always a favorite among both local diners and tourists. The naturally tender and chewy goat meat, served with vermicelli noodles and fresh vegetables, is sure to bring out the dish's complex aroma. When in Ho Chi Minh City, don't forget to try goat hotpot at famous restaurants like Dê Lam Sơn, Dê Kỳ Đồng, Dê 404, and others!
Saigon Ice Cream
Besides refreshing chè, Saigon ice cream is also a top choice for young people in Ho Chi Minh City looking to cool down. With a diverse range of flavors, colors, and styles, these ice cream sticks offer plenty of appealing options. Made with various essences mixed with fruit flavors, they are sure to captivate you and leave you wanting more.
Sizzling Pancake (Bánh Xèo)
Saigon bánh xèo is one of the signature dishes of Southern Vietnamese cuisine, known for its crispy golden crust and rich filling. The pancake is made from rice flour, coconut milk, and turmeric, giving it an appealing color. The filling typically includes shrimp, pork, bean sprouts, and green onions.
When enjoyed, bánh xèo is usually wrapped with fresh herbs and dipped in sweet and sour fish sauce, offering a rich and delicious flavor. It's an ideal dish for gatherings with friends or family, leaving a lasting impression on everyone. You can easily find bánh xèo at street food stalls or restaurants throughout Saigon.
Nam Vang Noodle Soup (Hủ Tiếu Nam Vang)
Hủ tiếu Nam Vang is a renowned specialty of Ho Chi Minh City that most locals have enjoyed. This dish features chewy, springy rice noodles, typically cooked in a clear, sweet broth made from pork or chicken bones. Especially, eating hủ tiếu with pennywort and green onions will tantalize your taste buds in an irresistible way.
Fresh Spring Rolls (Gỏi Cuốn)
Saigon gỏi cuốn, also known as fresh spring rolls, is a much-loved light dish, especially popular on hot summer days. It consists of fresh, crisp vegetables like lettuce, basil, and bean sprouts, rolled together with shrimp, pork, or tofu in soft rice paper.
When eaten, gỏi cuốn is typically dipped in sweet and sour fish sauce or peanut sauce, creating a wonderful combination of flavors. Gỏi cuốn is not only delicious but also very nutritious and easy to prepare. It's an ideal choice for a light meal or an appetizer. When you visit Ho Chi Minh City, don't forget to try this delightful dish!
Dried Beef Salad (Gỏi Khô Bò)
A Ho Chi Minh City specialty you absolutely must try when you visit is dried beef salad (gỏi khô bò). This is a very appealing snack, made from dried beef combined with aromatic herbs, shredded papaya, roasted peanuts, and a rich sauce. Just one bite will make you want to keep eating non-stop.
Crispy Rice with Pork Floss (Cơm Cháy Chà Bông)
Cơm cháy chà bông is a distinctive and appealing snack in Vietnam, especially in the South. This dish is made from cooked rice, which is then deep-fried until it forms crispy, golden pieces. The crispy rice can be served with various toppings such as pork floss, dried shrimp, scallion oil, or a rich sauce. This is one of Ho Chi Minh City's famous specialties that you should try when you visit.
Offal Stew (Phá Lấu)
Beef phá lấu has long been a distinctive and delicious snack favored by Saigon's youth. The main ingredients are beef offal, meticulously cleaned and cooked in a rich, creamy broth made from coconut milk, creating an enticing flavor.
This dish is often served with banh mi or instant noodles, accompanied by a dipping sauce made from kumquat fish sauce, offering a unique culinary experience. You can enjoy beef phá lấu any time of year, and if you have the chance to visit Ho Chi Minh City, don't forget to try this appealing dish.
>> Read more: Top Short Trips and Weekend Getaways from Ho Chi Minh City
Grilled Pork Vermicelli (Bún Thịt Nướng)
Bún thịt nướng is a very popular traditional dish in Ho Chi Minh City. This dish combines fresh rice vermicelli, delicious grilled pork, crisp fresh herbs, crunchy peanuts, scallion oil, and a distinctive fish sauce dressing. To properly enjoy bún thịt nướng and savor its authentic flavor, you should mix all the ingredients in the bowl, then add the fish sauce dressing and stir well before eating. This appealing and affordable dish is a must-try when you visit this city!
Fried Rice Flour Cake (Bột Chiên)
Last but not least on the list of Ho Chi Minh City specialties you must try is fried rice flour cake (bột chiên). Rice flour is mixed with eggs and water, then fried into bite-sized pieces. Enjoying bột chiên with chili sauce, shredded papaya, and green onions creates an enticing culinary experience. Despite being a simple snack to prepare, it's a dish that diners are sure to love!
This article compiles over 16 must-try specialties in Ho Chi Minh City that you might not have known about. We hope this information is helpful so you don't have to stress about where to go or what to eat on your first visit to Saigon. We wish you find delicious dishes that perfectly suit your taste.
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Update day : 27/09/2024
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