Housing many relics from the Vietnam war—including real-life tanks, choppers, artillery and ammunition, the War Remnants Museum is consistently popular with tourists, particularly Western tourists.

Few museums around the world convey the harrowing and brutal effects of war so powerfully and so accurately. In fact, many of the tools, machines and torture devices of the war are well preserved here, painting a dreadful story of the unthinkable atrocities that happened during the war.

There are many documents and photographs shown in the museum that may prove to be rather difficult to stomach. But for what it’s worth (a ticket costs just 15,000 VND per foreigner), we dare admit that the museum is truly worth spending half a day at, for what you’re likely to find, learn and experience is truly unlike any other.

Littered all over the museum’s courtyard, you will find US armoured vehicles, artillery pieces, bombs, infantry weapons and even gunboats on display. Billions of dollars worth, this military equipment were all left behind after the Northern troops invaded down South.

When Saigon finally fell and when the Americans officially departed its shores, the government in Hanoi were left with plenty of hardware to choose from to showcase as display pieces.

Referred to during the war as ‘Tiger Cages’, visitors are given an inside look into how the living conditions of prisoners were in their massive Tiger Cage exhibit.

From a wide range of torture devices to actual jail cells, the atrocities you’ll likely find is pretty grim yet fascinating.

War Remnants Museum
28 Vo Van Tan, District 3,
Ho Chi Minh City,
Tel: +84 28 3930 5587
Daily: 7am – 6pm

For more recommendations, read our Ho Chi Minh City’s guides to discover the best places to visit in the city.

After a full day of eating Pho and Bahn Mi, we were feeling guilty after gorging ourselves with that much delicious and hearty street food, so we knew we had to cleanse ourselves with something a little healthier. Just a stone’s throw away from Ho Chi Minh City’s very own “Stark Tower”, the Bitexco Financial Tower, sits one of the trendiest and most modern-looking cafés in District 1, The Running Bean.

We were first drawn to the chic architecture of the single-story building, reminiscent of South Korean-style cafés with geometric patterns lining the exterior of the building. The Running Bean is popular amongst a younger demographic and the entire compound is filled with Instagram-worthy backdrops for you to snap the perfect “OOTD”.

If you’re planning to take a short break before embarking on more adventures in HCMC, take a break at The Running Bean and lounge in one of their comfortable seats inside or al fresco.

After trying out a bunch of really great Vietnamese coffee, we had to take a break from the caffeine for fear of a sleepless night. Hence, we went for the Smoothie Bowls, something we were very much intrigued by on their menu.

It comes in 3 variations—Dragon Fruit (95,000VND | S$5.60), Mango and Green (90,000VND each | S$5.30).

We were surprised by the huge and generous portions but we were immediately sold on one thing—the vivid colours! We went right for the Dragon Fruit and Green Smoothie Bowls and they were both a hit.

The Green is a blend of banana, avocado spinach and almonds. It reminded us of regular green smoothies but elevated. The bowl is topped off with even more bananas, almond flakes, raspberries and chia seeds. If we were feeling anything but healthy before, the thought was certainly long gone. We especially liked the rich texture of this smoothie bowl from the bananas and avocados blended in.

The Dragon Fruit smoothie bowl is vivid purple and topped with strawberries, chia seeds, walnuts and honey. The actual smoothie was sweet and slightly tart but we love the chunks of fruit still unblended in the smoothie bowls to give it a nice bite.

Refreshing and extremely pleasant, it was a good palate cleanser before we went on to more street food!

If you’re an avid café hopper visiting Ho Chi Minh City, you must add The Running Bean onto your list!

The Running Bean
115 Ho Tung Mau
Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: +84 28 3915 0055
Daily: 8am – 10.30pm

For more recommendations, read our Ho Chi Minh City Guide to discover the best places to visit in the city.

Just a stone’s throw away from the hotel we were staying at in Ho Chi Minh City, sits cosy little pho joint, Mama Pho Restaurant. The seemingly cafe-style establishment serves up pho as well as other local delights but how it differs from those you get from the streets is a massive variety of pho types, as well as sides.

Mama Pho has a stellar pho-centric menu, featuring not only different flavours of the classic soup-based pho. Here is where you’ll find unique pho-based creations such as their Crispy Pan-Fried Pho, Rolled Pho and even Wok-Fried Pho.

You won’t find many locals dining here given its higher price point, but here’s why we think that Mama Pho is worth a visit regardless.

Stepping into the cosy little joint, you’ll be greeted by gorgeous floor tiles and comfortable seating. The wait staff was attentive and their strong air-conditioning really relaxed us after a long day of walking in the heat.

We went right for the unique Pho Sate Bo (78,000 VND, S$4.61) which is essentially beef pho but served in a rich peanut-based broth instead.

The pho broth was incredibly unique and we liked that it wasn’t overly rich, complementing the springy rice noodles and tender beef slices to perfection. After trying so many bowls of pho, we were glad to dig into something a little different.

We were torn between the Wok-Fried Pho and Crispy Pan-Fried Pho but we settled for the latter.

The Pho Ap Chau Tom & Rau Cu (Sautéed Shrimp & Vegetables over Crispy Pan-Fried Pho, 78,000 VND, SS$4.61) was, unfortunately, a little too tough to bite through.

For a light nibble before your meal, order up the Cahn Ga Chien Sa Nghe (Fried Lemongrass & Turmeric Chicken, 48,000VND, S$2.84). This deep-fried chicken wing delight comes served with a sweet chilli sauce on the side but truly, it stood up well on its own.

The chicken wings were marinated well and who can dislike the combination of turmeric and chicken, fried to golden perfection?

There were a few hits and misses during our visit but despite that, Mama Pho certainly deserves praise for their unique pho creations. Which one will you be trying?

Mama Pho Restaurant
111, Hem so 9, Ben Nghé
Quan 1, Ho Chí Minh, Vietnam
Daily: 8am – 10pm
Tel: +84 28 3915 1009

Phuc Long Coffee & Tea is essentially the Starbucks of Vietnam, with outlets sprawling all over Ho Chi Minh City at literally every corner.

This Vietnamese-born chain is best known for their tea and their iced teas are a big hit with many people of all ages. The outlet we visited was rather spacious and it took up 3 levels of a stretch of shophouses, and although it might resemble the look and feel of a commercial coffee and tea chain, it was far from it.

Here’s what’s actually worth ordering at Phuc Long Coffee & Tea.

We went for a Cappuccino Blast (49,000VND, S$2.89) and a Vitamin C Relaxing Fruit Smoothie (49,000VND, S$2.89) as we were craving for something refreshing.

The former was a quick kick and we instantly felt a lot more awake after a few sips. The caffeine content was pretty high but the strong roasted taste was actually really pleasant.

The latter was a nice refreshing and healthy drink that made for a good pick-me-up after our heavy pho lunch but it was nothing to shout about. Stick to their coffee and tea and you’re set.

We also picked up a croissant that we saw in their glass display but it was disappointing. We like our croissants buttery and flaky but this was the complete opposite of that.

A word of advice is to just stick to their drinks and skip the food. Just pop by and grab a quick iced coffee or tea and go about the rest of your day in the city.

Phuc Long Coffee & Tea
29 Ngo Duc Ke Q 1
Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
Tel: +84 1800 6779

(Multiple outlets located within District 1)

For more recommendations, read our Ho Chi Minh City’s guides to discover the best places to visit in the city.

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L’amant Café impresses with both their gorgeous decor and a sensational medley of tasty treats. Conveniently located in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, the elaborate yet cosy café is best known for their range of Vietnamese coffee and contemporary Vietnamese dishes.

Upon stepping into L’amant Café, you will be amazed by the huge and spacious interior and the massive range of instant coffee in their retail section. From the food, the coffee and even the service, here is what we loved about L’amant Café in Ho Chi Minh City.

Craving a taste of Vietnamese coffee (after so long), we went right for the most unique item on their coffee menu—L’amant Egg Café (65,000VND, S$3.82).

Floating above strong, black Vietnamese coffee is a sweet egg custard. The frothy custardy layer was sweet, eggy and creamy and it complemented the bitter coffee exceptionally well. Having egg in coffee was something that we had never tried before and we were pleasantly surprised.

The café doesn’t have many food items on their menu since they specialise in coffee, but we went for a breakfast item that seemed (to us) like a deconstructed banh mi sandwich

Costing us 90,000VND (S$5.30), this platter consisting of fried eggs, Vietnamese pork sausages, hams, luncheon meat, cilantro and pickled vegetables arrived at our table on a sizzling hot griddle. It is then accompanied by (you guessed it) a baguette.

The dish was tasty and made for a pretty decent breakfast (and picture), but it was truly nothing exciting. We could have easily gotten a version that boasted similar flavour profiles on the streets for a fraction of the price.

It certainly is a must to pop in for a nice warm cuppa before continuing on the rest of your trip in Ho Chi Minh City, or some cafe food too if you fancy it.

L’amant Café
12 Nguyên Huê, Ben Nghé
Ho Chí Minh, Vietnam
Tel: +84 28 3827 7978
Sun to Mon: 7.30am – 11pm
Sat: 7.30am – 10.30pm

For more recommendations, read our Ho Chi Minh City’s guides to discover the best places to visit in the city.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City, we found a cosy little wine bar in the heart of District 1—BRIX Winebar Kitchen. This cosy little bar stood out amongst the other bars in the vicinity with its sleek design and modern furniture—and considerably less dodgy appeal.

BRIX also serves a great range of charcuterie, cold cuts and cheeses on their menu that pair excellently with their wines. You can mix and match a few of your favourites to enjoy while you drink the night away.

If you’re looking for a nice and comfortable retreat in Ho Chi Minh City, you will fall in love with BRIX Winebar Kitchen.

Before we even saw the wine list, we were sold by their impressive range of cheeses and cold cuts. You can have them in 2 sizes—Platter of 3 (270,000VND, S$15.80) or Platter of 6 (540,000VND, S$31.71).

Their cold cuts selection include Honey Glazed Ham, German Beer Sausage, Parma Ham, Salami Milano and so much more. We decided on the Salami Milano.

Their cheese selection is even more impressive. Their range features cheeses such as Gruyère, Camembert, Gorgonzola and Pecorino.

The platter has a very generous serving of each cheese and cold cut we chose and it went exceptionally well with their house white wine.

Their House bottle of Sauvignon Blanc (560,000VND, S$32.90) was smooth and crisp and the wine tasted even better when enjoyed together with the salty, creamy nuggets of cheese.

If you’re looking for a bar with great vibes and wines, look no further than to BRIX Winebar Kitchen.

BRIX Winebar Kitchen
42 Pasteur Street
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh 700000, Vietnam
Tel: +84 8 3825 6300
Mon to Sat: 11am – 12am
Sun: 1pm – 12am
Website: brixsaigon.com

Visiting night markets in any country is one of the best things to do to truly soak up a country’s culture, largely due to the amount of local street food, people and shops present. In Saigon, the popular Phan Boi Chau Night Market is a hit among tourists.

In the day, Ben Thanh Market is bustling with locals and tourists buying fresh produce and knick-knacks. When night falls, the area surrounding Ben Thanh Market comes to life and the Phan Boi Chau Night Market emerges. In District 1, Phan Boi Chau Night Market is the most populated night market as they open daily from 7pm.

When we arrived, we were slightly disappointed by the size and crowd of the night market. However, that didn’t stop us from exploring it in its entirety. Should you visit the Phan Boi Chau Night Market? Let’s break it down for you.

PRODUCE AND PRODUCTS

There were a number of stalls around the market offering Vietnamese products, produce and snacks in the night market. However, we did realise that they were priced slightly higher than the exact same ones we saw in the day at another street stall.

While the price difference wasn’t a huge issue for us as it was not significant, we were thoroughly underwhelmed by the variety of items sold at the stalls.

Tip: Check the prices of the items you want in the day before purchasing anything here. It’s harder to bargain for snacks and produce compared to fashion items such as bags, clothing and accessories.

FOOD & DRINKS

There were roughly only 2 to 3 stalls here that offer full sit-down meals and dishes. The majority of the stalls offer seafood and a number of standard Vietnamese dishes priced higher than regular street stalls.

Tip: Ask for the prices before ordering anything as most of the seafood items do not have a specific price on the menu and you might be conned into paying way more than what it’s worth.

CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES

If you compare the retail stalls at other night markets to Phan Boi Chau Night Market, you’ll be sorely disappointed. Most stalls offer only touristy t-shirts and every single bag stall here sells the exact same thing. There are a ton of fake luxury goods here, from branded bags to even sneakers.

Tip: You can bargain easily, especially if you purchase more than one item, as long as you don’t quote too ridiculous a price to annoy the stall owners.

VERDICT: HIT OR MISS?

Phan Boi Chau Night Market was just immensely underwhelming for us and it lacked the fun and exciting atmosphere of most of the markets we’ve visited in Asia. Many of the shops sell similar items and there really isn’t much variety with regards to street snacks and apparel.

Phan Boi Chau Night Market
32-30, 36-34-32-30 Phan Boi Châu
Phuoung Ben Thành, Quan 1
Ho Chí Minh, Vietnam
Daily: 7pm – 11.30pm

For more recommendations, read our Ho Chi Minh City guides to discover the best places to visit in the city.

The bustling and vibrant city of Ho Chi Minh City is the busiest and most populated area in the whole of Vietnam. Named after the late leader of Vietnam, people flock to this colourful city for its friendly people, incredible street food and rich history. For foodies like ourselves, our quest for the best food in Ho Chi Minh City started from the streets.

It is in the streets that you find the best of their street food with the most authentic flavours. Everywhere you stroll in Ho Chi Minh City, you will see a variety of road-side vendors dishing out tasty street food and passing them on to busy motorists or see groups of people sitting on tiny plastic stools enjoying their street food by the sidewalk.

We’ve tasted some of the best street food in Ho Chi Minh City but in our adventures, we also stumbled upon pretty disappointing ones. Here’s our Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Guide to help you find the best street food.

THE CLASSIC PHO BÒ (BEEF NOODLE SOUP)

When you think of Vietnamese food, most people will have pho on their minds. It is the country’s national dish after all.

You can find Pho in just about every street corner in Vietnam. The most common Pho is Pho Bo, or Beef Pho but you can easily find other variations such as Pho Ga (Chicken Pho). While we tried our best to find the best Pho Bo in random alleyways and street corners, our favourite Pho was still the one at Pho Phuong 25, a pho joint just beside the famous Lunch Lady.

Besides the tender cuts of beef and generous portions of other beef parts such as tendon and beef balls, the broth of their pho bo is just sensational. The slightly darker clear broth brimmed with flavour and each mouthful bore an intense meaty quality. Your trip to Ho Chi Minh City will not be complete without a trip here.

Our favourite Pho in Ho Chi Minh City:
Pho Phuong 25
25 Hoàng Sa Da Kao, Quan 1, Ho Chí Minh, Vietnam

Verdict: #1 must-try street food Ho Chi Minh City.

BÁNH MÌ (VIETNAMESE SANDWICH)

Whenever you need a quick and satisfying bite on the go in Vietnam, people go right for a Bahn Mi, a Vietnamese baguette sandwich popular all over the world. Like Pho, Bahn Mi is found is every street corner, available in fancy food joints and street stalls any where in Ho Chi Minh City.

Bahn Mi usually features a baguette sandwich with pork paté, a variety of cooked meats, Vietnamese hams and sausages, pickled vegetables, chilli, coriander and more. You can also customise your own Bahn Mi in most places. While we thoroughly enjoyed the Bahn Mis we had in Ho Chi Minh City, nothing really stood out for us.

Verdict: Worth a try just for the experience. .

BÁNH TRÁNG NUONG (RICE PANCAKE)

While strolling around in the city, we passed by a couple of road-side stalls offering the Bánh Tráng Nuong. It is a type of rice cracker more commonly found in Ho Chi Minh City (in Southern Vietnam). A rice paper sheet is toasted over a charcoal fire to a nice crisp before being topped up with ingredients such as diced vegetables, cream cheese, quail eggs, minced meat and a variety of sauces.

For just about S$1, this pancake was one of the highlights of our trip. Each bite was an explosion of savoury, umami flavours and each bite came with a pleasant crunch. If you see a stall like this around Ho Chi Minh City, do not hesitate!

Verdict: Extremely satisfying, a must to try if you see it around.

COLOURFUL GLUTINOUS RICE

When strolling around the Phan Boi Chau Night Market, we were privy to a street cart offering gorgeous colourful glutinous rice desserts topped with coconut cream and desiccated coconut. We quickly ordered up a serving without first asking for a price. We chose a mix of colours and the total came up to about S$9 for a pathetically small portion.

The sticky rice was hard and not cooked well and the coconut cream made the taste one dimensional. We quickly tossed the dessert away after a bite or two because it was that bad. These street carts hang around the night market and serve tourists exclusively to trick them into buying a portion. You have been warned!

Verdict: Do not try unless you’re recommended by a local. Check the prices beforehand.

VIETNAMESE SPRING ROLLS

You can find Goi Cuon or Vietnamese Spring Rolls every where in Vietnam. In Ho Chi Minh City, you can find street vendors offering them and restaurants serving them as a start or side. On our trip to Ho Chi Minh City, we realised that many locals enjoy this dish as a full-fledged meal. They would gobble up 4 to 6 of these rolls before going about the rest of their day.

We are huge fans of Vietnamese Spring Rolls and each refreshing bite really whets our appetites for more food. Each roll features rice wrappers stuffed with shrimp, Thai basil, mint leaves, coriander, lettuce and more. Dip it in some hoisin sauce and you’re good to go.

Verdict: Must-try street food, easy to consume and great for any time of the day.

For more recommendations, read our Ho Chi Minh City’s guides to discover the best places to visit in the city.

Surrounded by lush greenery and a host of beautiful architectural pieces scattered across its massive compound, the Independence Palace is a place that warrants a visit for first-time travellers to Ho Chi Minh City.

Besides being a place deeply associated with the fall of the city in 1975, there is a sense of charm about the place that makes walking through its desolate halls fill one with a sense of intrigue yet eeriness at the same time.

While the Reunification Palace or Independence Palace in HCMC holds historic significance, it may or may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Unless you’re a history buff that enjoys the history of politics and more specifically that of Vietnam, the palace itself might prove to be a tad underwhelming in terms of what’s in store. But here’s why it’s worth a visit anyway.

Entering the compound is as easy as walking up to the ticketing counter at the entrance and purchasing a ticket. We got the full pass which basically allowed us to enter every exhibit and it cost us 195,000 VND per person.

The Independence Palace, which was first opened to the public in 1990 has been the scene of many of the most important (and dramatic) events in Vietnam’s history.

Occupying the site of the former residence of the French colonial government general, the palace was home to several Vietnamese presidents and subsequently in 1975, was stormed by Liberation Forces which led to one of the most significant events in Vietnam’s history—the liberation of the South.

The entire palace is huge and is almost entirely free for visitors to roam. Strolling in and around the palace grounds, you will find a few prominent landmarks, eateries and even souvenir shops. The main palace has 5 levels filled with exhibits from war rooms to bunkers and even massive and extravagant dining halls.

On display outside, you will find the exact tank that was used by the Vietnamese liberation forces to break through the palace through the great palace gate back on 30 April 1975.

Why is it important? Because having crashed through its main gate, the North Vietnamese Army successfully managed to end the Vietnam War—that’s why.

Making your way into the palace, you are first greeted with two separate exhibits of the original Cabinet Room and State Banqueting Hall—both kept clean and as pristine as when they were used back then.

The Cabinet Room was where meetings among the president and his ministers were held and, as its name suggests, the State Banqueting Hall was where state banquets used to be held.

Receptions for as many as 500 guests were held at the Conference Hall, which was also used for the installation of each new cabinet. A room that boasts both stunning architectural and artistic prowess, every detail of this room is truly marvellous.

Independence Palace
135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia,
Ben Thanh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Daily: 8am – 11am, 1pm – 4pm

For more recommendations, read our Ho Chi Minh City’s guides to discover the best places to visit in the city.

To only have a single bowl of pho during a vacation to Vietnam is a downright atrocity. The popular street food is the core staple of Vietnamese cuisine and is literally what going to Vietnam’s all about—for us anyway.

Stumbling upon a rather unassuming eatery by the street going by the name Pho Hai Trieu, we were lured in by the bold aromas of simmering meat broth and freshly stir-fried delights, as well as a team of friendly wait staff who were eager to sit us down.

Specialising in an assortment of chicken dishes, pho and hearty soups, this humble eatery may not seem like much at first, but it really does impress with its wide array of menu offerings—especially their chicken dishes.

While pho was the main item on our agenda, we were intrigued by the sheer number of dishes available in this small eatery. From an assortment of chicken dishes, comforting soups that include anything and everything, to a wide array of noodle dishes, they have it all.

Seeing as to how literally every table was having chicken, we decided to give their chicken a go too. Ordering a bowl of their Pho Ga (55,000 VND) did not disappoint as it came with a generous portion of tender shredded chicken meat, sliced onions and an insanely huge serving of rice noodles.

The broth was heavenly, to say the least, with every mouthful delivering so much more than just a deep, comforting chicken flavour. There was a subtle sweetness in the broth that complemented the overall savouriness of the dish as well as a thin yet crucial layer of chicken fat that provided an additional layer of hearty chicken flavour.

The Pho Tai (55,000 VND), essentially a bowl of beef pho featuring rare steak, was a tad underwhelming—only because of the fact that we already had our minds blown from the beef pho at Pho Phuong.

Nonetheless, the broth and everything else in it was pretty solid. Our only gripe was that the beef could have been slightly rarer so as to give it a better texture.

Great if you’re in a hurry—because service here is lightning quick—, Pho Hai Trieu may not be the best place for pho if that’s your main goal, but it sure does pack a substantial arsenal of yummy delights with their chicken dishes standing out the most.

Pho Hai Trieu
Ben Nghe, District 1,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: +84 98 984 62 18

For more recommendations, read our Ho Chi Minh City’s guides to discover the best places to visit in the city.

While pho, spring rolls and banh mi are great, they aren’t all that Vietnam is good for. In fact, there is way more depth and complexity to their cuisine than just rice noodles and French baguettes.

Tucked away along a quiet street in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1, lies 33 De Tham Restaurant—a 3-storey seafood restaurant that simply wowed us. Specialising in zi char-style cooking, their menu boasts a wide range of delights ranging from the usual to the exotic, of which you can choose to have fried, steamed, barbecued and even as part of a hot pot.

Their range of seafood is phenomenal and not only is the quality topnotch, the price is unbelievably affordable as well—we ordered up a pretty wicked array of items and barely felt a pinch. A popular haunt among expatriates and tourists, here is why you need to dine at 33 De Tham Restaurant when in Ho Chi Minh City.

For a margin of the price that you would get in Singapore, you can enjoy a wide range of seafood offerings. Hankering for a shellfish of sorts, we kickstarted our dinner with their Grilled Scallops with Onion (60,000 VND).

Each beautiful scallop was topped with a generous amount of cooked green onion and roasted peanuts for added texture. Simply executed, we were allowed to appreciate the genuine freshness and flavour of the scallop.

Hands down, one of the best dishes we had that night was the Grilled Octopus (100,000 VND). Grilled hard and fast over charcoal, a nice smoky flavour developed around the octopus tentacles, providing a nice subtly charred and bitter element that complemented the sweet flesh really well.

Don’t be afraid to squeeze over some fresh lime and dab on a little salt and pepper to taste—this is what dreams are made of. Period.

In dire need of a carb option, the Fried Rice With Ten Items (35,000 VND) seemed the most appealing. Of course, we were sceptical at first about whether they really did prepare this rice dish with exactly ten items, but it tasted too good for us to bother anyway.

Tasting as good as those in any good Chinese restaurant and brimming with substantial wok hei, this simple dish of rice, eggs, meat and vegetables is truly worth it.

Costing literally less than S$6 for an entire fish, we could not resist ordering ourselves their Fried Red Tilapia (100,000 VND). Crispy from edge to edge while still maintaining a flaky, delicate centre, this satisfying fish dish was a joy to have.

The fish does not come seasoned or pre-marinated, but it is topped with green onions and peanuts as well and is served with a sweet chilli sauce on the side. Albeit impossible for us to finish, despite how delicious it was, we did our best.

33 De Tham Restaurant
Cau Ong Lanh Ward, District 1
Ho Chi Minh City 700000
Tel: +84 98 821 35 36
Daily: 11am – 1.30am

For more recommendations, read our Ho Chi Minh City’s guides to discover the best places in the city.

When visiting Ho Chi Minh City, no one ever leaves without paying the acclaimed Lunch Lady a visit. This internationally-renowned street food stall—located just a few steps away from popular pho joint, Pho Phuong 25—is famous for their down-to-Earth, rustic charm and menu that rotates daily.

The stall made its mark less than a decade ago after the late, great Anthony Bourdain visited them as part of his food programme, No Reservations. Until today, Lunch Lady is still highly patronised by locals, tourists, as well as food bloggers from around the world—like us.

The humble stall is owned and run by Ms Nguyen Thi Thanh, also known as the Lunch Lady. An international street food icon, her modest stall in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1 is packed daily and for good reason–her food is truly out of this world. Period.

The moment you get yourself seated down, you are welcomed with an abundance of side dishes from deep-fried prawn fritters to an assortment of traditional Vietnamese spring rolls. Feeling rather stuffed, and with our stomach’s set on trying Ms Nguyen’s ever-popular Thursday Noodles, we decided to give the sides a miss.

For those of you pining for a taste of legit Vietnamese spring rolls, you’ll be happy to know that the snack is available here too. Having it alone won’t leave much of an impression, but accompanying it is a special dip that you simply must try.

A beautiful harmony of sweet, savoury and umami notes with an assertive characteristic of dried shrimp and roasted peanuts, the sauce really does elevate the taste of the spring roll, allowing the fresh herbaceous qualities from the basil to really shine through.

Lunch Lady specialises in serving noodle dishes with a different variant on the menu every day. We got ourselves what she calls, the Thursday Noodles (50,000 VND), and what it is is basically noodle soup dish with generous amounts of roasted pork belly, sliced pork, large prawns, fish cake, morning glory (kang kong) as well as cuttlefish.

The ingredients were fresh and for what the dish was worth, we were utterly shocked by how generous she was with her ingredients, but more so by how incredibly tasty the entire dish was from the rich broth to its individual components.

The broth was a hearty mix of deep, meaty flavours with a hint of savoury seafood, perfectly melded together to form a concentrated yet deeply satisfying combination of flavours. Despite it being so simple, the manipulation of skill and passion really showed, and every spoonful of the flavourful broth propelled our tastebuds into gastronomic nirvana.

Lunch Lady
23 Hoang Sa Street
Phuong Da Kao, District 1 (Quan 1)
Tel: +84 93 388 79 22
Daily: 9am – 3pm

For more recommendations, read our Ho Chi Minh City’s guides to discover the best places to visit in the city.

Vietnamese food is one of the best things in Asia. From fresh spring rolls to a comforting bowl of pho, Vietnamese dishes are distinct and highly addictive.

Due to Ho Chi Minh City’s sizeable Muslim population, halal Vietnamese food is not too difficult to chance upon. In fact, in the touristy district of bustling Ben Thanh, you can expect to see a string of eateries that are either owned by Muslims or are halal certified.

Embrace the authentic Vietnamese streetside experience and dig into tantalising Vietnamese food as you saunter around the bike-congested lanes. If you are having trouble trying to decide where is a good pit-stop to indulge in some Vietnamese grub, turn to this list of restaurants that will whet your appetite pho sure.

Here Are 6 Halal Restaurants In Ho Chi Minh City To Satisfy Your Vietnamese Food Cravings.

Photo Credit: D’Nyonya Saigon Restaurant

#1 D’NYONYA SAIGON RESTAURANT

A one-minute walk from Saigon Central Mosque will lead you to this humble restaurant that serves not only Vietnamese cuisine but also Malaysian fare.

From Assam Laksa, crispy Pie-Tee, Nyonya Otah-Otah, Signature Beef Pho, Vietnamese Spring Rolls to Tom Yum Vermicelli soup, you can enjoy both cuisines under one roof.

56 Dong Du St, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
Ho Chi Minh 70100, Vietnam
Tel: +84 838 223 902
Daily: 7am – 10pm

Photo Credit: Halal@Saigon

#2 HALAL@SAIGON

This unassuming eatery can be found just across the street from Saigon Central Mosque. Its location is strategic, food is always good, and that’s why regulars and tourists flock to the stall for delicious Vietnamese grub.

Delight in a variety of Vietnamese classics as well as dishes imbued with Malaysian influences. For starters, go for the Young Coconut Salad With Shrimp and the Rice Pancake With Chicken.

31 Dong Du Street, District 1
Ho Chi Minh 70100, Vietnam
Tel: +84 838 246 823
Daily: 10am – 10pm

Photo Credit: Kampung Pandan Restaurant

#3 KAMPUNG PANDAN RESTAURANT

This Muslim-friendly food joint is just a stone’s throw away from the famous Ben Thanh Market, posing as an apt pit-stop to refuel after some intense shopping. The Vietnamese dishes here will satisfy your cravings in no time with the fresh spring rolls, chicken or beef pho and the Vietnamese-style fried noodles.

The restaurant also offers Malaysian and Indian fare if you wish to switch things up a bit.

53 Thu Khoa Huan Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1
Ho Chi Minh 70100, Vietnam
Tel: +84 909 376 388
Daily: 9am – 10pm

Photo Credit: Anggun

#4 PHO MUSLIM

Living up to its namesake, this halal-certified hidden gem serves beef pho in the mornings and bun bo hue (Vietnamese Spicy Lemongrass Soup with Beef Slices) in the evening.

Kick start your morning with this hearty bowl of flavoursome beef broth paired with tender slices of beef—it is extremely addictive. The pocket-friendly prices at Pho Muslim will have you coming back for more.

505 Tran Hung Dao Street, Ward 14, District 5
Ho Chi Minh 70000, Vietnam
Daily: 6am – 1pm, 4pm – 12am

Photo Credit: Saigon Green House

#5 SAIGON GREEN HOUSE

Escape the sweltering heat and dine at this air-conditioned restaurant situated just opposite Mariamman Hindu Temple, near Ben Thanh Market. The interiors are bright and spacious and the menu features an orderly line-up of both Malaysian and Vietnamese dishes.

Pair your scrumptious meals with their signature Vietnamese Tea—just like how the locals would—and feel absolutely invigorated thereafter.

52 Truong Dinh Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1
Ho Chi Minh 70100, Vietnam
Tel: +84 838 250 457
Daily: 10am – 10pm

Photo Credit: Anggun

#6 THE DAUN RESTAURANT

The Daun Restaurant is just a three-minute walk away from Ben Thanh Market and their signature fresh spring rolls are a must-try when you are there!

Aside from its yummy Vietnamese dishes, this Singaporean-owned restaurant offers complimentary WiFi to all its diners so you can snap and instantly share that glorious bowl of pho on social media.

194, Le Thanh Ton Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1
Ho Chi Minh 70100, Vietnam
Tel: +84 126 424 3229
Daily: 7am – 10.30pm

While I still have a few more posts from my other trips (Lyon, Paris, and Hong Kong), I thought I’d blog about my recent visit to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) – commonly known as Saigon – the largest city in Vietnam and the former capital of the Republic of Vietnam.

This post is a simple guide to Saigon based on my trip there. Since I only had a few days to try some places, this is by no means a complete eating guide to restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). I’d love to go back again and eat at more places, but we’ll have to see how that goes.

So for now, here’s my Travel Guide on where to eat in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Vietnam has that old-world charm where everything is untouched by civilisation. I don’t think I will ever love Saigon as much as I love Bangkok, but I was very happy to walk around the city, look at the locals at work, and eat all day long.

Like any other cities, it is quite difficult to explore if you do not know any locals. Especially so in Saigon as most of the people do not speak English. I am quite lucky as I managed to eat at a few nice places. Before leaving for the trip, I did some research on the must-go restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City, but I have to say that there are limited information online. So I hope that through this guide, you will be able to enjoy Saigon in a different way.

Note: 1 Singapore dollar = 16 559.3542 Vietnamese dong

Places to eat in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon):

Com Nieu Sai Gon (6 Tu Xuong Street ward 7 District 3, Ho Chi Minh City +84 8 3932 6388) is probably the most famous restaurant in Vietnam because of Anthony Bourdain’s recommendation. We had the Vietnamese Pancakes, Springroll, and their famous Clay Pot Rice. The food while good, was not amazing. Prices range between VND80k to VND130k for a main dish.

One interesting thing that I noticed in Vietnam was the absence of McDonald’s. So if you are craving for a burger, check out Black Cat Restaurant (13 Phan Vat Dat, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City). They have a wide variety of burgers on the menu ranging from VND115k to VND185k. Besides burgers, they also have all day breakfast and sandwiches that are reasonably-priced.

Just down the road from Black Cat, is Todam Korean Restaurant (Phan Vat Dat, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City), a place frequented by Koreans – certainly a good sign.

I was told to go to Al Fresco (27 Dong Du, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, +84 8 3823 8424) for the Best Baby Back Ribs in Ho Chi Minh City. And I’m happy to say that it’s really quite good.

The medium portion of the famous ribs comes with 5-6 pieces and it costs VND335k. The other main courses are much cheaper: you can get a Chicken Corden Bleu for VND185k, and a Spaghetti Seafood is only VND150k.

One of the best hidden finds in Saigon, Le Jardin (31 Thai Van Lung, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City +84 8 3825 8465) is a lovely French restaurant that serves good food at affordable prices. We almost missed it as we were walking along Thai Van Lung – a street lined with restaurants.

The al fresco garden terrace is a lovely place to enjoy your meal, while sipping a glass of wine. Main courses like steak are available for VND140-160k, and there are also fish like Tuna Steak VND120k and Sole & Salmon VND140k on the menu.

I’d highly recommend that you go there for a meal. Definitely one of the best restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City.

Just directly opposite Le Jardin, Le Bouchon De Saigon (40 Thai Van Lung, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City) is a French Brasserie that is worth checking out if you want more French Food.

Since we are talking about French Food, another restaurant that you can try is L’entete (139 Nguyen Thai Binh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City +84 8 3821 2049) near the Art Museum. Like Le Buchon De Saigon, prices are slightly steeper. Starters like French onion soup is VND120k, while you can get a Foie Gras Terrine at VND360k. They serve main courses like Duck a l’orange at VND300k, and beef tartare at VND280k.

If you find yourself venturing to District 3, do check out Stix Restaurant (15 Le Qui Don Street District 3, Ho Chi Minh City +84 2224 1781) – a gorgeous seafood restaurant.

And of course, you can’t go to Vietnam without having Pho.

Pho 24 (various locations) probably doesn’t have the best pho in Vietnam, but it provides you with a nice and clean environment to slurp up a bowl of delicious pho. Moreover, there’s no culture shock as there is a simple menu which makes it very easy for overseas visitors.

There’s also Pho 2000, which became famous after former U.S President Bill Clinton patronised it.

While on our way to Le Jardin, we stumbled upon Pacey Cupcakes (53G Nguyen Du, Ben Nhge Ward District 1 Tel: 08 38 233 223) – a cutesy cupcake cafe. The good thing is they provide free wifi, so if you are tired after a day of walking, go there hang out and use the free wifi to check your twitter and facebook accounts.

Near to the famous Ban Thamh Market is Line Journee (234 Le Thanh Ton D1 Tel: 08 382 777 23), a French patisserie where you can get macarons, lemon tart and creme brulee. The desserts are not fantastic, but good enough to satisfy your sugar craving.

Besides Line Journee, you can also try La Doree (216 Ly Tu Trong and 65 Pasteur District 1, Ho Chi Minh City +84 8 3822 1718). Their cakes were pretty decent and you can get sweets like Pain Au Chocolat, Macarons, Eclairs and other French desserts.

We also dropped by Sushi restaurant Tokyo Deli (24 Le Thanh Ton Street D1 5404 2244) for dinner. The food was average, but for the price, I’m not complaining. You can get a Salmon Sushi for VND90k, and Maki roll for VND42k.

Cafe de L’uisine (151 Dong Khoi District 1, Ho Chi Minh City +84 8 6674 3565) is a charming space that reminds me of PS Cafe. So if you are in Ho Chi Minh, do go there for a break.

One of the hippest restaurants in Saigon, Windows Cafe (12 Alexandre De Rhodes, District 1, Vietnam +84 8 3823 8408) is located opposite the entry to reunification palace. While the uber-chic restaurant/bar has a wide menu serving food like Pizza and Pastas from VND 75-85k and mains from VND 100-120k, it strikes me more as a cool watering hole. Definitely the place to go if you want to chill out and have some drinks.

Just across the road from Reunification Palace is Quan An Ngon (138 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City), a pretty restaurant housed within an old French villa. It has nice ambience, but the food is average, and slightly more expensive.

Another cool restaurant in the area is Nha Hang Ngon (160 Pastel Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City +84 8 3827 7136). Prices range from VND50k for a simple Vermicilli in soup to VND200k for the more elaborated main courses.

Places to go in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon):

Ben Thanh market is probably one of the most famous tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City. You can find almost everything there, but be warned, bargaining is required. My suggestion is to go there and have a look, if you have lots of food products that you want to buy, head to Binh Tay Market – the local distribution centre – and you can easily get the same product for 30-40% cheaper.

Do note that the journey from city to Binh Tay Market is around 20 minutes, and it can be a little overwhelming as there are many locals getting their goods from the sellers there.

Saigon Square is another popular place in Ho Chi Minh City. It is an air-conditioned market that sells clothes, again, bargaining is required.

Notre Dame Cathedral

Opera House

Places to stay in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon):

There are quite a few good 5 Star Hotels in Saigon (for about USD$120-170/night) like Park Hyatt, Rex Hotel, and Caravelle Hotel, while you can also get a decent 4 star hotel like Palace Hotel or Oscar Saigon is around USD$80-100/night.

I hope that this Travel Guide to Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) will be useful when you visit the city, I have another post on 10 Things to eat in Saigon coming up next, so look out for it!