Must-Try Vegetarian Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City in 2025
I’m just going to come right out and say it – being a vegetarian in Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon) rocks. Sometimes traveling as a vegetarian in Southeast Asia can be brutal, but that’s not the case in Saigon. Thanks to Vietnam’s sizeable Buddhist population, there are tons of vegetarian restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City — and other major cities in Vietnam — as well as plenty of vegan and vegetarian-friendly restaurants.
I’ve done a lot of eating during the four years I lived in the city and my many trips back. It’s one of the things that I do best. So if you’re a vegetarian (or vegan) and you’re planning a trip to Vietnam, here’s my insider’s guide to some of the best vegetarian restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City!
Just a note: most of these restaurants are pure vegetarian but I’ve also included some that have great vegetarian and vegan options on the menu. Also, I’m including everything from Vietnamese food to international options because this city has a wide range of restaurants – and to be frank, as an expat I like to mix things up.
And finally, I’ve added a few tips and phrases that will help you navigate the city if you’re a non-meat eater.
Most people who visit Ho Chi Minh City base themselves in the downtown area, which is in District 1. This is where I lived and always stay when I return, so I’ve come to know the vegetarian scene pretty well. The majority of restaurants I’m recommending are in District 1 (with a few scattered a couple of kilometers away in District 2).
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of these links I may earn a small commission (which I’m so thankful for!) at no extra cost to you.
The Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City
By the way, if you’re a vegetarian traveling around Vietnam, here are some of my other vegetarian city guides:
- Vegetarian in Vietnam: The Ultimate Guide!
- Vegetarian Guide To Nha Trang, Vietnam: Everything You Need To Know
- My Favorite Vegetarian Restaurants In Da Nang, Vietnam
- A Guide to Finding the Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Hoi An
Banh Mi Chay (eat it wherever you find it!)
OK, this isn’t a restaurant, but it’s a dish you should try wherever you find it.
There is no shortage of vegetarian banh mi (aka banh mi chay) in Ho Chi Minh City. A lot of places that serve Vietnam’s famous baguette sandwiches will have a chay (chay means vegetarian in Vietnamese) version.
These are usually stuffed with mushrooms, tofu, mock meat, or some sort of variation thereof, as well as the standard cucumbers, pickled veggies, cilantro, hot peppers, and mayo. Vegetarians should note that the banh mi opla (basically banh mi with a fried egg) usually comes with pate, so make sure to ask for it without pate…I learned that the hard way.
Bánh Mì Xanh
Speaking of vegetarian restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City that serve vegan banh mi, Bánh Mì Xanh serves up really good banh mi. This is a chain, so you’ll find branches scattered around the city, which is always handy if you start feeling peckish while sightseeing!
They have a handful of variations on the menu — from mock meat-filled banh mi to spicy tofu and veggies and mushrooms. I loved that they pack their sandwiches with herbs, lettuce, and veggies, which makes this place stand out from other vegetarian banh mi restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City.
Kashew Cheese Deli
For my sandwich-loving, vegetarian self, Kashew Cheese Deli is the stuff of dreams. I absolutely love their sandwiches and their vegan cashew cheese is absolutely incredible.
They now have three locations in Ho Chi Minh City (D1, D7, and their original location in D2). I personally always go for one of their sandwiches. I’m partial to the Bomba (with Kashew aged cheese, ricotta, tomato, basil, and sun-dried tomato) and the Mozza Pesto Sandwich (with Kashew mozzarella, pesto, aged cheese, tomato, and sun-dried tomato.
But they have a wide selection of sandwiches, paninis, cheeseboards, salads, pastas, desserts, and more. You can also just order their cheeses and other vegan “dairy” products to have at home, too!
Chi Cu
I was a bit intimidated by this restaurant at first. I think I walked past it 10 times before I finally mustered the courage to walk in. It’s a super hole-in-the-wall place and when I first started eating there way back in the day, there was no English menu. (FYI, they now have a menu in English, which makes ordering way easier if you’re not familiar with Vietnamese dishes.)
The menu at Chi Cu is small, so I started by just pointing at dishes, not knowing what would come. Even though I had no idea what I was ordering, everything was super fresh and delicious.
This is hands down one of my favorite places to get vegetarian food in Ho Chi Minh City. Everything costs 25,000 dong (US$1). Also, order the tra da (iced tea) for 2,000 dong or nuoc mia (cane juice) for 6,000. Both are staples in Saigon and really help to cool you off during the sweltering days.
Quán Chay 103 – Veggie House
When it comes to affordable vegetarian restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City for Vietnamese eats, Quán Chay 103 – Veggie House is a great option. Their menu is huge and you can choose from tons of noodle soups, rice dishes, banh mi, and more. I just pick at random and have loved everything I’ve tried.
It’s no-frills but everything is super affordable and delicious. The staff is super friendly too, which is always a plus!
Mơ Chay
At the time of writing, Mơ Chay is a newcomer to the vegetarian restaurant scene in Ho Chi Minh City. It actually isn’t on the map and I only found it by browsing Happy Cow. The address is 95 Lê Quốc Hưng, Phuong 13, Quan 4 (District 4).
What I love about this place is that it’s an all-you-can-eat vegan buffet so you can try a little bit of everything – from Vietnamese vegetable dishes to mock meats, tofu, and noodles soups. You can also get your fill of tra da (iced tea), which is a must with any Vietnamese meal in Saigon. When I visited, the price was 50,000 dong, which is just such a good deal for a buffet.
The staff members are so nice and friendly too. They truly do an amazing job with this place!
Hum Vegetarian Café & Restaurant
Hum is probably the most well-known vegetarian restaurant in the city, which is why I don’t really need to include it in this list. It’s the place that everyone recommends to vegetarians, probably because it’s listed in the Lonely Planet and is touted as one of the best vegetarian restaurants in the world.
It is really good but there are so many other places that I’d recommend over Hum. Hum actually has two branches in Saigon and both are a bit more on the upscale side. The food is delicious but I suppose I’m more of a street food/hole-in-the-wall girl.
If you’re looking for a nicer night out, a place to bring colleagues to, or somewhere to have a romantic dinner, this is a great option for vegetarians and vegans. Everything I sampled there is really good!
Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City
Tippy’s
When it comes to Mexican food, Tippy’s is my favorite restaurant in town. When I lived in HCMC, I probably ate here once a week (but probably twice…) and it’s the first place I go whenever I visit.
There a handful of vegetarian items on the menu: from burritos to enchiladas to chilaquiles. No, it’s not exactly like my beloved Southern California Mexican food, but it’s as close as I’ve found in Asia. And they actually have real salsa! My go-to is the bean, cheese, and french fry burrito.
Al Sham
This Syrian-Lebanese restaurant is a gem. It’s small and unpretentious but they serve up the best Middle Eastern food in town and there are plenty of vegetarian options on the menu.
I’ve heard they’ll even make items vegan if you notify them ahead of time. They have it all, from falafel wraps (40,000 dong) to hummus (80,000 dong) to traditional flatbreads (70,000).
Plus, it’s actually really affordable considering the level of quality and love that’s put into their food. When you walk past Al Sham, chances are you’ll spot the Syrian owner cooking away or chatting with his wife.
The fact that the owner actually does the cooking, oversees the restaurant, and eats there day in and day out is always a good sign. He’s super friendly too. I love the shakshuka (80,000 dong) and moutabal (80,000 dong).
Tips for finding vegetarian Vietnamese food in Ho Chi Minh City
Chay = Vegetarian
The word chay in Vietnamese means vegetarian. This is literally the #1 thing you need to know if you’re a vegetarian in Vietnam. If you see the word chay on a restaurant sign, this means the entire menu will be fully vegetarian (and mostly vegan).
If any dish uses the word chay (pho chay = vegetarian pho) you can rest assured that the dish is vegetarian, including the broth. I’m a pretty strict vegetarian, which means I don’t eat things like animal-based broths or fish sauce. So chay restaurants fit with my personal requirements, which puts me at ease. While most items in chay restaurants are vegan, strict vegans will need to double check with the waiter, just in case.
Download the Happy Cow App
This app is the love of my vegetarian life. Seriously, I use this app when I visit any new city. It’ll list every vegan, vegetarian and veg-friendly restaurant and store near you and the reviews are super helpful. I don’t know how I ever lived without this app while traveling. It works in most cities but is super helpful here in HCMC because it’ll lead you to hard-to-find restaurants.
Try Mock Meat
Mock meat is common in Vietnam. I absolutely LOVE mock meat – trust me it features prominently in this blog – but I understand that many vegetarians and vegans detest it.
While fake meat is popular, vegetarian restaurants have tons of other options. So don’t stress if fake meat freaks you out. And if you love mock meat, you’ll be in heaven!
Useful words and phrases for vegetarians in Vietnam:
An chay – I eat vegetarian
Bahn – bread
Bo – butter
Bò – beef
Cá – fish
Chay – vegetarian
Com – rice
Gà – chicken
Mam tom – shrimp paste
Nuoc mam – fish sauce
Phô mai – cheese
Rau – vegetables
Sua – milk
Thịt heo – pork
Trung – eggs
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Haw! Haw!
I’m not vegetarian, but I do enjoy vegetarian food as long as there’s no nuts in them.
Or tofu!
p.s. I’m going to share your post all the same! 😀
Haha, I love nuts and tofu 😉 Thanks for sharing Victoria!!
You’re very welcome Justine!
Great post Justine! I have tried vegetarian food in Hanoi and it was good. They said that chicken, beef, pork are made from veggies but I don’t really know, haha. Anyway, it’s good to try.
Safe travel and keep up your excellent work 🙂
Thanks Luna! The fake meat here is pretty legit. Sometimes I’m fooled by how much it looks like real meat. Haha, they literally sell whole “chickens,” “squid” and everything you can think of at this fake meat store I go to. It’s crazy. I haven’t made it up to Hanoi yet, but I’m looking forward to doing some eating there when I do 🙂
This is just great. Do you know any health stores in Saigon where one can buy vegan supplements?
Thanks! I don’t but if you join the group Vegetarians and Vegans in Saigon on Facebook someone will point you in the right direction.
hi, can i ask about hanoi? I am travelling to hanoi for 5 days and i am very worried that i may not have anything much to eat. Any recommendations?
Hanoi is not as vegetarian friendly but you will not go hungry. Definitely download the Happy Cow app. It’s free. That will point you toward all the restaurants around you that are veg or have veg options. Most tourist restaurants have a veg section. And there are a few pure veg restaurants scattered around. You’ll be fine!
Hey Justine so glad ro come across this aeticle from u. We are hoping to move to HCMC in july/Aug and I am an indian vegetarian so this is super useful. I am going to narkt hus page fpr when I get there so i can refer to it. Thanks a ton. Again.
That’s exciting! The food here is so good and there are tons of pure veg restaurants. There is also a decent amount of Indian restaurants around town and shops that sell stuff to make Indian food at home!