Discovering foods in Saigon

Different from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City is a modern city with many architectures influenced by foreign architecture. Foods in Saigon are also combination of other local and nation.

1. Special dishes in Ho Chi Minh City

a. Bakery

It shouldn’t be hard to find someone selling Bánh Mì in Saigon. Look down any street, you’re bound to see a street food vendor filling freshly delivered bread with various fillings from a fried egg to grilled pork meatballs. You’re probably thinking, what’s so special about a sandwich? Take one bite of any Bánh Mì in Vietnam and you’ll instantly realize that you’ve been missing out your entire life. The bread is the standout feature; perfectly crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside at the same time.

Don’t miss the motorbikes stopping by throughout the day to deliver fresh bread. This baguette sandwich is priced between VND 10,000 and VND 15,000, with pickled vegetables, pate, butter, soy sauce, cilantro, chilies, and hot peppers. Quick and tasty, you can also choose from a variety of meat fillings for your banh mi, including roasted pork belly, fried fish with turmeric and dill, boiled sausages, meatballs, boiled chicken, fried egg, grilled pork loin, and Chinese barbecued pork.

b. Pho

Pho is rice noodle that’s served in a flavourful soup with beef, bean sprouts, lime wedges, and greens such as basil, mint, cilantro, and onions with a side of chilli sauce for added spice. A basic bowl contains beef slices, beef meatballs or beef flank, but diners can also opt for more exotic ingredients such as beef tendon, thinly-sliced pig stomach, and flank with cartilage. This popular breakfast option is priced between VND 20,000 and VND 30,000 at any local restaurant or street market in Ho Chi Minh City.

c. Shellfish

Best enjoyed with cold beers, shellfish refers to platters of Vietnamese shellfish that are prepared in varying methods. Due to its popularity, there are plenty of roadside stalls and inexpensive restaurants with raw snails, blood cockles, clams, shrimps, and crabs displayed out front. After selecting those that strike your fancy, you can enjoy them grilled, sautéed, curried, or steamed. Priced at VND 20,000 onwards, we highly recommend grilled mussels with scallion oil and peanuts, blood cockles sautéed in tamarind sauce, and clams steamed with lemongrass.

d. Vietnamese spring rolls

Spring rolls are the famous dish of many nations of the Asian region. In every nation, they have different ingredient. In Vietnam, there comprise vermicelli noodles, pork slices, shrimp, basil, and lettuce tightly wrapped in translucent rice papers. Due to its very subtle flavor, you can dip it in a mix of freshly ground chili and hoisin-based dipping sauce topped with crushed peanuts. This traditional appetizer is a healthier alternative to cha gio, which is a deep-fried egg roll made with a combination of bean noodles, minced pork, and various spices.

e. Banh xeo

Banh xeo or crispy pancake is a savory pancake that’s made of rice flour, coconut milk, and turmeric, stuffed with ingredients such as pork slices, shrimps, sliced onions, bean sprouts, and button mushrooms. Unlike the ones you find in Nha Trang and Hanoi, banh xeo in Ho Chi Minh City is much smaller in portion as it is usually eaten as a snack or appetizer. The best way to enjoy banh xeo is by wrapping it in mustard leaf, lettuce leaves or rice wrappers, together with mint leaves, basil, herbs, and sweet fermented peanut butter sauce. Lastly, dip it in a sweet and sour fish sauce.

f. Hu tieu

Hu tieu is a subtler version of pho, featuring a clear pork-based broth, flat rice noodles, and an assortment of pork toppings. There are also countless variations available in Ho Chi Minh City, though the most popular one is hu tieu xuong, which is topped with pork ribs. Alternatively, you can enjoy hu tieu with shrimp, squid, or fish if you’re not a fan of pork. A bowl of hu tieu is usually priced at VND 18,000 at street stalls and VND 25,000 onwards if you’re dining at more established restaurants.

>>> Further Information:  Review luxury hotels in ho chi minh city

2. Where to eat

a. Eat at street food carts

There are many street food carts on the street and people can order some dishes and enjoy it on the walk side. These carts have become familiar with many Vietnamese people for many years. It attracts many people by convenience, cheaper price, friendliness... Walking on the street in Saigon, we can easy to street food carts and choose one of them to enjoy Saigon's dishes.

b. Eat at the restaurant

This form is popular in every nation. Ho Chi Minh City restaurants are one of the main attractions of the city for both travelers and expats. The main draw is the great value for money for many of the city’s eateries. You can get an excellent meal in Saigon for only a few dollars.

While Vietnamese food is king, you will also find a large choice of affordable to luxury Japanese, Korean, Chinese, American and French restaurants. New options and new concepts are opening almost daily and you will certainly need more than a trip to sample the best restaurants in Saigon. Wine is relatively inexpensive as import taxes are kept to a reasonable rate.

Besides, people can try to enjoy Saigon foods from perch. Propeller in Bay Hotel can be considered one of the best rooftop bars in Ho Chi Minh City. Propeller, which was built in 2016 in true Singapore style, will bring tourists a wonderful experience through its open space. Located on the rooftop of a 16-storey hotel, Propeller Bar is a great place for travelers to gaze with veneration at Ho Chi Minh City at night. The bar is a great place to hang out and enjoy the cocktails on the rooftop and see the bustling nightlife of the downtown area because the propeller bar is located in a favorable location in Ho Chi Minh City. On the rooftop bar, you can easily take the heart-breaking view of the city at night. Moreover, you can drink, eat, talk and listen to beautiful songs. At Propeller Bar, there is a combination of Classic and Electric dance music. You can also enjoy the famous Asian cuisine which was created by the best chefs of Propeller Bar.

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