Street Food – This word brings in a unique sort of sensory overload in anyone who has ever eaten street food. Ho Chi Minh City is filled to the brim with a cross-section of delicious, cheap and authentic meals that are also conveniently located all close together.
Co Giang Street, the gateway to the backpacker district’s end in Ho Chi Minh City, offers a peaceful ambiance with food stalls thoughtfully spaced along the street. It’s renowned for its truly ‘authentic’ and ‘Vietnamese’ culinary offerings, setting it apart from other city areas. As the sun sets, the street transforms with the warm glow of fluorescent lights, accompanied by the enticing sounds of sizzling barbecues, bustling woks, and bubbling cauldrons. The air fills with the alluring scent of freshly cooked food.
Don’t miss the mouthwatering ‘bo la lot,’ succulent beef wrapped in fragrant betel leaves. Co Giang Street also serves up other delicious delights like ‘Banh Tham Bi’ or ‘Silkworm Noodles,’ featuring tapioca noodles drenched in a rich coconut sauce, accompanied by vegetables and pork, and ‘Bun Bo Hue,’ a flavorful soup infused with lemongrass, chili, and generous cuts of meat, tantalizingly spiced with paprika
Location: District 1
Nguyen Thuong Hien Street, though narrow and dimly lit, is a vibrant culinary hub with plenty of gastronomic delights and entertainment. It’s a street that paints a unique scene—hundreds of diners seated on the sidewalk, relishing shellfish while sipping on local beer. Local musicians often bring their guitars, creating a lively atmosphere with groups of people joining in for acoustic sing-alongs.
This street is renowned for its seafood offerings, including oysters, clams, crab claws, and sea snails, all prepared in traditional styles. It’s also a go-to spot for fresh fruit juices, with tropical fruits freshly squeezed into flavorful concoctions. Don’t miss out on trying the ‘Hu Thieu Nam Vang Noodles,’ featuring slices of pork, whole shrimp, and quail eggs in a delectable sweet broth seasoned with shallots, spring onions, and kale—a truly mouthwatering experience
Location: District 3
Su Vanh Han Street, a bustling and winding thoroughfare, is affectionately known as ‘The Ghetto’ due to its abundance of Soviet-style buildings. This street boasts a striking contrast, with a dense collection of grey, aging structures amid the vibrant nightlife that surrounds it. Here, you’ll find a diverse mix of people—both young and old, locals and foreigners—hurrying to the various street-side stalls or comfortably seated on plastic stools, savoring their delectable treats.
Su Vanh Han Street is celebrated for its ‘banh xeo,’ savory crepes generously filled with pork and bean sprouts, skillfully cooked over open flames. Another beloved dish is ‘mi Viet tiem,’ featuring egg noodles paired with duck in a richly aromatic broth. At the street’s end, you’ll discover a unique dessert stand offering a platter of 16 different Vietnamese desserts, crafted from rice and coconut milk, creating a delightful, colorful, and gooey indulgence
Location: District 10
Phan Van Han Street is a lively stretch adorned with budget-friendly food stalls that draw in both local students and residents. Space here is at a premium, as the bustling street is packed with vendors and customers jostling for room. Naked fluorescent lamps cast stark shadows over the array of shellfish and snail vendors, ‘banh xeo’ stalls, and soup stands nestled next to compact houses, creating a stark contrast to the nearby glitz and glamour of Saigon City Center.
Between 6:30 PM and 8 PM, this area comes alive, teeming with people seeking culinary delights. Some of the must-try dishes here include ‘bot chien,’ fried rice flour cubes, ‘mi vit tiem,’ featuring fresh yellow noodles paired with aromatic duck, and ‘Banh Da Xuc Hen,’ a generously sized rice paper crisp infused with hints of sesame and coconut, crowned with a small mound of clams fried in lemongrass
Location: Binh Thanh district
Van Kiep Street in Ho Chi Minh City is an exhilarating showcase of Vietnamese street food. Positioned at the crossroads of two prominent districts, this street boasts a remarkable distinction—it proudly presents nearly 90% of Vietnam’s diverse street cuisine, all within a short stretch of a few hundred meters.
Each street stall here sports eye-catching neon boards listing their delectable offerings. This vibrant area is frequented by a youthful crowd, who gather around plastic tables, animatedly conversing and laughing. The atmosphere is brimming with energy, making it an ideal spot to immerse yourself in Vietnam’s rich culture.
Van Kiep Street is renowned for hosting some of the finest Vietnamese street food experiences. Among the must-try dishes are the spicy marinated octopus, grilled to perfection over open barbecues, tempting passersby with its enticing aroma. There’s also ‘bun mam,’ a seafood noodle dish bursting with wholesome ingredients, and ‘banh canh cua,’ a unique and savory slippery noodle specialty from the southern part of Vietnam
Location: Binh Thanh district
Vinh Khanh Street in Ho Chi Minh City is a bustling and lively hub for street food enthusiasts. It’s a vibrant and dazzling celebration of culinary delights. Each night, a youthful crowd flocks to this street, dressed in stylish attire, sporting tattoos, and flaunting elaborate hairstyles. Adding to the lively atmosphere, a group of spirited youngsters arrives on motorcycles, carrying massive amplifiers to belt out karaoke tunes for the crowd. To further enhance the experience, fire eaters and street dancers perform.
This is the go-to destination for those young at heart who relish a lively party atmosphere combined with exceptional food. Vinh Khan Street is renowned for its seafood and shellfish offerings. ‘Oc Huong Rang Muoi Ot’ (fried sea snails with salt and chili), ‘So Diep Nuong No Hanh’ (grilled scallops with spring onions and peanuts), and ‘suon heo ngu vi’ (pork ribs in a five-spice marinade) are among the most popular dishes.
Another specialty of this area is the grill-it-yourself meat experience. A coal stove is placed on your table, allowing you to grill chunks of marinated beef, pork, goat, and fish to your liking.
Location: District 4
Often likened to an open wardrobe of culinary delights, this street offers such a vast array of food choices that it’s best to follow your nose and let your inner foodie instincts lead the way. The locals are well-versed in the best food spots here, so it’s advisable to have a knowledgeable companion guide you through this culinary adventure.
This street is a lively mishmash of motorbikes, cars, pedestrians, food vendors, and sidewalk diners indulging in their meals. Among the top culinary highlights are ‘Banh Canh Cua,’ a slippery and flavorful dish featuring thick, doughy noodles and fresh crabs, as well as ‘Banh Xeo,’ delectable savory rice pancakes. One unique feature of this street is the mobile grilled meat carts, which are nearly impossible to resist. Additionally, this street is renowned for its refreshing pomelo juice.
While Ho Chi Minh City boasts a glamorous nightlife, its true authentic charm resides in its streets—through its food, its people, and the rich culture that permeates every corner of the city. So, go ahead, take a bite out of Ho Chi Minh City, and rest assured, you won’t be disappointed. Hit the streets and savor the flavors!
Location: District 1
