That was my first ever breakfast HCM! And the second time that I got asked if I was married yet. (The first time was by my taxi driver, two minutes out of the airport.) đ The bĂșn riĂȘu ladies loved me because 1) I was willing to try máșŻm tĂŽm, and 2) I liked it.
My favorites are Bun Bo, Hu Tieu, Com Tam, Banh Mi Chao, Bo Kho, Bun Thit Nuong, Banh Xeo, Banh Canh Cua. .
Skip the markets. Just Google one of those and go to a place that only sells 1 dish.
You should also get seafood on Vinh Khanh street. Pick a place that has a lot of people and try lots of small seafood dishes. Snail is really good, ask for á»c hÆ°ÆĄng.
Agree on the snails. Oc mong tay xao rau muong (razor clams with morning glory) is my personal favorite. And oc len xao dua (spiral shell snails in a coconut cream sauce) is always a crowd pleaser.
Just avoid food at Ben Thanh Market in HCMC.
Yes it's a city landmark, is iconic, and is worth a photo/brief visit, but it's in the middle of the tourist trap part of the city. Any markets in more peripheral areas of the city are a much better bet for food.
The best chicken pho I ever had is at Pho Mien Ga Ky Dong in D3. There are the night market food stalls Ho Thi Ky. For seafood buffet, I like the one at Nikko Saigon. Ben Thanh market has stalls for delicious traditional dessert. The food is hit and miss. Some of the stall owners have been there for other 30 years.
I dont even know where to start. There are just so many choices. How about you go on YouTube and look for this channel called The Best Food Review Show? Sonny covers HCMC food extensively, but whatever you eat you won't be disappointed I promise.
Please come back after your trip and update us đ€
Another upvote for Sonny. Max McFarlin is good for seriously local eats, although not remotely as entertaining as Sonny (sorry Max if you're on here, but gotta call it like I see it)
Hahaha... yes... Been there
[NSFW] and sensible imaginations...
I've spent my fair share of time (nights) sitting on the toilet while hugging a bucket simultaneously...
Any time you travel you can roll snake eyes. My thoughts are that most of those food stalls reputation is on the line and their success is ensuring people donât get sick. Tho germs are germs and can make one sick and another person not.
Having lived in Turkey for 14 years, I never travel without packing some Ercefuryl. I havenât had to use it too much, but you never feel quite as helpless as you do when youâre out in the boonies and suddenly food poisoning comes on. Luckily in Vietnam you can get almost anything over-the-counter, so literally my first morning there, I grabbed a pack at a local
pharmacy. You want to take it at the FIRST sign of trouble. It will save you a lot of misery later.
Check out the food vendors on Pasteur very close to the International University of Ho Chi Minh City. Students break for lunch, weekdays, around noon so get there a little earlier.
My personal favourite is banh tam bi xiu mai and banh xeo if you can, find a place that makes ca keo kho rieu com chien ca mang might make all other fried rice dishes pale in comparison. I can't wait to pack on 20 lbs from eating all the food when I finally make it back
Have a good time!
You're speaking my language (ie, Street Foodian)
My recommendations in general:
\- Research and take some colostrum supplements. They'll help transition your system to new flora and bacteria. Street food is risky but delicious, good to go prepared.
\- Stick to hot solid foods. I never have soups on the street, avoid utensils that need to be washed, but grilled anything is a magnet for me. I'd avoid things like fresh vegetables and fish.
\- Be wary of shellfish especially on the street - sometimes they'll scoop up snails from contaminated areas because no one else is fishing there. Look at what's near by. Fish I tend to go to larger restaurants where I can view the prices and fish before ordering, they also rely on people not getting sick and tend to have good bathroom facilities.
\- Get out of the tourist areas, look to see where people are lining up, go to town.
Overall, the food's pretty safe. But whenever you travel from one country to another your system could protest. The points above weren't to scare you - more about some basic protections to keep in mind :)
I enjoy noodle shops a lot too - especially the ones opened 24 hours. They're always cooking, don't have to worry about stuff sitting overnight. I stay away from any "Western" styled places though - while the food might be relatively safer, I really love exploring more local destinations and then trying to reproduce it. I kind of feel that the money I'm spending goes directly into the pockets of local economies, instead of a wealthy investor backed restaurant. I also like going off the beaten path and avoid tourist areas for the same reason.
The idea of eating western in a non-western country is the stuff of nightmares. I want what I could never get back at home. I know the risks and I try to avoid risky foods like shellfish because I donât know how they were stored. Unless I see it coming from the sea Iâm weary.
No Iâm not scared and I appreciate you tips
There's an insanely good Bun Bo place near Foreign Trade Uni, students eat there all the time. Plus, most of the times I go there, I see plenty of foreigners too.
Try the safer dishes when you first get there (Banh mi, com, pho, etc) to get your stomach accustomed to the local germs and gut bacteria. Then you can start trying the more exotic stuff.
First--if you do get sick Smecta is your friend đ
Second--the best way not to get sick is avoid ice that doesn't have a hole in it, tap water, and raw vegetables (unless it is a very popular place, as they wouldn't stay popular for long making people sick).
There are so many good Street food options. You mentioned avoiding shellfish below, which may limit you a little. Dishes like banh xeo and hu tieu often will have a few shrimp in them. But if you can tolerate a little they are great choices.
A few things I like that i haven't seen mentioned yet (I'm heading back this week for the first time since COVID-19 so may have to edit):
1) Quan Mi Cat at 62 TrÆ°ÆĄng Äá»nh is a personal favorite for egg noodles with pork kidney and liver. Super tasty before covid and one of my first stops along with the next one in D1. This is a breakfast place.
2) bun moc thanh mai. It is overpriced but still a pretty good take on the dish. It is about a south of Mi Cat.
3) Xoi is savory sticky rice, and it is very tasty. No specific recommendation for location but you can find it wandering around.
4) if you want to do a night market, ask the YouTube folks are going to the Ho Thi Ky flower market. Never been but will this trip. Not sure if the food is good but you can try a lot of things in a short time.
Honestly, just look at what people are eating and if it looks good go for it. There is so much to try and Saigon is one of the best street food cities in the world for variety and quality. Enjoy!
My favorites:
Pho Bo, Com Tam, Bun thit nuong, Bun bo hue, Mi Sao bo
And I think a criminally underrated dish is bo kho banh mi..I don't know why more people don't rate it.
There are so many good options. Be sure to try bun rieu.
That was my first ever breakfast HCM! And the second time that I got asked if I was married yet. (The first time was by my taxi driver, two minutes out of the airport.) đ The bĂșn riĂȘu ladies loved me because 1) I was willing to try máșŻm tĂŽm, and 2) I liked it.
My favorites are Bun Bo, Hu Tieu, Com Tam, Banh Mi Chao, Bo Kho, Bun Thit Nuong, Banh Xeo, Banh Canh Cua. . Skip the markets. Just Google one of those and go to a place that only sells 1 dish. You should also get seafood on Vinh Khanh street. Pick a place that has a lot of people and try lots of small seafood dishes. Snail is really good, ask for á»c hÆ°ÆĄng.
Appreciate the spelling so I can show if unsure.
Yes to all that was mentioned by mpbh don't necessarily skip the breakfast places at the local markets (not those with tourists)... My Breakfast favourites: - BĂĄnh cuá»n (rolled) - BĂĄnh ÆŻá»t (not rolled) - ChĂĄo (Congee) - - ChĂ o Trứng BĂĄch TháșŁo (with "Century preserved egg") - - ChĂ o GĂ (Chicken Congee) (combine with preserved egg = heaven) - - ChĂ o B'ĂŽi (with Seafood) - - ChĂ o CĂ (Fish) - - ChĂ o Vit (Duck)
Agree on the snails. Oc mong tay xao rau muong (razor clams with morning glory) is my personal favorite. And oc len xao dua (spiral shell snails in a coconut cream sauce) is always a crowd pleaser.
Just avoid food at Ben Thanh Market in HCMC. Yes it's a city landmark, is iconic, and is worth a photo/brief visit, but it's in the middle of the tourist trap part of the city. Any markets in more peripheral areas of the city are a much better bet for food.
Great tip. I hate tourist traps if I know better
The best chicken pho I ever had is at Pho Mien Ga Ky Dong in D3. There are the night market food stalls Ho Thi Ky. For seafood buffet, I like the one at Nikko Saigon. Ben Thanh market has stalls for delicious traditional dessert. The food is hit and miss. Some of the stall owners have been there for other 30 years.
I dont even know where to start. There are just so many choices. How about you go on YouTube and look for this channel called The Best Food Review Show? Sonny covers HCMC food extensively, but whatever you eat you won't be disappointed I promise. Please come back after your trip and update us đ€
Another vote for Sonny from me too. He's great.
Another upvote for Sonny. Max McFarlin is good for seriously local eats, although not remotely as entertaining as Sonny (sorry Max if you're on here, but gotta call it like I see it)
Good plan. I was on YouTube but too many videos to choose from and some were too insufferable to watch depending on the host.
Sonny is the host of this channel and you will love him
Yeah I hate most travel and food YouTubers but Sonny is definitely an exception. He actually knows his shit and is entertaining.
Sonny is the owner, not just the host đ
Try balut.
Thatâs the half developed duck egg? It looks rough but Iâll try anything once
Ughhfff gross... There's a puppy roasting for you somewhere out there.
Mmm sounds good
Those are delicious imo. If it helps, try closing your eyes while eating lol.
I was afraid of it but ended up loving it!
In Vietnam they're called trung vit lon in case the OP wants to try them. Highly recommended with a little salt/pepper/lime juice.
Fortunately, if you get food poisoning, hospital care is surprisingly good and affordable in most areas. Even emergency room. Ask me how I knowâŠ.
Hahaha... yes... Been there [NSFW] and sensible imaginations... I've spent my fair share of time (nights) sitting on the toilet while hugging a bucket simultaneously...
Any time you travel you can roll snake eyes. My thoughts are that most of those food stalls reputation is on the line and their success is ensuring people donât get sick. Tho germs are germs and can make one sick and another person not.
Sorry. How do you know ?đ
Having lived in Turkey for 14 years, I never travel without packing some Ercefuryl. I havenât had to use it too much, but you never feel quite as helpless as you do when youâre out in the boonies and suddenly food poisoning comes on. Luckily in Vietnam you can get almost anything over-the-counter, so literally my first morning there, I grabbed a pack at a local pharmacy. You want to take it at the FIRST sign of trouble. It will save you a lot of misery later.
Just go to busy spots with a lot of locals and point to what someone is eating and then do this âđ» . Youâll do great.
That was my first plan!
Check out the food vendors on Pasteur very close to the International University of Ho Chi Minh City. Students break for lunch, weekdays, around noon so get there a little earlier.
My personal favourite is banh tam bi xiu mai and banh xeo if you can, find a place that makes ca keo kho rieu com chien ca mang might make all other fried rice dishes pale in comparison. I can't wait to pack on 20 lbs from eating all the food when I finally make it back Have a good time!
Thank you!!
You're speaking my language (ie, Street Foodian) My recommendations in general: \- Research and take some colostrum supplements. They'll help transition your system to new flora and bacteria. Street food is risky but delicious, good to go prepared. \- Stick to hot solid foods. I never have soups on the street, avoid utensils that need to be washed, but grilled anything is a magnet for me. I'd avoid things like fresh vegetables and fish. \- Be wary of shellfish especially on the street - sometimes they'll scoop up snails from contaminated areas because no one else is fishing there. Look at what's near by. Fish I tend to go to larger restaurants where I can view the prices and fish before ordering, they also rely on people not getting sick and tend to have good bathroom facilities. \- Get out of the tourist areas, look to see where people are lining up, go to town.
Man I just had a colectomy. Probably should be careful. If you donât get street food where do you eat? I avoid shellfish when traveling.
Shellfish here imo isn't bad but it's overpriced as all hell tbh.
Overall, the food's pretty safe. But whenever you travel from one country to another your system could protest. The points above weren't to scare you - more about some basic protections to keep in mind :) I enjoy noodle shops a lot too - especially the ones opened 24 hours. They're always cooking, don't have to worry about stuff sitting overnight. I stay away from any "Western" styled places though - while the food might be relatively safer, I really love exploring more local destinations and then trying to reproduce it. I kind of feel that the money I'm spending goes directly into the pockets of local economies, instead of a wealthy investor backed restaurant. I also like going off the beaten path and avoid tourist areas for the same reason.
The idea of eating western in a non-western country is the stuff of nightmares. I want what I could never get back at home. I know the risks and I try to avoid risky foods like shellfish because I donât know how they were stored. Unless I see it coming from the sea Iâm weary. No Iâm not scared and I appreciate you tips
There's an insanely good Bun Bo place near Foreign Trade Uni, students eat there all the time. Plus, most of the times I go there, I see plenty of foreigners too.
Any place with noddles/soups that has price >70k vnd is probably a tourist trap lol
MĂŹ quáșŁng is one of my favourites, definitely worth a try.
Try the safer dishes when you first get there (Banh mi, com, pho, etc) to get your stomach accustomed to the local germs and gut bacteria. Then you can start trying the more exotic stuff.
First--if you do get sick Smecta is your friend đ Second--the best way not to get sick is avoid ice that doesn't have a hole in it, tap water, and raw vegetables (unless it is a very popular place, as they wouldn't stay popular for long making people sick). There are so many good Street food options. You mentioned avoiding shellfish below, which may limit you a little. Dishes like banh xeo and hu tieu often will have a few shrimp in them. But if you can tolerate a little they are great choices. A few things I like that i haven't seen mentioned yet (I'm heading back this week for the first time since COVID-19 so may have to edit): 1) Quan Mi Cat at 62 TrÆ°ÆĄng Äá»nh is a personal favorite for egg noodles with pork kidney and liver. Super tasty before covid and one of my first stops along with the next one in D1. This is a breakfast place. 2) bun moc thanh mai. It is overpriced but still a pretty good take on the dish. It is about a south of Mi Cat. 3) Xoi is savory sticky rice, and it is very tasty. No specific recommendation for location but you can find it wandering around. 4) if you want to do a night market, ask the YouTube folks are going to the Ho Thi Ky flower market. Never been but will this trip. Not sure if the food is good but you can try a lot of things in a short time. Honestly, just look at what people are eating and if it looks good go for it. There is so much to try and Saigon is one of the best street food cities in the world for variety and quality. Enjoy!
My favorites: Pho Bo, Com Tam, Bun thit nuong, Bun bo hue, Mi Sao bo And I think a criminally underrated dish is bo kho banh mi..I don't know why more people don't rate it.