Local guide · 18 places
The best noodle soups in Ho Chi Minh City
Noodle soup is breakfast, lunch and late-night food in Saigon. Pho gets the fame, but locals are just as loyal to hu tieu (a clear pork-and-seafood broth with rice noodles, often in Phnom Penh style), Chinese egg noodles with wontons, herbal duck noodles and spicy Hue-style beef noodles.
These are shops local food creators keep coming back to, from an 8,000-dong cart to old family shops in Cholon. Prices are low, portions are made to order, and most places add fresh herbs, lime and chilli at the table.
Before you go
- Order 'kho' (dry) to get the noodles with sauce and the broth on the side.
- Fresh herbs and chilli on the table are free; taste the broth before you add sauces.
- Popular carts sell out early, so go before noon for morning-only places.
The places
8,000-dong Noodle Cart
Hủ tiếu gõ 8K Nguyễn Duy DươngCholonTiny street cart selling noodle soup for just 8,000 dong a bowl. Open around 5pm–9pm at 20 Nguyen Duy Duong.
Thiem Huy Noodles
Thiêm Huy Mì GiaCholon (District 5)Started as a street cart nearly 50 years ago. A favourite for herbal duck noodles, at 455 Nguyen Trai.
Crab Noodle Soup 260
Bánh canh cua 260CholonThick crab-and-shrimp noodle soup with pork hock; add fried dough sticks. Open 6am–9pm.
Herbal Duck Noodles, 328 Ba Dinh
Mì vịt tiềm 328 Ba ĐìnhDistrict 8Budget lunch spot in District 8 for herbal duck noodles.
Phuong's Hue Beef Noodles
Bún bò Huế PhượngCholonSpicy Hue-style beef noodle soup with beef, tendon, pork hock and sausage. Open early morning and late afternoon.
Nguu Ky Noodles
Hủ tiếu mì Ngầu KýCholonEgg noodles with wontons and congee with century egg and tofu skin. Open 6–11:30am and 3–9pm.
To Ky Satay Venison Noodles
Tô Ký – hủ tiếu sa tế naiCholon60-year family recipe for satay venison noodle soup at 331 Minh Phung. Open 7–11am and 5–9pm.
Pork Rib Noodle Soup, Bui Huu Nghia
Bánh canh sườn cây Bùi Hữu NghĩaCholon (District 5)Thick-noodle soup (banh canh) topped with giant pork ribs, made famous after a celebrity recommendation.
Huynh Le Noodle Cart
Mì Gia Huỳnh LêCholonChinese egg-noodle and wonton cart with a 31-year family recipe. Open 6:20–10am and 4:30–9pm.
Sam Ky Herbal Duck Noodles
Mì vịt tiềm Sâm KýCholon (District 5)Herbal-braised duck with egg noodles in District 5.
Kim Khanh Phnom Penh Noodles
Hủ tiếu Nam Vang Kim KhánhHo Chi Minh CityHu tieu Nam Vang (Phnom Penh-style noodle soup) in central Saigon.
Tien Nhan Goat Noodle Soup
Hủ tiếu dê Tiến NhànCholonUnusual hu tieu noodle soup made with goat, in Cholon.
Phuong's Noodle Shop
Quán Phượng (bún riêu, hủ tiếu)Cholon (District 5)District 5 shop serving both crab-and-tomato noodle soup (bun rieu) and hu tieu noodles.
Sidewalk Noodles, 187 Huynh Man Dat
Hủ tiếu vỉa hè 187 Huỳnh Mẫn ĐạtCholonCheap and tasty sidewalk hu tieu (around 30,000 dong). Evenings from 5pm.
Phuoc Vinh Satay Venison Noodles
Hủ tiếu sa tế nai Phước VinhHo Chi Minh CityThird-generation Chinese shop serving hu tieu with satay venison (about 95,000 dong).
Vinh Phat Hong Kong Duck Noodles
Mì vịt tiềm Vĩnh Phát Hong KongCholon (District 5)Hong Kong-style herbal duck noodles at 866 Nguyen Chi Thanh.
Luc Ky Noodles
Lục Ký (hủ tiếu mì xá xíu)Cholon (District 5)Egg noodles with char siu pork, and noodles with chicken and dried fish, in District 5.
Dat Thep Pho
Phở Đất ThépCholon (District 5)Pho shop in District 5 with generous toppings and a side bowl of blood pudding and egg.