Local guide · 4 places
Vegetarian food in Ho Chi Minh City
Eating vegetarian in Saigon is easy once you know the word chay. Buddhist vegetarian shops are everywhere in Cholon, serving noodle soups, rice plates and mock-meat dishes made from tofu, mushrooms and wheat gluten.
Many Vietnamese eat vegetarian on the 1st and 15th days of the lunar month, so chay shops are extra busy, and extra good, on those days.
Before you go
- Look for 'chay' on signs and menus; 'mặn' means the dish has meat.
- Fish sauce is common in regular Vietnamese food; chay shops use soy sauce instead.
- Some charity kitchens serve free or pay-what-you-can meals: be respectful and leave room for those who need it.
The places
Vegetarian Noodles, 124B Ngo Nhan Tinh
Hủ tiếu chay 124B Ngô Nhân TịnhCholon (District 5)Huge pot of vegetarian noodle soup with napa cabbage and lotus seeds, served on the 1st and 15th of the lunar month, 6–9am. Expect queues.
Man Tu Charity Kitchen
Bếp Thiện Nguyện Mãn Tự (quán chay 0 đồng)Ho Chi Minh CityFree vegetarian kitchen serving about 12 dishes. Lunch 11am–2pm, dinner 5–8pm. Please be respectful: it exists to feed people in need.
Buu Loi Ky Vegetarian
Bửu Lợi Ký – quán chayCholonChinese vegetarian noodles with fragrant satay broth and plant-based meatballs. Open 6am–1pm.
No. 7 Vegetarian
Quán Chay Số 7 Chợ LớnCholonVegetarian restaurant in Cholon with a big menu, known for crispy vegetarian banh xeo pancakes.