All over Vietnam, some Vietnamese dishes, ingredients or cooking methods are universal while others are uniquely local or regional. Saigon is no different. A couple of particular specialties to try are Banh Xeo (Vietnamese Omelette) and Chao Tom (Shrimp on Sugar Cane skewers). The adventurous may wish to try Chim Se Nuong (Grilled Sparrow Chicks)

Since Saigon has a sizeable foreign population, and there are restaurants catering specifically to a variety of non-Vietnamese cuisines!

Just reading our Saigon Restaurant Guide below will make you hungry. So, after an exciting Saigon Shopping spree, there is nothing better than to relax in beautiful surroundings and taste a variety of dishes to your heart's content. 

Food & Cuisine in Saigon

In Saigon, you will find cuisines such as Chinese, Japanese, Indian, French, Italian, American, etc. Top End hotels will usually have at least 1 of these, but there are also many independent restaurants run or managed by resident expats or overseas Vietnamese who have returned.

Many of the Mid range hotels have restaurants offering both national Vietnamese dishes and the local specialties as well as "Western" food. Smaller hotels and guesthouses will usually be able to offer at least some non-Vietnamese food, but it probably won't be "just like Grandma used to make".

We have collected the list of restaurants and eateries below to give you a place to start. However, please keep in mind that some of the heartiest, tastiest and most nutritious food in Saigon and all of Vietnam is served from nameless roadside stalls that appear on the sidewalk around 17:00 and disappear about midnight. Street eating is an institution in Saigon. Try it, you might like it!