Table of Content
- Table of Content
- South of Vietnam – Vietnam Vegan Street Food in Ho Chi Minh City
- Central Vietnam
- North of Vietnam
- Final Note
Does that sound like you? Well, welcome! I am a traveler, who loves to eat good food, aside for that I am a very picky eater who happens to be a vegan. Vietnam is one of the most vegan friendly places I have been to. The lack of meat in dishes definitely does not mean a lack of flavor. Of course, some places – especially rural areas – might not be as familiar with the concept of veganism, but they are always very kind and make a genuine effort to be accommodating. One of the main reasons why Vietnam is a vegan paradise is the affordability of fruits, vegetables, and meals at local restaurants. I have traveled through Vietnam from Ho Chị Minh city, all the way up to the Chinese borders, I ate at lots of different places and picked the best ones to share with you! Ready for some of the most delicious vegan places around Vietnam? Let’s dive in!
South of Vietnam – Vietnam Vegan Street Food in Ho Chi Minh City
You will likely start your trip in Ho Chi Minh city; if not just begin reading from the bottom. Ho Chi Minh city is fantastic for vegan food, offering everything from Bánh Mì and phở to curries, vegan buffets, and ice creams.
If you are as much of a coffee lover as I am, you should try coffee served in a fresh coconut at Tonkin Garden Egg Coffee & Eatery. They also offer oat milk and coconut milk for lattes and cappuccinos. However, be careful when ordering coffee – if you ask for a traditional coconut coffee, it contains condensed milk, so it is not vegan friendly. In addition to coffee, they serve tea, breakfast foods (though none of them are vegan), and juices. They also give you complimentary tea with your order to help cool you down and cleanse your palate. This coffee shop is a bit higher in price with coffee costing around 2.50£.
Vietnamese Coffee
Banh Mi
Start your day right with a Bánh Mì! Head to one of the many Bánh Mì Xanh – Bánh Mì Chay locations. Their Bánh Mì with peanut butter and sweet chilli sauce is absolutely delicious – so good, I’m constantly recreating it at home. And the best part? It will only cost you 1£.
Fancy a cheap lunch but overwhelmed by the choices? Head to Quán Chay Mơ – Buffet Chay and try a bit of everything. Their selection ranges from curry, fresh vegetables, phở, and spring rolls, to different varieties of tofu and much more. Make sure to visit earlier in the day, as they sell out fast. It will cost you just under 2£.
Vietnam Vegan Street Food Restaurant
For dinner, head to Nâunâu – Eat vegan, a family operated business with impeccable food. They also make their own kombucha and ice cream, both of which are delicious! While their regular menu is amazing, I always opted for one of their daily specials, which were as good as it gets. The family who runs the restaurant is also very friendly, so you definitely should not miss out on this place. The prices are between 2-3£.
Central Vietnam
Vietnam Vegan Street Food in Da Lat
Even though I started my journey through central Vietnam in Da Lat, I personally did not find the vegan food there to be very good. I only spent a couple of days there, so it was probably just a case of bad picks. There are still plenty of vegan options, but I don’t like to recommend restaurants that I haven’t personally tried.
Vietnam Vegan Street Food in Nha Trang
My next stop was Nha Trang. While I wasn’t as mesmerized by the place itself, the food was absolutely delicious – some of it was probably the best I had in Vietnam. As Nha Trang is a popular destination for beach holidays, the abundance of western food options reflects that, and food prices are slightly higher – especially for Western dishes.
Part of me was craving some peanut butter on toast. Even though I try to eat as locally as possible and stick to regional dishes one morning I decided to stray. The almond butter and fruit toast at IVEGAN SUPERSHOP NHA TRANG was delicious! They also serve smoothies, smoothie bowls, and other western vegan dishes. Toast and a smoothie combo was around 5£.
Vietnamese Coffee
For coffee, try one of their seasonal cold brews at THAN Cafe, or head over to DOUBLE SHOT coffee. A cup costs around 2£.
Banh Mi
Fancy a Bánh Mì? Say no more – head to Bánh Mì Chay Linh Thứu. The bread pate is crispy, delicious, and will only cost you under 1£.
Vietnamese Salad
One of the best salads that I had was a banana blossom salad at Grounded Chay. This restaurant is uniquely themed like an airplane, with menus printed on “safety” cards. The family who runs it is incredibly kind and the food is very tasty. The cost is around 2-3£.
Vietnamese Pho
The best Phở I had in Vietnam was at Mr Khang Vegan Deli, it was hearty, packed with flavor, and the amount of thick noodles was perfect, they also do amazing Bánh Mì. Everything here is very reasonably priced ranging from 1.5-3£.
Vietnam Vegan Street Food Restaurant
One last recommendation for Nhà Trang is Muro Organic Vegan Restaurant. The atmosphere of the place is very cozy, making it perfect for an evening meal. The owner speaks English fluently and takes the time to explain the ingredients he uses and where they come from. We ordered the lemongrass tofu, which was delicious, but the highlight was the mango – a special for the night that the owner personally recommended. The food looked so good that I could not wait to dig in before taking a picture. Two fresh coconuts, tofu, rice, and the salad cost us around 8£ in total.
Vietnam Vegan Street Food in Hoi An
Now, let’s move onto my ultimate favourite food destination in all of Vietnam – Hội An. This stunning town is not only a fest for the eyes, with its friendly locals, glowing lanterns, and talented tailors who can craft anything your heart desires, but it is also a paradise for food lovers.
Banh Mi
Let’s start strong with one of the tastiest and most affordable bánh mì I had in Vietnam at Lê Hội Bánh Mì. The lady who makes it is very skilled with her chopsticks and her goal is to provide food that anyone can afford. The price is 0.50£.
Cao Lau
For lunch or dinner, you should head to Chickpea Eatery, they serve veganised local dishes that are packed with flavor. You absolutely must try the Cao Lau, a traditional dish for Central Vietnam. They also offer cooking classes where you can learn to prepare four different Vietnamese dishes. The class costs around 30£ and lasts 3-4 hours. Additionally, they have a partner restaurant in Da Nang that also offers cooking classes, but only on specific days of the week. The food is a bit pricier with dishes ranging from 2.50-4£
Chicken Rice & Desserts
Now onto my ultimate favourite restaurant in Vietnam, The Seeds Plant Based Foods & Dessert/ Tiệm Chay. It is only open on Saturdays and Sundays, so make sure to plan accordingly. It is a bit tricky to find as it is located in a very small alleyway, but once you do, it is absolutely worth it. We went to this restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and dinner because we could not get enough. The owner is extremely lovely and her English is excellent. She shared a lot about the restaurant, the food she makes, and her life in Hoi An. Be sure to stop by, I can honestly recommend pretty much everything on the menu! Not only is the food delicious, but it’s also extremely affordable. There are some amazing “deals” where you get your main dish, a drink, and a cinnamon bun or banana bread for around 2.5£.
Vietnamese Vegan Ice Cream
If you have a sweet tooth and love ice cream, Hội An is perfect for that. Either head to GioiA Gelati Hội An, which offers multiple vegan options, ranging from chocolate, peanut butter, to fruit sorbet. Your second option is Freezedom Hội An, where the ice cream is prepackaged so you can enjoy it at home! The first option’s price ranges between 2-3£ for 2 scoops, while the second option’s price is a bit higher with 2£ for a small tub (equivalent to 1 scoop).
Vietnam Vegan Street Food in Da Nang
Moving on to another stop along the coastline – Da Nang. Unfortunately, I have only spent 2 days there as I had a flight to catch for Northern Vietnam, but I am seriously considering going back because the food was spectacular!
Vietnamese Coffee
I started my day at a coffee shop called Soncha Roastery. Their cold brew was delicious and the atmosphere was very cozy. It is also very close to the train station, so it is quite convenient if you need a pick-me-up after a long journey. The Cold brew is just under 2£.
Vietnam Vegan Street Food Restaurant
For lunch, you should head to Passionate Heart, they have a selection of soups, dumplings, wontons, salads, everything is very fresh and tasty! Prices start at 2£.
Banh Mi
Since there are a lot of long-haul bus journeys, I always buy a Bánh Mì for the road. I would recommend you to do the same as the food at the stops the bus drivers make is not always the most vegan friendly. For both dinner and to buy some Bánh Mì for my time at the airport, I went to LoviGo Vegan, the food was amazing! Their phở was very tasty, and I bought a couple of different Bánh Mì. One was quite spicy, but both were so flavorful – they did ask if I was okay with spice, so it is possible to have it without the chilli. Prices of Bánh Mì and Phở were both just over 1£ each.
North of Vietnam
Vietnam Vegan Street Food in Hanoi
I took a plane from central Vietnam to Hanoi, where I spent a lot of time during my stay. Let’s start the foodie guide to Northern Vietnam here. I would say Hanoi is fairly vegan friendly, though not as affordable as Ho Chị Minh city due to it being a major tourist hotspot.
Vietnamese Coffee
If you need a coffee fix, Hanoi is the perfect place for that. I will write down some of my favourite spots around the city and in the Tay Ho area. The best two places for cold brews in the city center are Soul Speciality Coffee and Ro Coffee, in Tay Ho area it would be One Day at a time and LOW BATTERY NEED COFFEE.
I have two ultimate favourite spots in Hanoi, one is a vegetarian cafe with vegan options and delicious cold brew called Tự Châu Veggie – Vegan Mixed Pho, Banhmi & Kombucha, their noodles and Bánh mì are delicious priced at about 1.50£ each.
Vietnam Vegan Street Food Restaurant
One of the best restaurants that caters for vegans is Bánh Mì Hanoi. They offer smoothie bowls, vegan phở, salads, and rice dishes. They are open for both lunch and dinner, so you can choose when to visit. Prices start at 2.50£.
My second favourite place in Hanoi is a fully vegan, the most flavorful and affordable restaurant in Hanoi CHAY TÂM KHỞI. They offer a small selection of rice and noodle dishes, as well as a vegan take on a traditional Bún Chả. Everything is priced 25k VND so just under 1£ each, except for the fresh spring rolls, which cost 7k each, so around 30p.
A slightly pricier restaurant that offers vegan versions of traditional dishes from all over Vietnam is Chayfood. The food is tasty and the prices start at 2.50£
Tropical Smoothies & Juices
If you fancy a smoothie after your lunch, there is a smoothie bar walkable distance from Chayfood called Minjuice – Nước Ép Trái Cây – Lò Sũ. Prices start from just under 1£ for a large juice.
Vietnamese Pho
One more place that deserves a mention for its delicious phở is the Phở chay 168 Lò Đúc, it is not central, but definitely worth the walk/ride. They are only open till 2pm, so it is perfect for lunch, the lady who runs it is very sweet, the broth is extremely hearty, perfect for autumnal weather. The prices range from 1-1.50£
Vietnamese Donuts
If you have a sweet tooth, you should try one of the traditional sweets sold all over Hanoi. It is similar to a small donut filled with mung bean paste and covered in sugar. You can buy them on the streets or head to the oldest stall in Hanoi Hải Xệ – Bánh Rán Cao Lâu. They cost 2-5k VND approximately 0.10p/1 donut, so they are extremely affordable.
Vietnam Vegan Street Food in Tam Coc
Moving to the northwest of Vietnam, just 2 hours away from Hanoi – Tam Cốc. Tam Cốc is a popular tourist spot for Western visitors, so it caters to them with options like pizzas, burritos and other Western foods – none of which are vegan friendly.
If you fancy a bigger variety of smoothie bowls, head to NGON VEGAN restaurant, I haven’t tried their other dishes as I went in for a breakfast, but the chocolate peanut butter bowl was divine. Prices start at 2£
For dinner you should go to Ngo Dong Vegan restaurant, their dumplings, papaya salad, and jackfruit sticky rice are delicious! Prices start at 2.50£.
Vietnam Vegan Street Food in Cao Bang
Heading to the northeast of Vietnam to Cao Bằng. If you decide to do the Cao Bằng loop, be prepared that it is not the easiest place for vegans. However, most places try to accommodate by offering vegetable and rice dishes.
I only had one dinner in Cao Bằng town, but this place is definitely worth mentioning! All of their dishes are vegan, and the family who runs it is extremely nice! In addition to food, they also sell second hand clothing, and crafts from local artists. You should definitely visit Vegetarian – Vegan – Chay Cao Bang – Lazy Bug. I had the phở and my friend had a rice dish – both were mouthwatering. Prices start at 1.50£
I think homestays around Cao Bằng deserve a mention as well, as they were kind enough to cook vegan meals for me such as tofu, morning glory, pumpkin, rice, and noodles, and everything was very tasty. Breakfasts can sometimes be an issue, as they usually serve eggs for their guests so they might not have anything suitable for vegans. One homestay made me vegan noodles for breakfast, while the other unfortunately did not have any vegan breakfast options.
Vietnam Vegan Street Food in Ha Giang
Our final stop is Ha Giang. As many people do the Ha Giang loop, it is important to mention the availability of vegan options. Please, inform your loop providers about your dietary needs and confirm whether they can accommodate you. From personal experience, lunch and dinner weren’t an issue, but breakfasts were either eggs or Bánh Mì bread that contained dairy (even though it normally does not), so breakfasts were quite difficult for me. To ask for dishes without eggs the phrase is “không trứng”, ask a Vietnamese person for a correct pronunciation, or simply show them on your phone. To say “no fish sauce”, use “không nước mắm” (where “không” means “no”). You can also use “không” with other ingredients you dislike.
When you start in Ha Giang town, have dinner at Nhà Hàng Chay Ha Giang Ha Giang Vegetarian restaurant – Nhà Hàng Chay Ha Giang. It is a bit pricey but the food is yummy. There is quite a long wait for food, so make sure to account for that. Prices start at 2.50-3£ per dish.
Another delicious restaurant in Ha Giang town, that provides vegan and veggie options is DT Quằn. Their noodles and pancakes are extremely tasty. Prices start at 1£.
Along the loop, there are plenty of restaurants that offer vegetable and even tofu dishes. If not, there is always rice and some morning glory.
Final Note
Overall, Vietnam is a great place for vegans, even for the more picky ones like me. Many of the dishes I tried were some of the best dishes I have ever had, and I gained a lot of inspiration for my vegan cooking at home. So, if you are a foodie like me, hoping to try something new, or just wanting a warm hug in a form of a bowl of phở, you should definitely add Vietnam to your list of places to visit!
If you plan to visit Vietnam as a vegan but do not know where to start, consulting YESD Social Enterprise might be a good option. They offer customized tour so you can specify your needs before booking with them. Plus, their guides are all locals Vietnamese, and they care for the development of the communities they work in, so they will definitely give you a great time!
Ha giang responsible tourism 