1. Overview
Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City, is a diverse and rich culinary paradise. A 1-day Vietnam food tour Saigon will be a great opportunity for you to enjoy everything from simple, familiar dishes to specialties with strong cultural imprints.
Instead of just eating and drinking, this is a journey to discover culture, history, and people through each flavor. This food tour will definitely leave you with unforgettable impressions when you come to Saigon.
2. Suggestions for a 1-Day Saigon Food Tour
2.1. Morning: Start the Day with Familiar Flavors
Starting a Vietnam food tour Saigon, the morning cannot be without coffee, bread, a plate of broken rice, or a bowl of Pho. These are dishes that have become symbols of local culinary culture.
2.1.1. Coffee
The drink has become a symbol of Saigon – with a small drip filter, has a distinctive rich flavor, and can be combined with rich condensed milk and cool ice. This familiar yet addictive flavor is the perfect way to start a new day.
Cong Ca Phe (274 Hai Ba Trung, Tan Dinh Ward). The brand is renowned for its unique vintage design style and excellent beverage quality. Reference price from 1.2 USD
The Workshop Coffee (27 Ngo Duc Ke, Saigon Ward). The shop has a spacious, airy space, serving many types of high-quality machine-brewed coffee. Reference price from 2.5 to 3 USD.
2.1.2. Pho
An iconic dish of Vietnam, of course you cannot miss it on your Vietnam food tour Saigon. Pho in Saigon has a unique flavor, sweeter and richer than pho in the North, often served with many types of herbs, bean sprouts, and black bean sauce.
Pho Le (413 – 415 Nguyen Trai, An Dong Ward). Famous for its rich broth and fresh beef. Reference price from 3.5 to 4 USD.
Pho Hoa Pasteur (260C Pasteur, Xuan Hoa Ward). One of the oldest and most famous pho restaurants in Saigon. Reference price from 3.5 to 4 USD.
Pho Le – a delicious beef noodle shop in Saigon loved by tourists. (Source: Báo Lao Động)
2.1.3. Broken Rice
This dish originates from the use of broken rice grains. Today, broken rice has become a typical dish, often served with grilled ribs, egg patties, pork skin, and sweet and sour fish sauce.
Com Tam Ba Ghien (84 Dang Van Ngu, Phu Nhuan Ward). The restaurant is famous for its large, thick, well-marinated ribs. Reference price from 4 USD.
Com Tam Phuc Loc Tho (many branches throughout the city). This is a familiar broken rice restaurant chain of Saigon people with stable quality for many years. Reference price from 2 USD.
2.1.4 Banh Mi
Considered one of the best street foods in the world, definitely not to be missed on the Vietnam food tour Saigon. The crispy bread with cold cuts, pate, pork roll, pickled vegetables, and coriander has become a typical cultural feature.
Huynh Hoa bread (26 Le Thi Rieng, Ben Thanh Ward). The restaurant is famous for its fulfilling and fatty pate. The reference price is about 1.5 – 2 USD per loaf.
Bui Thi Xuan bread (opposite 122E Bui Thi Xuan, Ben Thanh Ward). One of the long-standing banh mi restaurants in Saigon, with a moderate size, very suitable for those who want to try. Reference price from 1.5 to 2 USD.
Huynh Hoa Bread, famous in Saigon, conquers diners with more than 13 ingredients (Source: Bánh mì Huynh Hoa)
2.2. Lunch: Experience Chinese Cuisine
A Vietnam food tour Saigon will be more complete if you experience Chinese cuisine. Chinatown is a great place to enjoy dishes with this cultural imprint.
2.2.1. Dumplings
A dish originating from China, skillfully prepared with a thin crust, rich shrimp and meat filling, and served with delicious broth.
Ha Cao Phanh (Lot B Nguyen Trai Apartment, An Dong Ward). This place is famous for its cheap, authentic Chinese dumplings. Reference price from 0.5 to 0.7 USD.
2.2.2. Stewed duck noodles
This noodle dish is a delicate combination of chewy egg noodles, soft stewed duck meat, and warm, sweet Chinese herbal broth.
Thiem Huy Mi Gia (455 – 457 Nguyen Trai, An Dong Ward). The restaurant has a special family recipe and a diverse menu with noodles and dumplings. Reference price from 4 USD.
Diners can easily enjoy the traditional flavor of duck noodles at Thiem Huy (Source: internet)
2.3. Afternoon: Enjoy Snacks, Cakes, and Desserts
After lunch, take the time to explore the rich world of snacks in Saigon, one of the interesting culinary features that cannot be missed in Vietnam food tour Saigon. From traditional cakes to refreshing sweet soup, you may not be able to stop until dinner.
2.3.1. Sweet soup: “Chè mâm 16 chén”
Saigon sweet soup is diverse in color and flavor, skillfully combining sweetness, fat, and coolness, imbued with the essence of Southern street food. A famous sweet soup shop you should not miss is “Chè mâm 16 chén” (Khanh Vy 16-dish sweet soup), which is over 50 years old.
Each bowl of chè on the tray has a distinct flavor, from black sesame chè, red beans, green beans, banana chè, and taro chè to flan, coconut jelly, etc. The chè here has a moderate sweetness, is not harsh on the throat, and has coconut milk that is rich but not greasy. Diners can order the whole tray or choose individual dishes according to their preferences.
- Address: Ngo Gia Tu Apartment, Su Van Hanh Street, Hoa Hung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.
- Open: 15:00–22:30
- The price of each portion of chè ranges from 0.31 to 0.46 USD/bowl, and a tray of 16 full chè bowls is 5.41 USD, enough for a group of 2-3 people to eat comfortably.
The 16-dish dessert shop has existed for more than half a century in Ho Chi Minh City. (Source: Báo Phụ Nữ Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh)
2.3.2. Mixed Rice Paper
One of the “national” snacks of Saigon. The dish is a combination of rice paper, beef jerky, green mango, Vietnamese coriander, quail eggs, peanuts, and a signature sweet and sour tamarind sauce.
Banh Trang Tron Chu Vien (38 Nguyen Thuong Hien, Ban Co Ward). The long-standing restaurant has a unique flavor and affordable prices. Reference price from only 1 USD per portion.
2.3.3. Roll dishes
Saigon’s roll dishes (Shrimp and pork spring rolls) are attractive because of the freshness of raw vegetables, the rich flavor of the filling, and the delicate blend in each layer of soft rice paper, which will definitely make your Vietnam food tour Saigon more satisfying.
Hang Cuon (59B Cao Thang, Ban Co Ward). The restaurant has a diverse menu with many roll dishes from only 3 to 3.5 USD per portion.
Spring rolls are one of the famous snacks in Saigon. (Source: internet)
2.4. Evening: End the Day with a Cozy Party
The evening is a great time to gather with friends and enjoy hot pot and grilled dishes in the vibrant atmosphere of the city before ending the Vietnam food tour Saigon.
2.4.1. Hot pot
Although the weather in Saigon is relatively hot all year round, people still like to gather around hot pots to enjoy food and chat. This is also a unique cultural feature of Saigon.
Nha Go Beef Hot Pot (162 Ly Thai To, Ban Co Ward). Beef hotpot conquers diners with its sweet broth, carefully simmered from beef bones and a unique spice recipe. Reference price from 9 to 10 USD per pot.
Crab Hotpot Quan Dat Mui (661 Tran Hung Dao, Cho Quan Ward). With more than 10 years of operation, the restaurant is famous for its fragrant crab hotpot with rich broth, slightly sour, and attractive sweet taste. Reference price from 4 to 4.5 USD per pot.
Discover the Unique Flavor of Ca Mau Crab at Dat Mui Crab Hotpot Restaurant (Source: Lẩu Cua Đất Mũi)
2.4.2. Grill
Besides hotpot, grilling is also an equally popular choice for dinner parties of Saigon people, the perfect choice for a cozy and complete dinner.
Lao Tru (34 Dang Van Bi, Thu Duc Ward). A favorite place for young people in Saigon today, the food is not only marinated with delicious spices but also presented very eye-catchingly. Reference price from 8 to 10 USD per person.
Bun BBQ House (159 Van Kiep, Binh Thanh Ward). The menu is extremely diverse, with typical dishes such as wild boar, venison, pork belly, … served at affordable prices. Reference price from 1.5 to 4.5 USD per dish.
3. Conclusion
Vietnam food tour Saigon is not only a journey to discover cuisine but also an opportunity to feel the life, culture and people of Saigon in the most authentic way. From popular street food to famous specialties, each flavor leaves an unforgettable impression on visitors.
Let Asia Luxury Travel accompany you on the Vietnam food tour Saigon, bringing the most complete and memorable culinary experiences in the most vibrant city in Vietnam.
4. Contact :
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