Vietnam is a paradise for herbivores. Here is a vegetarian guide to Vietnamese food.

Fear not. Dietary restrictions or a strict health plan will never prevent you from sampling Vietnam’s quintessential delights like phở, bánh mì, and gỏi cuốn. What distinguishes Vietnamese cuisine from all other Southeast Asian culinary practices is its respect for fresh vegetables and herbs. And for those who adhere to a vegan diet, you’re in luck. Hardly any dairy is used in the preparation of Vietnamese food. Just steer clear of fish sauce, the country’s most profusely used flavoring agent. Unless you’re pescetarian, vegans should always specify (the phrase you’re looking for is “khong nuoc mam” — no fish sauce).

So what does Vietnam’s food scene entail for the wandering plant-eater? For starters, it won’t be an all-out mission to track down dinner as vegetarian eateries, as restaurants marked as ‘Quan Chay,’ are plentiful. Although the abundance of vegetarian-friendly restaurants is mostly widespread, vegetarianism seems to be more commonly observed down in Southern Vietnam because of its access to the Mekong Delta, the largest export market for fruits and vegetables in the country. Earlier this year, Ho Chi Minh City made it on Matador Network’s 13 of the World’s Best Cities for Vegetarians at #4.

As you travel north, the numbers start to dwindle but vegetarian presence still remains strong. In the past eight years, Hanoi has seen a growing demand for vegetarian-friendly restaurants and cafes due to an influx of westerners to the capital. Statistics reveal that while 55 percent of Vietnamese claim to be Buddhists, only 12 percent of Vietnam’s population abides by its strictures. Because vegetarian habits are somewhat rooted in religious principles, you see that it is readily available near the likes of pagodas and temples.

The diverse selection of vegetarian-friendly options goes beyond the standard characterless vegetable fried rice offered by neighboring countries like Thailand and Cambodia. You’ll find some reprieve from white rice in Vietnam because unlike the rest of Asia, carbs are not restricted to this type of processed grain. The tradition of baking baguettes à la the French promises an escape from the monotonous pairing of rice with “insert vegetarian entree here,” thanks to Vietnam’s colonial past. One of the best ways to start your day is a bánh mì ốp la, the ultimate breakfast sandwich, consisting of a fried egg, soy sauce, black pepper, and fresh cilantro. Just opt out of the pâté spread, a meat paste commonly eaten in Vietnam (không thịt = no meat).

From avant-garde eateries to hole-in-the-wall cafes down unassuming alleyways, you’ll find meals that run a wide range. And unlike other countries where vegetarianism is more of a fad and therefore more costly, eating a fantastic meal won’t compromise your funds. Just the other day, I turned the corner to find a bustling quan chay canteen that served up some hefty bowls of bún noodle soups, all vegan-friendly, for the very affordable cost of 20,000 VND per bowl (about $1 USD). Only in Vietnam.

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TIPS FOR STARTERS

To notify any vendor of your dietary habits, use the phrase: “Tôi ăn chay.” I eat vegetarian food/I am vegetarian

As mentioned above, nearly any item on a menu has a vegetarian counterpart, which you can access using the word “chay.” So, for example, when you want to order a vegetarian phở, all you have to do is attach “chay” to the end. For a list of Vietnamese food, click here.

For example:

• Phở chay = vegetarian pho
• Bánh mì chay = vegetarian sandwich
• Gỏi cuốn chay = vegetarian fresh spring roll
• Cơm chay = vegetarian rice

Also, there is a difference in dialect for the terms salad. In the north, salad is referred to as “nộm” while in the south, it’s referred to as “gỏi.”

Just a heads up when eating phở that for restaurants that serve only phở, you may get a vegetarian version but it will come with meat stock. Usually larger restaurants tend to be more accommodating with serving vegetarian stock because they have the resources so be advised if this is the case. Also, don’t forget to specify no fish sauce especially for fried rice dishes and the spring roll dipping sauce.

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VIETNAMESE VEGETARIAN DISHES YOU MUST TRY

• Bột chiên: fried square rice flour cakes with whipped eggs and green onion that has the consistency of seasoned potatoes
• Nộm hoa chuối: refreshing banana flower salad flavored with a squeeze of lime and a handful of chili
• Đậu sốt cà chua: fried golden tofu, bathed in rich tomato paste, and garnished with green onion
• Rau muống xào tỏi: stir-fried morning glory (also known as water spinach), flavored with diced garlic
• Bánh xèo chay: fried savory pancakes made of rice flour and coconut milk, stuffed with diced green onion, bean sprouts, and mushrooms
• Xôi Bắp: commonly eaten for breakfast – sweet sticky rice mixed with boiled corn and topped with green mung beans, sugar, and fried onions
• Bún chả giò chay: rice vermicelli lightly marinated and served with fried vegetable spring rolls
• Gỏi đu đủ chay: green papaya salad dressed in a vinegary, soy sauce combo and garnished with crushed peanuts, bird eye chilies, and tofu
• Cao lầu chay: noodles tossed in sweet soy dressing and garnished with a fluffy pile of greens and fried rice crackers found only in Hoi An

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WHERE TO EAT VEGETARIAN FOOD IN HO CHI MINH CITY

🌱= vegetarian

🚫🐄 = strictly vegan

🚫🍞 = gluten-free

This directory is limited to the best-reviewed establishments in each city. For a more comprehensive list, try Happycow.net.

Kay Vegan Bistro 🚫🐄 International, 84A Nguyen Dinh Chieu, District 1, HCMC, $$$
Hum Vegetarian🌱Asian, 32 Vo Van Tan, District 3, HCMC, $$$
Prem Bistro & Cafe🌱International, 129/4 Vo Van Tan, District 3, HCMC, $$$
Saigon Vegan🚫🐄 Asian, 378/3 Võ Văn Tần, District 3, HCMC, $$
Am Thuc Chay Mani🌱Vietnamese, 291/2 Vo Van Tan St, District 3, HCMC,$
Phap Hoa🌱Vietnamese, 204 Nguyen Trai, District 1, HCMC,$
Buddha Chay 🌱 Vietnamese/Asian, 31 Dang Tat Street, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, HCMC $$$
Lau Nam Chay An Nhien 🌱 Vietnamese, 94 Nguyen van Thu, Da Kao, District 1, HCMC $
Alma House Saigon 🌱 Mediterranean/Vietnamese, 48/7 Ho Bieu Chanh, Phu Nhuan District, HCMC $$
Bong Sung 🌱Asian, 86 Nguyen Du, District 1, HCMC, $
The Yellow House 🚫🐄🍞Desserts, 15a/41 Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1, HCMC, $$
Thuc Don Chay 🚫🐄 Vietnamese, 30 Tran Dinh Xu, District 1, HCMC, $
CHAY 🌱 11 Tran Nhat Duat Street, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, HCMC, $$$

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WHERE TO EAT VEGETARIAN FOOD IN HANOI

Zenith Yoga Studio II & Café 🌱 International, Alley 14 Duong Thanh St, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, $$$
An Phuc 🚫🐄 Chinese/Vietnamese, 11 Ngo, 131 Thai Ha, Hanoi, $$
Loving Hut (Thế Giới Chay) 🚫🐄 Vietnamese, No. 4, Alley 192 Quan Thanh, Ba Dinh, Hanoi, $$
Ha Thanh – Kim Ma Theatre 🚫🐄 Asian, 16 Ngo 166 Kim Ma, Ba Dinh (Kim MaTheatre), $$Cơm Chay Mây Trắng (White Cloud Vegetarian) 🌱 Vietnamese, 299 Au Co, Tay Ho, Ha Noi, $$
Bo De Quan 🚫🐄 Buddhist/Vietnamese, 164 Au Co, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, $
Dieu Tam 🚫🐄 Buddhist/Buffet, 133 Nguyen Dinh Thi, Hanoi , $
Quán Chè Mười Sáu🌱Desserts, 16 Ngo Thi Nham, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi, $

FOR OTHER DESTINATIONS

• The Best Vegetarian Food in Hoi An by The Culture Trip
• The Best Vegetarian Food in Da Nang by The Culture Trip
• Da Lat: A Vegan Paradise by Are We There Yeti?
• Vegan in Hue by Vegan in Brighton

👉 In the kitchen…  If you have any suggestions for restaurants to add to the list, comment below.

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