Saigon is a paradise for vegan and vegetarian foodies. In fact, HappyCow ranks it as the 10th most vegan-friendly city on the planet.
Why is Saigon so Vegan-Friendly?
In Saigon, veganism is not a dietary restriction. Instead, veganism is essentially its own cuisine with some vegan restaurants achieving flavors and textures that you just can’t find anywhere else. There is one main reason for the development of such a rich vegan cuisine in Saigon: Vietnam’s rich Buddhist tradition.
Mahayana Buddhism has been influencing Vietnamese culture for over 1,500 years, and one of its tenets is to refrain from eating meat when possible. While not many modern Vietnamese are strict Buddhists, the majority observe some of the more important aspects. This includes going easy on the carnivorous diet. While most Vietnamese still eat meat regularly, it’s generally considered good karma to include a lot of plant-based meals. In fact, you can usually find family-run vegan restaurants next door to temples in the city.
The 15th day of each month (according to the Lunar Calendar, not the Roman Calendar) is known as ngày rằm in Vietnamese and is considered the most holy day of the month. Because of that, eating meat is quite taboo on that day for most Vietnamese people, so you can count on that being the busiest day of the month for all the vegan restaurants in Saigon.
What are Vegan Restaurants Like in Saigon?
No matter where you are in Saigon, there’s almost certainly a vegan restaurant within a few minutes’ walk – you can spot them when walking around by the word chay, which means “vegan” in Vietnamese. The city’s vegan restaurants can be generally divided into three “vibes”:
Vegan Street Food
Vegans need not miss out on Saigon’s famous street food. Some street food stands offer vegan alternatives to local favorites. For instance, stir-fried noodles with vegetables (bún xào chay) or vegan banh mi (bánh mì chay).
Food from these stands is extremely inexpensive (usually under 30k VND), but be wary of food safety.
“Local” Vegan Restaurants
The most common vegan restaurants in Saigon serve vegan versions of simple Vietnamese dishes like fried rice (cơm chiên chay), pho (phở chay), or crab stew with noodles (bún riêu chay). In these dishes, the usual meat is substituted with fake meat, tofu (which is honestly delicious when prepared correctly), or substantive vegetables like bean sprouts or mushrooms.
These places are cheap and quick. Average prices for main dishes range from 50-100k VND most of the time.
“Upscale” Vegan Restaurants
These ones are a bit rarer, but the HappyCow report cited above still says there are 210 good-quality vegan restaurants across Saigon, a number that’s growing as Saigon becomes even more health-conscious.
These restaurants are definitely pricier than the local spots, but for good reason: they’re where the real culinary magic happens. Creative dishes you’re almost guaranteed to have never seen before can be found at these places, from marinated banana blossoms or jackfruits that mimic the consistency of fish to artisan vegan cheeses made with Vietnamese herbs to traditional hot pot made with mushrooms and tangy vegetables.
Average prices are 100-300k VND.
The Best Vegan Restaurants in Saigon
A few of the best-known vegan hotspots in Saigon are:
Vegan Street Food Stalls
Bánh Mì Xanh
A fully vegan bánh mì shop where you can also buy tasty nut milk coffee. It’s like a vegan version of Subway, but with a Vietnamese twist.
38 Lê Thị Riêng, District 1
Open daily, 6am to 10pm
It’s difficult to list vegan street food locations since they’re so small. We encourage you to do some exploring for yourself on Saigon’s best food streets!
Local Vegan Restaurants
Phở Chay Như
Your go-to for vegan phở! This restaurant also serves rice dishes, and everything is vegan other than the yogurt.
54 Trương Quyền, District 3
Open daily, 6am to 9pm
NauNau
Tasty vegan Vietnamese food hidden down an alleyway in the backpacker area. This place has a nice down-home atmosphere.
27/3 Đỗ Quang Đẩu, District 1
Open daily, 9am to 9pm
Bon’s Vegan Bistro
A small, quaint cafe with truly impressive platters of very authentic Vietnamese food. The only drawback is that it’s not open for dinner.
127 Hàm Nghi, District 3
Open Daily, 6:30am to 3pm
Upscale Vegan Restaurant
HUM Healthy Veggies Delights
It’s quite expensive for Saigon, but the restaurant is gorgeous, the menu is informative, and the food itself is delicious and creatively prepared. This place has locations in districts 3 and 2.
32 Võ Văn Tần, District 3
Open daily, 10am to 10pm
Vị Quê Kitchen
An upscale fully vegan restaurant serving delicious Vietnamese food including great hot pot.
110 Sương Nguyệt Ánh, District 1
Open daily, 9am to 10:30pm
Sen Vegan House
Another upscale fully vegan venue, serving Vietnamese food and dishes from other parts of Asia, plus juices and nut milks.
93-95 Phó Đức Chính, District 1
Open daily, 8am – 2:30pm and 5pm – 10pm
Măng’s Mania
Also fully vegan, serving a mix of Vietnamese food and other modern vegan dishes. Măng’s Mania has a different menu every day, and you’ll need to go through the MayCha tea shop to get to it.
86 Nguyễn Huệ, District 1
Open Monday to Friday 11am – 8:30pm, and Saturday 11am – 9pm
If you want to try vegan food in Saigon but aren’t sure where to start, join our XO Foodie tour! We tailor all our Foodie itineraries to your group, so if you’re seeking a fully vegan experience, we’ve got you covered. Book your foodie adventure today!
