Discover the Best Street Food of Ho Chi Minh District 1

Are you a food lover looking for a unique culinary experience in Vietnam? Look no further than Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1, where street food vendors offer some of the most delicious and authentic Vietnamese cuisine. With so many options to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide where to start. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to the best street food in Ho Chi Minh District 1.

🍜Pho: A Vietnamese Classic🍜

No trip to Vietnam is complete without trying the country’s national dish, pho. This delicious noodle soup is typically made with beef or chicken, rice noodles, and a flavorful broth. It’s served with herbs, bean sprouts, lime, and chilies on the side, allowing you to customize the dish to your taste. Try it at Pho Quynh, one of the most famous pho spots in the city.

How is pho made?

Pho is made by simmering beef or chicken bones for hours, creating a rich and flavorful broth. The broth is then seasoned with a blend of spices, including star anise, cinnamon, and cloves. Rice noodles are added to the broth, along with slices of beef or chicken and other ingredients like onions, scallions, and cilantro.

🍲Banh Mi: The Perfect Sandwich🍲

Banh mi is a Vietnamese sandwich that’s become popular all over the world. It’s made with a crispy French baguette, filled with a variety of savory ingredients like pate, pork belly, pickled vegetables, and fresh herbs. For the best banh mi in Ho Chi Minh City, try Banh Mi Huynh Hoa.

What’s in a typical banh mi?

While the specific ingredients may vary, a typical banh mi is made with a combination of savory and fresh flavors. It typically includes a protein like pork belly, pate, or tofu, along with pickled vegetables like carrots and daikon, fresh herbs like cilantro, and a spread like mayonnaise or pate.

🦐Banh Xeo: A Savory Pancake🦐

Banh xeo is a Vietnamese pancake made with rice flour and turmeric. It’s filled with shrimp, pork, bean sprouts, and herbs, and served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce. For the best banh xeo in District 1, try Banh Xeo Muoi Xiem.

What does banh xeo taste like?

Banh xeo has a crispy texture on the outside and a soft, savory filling on the inside. The turmeric gives it a bright yellow color and a slightly earthy flavor. The shrimp and pork provide a rich, meaty taste, while the bean sprouts add a fresh crunch.

🐔Goi Cuon: Fresh Spring Rolls🐔

Goi cuon, also known as fresh spring rolls, are a healthy and refreshing Vietnamese appetizer. They’re made with rice paper wrappers, filled with rice noodles, shrimp or pork, lettuce, and herbs, and served with a peanut dipping sauce. For the best goi cuon in District 1, try Nha Hang Ngon.

What’s the difference between goi cuon and cha gio?

Goi cuon are fresh spring rolls made with rice paper wrappers and filled with fresh ingredients like lettuce, herbs, and shrimp or pork. Cha gio, on the other hand, are fried spring rolls made with rice paper or wheat flour wrappers and filled with a mix of vegetables and meat.

🍚Com Tam: Broken Rice🍚

Com tam, or broken rice, is a popular Vietnamese dish made with rice that has been broken during the milling process. It’s typically served with grilled pork or chicken, pickled vegetables, and a fried egg on top. For the best com tam in District 1, try Com Tam Cali.

Why is it called broken rice?

Com tam is made with rice that has been broken during the milling process, creating small, irregularly shaped grains. This rice was traditionally considered to be lower quality than whole grains, but it’s now a popular ingredient in Vietnamese cuisine.

🍢Chao Tom: Grilled Shrimp on Sugar Cane🍢

Chao tom is a traditional Vietnamese dish made with shrimp paste, which is wrapped around sugar cane and grilled. The result is a savory, slightly sweet snack that’s perfect for sharing. For the best chao tom in District 1, try Quan An Ngon.

What is shrimp paste?

Shrimp paste is a type of condiment made from fermented ground shrimp. It’s used in many Southeast Asian cuisines, including Vietnamese, to add a savory and umami flavor to dishes.

🌶️Bo La Lot: Grilled Beef Wrapped in Betel Leaf🌶️

Bo la lot is a delicious Vietnamese dish made with grilled beef that’s wrapped in betel leaves. The leaves add a fresh and slightly bitter flavor to the meat, while the grilling gives it a smoky char. For the best bo la lot in District 1, try Bo La Lot 668.

What are betel leaves?

Betel leaves are a type of plant that’s widely used in Southeast Asia and India for their aromatic and medicinal properties. In Vietnamese cuisine, they’re often used to add flavor and aroma to grilled meats and other dishes.

🦑Chao Muc: Squid Congee🦑

Chao muc is a comforting Vietnamese dish made with congee, or rice porridge, and tender pieces of squid. It’s typically served for breakfast or as a late-night snack. For the best chao muc in District 1, try Chao Muc Thanh Hai.

What is congee?

Congee is a type of rice porridge that’s popular in many Asian countries, including Vietnam. It’s typically made by slow-cooking rice in water or broth until it breaks down into a creamy, pudding-like consistency. It can be served plain or with a variety of toppings.

🎂Banh Khot: Miniature Coconut Pancakes🎂

Banh khot are small, savory Vietnamese pancakes made with rice flour, coconut milk, and turmeric. They’re typically topped with shrimp, scallions, and a sweet and sour dipping sauce. For the best banh khot in District 1, try Banh Khot Co Ba Vung Tau.

How are banh khot made?

Banh khot are made by pouring a batter made from rice flour, coconut milk, and turmeric into small molds. After the batter has cooked for a few minutes, toppings like shrimp and scallions are added to the top of each pancake. They’re then cooked until golden brown and crispy.

🍤Bun Rieu: Crab Noodle Soup🍤

Bun rieu is a Vietnamese soup made with a tomato-based broth, crab meat, and rice noodles. It’s typically served with herbs, bean sprouts, and chilies on the side. For the best bun rieu in District 1, try Bun Rieu Cua Dong.

What’s in bun rieu?

Bun rieu is typically made with a broth made from tomatoes, shrimp paste, and other spices. It also includes crab meat, tofu, and sometimes pork or beef. The soup is served with rice noodles, herbs, bean sprouts, and chilies on the side, allowing you to customize the dish to your taste.

🦪Oc Len Xao Dua: Snails with Coconut Milk🦪

Oc len xao dua is a Vietnamese dish made with small snails cooked in a fragrant coconut milk sauce. It’s typically served with bread or rice. For the best oc len xao dua in District 1, try Quan Oc 13.

What do oc len xao dua taste like?

Oc len xao dua have a rich, creamy flavor from the coconut milk, and a slightly chewy texture from the snails. The dish is also often flavored with lemongrass and chilies, giving it a spicy kick.

🍲Bun Bo Hue: Spicy Beef Noodle Soup🍲

Bun bo hue is a popular Vietnamese soup made with a spicy beef broth and rice noodles. It’s typically served with beef, pork, or shrimp, along with herbs, bean sprouts, and chilies on the side. For the best bun bo hue in District 1, try Bun Bo Hue O Phuong Nam.

What’s in bun bo hue?

Bun bo hue is typically made with a spicy broth made from beef bones, le