Best Restaurants in Vietnam 2026

Pho Bo (Beef Noodle Soup)

Vietnam's national dish: a deeply aromatic beef bone broth simmered for 12+ hours, served with flat rice noodles, thin beef slices, and fresh herbs. Hanoi-style is clean and subtle; HCMC-style is richer and served with bean sprouts.

Where to try: Pho Gia Truyen (Hanoi), Pho Hoa Pasteur (HCMC)

Price: $2-5

Bun Cha

Hanoi's beloved lunch dish of grilled pork patties and belly served in a sweet-sour fish sauce broth with vermicelli noodles, fresh herbs, and nem (fried rolls) on the side. Made internationally famous when Obama dined at Bun Cha Huong Lien with Anthony Bourdain.

Where to try: Bun Cha Huong Lien (Hanoi), any Old Quarter lunch stall

Price: $2-4

Cao Lau

Hoi An's most unique noodle dish that cannot be authentically replicated elsewhere - thick chewy noodles made with water from a specific ancient well, topped with char siu pork, crispy croutons, and local greens. A food geography lesson in one bowl.

Where to try: Thanh Cao Lau (Hoi An Market), Morning Glory (Hoi An)

Price: $3-5

Banh Mi

Vietnam's extraordinary French-Vietnamese sandwich in a light, crispy baguette filled with Vietnamese pate, cold cuts, pickled daikon and carrot, chili, cilantro, and mayonnaise. HCMC's Banh Mi Huynh Hoa and Hoi An's Banh Mi Phuong are legendary.

Where to try: Banh Mi Huynh Hoa (HCMC), Banh Mi Phuong (Hoi An)

Price: $1-2

Bun Bo Hue

Hue's ferociously spicy beef and pork lemongrass noodle soup that many Vietnamese prefer to pho for its depth and complexity. Thick round noodles in a deep reddish broth with pork knuckle, congealed blood, and lemongrass - assertive and addictive.

Where to try: Any Hue market breakfast stall, Dong Ba Market (Hue)

Price: $2-4

Goi Cuon (Fresh Spring Rolls)

Translucent rice paper rolls filled with shrimp, pork, vermicelli noodles, mint, and lettuce, served with hoisin-peanut dipping sauce. Light, fresh, and addictive - a perfect Vietnamese summer treat reflecting the cuisine's focus on freshness.

Where to try: Everywhere nationwide - markets, restaurants, street stalls

Price: $0.50-2 per roll

Banh Mi stalls

Vietnam's ubiquitous breakfast and snack sandwiches sold from mobile carts and small shops across every city and town. The best combine house-made pate, Vietnamese cold cuts, and freshly pickled vegetables in light French-style baguettes.

Find it at: Everywhere - look for tricycle vendors from 6-10am

Com Tam (Broken Rice)

HCMC's most popular street lunch: cracked rice grains topped with chargrilled pork chop, shredded pork skin, steamed egg meatloaf, and pickled vegetables with fish sauce. Sold from street-side stalls and local restaurants throughout southern Vietnam.

Find it at: Com tam restaurants throughout HCMC, particularly District 3 and Binh Thanh

Banh Xeo (Sizzling Crepe)

Large yellow rice flour and coconut milk crepe stuffed with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts, cooked in a sizzling hot wok. Torn into pieces and wrapped in lettuce with herbs before dipping in fish sauce. A sensory experience.

Find it at: Banh Xeo 46A (HCMC), many street stalls in Hue and the south

Che (Sweet Dessert Soup)

Vietnam's diverse dessert category encompasses dozens of sweet soups, drinks, and puddings made with beans, jellies, coconut milk, pandan, and taro. Sold from plastic-stool dessert shops and carts everywhere from late afternoon onwards.

Find it at: Che Cung Dinh (Hue), dessert stalls in all Vietnamese cities

Banh Cuon (Steamed Rice Rolls)

Delicate sheets of steamed rice batter filled with minced pork and wood ear mushrooms, served with crispy fried shallots, Vietnamese ham, and a side of nuoc cham dipping sauce. A traditional Hanoi breakfast sold from dawn stalls.

Find it at: Morning markets and breakfast stalls in Hanoi and North Vietnam

Ben Thanh Market

Ho Chi Minh City's most famous market has an excellent food hall with dozens of vendors cooking Vietnamese dishes to order. The surrounding night market from 6pm adds more options at slightly inflated tourist prices.

Hours: 6AM-10PM, night market until midnight

Cho Dong Xuan (Night Market Area)

Hanoi's Old Quarter weekend night market (Fri-Sun) closes the streets to traffic and fills them with food vendors selling bun cha, fried tofu, fresh fruit, and BBQ skewers. Go hungry and eat your way through the market stalls.

Hours: Friday-Sunday 6PM-11:30PM

Hoi An Central Market

The freshest seafood market in Hoi An where fishermen unload morning catches onto ice-piled tables. The market restaurant section upstairs serves whichever fish you choose, grilled or fried to order at locally priced restaurants.

Hours: 5AM-7PM daily

Bac Ha Sunday Market

Extraordinary highland market in Lao Cai Province where Flower H'mong ethnic minority communities sell unique highland food products including wild honey, local spirits, dried herbs, and livestock. A once-weekly food and culture experience.

Hours: Sunday only, 7AM-2PM