Featuring our top 10 favorite vegetarian and vegan restaurants in District 1 known for their healthy and tasty foods.
As a predominately Buddhist country, it is not surprising that there are so many vegetarian and vegan restaurants throughout Vietnam. According to Buddhism rituals, four days each month (14th-15th and 30th & 1st of the lunar calendar), vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike consume no-meat. These days vegetarianism extends beyond religious practice as more people are adopting a healthy lifestyle and taking actions for environmental sustainability.
Though there are a countless number of vegetarian restaurants and eateries from budget to fine dining in Ho Chi Minh City, we have shortlisted our 10 favorites which are handpicked, test and tried, based on their location (District 1, 3), clean facilities, and meeting our health criteria of no MSG and no preservatives.
By eating meat we share the responsibility of climate change, the destruction of our forests, and the poisoning of our air and water. The simple act of becoming a vegetarian will make a difference in the health of our planet. – Thich Nhat Hanh
Top 10 Recommended Vegetarian Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City
Be An is a contemporary Vietnamese vegetarian restaurant located in the heart of the city on Nguyen Hue Street. Considered to be on the high-end of vegetarian dining, Be An focuses on offering quality, healthy, fresh food with no MSG, no preservatives, and no meat imitation. Their extensive menu features traditional Vietnamese dishes as well as some modern original creations such as Crispy Rice Crisps with Mushroom Floss Topping and Hue Noodles with Beech Mushrooms. The modern decor incorporating natural materials such as rattan and wood furnishings create a pleasant atmosphere for intimate dining.
Bong Sung is a popular Vietnamese vegan restaurant known for their clean and healthy meals. Housed in a colonial French villa, this humble restaurant opens early serving breakfast to late dinners. Recommended are their vegan noodle soups including Phở, Huế noodles, Mì Quảng which feature a hearty amount of vegetables, tofu, and mushrooms. They also have an extensive main menu for lunch and dinner with sides, mains, soups, and desserts.
A modern bistro specializing in vegan noodles (dry and soup) and banh mi sandwiches. Their ‘fast-food’ like menu makes it popular for takeouts. The noodle soups are a vegetarian version of popular soups such as phở and hủ tiếu. A typical bowl of noodles consists of tofu-based toppings, mushrooms, lettuce and side of Vietnamese herbs. A dry noodle dish comes with small side sauce to mix and small bowl of broth. Another popular menu item is the banh mi with three variations (everything, vegan sausage or spicy tofu) and they all include the homemade pate, heaps of herbs, and a special sauce. Coffee and milk tea drinkers will also appreciate the nut-milk substitutes to enjoy with their meal.
A stone path over a small pond with Koi fish swimming below leads to the entrance of Here & Now. The restaurant has a Zen vibe from the exterior Japanese style to the interior decor of urban minimalism. The menu is simple with appetizers, mains, and two dessert offerings. Mains include a selection of noodle soups and noodle stir-fry (Pad Thai) and fried rice dishes which are smaller portions in comparison to other places. Due to its limited menu, Here & Now is ideal for a light meal, snack or a coffee.
An established Vietnamese vegan restaurant well-recognized among the Buddhist and vegan community. They take pride in their healthy food being non-GMO with organic and clean vegetables along with using healthy oils in their cooking. Their menu is mainly Vietnamese food with some international dishes like pasta and soups. In addition to the restaurant, they also have a market selling dried and frozen vegan products. Considered on the high-end of vegan dining, they are a popular venue for large groups, meeting, and events.
This cute eatery hidden within a milk-tea shop is well-known among the vegetarian and clean eating community. Mang’s Mania offers a changing daily menu with choice of a rice-based set meal (choice of white or brown rice) and noodle soups. They make many of their own ingredients like the vegan balls and tofu. Their foods contain non-GMO ingredients with no MSG, sugar, and preservatives. The portions for the rice meals are quite small for western standard though the noodle soups are a good portion. Since it’s a small place, lunch hours (11:30-1:00pm) during the weekday tend to be packed with office workers so it’s recommended to come early or book in advance.
Originally Organik House, the restaurant is now rebranded as Organik Kitchen with a focus on plant-based food serving mainly western food such as burgers, pizza, and pasta dishes. The restaurant is located within a dining hub alongside Indika Kitchen & Pizza (the non-vegetarian alternative). Weekends tend to be popular among the expat crowd coming for the Sunday brunch and evenings are filled with live entertainment and music.
Housed under the same roof as At Ha’s Yoga Studio and Kaftka Cafe, Prem is well-known among the yogi and traveler community for their international vegetarian food. Prem has a cozy atmosphere with a colorful interior decorated with photos and souvenirs collected from the owner’s travel around the world. Prem offers something for everyone with their extensive menu that include Vietnamese, Asian (Indian, Thai), and international cuisine. While most of the menu is vegetarian there are also vegan options which are noted on the menu such as their fresh salads and the falafel bowl.
Shamballa is more than vegetarian dining but an experience that transports you to the folklore kingdom of the same namesake where Buddha attained enlightenment. You can’t help but be awestruck by the stylish interior of rustic elegance decorated with wood carvings, Buddha statues, colorful curtains and furnishings. Their extensive menu is mostly vegan Vietnamese featuring traditional favorite dishes such as lotus fried rice and Hue steamed cakes. If you can’t decide because all the dishes look appetizing then ordering one of their themed set meals (for two) is highly recommended.
A relatively new comer to the high-end vegan restaurant scene, Vị Quê (means ‘flavors of the countryside’) is inspired by the owner’s fond childhood memories of her family’s home-cooking. Their menu features popular dishes from the north, central, and south such as bánh xèo, wrap platters, and hotpot. Those who enjoy raw food will appreciate their Bamboo Tray Rolls features a platter of variety of vegetables, rice paper, and vermicelli noodles which are wrapped and dipped into their special homemade sauce.
This list will be updated from time to time. If you have any recommendations, please feel free to drop us an email at contact@wellnessvietnam.com
