Vegetarian Food in Vietnam: How to Eat Vegetarian in Vietnam

Let’s be real, one of the best aspects of travelling to a new destination is to enjoy the culture and, of course, the food that comes native. However, travelling as a vegetarian or vegan can be somewhat tricky as oftentimes many dishes involve some form of meat, dairy or egg product.

Nonetheless, there isn’t really a need to worry as there are plenty of fantastic vegetarian and vegan options available in most towns and cities across the world.

So far along my travels, I’ve discovered that I have a better time finding vegetarian goodies in the smaller towns and cities, which seems kind of strange. In all honesty, I don’t think that Hanoi is the greatest location for vegetarians, and I had a tricky time navigating my way to the best dishes.

Nonetheless, continue reading my guide to finding the best vegetarian food in Vietnam. I hope this makes it a little easier and you get the opportunity to enjoy some of these magnificent places!

How to Ask For Vegetarian Food in Vietnam

If you don’t know how to speak Vietnamese, there are a few ways that you can communicate with locals to secure yourself a tasty meal. The word for ’vegetarian’ in Vietnamese is ’chay’.

I would recommend noting that word as you will need to make use of it often. For example, when ordering a Banh Mi, you can add ‘chay’ to the end so that the vendor is aware that you want it with salad instead of meat.

Additionally, you could download a photo of animals including cows, chickens and pigs and show them the image and express that you don’t want any of these meat products in your food.

Also, keep an eye out for the words ’com chay’ and ’quan chay’ as these are restaurants that accommodate to vegetarian and vegans.

Keep in mind, it is highly likely that you will come across traces of fish sauce and dairy in some dishes. It can be extremely difficult to avoid these at most restaurants and street food stalls. Try not to be too hard on yourself, as you’re travelling a foreign country and still need to fuel your body.

Tips for Travelling as a Vegetarian in Vietnam

There are a number of things I would recommend, but my ultimate tip is to always be prepared and do your research before visiting any town or city to ensure you have a few options ready to go.

I couldn’t recommend the app ‘Happy Cow’ enough. It has been an absolute lifesaver when I need to find a new location to dine. It gives plenty of information including the location, opening hours, rough pricing guide and reviews from locals and travellers.

Another thing I’ve found extremely helpful is to use the Google Maps app. Most of the time I can search the term ’Vegetarian’ and it will show me a number of places nearby that have options.

7 Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Vietnam

Hanoi Coffee Station

The Hanoi Coffee Station is a fantastic breakfast location with beautiful views over the small sidestreet. I would recommend a visit to this location if you’re craving some Western food such as avocado on toast, bacon and eggs, smoothie bowls and fresh juices.

While this location won’t give you a typical Vietnamese experience, it’s a great break between the noodle and rice dishes; A perfect way to break things up.

I enjoyed a refreshing mango smoothie while waiting for my avocado toast. The bread had the perfect crunch, topped with a generous serving of avocado and some juicy tomatoes. I highly recommend this location and the staff are absolutely lovely!

Price range: 100k dong for a meal with a drink

Address: Hanoi Coffee Station, 44 P. Hàng Bè, phường, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 56000, Vietnam

Vegan Banh Mi

Easily my favourite location for a vegan feast in Hanoi is the tiny and hidden Vegan Banh Mi restaurant. This spot is quite hidden off the main road and you will need to walk down a small corridor to reach this little gem.

The owner is a lovely lady, and she makes the tastiest and healthiest vegan dishes. Not to mention, the prices are extremely low and she doesn’t want tips. All she asks is that you leave her store a rave review on Google or Happy Cow.

I sat down to a High Protein Banh Mi and Vegetable noodles. I couldn’t resist trying a couple of the options and they truly did not disappoint! Do yourself a favour and give this place a visit when you’re in Hanoi.

Price range: 50k for a meal with a drink

Address: Vegan Banh Mi, 66B Trần Hưng Đạo, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

1993 Restaurant

Step into true Vietnamese cuisine at the 1993 Restaurant in Ninh Binh. I ordered the vegetarian spring rolls and vegetarian fried noodles. I was shocked to see the huge portion sizes that I was presented with. Not to mention, the prices are still extremely reasonable and the owner is very kind.

The spring rolls are extremely crunchy and filled with tasty vegetables, while the noodles are packed with flavour. Besides, this is a nice spot to stop to enjoy a meal and watch the world go by. This spot has become a favourite for delicious vegetarian food in Vietnam.

Price range: 70k for a meal with a drink

Address: 1993 Restaurant, Unnamed Road, Hoa Lư, Ninh Bình, Vietnam

Phong Nha Tuan Garden House

While this location is actually a hostel, and not exactly a restaurant, they create the most fantastic ’family dinners’ for travellers and I think it is absolutely worth a visit and stay. And, on request, they cater for vegans and vegetarians.

Delve into the world of Vietnamese culture and complete a cheers with happy water each night. Huung is a fantastic host and his family runs this beautiful hostel. I would recommend staying here for a couple of nights to enjoy two family dinners and chat with other travellers.

Before every meal, you will hold the shot glass and say ’Mot, Hai, Ba, YO! three times. Then, you will get to devour multiple delicious dishes to share with everyone.

Price range: 80k for a meal with happy water

Address: Phong Nha Tuan Garden House, Vườn quốc gia Phong, Sơn Trạch, Bố Trạch, Quảng Bình 510000, Vietnam

Lien Hoa

One of my all-time favourite feasts in Vietnam was in this beautiful vegetarian restaurant. A friend and I shared one of the combo dishes and it was one of the tastiest things I’ve tried yet. We had a mix of eggplant, tofu, rice, vegetables and jackfruit.

In all honesty, I was almost convinced that the jackfruit was some sort of chicken or pork dish as it had a very meaty and stringy texture. However, it was absolutely delicious and packed with flavour!

Price range: 70k for a meal with a drink

Address: Lien Hoa, Số 03 Lê Quý Đôn, Phú Nhuận, Thành phố Huế, Thừa Thiên Huế, Vietnam

Maison Trang Restaurant

Maison Trang is another hidden gem in the alleyways of Hue. I treated myself to the vegetarian noodle soup and it really didn’t disappoint! The dish was extremely aromatic and bursting with flavour; It was hard to not order another serving!

This location is dishing up some of the best vegetarian food in Vietnam, and I promise you’ll love the array of options.

Price range: 50k for a meal with a drink

Address: Maison Trang Restaurant, 48 Chu Van An Street, Hue City

Madam Thu Restaurant

Last, but certainly not least, is the Madam Thu Restaurant in Hue. It’s hard to choose a favourite from all the places I’ve been to, but this spot is fantastic!

If you visit this location, you need to try the tofu vermicelli noodles and pour heaps of peanut and soy sauce all over the dish. It was so tasty I had to have a second serving. Plus, meals are only around 40k each, creating the perfect opportunity to try a couple of things.

Also, I would recommend trying the spring rolls. They are super tasty and crunchy. Finally, they donate 2k to starving children in Hue from every meal, that’s a cause that everyone can get behind!

Price range: 55k for a meal with a drink

Address: Madam Thu, 45 Võ Thị Sáu, Phú Hội, Thành phố Huế, Thừa Thiên Huế 530000, Vietnam

Wrapping Up

While you may need to look a little harder to find vegetarian food in Vietnam, it’s not impossible and once you discover it, you will be delighted.

In my opinion, I think that makes it even more rewarding considering you need to work a little more to find it, making it ultra special.

Good luck on your vegetarian journey in Vietnam, you will find plenty of goodies and still get to enjoy the taste of Vietnam!

Finally, check out this website for more information on how to travel Vietnam while eating vegetarian.