5 Best Vegan Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City

Vegan restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City are far more abundant than you might expect.Vietnam is often seen as a challenging place to eat plant-based, and while that might generally be true, Ho Chi Minh City is one of the easiest and most exciting vegan destinations in Southeast Asia.

Between its deep-rooted “chay” culture (a centuries-old Vietnamese Buddhist tradition of plant-based eating) and a growing wave of modern plant-based cafes, the city offers a fantastic mix that few others in the region can match.

One minute you’re sitting on a plastic stool eating a bowl of noodles for less than a couple of dollars, the next you’re in a sleek cafe serving beautifully plated vegan takes on Asian classics.

Vegan Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City: Abundant, Affordable, and Awesome

Traditional chay restaurants serve simple, comforting dishes built around tofu, mushrooms, and mock meats, often inspired by recipes that have been passed down for generations. These spots are local, no-frills, and incredibly good value.

Alongside them, an exciting movement of vegan restaurants is reworking Vietnamese food into something more modern, without losing its identity.

You can find plenty of great international options too.

So whether you’re in Ho Chi Minh City for just one day, or a whole month, eating vegan is easy. But if you want to eat well, not just conveniently, knowing where to go makes all the difference. This guide to vegan restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City will point you in the direction of the top spots that definitely shouldn’t be missed!

Moving back to the more refined side of Ho Chi Minh City’s vegan scene, La Moi is a standout.

This beautiful restaurant in the heart of the city has perfectly managed to capture the real essence of Vietnam, a subtle hint of French class, and tied it all together with a chic modern feel. That atmosphere combined with some of the best vegan food in the whole of Vietnam, let alone the city, is a recipe for success.

Everything I managed to try was deeply satisfying and refreshing at the same time, that’s what Vietnamese cuisine is all about. Their menu generally leans in that direction but also has no shame in including a few international classics, like pad Thai and baked spaghetti.

Now, I’m no stranger to Thai salads, but I’m far less experienced when it comes to Vietnamese ones. La Moi was the place where that all changed. Their plant-based “chicken” salad was completely different to what I was expecting and I loved it. Watch out som tam, there’s a new salad on the block.

Prices are far more expensive than street food, as you’d imagine, but still feel very reasonable for the quality, setting, and experience on offer at La Moi. If you’re looking for somewhere that feels lively and modern, without drifting too far from Vietnamese roots, La Moi is the spot you’re looking for.

Any trip to Vietnam would be incomplete without grabbing a much-loved bánh mì.

It’s one of the country’s most iconic street foods, shaped by French influence but firmly rooted in Vietnamese flavors. A crisp baguette, punchy pickles, fresh herbs, then something rich and savory tying it all together.

The problem, of course, is that most bánh mì aren’t vegan. Between the pâté, mayonnaise, and various other ingredients I’d rather not mention, it’s one of those dishes that can feel frustratingly out of reach.

That’s where Bánh Mì Xanh comes in.

I wouldn’t usually point you towards a chain for something this culturally significant, but vegan bánh mì in Ho Chi Minh City isn’t always easy to come by, and this place gets it right. More importantly, they get it right every time. It’s a fully vegan chain with multiple locations across the city, always giving you the option of an affordable and delicious sandwich, whenever and wherever.

The bread has crunch without tearing your mouth apart, the fillings are generous, and everything is balanced exactly how you want it. It’s quick, cheap, and easy to find, which makes it perfect for lunch or as something to grab on the go (just like the Vietnamese have been doing for decades).

The last restaurant on our list is another chain, but this one has branches across the country and is a great solution for any hungry vegan with no idea what they’re in the mood for.

iVegan Supershop feels more like a Venice Beach wellness cafe than anything you’d expect to find in Vietnam, with a menu that jumps between cuisines without trying too hard to be anything in particular.

The menu leans fresh and clean with Western-style burgers, sandwiches, smoothie bowls, salad bowls, and toast topped with everything your heart could possibly desire.

The plant-based “tuna” sandwich took me right back to memories of my childhood, before I was vegan, and was perfect in every way. Each dish on the menu also comes with full macros, from calories to protein and beyond, which I was super impressed by (and only works so well with such a healthy menu).

It’s certainly on the pricier side, especially if you’ve been enjoying places like Nhà Min and more traditional chay spots. But if you are craving something familiar, iVegan is still a fraction of the cost of what you’d be paying for the same thing back home.

There are numerous iVegan branches to enjoy from Ho Chi Minh City all the way up to Hanoi, and I for one am grateful for that.

Rebecca at Veggies Abroad is your all-in-one vegan trip-planning extraordinaire, and also runs her own vegan tours worldwide (including one in Vietnam).

You’ll never again be overwhelmed deciding where to go and what to do, let alone where to eat vegan.

She can help you find the right balance between seeing the sights without getting completely caught up in the tourist rigmarole.

Trust me, you’re in the safest of hands, and she’d love to hear from you!