Vegan Restaurants in Saigon

Tales by Chapter

Tales by Chapter
10 Đ. Nguyễn Thành,
District 1,
Hồ Chí Minh 700000

Opening Hours: 7pm-11pm every day, closed Sunday

Tales by Chapter is the first ever zero waste fine dining restaurant in Saigon and everything they serve is 100% plant based. This is no ordinary restaurant, it’s a restaurant that’s built on passion, it’s a restaurant where the concept allows the talented team to be creative in the kitchen. Quite simply it’s a restaurant that we can’t wait to return to. So much so that we have already booked flights to experience this unique culinary adventure at Tales once again. Book a seat at the chefs table if it’s available and fully immerse yourself in the performance with the talented team using all of their charm, skills and wizardry to prepare plate after plate of exquisite dishes, all paired with thoughtful and creative drinks to pair with each course. Treat yourself to what is simply zero waste fine dining at its very best. Wow.

Banh mi Xanh

Banh mi Xanh
38 Lê Thị Riêng,
District 1,
Hồ Chí Minh 71009

Opening Hours: open 24 hours every day

Did somebody say vegan banh mi? Did somebody say a restaurant that only serves vegan banh mi? Did somebody say that have multiple branches and some of them (including this one) are open 24/7? The answer to all those questions is yes and that’s why Banh mi Xanh should most certainly be on your vegan travel radar. We enjoy their chilli tofu banh minand another with a mixture of mock meat and chilli tofu, both were delicious. We challenge anyone to suggest a simple sandwich that compares to Vietnamese banh mi and those served at Banh mi Xanh are very good examples of this Vietnamese staple.

Filthy Vegan

Filthy Vegan
86 Cô Bắc
District 1
Hồ Chí Minh

Opening Times: 11am-10pm every day (closed Monday)

Vegan Fish & Chips with Heinz baked beans? Check. Vegan roast dinner? Check. Vegan full English breakfast? Check. Vegan donuts? Check. We could go on but you get the picture. Filthy Vegan is the place to go when you’ve had your fill of kale salads, Buddha bowls and detox smoothies. They are conveniently located in District 1 meaning you have no excuse not to visit and enjoy some fantastically filthy vegan food. Filthy Vegan are now the recipients of an ‘Excellent reviews’ sticker from HappyCow and rightly so…

Co Noi

Opening Hours: 11am-2pm buffet and 6pm-10pm a la carte every day

Co Noi
Bong Sen Hotel
7th floor
District 1
Ho Chi Minh City

Quite simply this is one of the best veggie buffets we’ve ever had. It’s a little more expensive that other local buffets in town, but it’s in a nice hotel and is presented very nicely. This vegan restaurant offers an a la carte menu every evening, but it’s the lunchtime buffet that you need to know about. Every dish was vegan and there were more than 50 choices on the day we visited, yes that’s 50 delicious vegan food options in the heart of Saigon district 1. We really enjoyed everything we tried and can’t wait to visit again. Very good indeed.

Mang’s Mania

Opening Hours: 11am-8.30pm Monday-Friday, 11am-3pm Saturday and closed Sunday

Mang’s Mania
86 Nguyen Hue
District 1
Ho Chi Minh City

This was the closest 100% vegan restaurant to where we were staying so we wanted to check it out, it was a little tricky to find as was upstairs on the first floor but it was worth the effort. We loved the vibe, the staff were super friendly and the food was fresh and flavourful. They have a new menu every day on the chalk board featuring a variety of fresh spring rolls, noodles, soup and dishes with rice. We had an excellent mixed mushrooms and home made tofu dish which was served with a clear soup packed with leafy greens. We also tried a selection and of the spring rolls available which were all very good. Check this place out for sure, straight away a favourite of ours.

Phuoc Duyen Chay

Opening Hours: 7am-9pm every day

Phuoc Duyen Chay
95 Duong Mai Thị Luu
District 1
Ho Chi Minh City

This local vegan spot was super busy in the evening which is already a good sign. It was a little tricky to order as the staff didn’t speak English so any questions we had were left unanswered. We ordered pineapple and veggie fried rice with tofu and mock ham, also a portion of seitan in lemongrass and chilli. The rice was good, but the seitan wasn’t great, it was crispy fried strips which were dry with no sauce. So an extra order of crispy wontons and sweet and sour sauce was ordered and it was excellent. It was worth persevering as this dish went well with the fried rice, and a few pieces of the fried seitan skin on top. Would definitely come back and try something else as despite the lack of English, the staff were full of smiles and very welcoming.

Kashew Cheese Deli

Kashew Cheese Deli
14 Trần Ngọc Diện
District 2
Hồ Chí Minh

Opening Times: 10am-8.30pm every day (closed Tuesday)

Having persuaded friends who were visiting Saigon to become international Kashew Cheese smugglers and hand deliver packages to us in Siem Reap (on more than one occasion) we were fully aware how mighty damn fine the product was. Therefore we were excited to finally visit the source and enjoy dining at their deli in district 2. We were not disappointed and enjoyed some of the best sandwiches we’ve ever eaten, an ice cold Kombucha and whilst there were happy to present a ‘Excellent Reviews’ sticker from HappyCow to Lena, the owner and creator of Kashew Cheese.

Passengers

Passengers
46/9 Tran Quang Dieu
District 3
Ho Chi Minh City

Opening Times: 9am-10pm every day

We are happy we jumped in a cab and checked out this cool spot in district 3. It was a little tricky to find as tucked away down an alley but provided an oasis from the crazy streets outside. Our almond milk cappuccino and matcha green latte were excellent and this would be the perfect spot to hide for a few hours with a couple of nice drinks and catch up with some work or read a book. We were able to meet the owner Du, and present him with an ‘Excellent Reviews’ sticker from HappyCow during our visit.

Nha Hang Chay Sen

Nha Hang Chay Sen
171 Nguyen Thai Hoc
District 1
Saigon

Opening Times: 10am-2pm and 4pm-10pm every day

Nha Hang Chay Sen has a room where you sit on the floor on low tables and a table and chairs section upstairs. Downstairs there is a cabinet with foodstuff on sale including vegan stock, noodles, sauces and the intriguingly labelled ‘meat fluff’. The portions were small (and therefore a bit pricey for this kind of restaurant) but they have the not-to-be-missed-must-try-if-you’re-in-Saigon vegan egg on the menu, it’s worth a visit just to marvel at this vegan egg which actually tastes way better than an animal egg and has great novelty factor. No beer here and be careful for hidden extras that you will be charged for like the wet tissue they will add to your bill after leaving it on the table. We laughed when we saw ’tissue’ on the menu with all the mock meat, thinking it was a bad menu description for something, only to find that it did actually mean ‘serviette’ and was chargeable. Weird.

Giac Duyen Chay

Opening Hours: 6am-9pm every day

Giac Duyen Chay
16 Nguyen Huy Tu
District 1
Ho Chi Minh City

We’ve included this even though we didn’t eat here for two reasons. One, it was recommended by a friend, and two, they were so friendly when we turned up even though they were closed. It was the owners birthday and they’d all just eaten, they invited us in an offered us a drink and some snacks they were eating. They couldn’t have been any kinder. It’s a simple Vietnamese veg spot with an extensive menu featuring a selection of rice, noodles, soups and mock meat. The menu in English is really helpful and we were happy to be told they don’t add MSG to any other the dishes. We will return for sure.

Vegetarian Restaurants in Saigon

Cela

Cela
10 Đ. Nguyễn Thành,
District 1,
Hồ Chí Minh 700000

Opening Hours: 11am-3pm and 6pm-11pm every day, closed Sunday

The team behind Tales by Chapter are the same team responsible for this excellent vegetarian restaurant and the concept of sustainable dining is at the core of what they serve here too. We shared a selection of starters including sushi, tacos,  kale salad, mushroom yakitori and agedashi tofu that were all flavourful, nutritious and packed with flavour. Vegan mains included mapo tofu, karaage mushroom and burnt eggplant with each and every dish we shared being excellent. The dining room has refined ambiance and the staff team add an extra slice of character to your overall experience. Highly recommended.

Pi Vegetarian Bistro

Pi Vegetarian Bistro
19 Vo Van Tan
District 3
Ho Chi Minh City

Opening Times: 11am-3pm and 5pm-9.30pm every day

This was a great recommendation from the people behind Filthy Vegan, “way cheaper than Hum which is opposite and just as good for upscale local food”. Our meal comprised of Turmeric & Creamy Coconut Rice Balls, Fried Tofu with homemade Black Garlic Sauce and Vietnamese Mini Pancakes. Each and every dish was outstanding and served with tasty sauces, cooked perfectly, full of flavour and delicious. The menu was daunting however, more than 100 items and we therefore consider ourselves lucky that we chose 3 excellent dishes, maybe they’re all that good? We’ll be back for sure.

Gujurat Indian

Opening Hours: 7.30am-11.30pm every day

Gujurat Indian
179 Phạm Ngũ Lão,
District 1,
Saigon

A quick overnight in Saigon and this Indian pure veg spot was 100m from our hotel so decided to check it out. Clean and bright with friendly staff, we were sure we’d made the right decision immediately. Easy to order vegan options from the pure veg menu when the staff team understand and they certainly did here. Ordered dal fry, veg kofta, rice and tandoor roti and have to say we were very impressed. The roti was light and slightly crispy, obviously fresh and straight from the tandoor. The veg kofta were outstanding, plenty of spice with a touch of chilli and not at all oily which is sometimes the case. Great dal fry, perhaps a little under seasoned, but again not oily and delicious. Would return here for sure, a fortuitous find.

Sala Quan Chay

Sala Quan Chay
71C Nguyen Thi Minh Khai
District 1
Ho Chi Minh City

Opening Times: 7am-9pm every day

We were welcomed by relaxing jazz music and strong AC which was the perfect antidote to the hot streets of Saigon. We ordered bun cha and coconut soy ribs to share. The bun cha was superb and reminded us that we used to eat this dish all the time in Siem Reap but had forgotten just how good it was! The coconut soy ribs were cold, oily and tasteless so we didn’t eat them. Nice relaxed vibe and friendly staff, shame we chose 1 bad dish!

Hum Vegetarian Cafe & Restaurant

Hum Vegetarian Cafe & Restaurant
32 Vo Van Tan
District 3
Saigon

Opening Times: 10am-10pm every day

We’re really only including this restaurant because it’s the place that everyone suggests you go and every says is the best restaurant for vegetarians in town. It isn’t. In fact it’s awful (or at least it was on our visit). Overpriced under flavoured food that’s as stingy on ingredients as it is on flavour. We had a curry that was served with cold noodles which you’re supposed to add to the soup. Doing this makes an already not hot enough bland curry into a decidedly lukewarm bland curry. “Are the noodles supposed to be cold?” we ask our waitress, “Oh yes” she says with a smile, followed by “Are you enjoying your food?” to which we reply “Not really as it’s cold and doesn’t taste of anything”. “OK that’s great” she says with a smile and walks off. That kind of sums up the service at Hum for us and we leave with a feeling that they have been trading on their reputation as opposed to producing really good vegan and vegetarian food. Since our visit in 2016 they now have 2 more locations and we still hear good things about the food, so possibly we will return one day…

Vegan Friendly Restaurants in Saigon

Du Du Xanh

Du Du Xanh
178A Hai Bà Trưng,
District 1,
Hồ Chí Minh 700000

Opening Hours: 11am-2pm and 5pm-9.30pm every day

This is another great vegan option in District 1 where the traditional Vietnamese cuisine will leave you very satisfied. This converted French villa on a quiet side street has been tastefully restored and is where we enjoyed a feast of plant based delights. From the delicate watermelon cones that we enjoyed as one of our starters to the flavoursome and fragrant soup that was served with our mains it was clear that lots of thought and effort had gone into creating the menu and ensuring each of the dishes more that satisfied their guests. The dining room was packed during lunch service when we visited so be sure to make a reservation if you plan to visit.

Ben Thanh Street Food Market

Ben Thanh Street Food Market
26-30 Thủ Khoa Huân
Phường Bến Thành
District 1
Hồ Chí Minh City

Opening Times: 5am-2am every day

Did somebody say bao? We couldn’t resist heading here for vegan tofu bao that we had heard about from our friend, The Hungry Gecko. She warned us that the place was packed with flesh smoking on the BBQ but as bao lovers we made it happen. We think the chef had a bad day, the bao wasn’t cooked properly and the tofu was so oily it went in the bin. Gutted. Also, the BBQ meat surrounding us at all times was a little off putting…