When it comes to food there are few places on earth that can compete with Vietnam. This is a country where every street is a restaurant and every market feels like a banquet.
Vietnamese street food cities are legendary and everyone who comes here ends up eating on plastic stools, washing it all down with cheap beer, and wondering why they ever eat indoors at all. So here are the 13 best Vietnamese street food cities, counted down from 13 to 1.
13. Hai Phong
Hai Phong is a port city in the north that does not get half the credit it deserves. This is a working class city with a gritty street food scene where the portions are big and the flavors are strong. The specialty here is bánh đa cua, a rich crab noodle soup made with local freshwater crabs and topped with fried shallots, morning glory, and sometimes shrimp. It is hearty, cheap, and eaten by the bucket load in every market and side street. Hai Phong might not get the tourists that Hanoi or Halong do, but for those hunting Vietnamese street food cities, it is a gem.
Must try dish: Bánh đa cua (crab noodle soup).
12. Quy Nhon
Quy Nhon sits on the central coast and is slowly becoming more popular with travelers. The beach is great but the real attraction is the seafood street food. This is where you eat grilled scallops topped with peanuts and spring onions, shrimp pancakes cooked on the street, and squid that has been dried then grilled until smoky. Prices are lower than in Nha Trang or Da Nang, but the flavors are every bit as good. Among Vietnamese street food cities, Quy Nhon is still under the radar which makes eating here even more rewarding.
Must try dish: Bánh xèo tôm nhảy (shrimp sizzling pancake).
11. Can Tho
The capital of the Mekong Delta has one of the most unique street food scenes in Vietnam. Can Tho is famous for its floating markets where breakfast is served on boats. You can eat bowls of hủ tiếu noodles while cruising down the river at sunrise, or grab tropical fruits straight from sellers balancing on long wooden poles. On land the markets sell grilled fish, pork skewers, and endless rice snacks. Vietnamese street food cities often focus on either seafood or meat but Can Tho blends both with the fresh produce of the Delta.
Must try dish: Hủ tiếu (Mekong style noodle soup).
10. Phu Quoc
Vietnam’s island paradise does more than beaches and resorts. Phu Quoc has night markets that open every evening where locals and tourists cram together to eat everything that comes from the sea. Sea urchin is grilled with peanuts and quail eggs, while live squid are fried up with chili and garlic before your eyes. Add in tropical fruit desserts and sticky rice cakes and you quickly realize why Phu Quoc deserves a place among the top Vietnamese street food cities.
Must try dish: Grilled sea urchin with quail egg and peanuts.
9. Da Nang
Da Nang is one of those cities that has everything. Beaches, mountains, nightlife and some of the best street food in Vietnam. People here take their mì Quảng seriously, a turmeric yellow noodle soup loaded with shrimp, pork, herbs, and rice crackers. The city also does killer bánh xèo pancakes and endless seafood dishes that you eat right on the sand. It might be modern compared to Hoi An but Da Nang stands out as one of the essential Vietnamese street food cities.
Must try dish: Mì Quảng (turmeric noodle soup).
8. Hue
The old imperial capital of Vietnam still cooks like royalty. Hue is known for its refined cuisine and while many dishes are delicate, the street food is still the heart of the city. Small savory rice cakes called bánh bèo are everywhere, topped with shrimp powder and crunchy pork skin. There are also spicy beef noodles known as bún bò Huế which carry a real kick. What makes Hue special is the combination of street food grit with imperial finesse. Few Vietnamese street food cities mix history and eating like Hue.
Must try dish: Bún bò Huế (spicy beef noodle soup).
7. Sapa
Up in the northern mountains Sapa offers a very different street food scene. The nights are cold and the streets are lined with smoking barbecue grills. Skewers of pork, chicken, and buffalo are cooked beside sticky rice in bamboo tubes. Mountain vegetables, corn wine, and Hmong specialties all add to the mix. Eating in Sapa is not refined, it is rugged, hearty, and built for the climate. That is exactly why it earns a high place among Vietnamese street food cities.
Must try dish: Thịt nướng (mountain grilled skewers).
6. Hoi An
Hoi An is famous for its lanterns and old town charm but its food scene is every bit as magical. The city’s signature dish is cao lầu, a noodle dish with pork, herbs, and crispy rice crackers that you will not find anywhere else in Vietnam. The markets also serve white rose dumplings and wontons. At night the riverfront turns into one long dining hall with vendors selling everything under glowing lanterns. Hoi An is a must stop for anyone exploring Vietnamese street food cities.
Must try dish: Cao lầu (Hoi An style noodle dish).
5. Nha Trang
Nha Trang is one of the great seafood capitals of Vietnam and its street food reflects this perfectly. Night markets here overflow with snails cooked in chili butter, grilled lobsters, and fish hotpots. You sit on low stools with a cold beer while vendors bring plate after plate of seafood. The freshness is unbeatable. Nha Trang might be a beach resort town but for foodies it ranks very high among Vietnamese street food cities.
Must try dish: Bún chả cá (fish cake noodle soup).
4. Hanoi
The capital of Vietnam is often seen as the street food capital of the north. Hanoi gave the world phở and bánh cuốn, and eating here means slurping noodles on narrow streets with motorbikes zooming past. Bia hơi fresh beer joints line the pavements and serve endless fried snacks to go with the drinks. Morning, noon, or night Hanoi is built on food and that is why it is one of the ultimate Vietnamese street food cities.
Must try dish: Phở (the original Vietnamese noodle soup).
3. Hai An (Hai Duong/Hai Phong Region Blend)
The region around Hai An may not be as famous as Hanoi or Saigon but it represents some of the most authentic eating in Vietnam. Food here is tied to the seasons and the rivers. You get clams steamed with lemongrass, eel noodles, and endless local snacks sold for a few thousand dong. It feels raw, local, and untouched by mass tourism. Vietnamese street food cities often get hyped up, but Hai An shows that the smaller spots are just as important.
Must try dish: Miến lươn (eel noodle soup).
2. Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)
Saigon is chaos and food is at the center of it. From morning cơm tấm broken rice plates to late night hủ tiếu noodle stalls the city never stops eating. Bánh mì sandwiches are sold on every corner, bún thịt nướng grilled pork noodles are everywhere, and the sheer scale of the city makes it one giant dining room. Vietnamese street food cities do not get bigger, louder, or more delicious than Saigon.
Must try dish: Bánh mì (the classic Vietnamese sandwich).
1. Da Lat
The mountain city of Da Lat takes the crown. Cool air, pine forests, and a night market that feels like a festival every evening. Da Lat has its own specialties like bánh tráng nướng which is called Vietnamese pizza. Vendors grill rice paper and top it with egg, meat, vegetables, and sauces until it becomes a crunchy hot street snack. There are also endless hotpots, sweet potatoes roasted in the street, and strawberry desserts. Among all Vietnamese street food cities Da Lat feels unique, different, and absolutely essential.
Must try dish: Bánh tráng nướng (Vietnamese pizza).
And that is my definitive guide to the best Vietnamese street food cities, all of which have been tried and tested by me. There are though still many more to explore.
Check out my Vietnam tours with Young Pioneer Tours
