Where to eat in Ho Chi Minh City? 10 worthy spots for your hit list
+ favorite museums I return to over and over
Happy Spring, everyone!
Many people have asked me if I would ever organize tours of Vietnam because they would sign up. It’s a honor for folks to be willing to put themselves in my hands but I basically respond this way: “I’m unable to keep people happy 24/7.”
Vietnam is fun but it is also a slightly strange place where you don’t fully know if something is taken care of, but is usually is. People can be shy about communicating clearly, particularly when language is an issue. I would be a nervous wreck as a tour guide.
When I travel to Vietnam, I always keep an open mind but also have a list of places to return to or try. I ask family and friends for suggestions, too. I look online like I would when I’m in the States, only I have to read Vietnamese!
In this post, I’m sharing my Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) eating suggestions, gathered from years of travel, plus tips from my family and friends who have more were recently in Vietnam. You’ll have addresses, leads, ideas for what to order. I’ve also included my favorite museums.
April 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon. Some Viet expats are returning to mark the occasion. I’m curious about how the Hanoi government will celebrate.
But most tourists to Vietnam are not expats. They’re excited about exploring the country. I was recently in a meeting with five people — one had just returned and another was about to go. Neither was Vietnamese. Vietnam is a hot destination!
Many of you reading this are not going to get your Vietnam tourist visa and hop on a plane. It’s ok to be an onscreen, armchair traveler. I’ve included cultural and culinary tidbits herein because it’s never just about the food.
Remember the grilled bananas in sticky rice and coconut sauce gals? That was as much about their snack as the scene. They taught me something and inspired a fabulous PTFS recipe. Get the recipe and address!
I’ll likely never take you on a tour of Vietnam but this is me giving you a sort of virtual tour around Saigon. Let’s goooooo!