Must-see restaurants in Central Vietnam

  • Tree Hugger Cafe

    Dong Hoi

    Splendid Tree Hugger's combo of coffees, juices and Western-style snacks lures throngs of travellers and English-speaking Dong Hoi locals. There are also…

  • Tadioto

    Hoi An

    One of Hoi An's culinary secrets, Tadioto (owned and run by author, award-winning journalist and polylinguist Nguyen Qui Duc) belongs in its own charming…

  • Fatfish

    Danang

    This stylish restaurant and lounge bar has led the eating and drinking charge across the Han River on the eastern shore. Innovative Asian fusion dishes,…

  • Taco Ngon

    Danang

    This small spot thrust down a back street serves quite possibly Vietnam's best tacos. Tuck into fusion flavour combos like pork with wasabi coleslaw, fish…

  • Madam Thu

    Hue

    Ever-stuffed and frugal-looking Madam Thu draws in the crowds for its superb menu and lovely, very polite and helpful staff. The mushroom-and-carrot fried…

  • Hanh Restaurant

    Hue

    Newbies to Hue specialities should start at this busy restaurant. Order the five-dish set menu (120,000d) for a speedy lesson in banh khoai (savoury prawn…

  • Cargo Club

    Hoi An

    This remarkable cafe-restaurant, serving Vietnamese and Western food, has a terrific riverside location (the upper terrace has stunning views). A relaxing…

  • Sea Shell

    Hoi An

    Shaded by a decades-old banyan tree, Sea Shell is a flavour-packed offshoot of Nu Eatery in Hoi An's Old Town. Try snacks like tempura-prawn rolls and…

  • Hill Station

    Hoi An

    With a superb location in one of Hoi An's most charming and fascinating historic mansions, the Hill Station is ideal for a drink and snack after a busy…

  • Vegan Zone

    Hoi An

    This handsome-looking restaurant in the east of town pulls out the stops with a tantalising menu of vegan dishes, from potato cake through to bun rieu …

  • Art Space

    Hoi An

    Hoi An’s first true pairing of a restaurant and art gallery, the Art Space’s industrial-chic décor contrasts nicely with curated artwork from Vietnam…

  • Pub with Cold Beer

    Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

    Up a dirt track in the middle of nowhere (but well signposted), this spot owned by a farming family (with chickens, pigs and rabbits) does what it says on…

  • Nu Eatery

    Hoi An

    Don't be deceived by the humble decor at this compact place near the Japanese Covered Bridge; there's a real wow factor to the seasonal small plates at…

  • Ganesh Indian Restaurant

    Hoi An

    This highly authentic, buzzing and fine-value North Indian restaurant is highly popular, but staff remain unfazed and very friendly; the tandoor oven…

  • Ngoc Chi

    Danang

    This highly affordable and affable modern vegetarian choice enjoys a central location in the buzzing Danang downtown, with a tasty menu of classic fare…

  • Chookie's Hideaway

    Ninh Binh

    This vast place with a pool table and beer on tap serves good-value Vietnamese and Western food and has plenty of local information on what to do and see…

  • Nina's Cafe

    Hue

    Nina's is a friendly, painting-hung restaurant, around a corner at the end of an alley, where crowd-pleasing stir-fried, claypot, fried-rice and curry…

  • D-Arts Zone

    Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

    Vintage jazz and blues often feature at this interesting spot co-owned by an artist and an architect. Menu highlights include decent salads, spicy…

  • Madame Lan

    Danang

    In this huge restaurant in a French colonial-style building you can eat in an open courtyard or in one of the river-facing dining rooms. The menu has lots…

  • BBQ Un In

    Danang

    Vietnamese flavours and American barbecue combine at this fun new place along the fast-expanding restaurant strip on the Han River's eastern bank…

  • Happy Heart

    Danang

    Hearing-impaired and ethnic-minority waiting staff deliver brilliant service at this cafe that helps to provide opportunities for people with disabilities…

  • Waterfront

    Danang

    A riverfront lounge and restaurant that gets everything right on every level. It works as a stylish bar for a chilled glass of New Zealand sauvignon blanc…

  • Aubergine 49

    Hoi An

    This stylish restaurant, around five minutes north of central Hoi An by taxi, crafts excellent fusion combinations of Asian and Western cuisine. On top of…

  • Gecko Pub

    Hue

    Harbouring a laid-back vibe (no football TV), this Pham Ngu Lao spot combines friendly service and Asian-chic decor along with the best street-side tables…

  • Spice Viet Restaurant

    Hoi An

    Spice Viet Restaurant puts a fresh spin on traditional Vietnamese food by using mainly locally-sourced, organic products. The menu of Vietnamese classics…

  • Nook Cafe & Bar

    Hue

    Near a tangle of cheaper accommodation and travel agencies, Nook's breezy upstairs location is a good spot for well-executed Vietnamese dishes and Western…

  • Tu Quy

    Dong Hoi

    This area is famous for its banh khoai (shrimp pancake) restaurants, of which Tu Quy is one of the best. It also does banh cuon (shrimp in steamed rice…

  • Stop & Go Café

    Hue

    This atmospheric and very friendly spot serves smiles and decent Vietnamese and backpacker fare: banh beo (steamed rice cakes), banh cuon (steamed rice…

  • Cafe Zoom

    Hoi An

    Look for the cool retro Vespas outside this hip cafe and bar, which also doubles as the Hoi An location for the friendly Vespa Adventures crew. Cold beer…

  • My Casa

    Danang

    Italian and Spanish flavours – with the occasional influence of Asia – combine at this relaxed courtyard restaurant and bar that's a good spot for…

  • Salt Pub & Restaurant

    An Bang Beach

    With a beachfront location on the quiet side of the An Bang strip, this relaxed place offers craft beers on tap, espresso coffee and a tempting choice of…

  • Les Jardins de la Carambole

    Hue

    This classy French restaurant occupies a gorgeous colonial-style building in the Citadel quarter. The menu majors in Gallic classics and there's a…

  • White Rose

    Hoi An

    White Rose has a menu of just two dishes, so take half of each if you want, as many diners do. The choice is the (secret recipe) banh bao banh vac (shrimp…

  • Hasa Restaurant

    South-Central Vietnam

    This large, open and garrulous hai san (seafood) corner restaurant serves delicious fish, crab, prawn, mussels, sea snails and all manner of food from the…

  • Lien Hoa

    Hue

    This ever-popular and no-nonsense open-air vegetarian restaurant is renowned for filling food at bargain prices. Fresh banh beo, noodle dishes, crispy…

  • Capture Vietnam

    Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

    This cafe has espresso coffee, homestyle baking and interesting Western and Vietnamese meals. Bagels with smoked salmon, good pizza and Mediterranean…

  • Pizza 4Ps

    Danang

    Sit around the bar near the wood-fired pizza oven or secure a booth and order from the Japanese-meets-Italian pizza menu. Handily, you can mix and match…

  • Mango Mango

    Hoi An

    Celebrity chef Duc Tran’s most beautiful Hoi An restaurant enjoys a prime riverside plot and puts a global spin on Vietnamese cuisine, with fresh,…

  • Taco Ngon

    Hoi An

    This creation from up north along the coast in Danang serves its immensely popular fusion-flavour tacos to satisfied Hoi An diners. Choice combos include…

  • Tam’s DMZ Cafe & Guesthouse

    South-Central Vietnam

    Vietnamese food, pizza, smoothies and juices all feature at this excellent spot, with decent accommodation too. It’s run by the ever-helpful and friendly…