Dong Van
This friendly restaurant serving Vietnamese and Western dishes is fast becoming Dong Van's hub for foreign travellers. The couple who run it have lots of…
Must-see restaurants in Northwest Vietnam
Hill Station Signature Restaurant
Sapa
A showcase of Hmong cuisine with cool Zen decor and superb views. Dishes include flash-cooked pork with lime, ash-baked trout in banana leaves, and…
Mai Chau
Want to join the locals on a night out? Consider this simple, tasty restaurant, located on Mai Chau's main strip. Everything on the brief menu is made…
Dong Van
Where the locals go for breakfast in Dong Van. The menu begins and ends with banh cuon – freshly-steamed and filled noodles – served the northern way with…
Yen Ninh Vegetarian Restaurant
Dien Bien Phu
This is an unexpected find down a nondescript residential alley in the commercial northwest of town – a family home doubling as a bookshop that serves up…
Mai Chau
The eponymous three sisters here run a friendly local joint that's a step up from other places in town. House specials include red pumpkin soup with rice,…
Sapa
This recently expanded place stands out for great service and superb valley views from the windows. Come for decent Vietnamese and European food, good…
Sapa
A smaller, more intimate version of Le Gecko, just a few doors away, with cabana-style architecture and slightly cheaper prices for almost the same menu…
Sapa
This French-owned place has classy service and a menu of flavoursome country cooking that jumps from French tartiflette casserole with potato, cheese and…
Bac Ha
A favourite dish in northern Vietnam is grilled duck. Come to this simple restaurant (look for the rotisserie out the front) for a half (100,000d) or a…
Northwest Vietnam
Located a few blocks south of Muong Te's bus station is this lively restaurant that specialises in bun dau mam tom – deep-fried tidbits, noodles and herbs…
Hotpot & Roast Piglet Restaurants
Sapa
This strip is home to several similar places serving Vietnamese-style lau (hotpot; meat stew cooked with local vegetables, cabbage and mushroom) and roast…
Ha Giang Province
A foreigner-friendly place with enthusiastic service, pleasant outdoor seating and a wide menu of Asian and Western comfort food. Our sautéed beef,…
Lao Cai
A Sapa-esque cafe. Try the full English breakfast, pasta options or good Vietnamese dishes. To find it from the train station, cross the main road and…
Northwest Vietnam
Hoa Ban is one of a strip of restaurants P Hoang Quoc Viet, roughly across from the San Xanh 3 Hotel, that serve Thai dishes. Take a seat on the floor and…
Sapa
Don't miss warming up with a cup of ginger tea sweetened with Sapa mountain honey at this simple cafe attached to the Sapa O'Chau tour company. Also does…
Meo Vac
Recommended by locals, this place does the usual point-and-choose dishes served over rice, and a few noodle dishes. It's located just around the corner …
Ha Giang Province
This com (point-and-choose dishes served over rice) place is a popular spot for lunch. Coming from Ha Giang, turn left at the corner before the Thao…
Sapa
This rowdy place brings all the local faves – grilled skewers, roast piglet, dried beef, hotpot – together in one venue. Pull up a pew at one of the…
Ha Giang Province
Locals fuel up on vast bowls of steaming pho – both chicken and beef – at this busy shophouse restaurant, located diagonally opposite the Cao Nguyen Hotel.
Lao Cai
This branch is an offshoot of the successful Sapa cafe, with a handy location near the train station. It does good breakfasts and sandwiches and decent…
Ha Giang Province
Vast, buzzy (read: loud), hall-like restaurant serving hotpot and other Vietnamese dishes. Be careful what you order blindly off the (Vietnamese only)…
Sapa
This intimate bistro is recognisable by its colourful exterior lanterns. The menu rambles from pizza, pasta and steaks to Vietnamese with a couple of Sapa…
Northwest Vietnam
Located west of town, a few doors down from Dung Phu hotel, is this typical com – dishes made-to-order and served over rice – place. In the evenings, it…
Dong Van
Opposite the old market plaza, in the centre of town, Quang Dung has an English menu featuring good breakfasts and hearty Vietnamese staples. The balcony…
Northwest Vietnam
At the southern end of Sin Ho, by the edge of the lake, is this large, friendly com (made-to-order dishes served with rice), one of the few places in town…
Dien Bien Phu
There's good-value eating at these inexpensive pho stalls and simple restaurants opposite the bus station; some serve delicious fresh sugar-cane juice.
Sapa
Lots of local food stalls and a good alternative to another hotel breakfast or for a cheap and authentic lunch, if you don't mind a walk by a lake to get…
Dien Bien Phu
Meet the locals at the bia hoi (draught beer) gardens along Ɖ Hoang Van Thai. There's decent and cheap grilled food as well.
Bac Ha
Hoang Yen's simple menu includes decent breakfast options and a set menu for 200,000d. Cheap beer is also available.
