Ho Chi Minh City
With a strong seafood slant and friendly service, light and bright Five Oysters in backpackerland is frequently full of travellers feasting on oysters (25…
Must-see restaurants in Vietnam
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…
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…
Ho Chi Minh City
Hopping with evening diners, this branch of a chain of makeshift-looking alfresco barbecue restaurants is fun, boisterous and outgoing. Grab yourself a…
Hue
This atmospheric and very friendly spot serves smiles and decent Vietnamese and backpacker fare: banh beo (steamed rice cakes), banh cuon (steamed rice…
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…
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…
Ho Chi Minh City
With a name roughly translating to the 'Oink Oink Eatery', this casual place with river views celebrates everything porcine with an American-style…
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…
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…
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…
Hanoi
It’s barely possible to walk down the road to get to this parlour on hot summer nights, such is its popularity with local teens and families. Prices are…
Ho Chi Minh City
Highlights here include an innovative menu blending Scandinavian and Vietnamese influences – MAD House translates to 'Food House' in Danish. There's also…
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…
Can Tho
Set over two floors near the market, this stylish restaurant kicks off with affordable breakfasts, fresh coffee and juices, before moving on to sandwiches…
Ho Chi Minh City
Deck is housed in an architecturally impressive pavilion set between an elegant garden and the river. You could happily linger here all afternoon,…
Ho Chi Minh City
This versatile spot features many riverside options: enjoy a leisurely lunch at the outside tables, sit at the bar for a few beers or graduate to…
Hanoi
Dong Phu is a stunning restored Vietnamese house that resembles an art gallery. Classic Vietnamese dishes, like green mango salad with grilled prawns,…
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…
Hanoi
Just the ticket for a good-looking detox in a neat and wholesome wood-furnished space with an outside terrace and parasols. Choose your rice base, fish …
Can Tho
The only dish this locally acclaimed spot does is the best nem nuong in town. Roll your own rice rolls using the ingredients provided – pork sausage, rice…
Ho Chi Minh City
Expect some of Saigon's best views from the tables of this 28th-floor upmarket hotel cafe-restaurant. It serves tasty international food, including…
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…
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…
Hanoi
This sophisticated eating spot in a restored French-colonial villa has a pleasant casual courtyard outside and starched white tablecloths inside. Once…
Phu Quoc Island
The Nha Trang institution has dropped anchor in Phu Quoc in an impressive new setting at the southern end of Long Beach, near the Intercontinental Hotel…
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,…
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,…
Can Tho
With tantalising river views from the top of the Nam Bo Boutique Hotel and subdued romantic lighting, this is the place to canoodle with your crush over a…
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…
Ha Tien
A brightly lit stall, metal tables and a family effort is what creates excellent hu tieu, a chicken noodle soup that is the Mekong's pho. Crowds form here…
Ho Chi Minh City
This long-running pho joint is more upmarket than most but is definitely the real deal. Tables come laden with herbs, chilli and lime, as well as gio chao…
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…
Buon Ma Thuot
Upscale Vietnamese cuisine in refined but relaxed surroundings, with excellent service. Try the clay-pot dishes or the excellent fish soups delicately…
Hoi An
What makes the banh mi (filled baguettes) at this cramped joint draw the stupendous crowds out front? It's the dense, chewy bread, the freshness of the…
Hanoi
This is the original location of a restaurant family famed for adapting Vietnamese cuisine to Western palates, although with increasing popularity it…
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
Surprisingly it's roast chicken on offer here, although giant porkers are raised as well. Reached by boat or via a bumpy bike path, the attraction here is…
Ho Chi Minh City
For the best brunch in the city look no further: this stylish little cafe serves Gallic classics with a twist – try a croque marcel, a spicy shakshouka …
Hanoi
Bring along your DIY cooking skills and grill your own succulent cha ca fish dish in a pan with a little shrimp paste and plenty of veggies, herbs and…
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
This popular brick-lined vegetarian restaurant packs in a lot of flavour for those on the run from meat and dairy, with banana and mango pancakes for…
