Quick answer
Vietnam is manageable for vegetarians thanks to its Buddhist com chay restaurants, which serve fully vegetarian versions of pho, spring rolls and curries. Ordinary food relies heavily on fish sauce, so learn the phrase "toi an chay" and ask for no fish sauce. Hanoi, Da Nang, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City all have Indian restaurants; smaller towns and cruises need advance planning.
How easy is it to eat well?
Vegetarian & Jain friendliness
5 = easy everywhere, 1 = plan every meal
Indian food availability
5 = Indian restaurants everywhere, 1 = rare
What to order (and what to ask about)
Phở chay (vegetarian pho)
Rice noodles in vegetable broth with tofu and herbs. Regular pho uses beef or chicken broth, so order it at a com chay restaurant.
Bánh mì chay
Crisp baguette with tofu, pickled vegetables and herbs. Ask for no pâté and no egg mayonnaise.
Gỏi cuốn chay (fresh spring rolls)
Rice-paper rolls with tofu, noodles and herbs, dipped in peanut sauce instead of fish sauce.
Cơm chay (vegetarian rice meals)
Buffet-style rice with tofu, mock meats and vegetables, found near pagodas. Busiest on the 1st and 15th of each lunar month.
Rau muống xào tỏi (water spinach with garlic)
A staple side dish. Ask for no fish sauce; Jain travellers should skip it for the garlic.
Đậu phụ sốt cà chua (tofu in tomato sauce)
Home-style tofu found on most local menus. Check that it is cooked without fish sauce.
Bánh xèo
Crisp turmeric crêpe usually filled with pork and shrimp. Vegetarian restaurants make a mushroom and bean-sprout version.
Bún chả
Hanoi's grilled pork with noodles. No vegetarian equivalent at regular stalls.
Cao lầu
Hoi An's signature noodles with pork. Some restaurants offer a tofu version.
Chè (sweet soups)
Beans, coconut milk, jelly and fruit served hot or iced. Vegetarian and widely available.
Cà phê trứng (egg coffee)
Coffee topped with whipped egg yolk. Skip if you avoid eggs; iced milk coffee (cà phê sữa đá) is the safe alternative.
Phrases that help
| Say | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tôi ăn chay | I eat vegetarian. |
| Không thịt, không cá | No meat, no fish. |
| Không nước mắm | No fish sauce. |
| Không trứng | No egg. |
| Không hành, không tỏi | No onion, no garlic. |
| Quán chay / Cơm chay | Vegetarian restaurant; look for these words on signs. |
Is Vietnam good for vegetarians?
Better than its meat-heavy reputation suggests. Vietnam has a long Mahayana Buddhist tradition, and every city has com chay (vegetarian rice) and quán chay (vegetarian restaurant) places serving fully vegetarian food, often with excellent mock meats. Many Vietnamese eat vegetarian on the 1st and 15th of each lunar month, when these restaurants are busiest.
The challenge is ordinary food. Fish sauce (nước mắm) goes into almost everything, from dipping sauces to stir-fries, and broths are usually meat-based. Ordering "vegetarian" at a regular stall often gets you a dish without visible meat but with fish sauce.
Where can you find Indian food?
| City | Indian food | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hanoi | Good | Several restaurants in and around the Old Quarter |
| Hoi An and Da Nang | Good | A handful near the old town and My Khe beach |
| Ho Chi Minh City | Very good | District 1 has the most, near Ben Thanh Market |
| Ha Long Bay cruises | Limited | Vegetarian set menus on request; Indian food rare |
| Sapa and Ninh Binh | Limited | Mostly Vietnamese vegetarian options |
Ho Chi Minh City also has historic Hindu temples built by the old Tamil community, including the Mariamman temple near Ben Thanh Market.
How should Jain travellers plan?
Jain eating is the hardest part of a Vietnam trip. Vegetarian restaurants usually avoid fish sauce but use garlic, shallots and spring onion freely. Tell your hotels and cruise operator in writing, show the Vietnamese phrase "Không hành, không tỏi" (no onion, no garlic) when ordering, and carry ready-to-eat meals and snacks from India for cruise days and long transfers.
Save the Vietnamese phrases on your phone in Vietnamese script. Pronunciation is tonal, and showing the written words works far better than saying them.
What should you order on a day out?
At regular restaurants, steamed rice, tofu in tomato sauce, stir-fried vegetables and fresh spring rolls are the safest orders once you ask for no fish sauce. Sweet chè and fresh fruit are vegetarian almost everywhere.
Plan your trip with things to do in Vietnam and our 8-day Vietnam itinerary, choose a Hanoi base with where to stay in Vietnam, and budget with the Vietnam trip cost. Indian passport holders need an e-visa; see our Vietnam visa guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is pho vegetarian?
Can I get vegetarian food on a Ha Long Bay cruise?
Are there Indian restaurants in Hanoi?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
