Vegetarian and Indian Food in Vietnam: A Practical Guide

Vietnam is good for vegetarians thanks to its Buddhist "chay" restaurants, found in every city and often near pagodas. Fish sauce and shrimp paste are the main hidden ingredients in ordinary restaurants, so a few phrases help a lot. Indian restaurants exist in all major cities, and Ha Long Bay cruises can prepare vegetarian menus with notice.

Vietnamese food is fresh and herb-filled, and vegetarian versions are easy to find. This guide covers what to order, what to watch for, where to find Indian food and how to brief hotels and tour operators.

Vietnamese dishes vegetarians can enjoy

Hidden ingredients to watch for

Watch for fish sauce (nước mắm) in almost everything, from dressings to stir-fries; shrimp paste and dried shrimp; pork or chicken broth in soups; oyster sauce in stir-fries; and lard for frying in some places. Chay restaurants avoid all of these.

Useful phrases

English is spoken in tourist areas, but less so in local eateries. Showing the phrases written on your phone works well.

Indian restaurants

Indian restaurants are found in Hanoi, Hoi An, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc, many with long vegetarian menus and some able to cook Jain meals on request. In larger cities, delivery apps bring Indian food to your hotel. In small towns and the countryside, choices are fewer, so plan ahead or carry snacks for long days out.

Vegetarian and vegan restaurants

Chay restaurants are found in every city, especially near pagodas, and many are inexpensive. Some observe Buddhist rules and avoid onion and garlic. On the 1st and 15th of each lunar month, many Vietnamese eat vegetarian, and chay restaurants are busy.

Supermarkets and self-catering

Supermarkets such as Co.opmart, WinMart, Lotte Mart and other hypermarket chains sell bread, cheese, yoghurt, fruit, salads, ready meals and snacks, and many label vegetarian and vegan products. They are much cheaper than restaurants and useful for picnics, train journeys and Jain travellers who prefer simple food.

For Jain travellers

Many dishes in Vietnam rely on onion, garlic, potatoes and other root vegetables, so Jain travellers should plan carefully. Brief hotels in advance, ask Indian restaurants about Jain preparations, choose apartments with kitchens where possible, and carry ready-to-eat meals and dry snacks for travel days. Check customs rules for food you bring into the country.

Food across the regions

Hanoi and the north are known for phở and bún dishes; Hoi An for cao lầu and bánh mì; and the south for fresh herbs, coconut and tropical fruit. Chay restaurants are found throughout.

Breakfast

Hotel breakfasts usually include phở, bread, fruit, eggs and pastries. Ask for vegetarian phở or noodles made with vegetable broth.

Desserts and sweets

Chè (sweet soups with beans and coconut), fresh tropical fruit, coconut ice cream and Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk are popular.

What to carry from home

Many Indian travellers carry a small stock of ready-to-eat meals, theplas, khakhras, dry snacks and spice mixes for travel days and long excursions in Vietnam. These are especially useful for Jain travellers and older parents. Keep them sealed and check customs rules, particularly for dairy products.

Briefing tour operators

Group tours, cooking classes and day trips in Vietnam often include set meals or tastings. Vegetarian options are usually available if requested in advance, so tell your planner or operator about your needs when booking.

Travelling with parents and children

Older parents often prefer familiar food at least once a day. Plan one Indian meal daily in the cities, carry snacks for cruises and long drives, and keep fruit handy. Children usually enjoy fried rice, noodles, spring rolls and tropical fruit.

Budget

Eating out can be expensive. Many Indian travellers combine a hotel breakfast, a supermarket or bakery lunch and one restaurant meal a day. Indian restaurants are usually moderately priced, and set lunch menus are often better value than dinner.

Finding vegetarian food with apps

Apps and websites that list vegetarian and vegan restaurants, such as HappyCow, and map filters for "vegetarian" or "Indian" make it easy to find options near your hotel in Vietnam. Reviews often mention whether a restaurant understands Jain or egg-free requests. Save a few options for each city before you travel, especially for late arrivals and Sundays.

Eating out with confidence

Explain your needs simply and politely, and show a written note in the local language if helpful. Most restaurants are happy to adapt a dish by leaving out meat, fish or egg. If a kitchen seems unsure, choose a simpler dish or a restaurant that specialises in vegetarian food.

Drinks

Vietnamese coffee, iced or hot with condensed milk, egg coffee in Hanoi, coconut water and fresh sugarcane juice are popular. Egg coffee contains egg yolk.

Cooking classes

Cooking classes in Hanoi and Hoi An often include a market visit and teach dishes such as spring rolls, phở and tofu curries. Most can be made fully vegetarian on request, and they are a good way to learn which sauces to avoid.

Ha Long Bay cruises

Most cruise boats serve set menus with seafood. Tell your cruise operator about vegetarian or Jain needs when booking, so the kitchen can plan; many offer good vegetarian menus with notice.

Street food

Street food is a highlight but usually contains fish sauce or meat broth. Choose stalls that display "chay", or try fruit, sticky rice, bánh mì chay and fresh sugarcane juice.

Next steps

Read our things to do in Vietnam, 7-day itinerary and Vietnam trip guide from India. Our Hanoi, Ha Long and Ho Chi Minh City trip plans vegetarian meals in.

A BagPackerMe planner can brief every hotel and operator privately, with one named planner, WhatsApp support throughout and vegetarian and Jain food planned in.

Your questions, answered

Is it easy to be vegetarian in Vietnam?

Yes, if you look for "chay" (vegetarian) restaurants, which are common because of Buddhist traditions. In ordinary restaurants, ask for no fish sauce, as it is used widely.

What does "chay" mean?

"Chay" means vegetarian. Restaurants with "quán chay" or "nhà hàng chay" on their signs serve meat-free food, often including mock meats made from tofu and wheat gluten.

Can Jain travellers manage in Vietnam?

With planning. Some Buddhist vegetarian kitchens avoid onion and garlic, which helps, but root vegetables are common. Brief hotels and cruise boats in advance and use Indian restaurants that understand Jain food.

Where can I find Indian food in Vietnam?

Hanoi, Hoi An, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City all have Indian restaurants, and Phu Quoc has a few.