Where Can I Find Gluten-free Food in Ho Chi Minh City?

Whether you are allergic to gluten or just trying to lead a healthier lifestyle, you can worry no more by opting for authentic rice-based Vietnamese cuisine while on the go. Below are how and where you can find gluten-free food in Ho Chi Minh City.

Is It Possible to Travel to Vietnam with Gluten Intolerance?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Popular everyday foods such as bread, baked goods, beer, and pasta are off-limits to a gluten-free diet. If you have coeliac disease, traveling to a different country might be a bit of a challenge.

Surprisingly enough, most Vietnamese do not experience gluten-related health issues. Therefore, few restaurants have a dedicated gluten-free menu, and some servers might not even understand your requirements. On the bright side, Vietnamese cuisine has a ton of gluten-free options to choose from. You only need to do some research to find safe foods for your diet, and off you go to the adventure.

How to Spot Gluten-free Food in Ho Chi Minh City and What to Avoid

Food in Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam mainly revolves around rice instead of wheat. Therefore, though gluten-free diets are relatively obscure among Vietnamese dwellers, you won’t have difficulty maintaining this specific diet in our country.

Some coeliac-safe foods can include “banh canh” (tapioca noodles, made of rice), “banh cuon” (steamed rice rolls), “banh beo” (water fern cake), and “banh xeo” (Vietnamese pancake), etc. We’ll explore more options below.

Street food stalls are convenient choices as you can see your food being made. Always state your preferences to the cooks beforehand to ensure a gluten-free meal. Other than that, some fancy restaurants in the city might offer gluten-free options. However, watch out for cross-contamination if you’re extra sensitive. You may refer to this article for basic Vietnamese vocabulary.

Vietnamese Food that Are NOT Gluten-free

As a rule of thumb, avoid anything with a “banh” (bread, baked goods…), a “my” (noodles), or a “tam bot” (fried food with flour coating). You must also be careful with any soup-based dishes or sauces that come as a side dish, usually thickened with flour.

For gluten-free vegetarians, watch out for the meat substitute seitan (mainly made of gluten). Additionally, soy sauce is sometimes fermented with wheat, so get one that is made 100% from soy.

Here are some foods that you should watch out for:

• Egg noodles, macaroni noodles, and wonton wrappers
• Banh mi
• Stir-fried noodles with a thick sauce, because the chef uses flour to make the sauce slurry
• Pho’s hoisin and chili sauce

Some Local Gluten-free Food Options in Ho Chi Minh City

Rice Dishes – the staple

As stated above, rice is an indispensable part of Vietnamese lives. You can experience a family-style meal at any Vietnamese restaurant. Another popular rice dish is Com Tam (Broken Rice) – a Saigon classic that is essentially rice and marinated pork chops drizzled with special fish sauce.

Other delicacies made from rice are also beautiful options for your gluten-free diet in Ho Chi Minh City:

Pho – the soul of Vietnamese cuisine

Made with bones, rice flour, meat, and herbs, this gluten-free food in Ho Chi Minh City is safe. To satisfy your taste buds, there are several variations of pho, such as “pho cuon” (pho burrito), “pho xao” (stir-fried pho), and “pho xao gion” (deep-fried pho)! Watch out for the sauces, and be careful not to get carried away by a delicious “quay” (fried dough) on the table, though!

Read more on Pho in Ho Chi Minh City

Banh canh cua – the decadent crab soup out of the spotlight

Food in Ho Chi Minh City can be a little overwhelming that you are lost after boundless bowls of “pho” or “hu tieu Nam Vang”. If that’s the case, head to a “banh canh cua” hotspot to enjoy the rich broth, the chewy banh canh (tapioca noodles), the crab meat, and the fresh herbs! If you don’t feel like eating seafood, alternative versions are available.

Hu tiu or Bun Noodles

As with banh canh, hu tiu and bun (vermicelli) noodles are also made entirely from rice. You can opt for the dried (or mixed) version or the noodle soup version with pork or chicken bone broth.

Goi cuon or Summer rolls

Goi cuon ingredients are simple, and you can see everything inside the rice paper wrapper. But don’t be fooled by the simplicity; you’ll be blown away by the flavors.

Banh trang nuong – Vietnamese pizza

This street snack, which comes from the mountainous romantic city of Da Lat, is everywhere in Ho Chi Minh City, especially around schools or universities. The banh trang (rice paper) is grilled over charcoal and topped with every topping you can imagine. A Saigon’s student-friendly piece will range from VND 15,000 – 20,000 and be topped with quail eggs, sausage, and green onions.

Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City with Gluten-free Options

Annam Gourmet

Annam is a grocery store, doubled as a restaurant. They mainly serve Western dishes, and are familiar with dietary restrictions such as gluten intolerance or veganism.

Addresses:
16 – 18 Hai Ba Trung, District 1
Takashimaya building, Saigon Centre, 65 Le L0i, District 1

Pizza 4Ps

If you’re craving pizzas, Pizza 4Ps has gluten-free pizzas by request. You can also check out their other gluten-free and vegetarian dishes.

Addresses:
8/15 Le Thanh Ton, District 1
Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi, District 1

Poke Saigon

Poke is a gluten-free safe option. You can pick your favorite toppings on top of white rice or salad.

Addresses:
2nd floor, Nguyen Hue Apartment, District 1
1st floor, 42Bis Ly Tu Trong, District 1

Hum Cafe and Restaurant

Hum is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s popular vegetarian restaurants. The staff can guide you through ordering gluten-free dishes.

Addresses:
32 Vo Van Tan, District 3
32 Duong so 10, District 2

Hokkaido Sushi

Though there are limited options, you can have sushi while maintaining a gluten-free diet. Hokkaido Sushi is one of the best in town.

Addresses:
139A Nguyen Trai, District 1
180 Pasteur, District 1
172H 172Q, Nguyen Dinh Chieu, District 1

Summary of Gluten-free food in Ho Chi Minh City

The four dishes above are some gluten-free food in Ho Chi Minh City that we think you may enjoy. So many other delicious dishes are out there, waiting for you to come and experience them. You can explore on your own, or you can sign up for a food tour that is specialized for your needs and spare yourself the hassle!