Once stepping into Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown, you will feel like you are in a mini Hong Kong with people speaking Cantonese and stores selling Chinese dishes. As you stroll through the spiderwebbing streets and alleyways, get ready to enjoy these must-try dishes in the Chinatown of Ho Chi Minh City.
Note that the Chinatown in Ho Chi Minh City is in Districts 5, 10, 11, and 6, which is quite far from the city center. You might want to arrange transportation or find a hotel in the nearby area.
Must-try Dishes in the Chinatown of Ho Chi Minh City
Handmade Noodles and Wonton
If you are into Hong Kong movies, you must know the “Kungfu egg noodle” – handmade fresh noodles made with the cook’s skillful moves. Unlike the pre-made noodles, this one is more flavorful and chewy yet tender. It normally comes with a braised duck leg or other toppings like char siu, shrimp, pork organs, etc.
My keo Kung fu
Address: 116 – 118 Ha Ton Quyen, Ward 4, District 11
Opening hours: 6:30 AM – 11:30 AM; 4:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Price: VND 35,000 – VND 100,000
Quan my Thieu Ky
Address: 66/5 Le Dai Hanh, Ward 7, District 11
Opening hours: 7 AM – 1 AM
Price: VND 30,000 – VND 70,000
Dim Sum
“Dim sum” means “breakfast” in Chinese, so people usually enjoy it at the beginning of their day. Dim sum refers to all small bite-sized food served in a bamboo steamer or a plate. It is usually made from pork or shrimp, flour, and soya sauce. The most prevalent types are dumplings and Chinese buns, which appear everywhere, from fancy restaurants and buffet parties to street stalls.
Baoz Dimsum
Address: 88 Nguyen Tri Phuong, Ward 7, District 5
Opening hours: 6:30 AM – 10:30 PM
Price: VND 55,000 – VND 400,000/person
Khang Dimsum Bar
Address: 20 Nguyen Duy Duong, Ward 8, District 5
Opening hours: 7 AM – 10 PM
Price: VND 38,500 – VND 275,000/person
Roasted Duck/Pig
Beijing Roasted Duck is famous worldwide, but you can have a delicious dish similar to that in Chinatown. Vietnamese people don’t enjoy this dish at restaurants; rather, they go to these stores and take their favorite to-go.
Vinh Phong
Address: 523 Phan Van Tri, Ward 7, District 5
Opening hours: 5 AM – 9 PM
Price: from VND 350,000
Phat Thanh
Address: 523 Phan Van Tri, Ward 7, District 5
Opening hours: 5:30 AM – 9 PM
Price: from VND 350,000
Hotpot
It would be a waste to talk about must-try dishes in Chinatown of Ho Chi Minh City without mentioning hotpot. Hotpot is perfect for a friend’s reunion or a family get-together. With a boiling pot in the center of the table, the hotpot promotes friendship by urging people to cook together. Usually, vegetables are boiled first, and meat or seafood is added later.
Dan Ich (Fish Hotpot)
Address: 99 Chau Van Liem, Ward 14, District 5
Opening hours: 4 PM – 9 PM
Price: from VND 300,000
Sweet Soup
You may know this as a popular Vietnamese dessert, but many types of it originated from China. Nhan Nhuc (Dried Longan Sweet Soup) and Sam Bo Luong (Ching Bo Leung) are two popular Chinese sweet soups easily found in the city. However, some types are only in Chinatown, including Hot Ga Tra (Herbal Egg), Dau Hu Hanh Nhan (Almond Jelly), and Quy Linh Cao (Guilinggao).
Ha Ky
Address: 138 Chau Van Liem, Ward 11, District 5
Opening hours: 10 AM – 11 PM
Price: VND 25,000 – VND 45,000
Tuong Phong
Address: 83 An Diem, Ward 10, District 5
Opening hours: 7 PM – 10 PM
Price: VND 18,000 – VND 51,000
Other Dishes in Ho Chi Minh’s Chinatown You Should Try
Other Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh’s Chinatown
Chinese bond with food; sometimes, a gathering can consist of multiple families. Therefore, besides street food, the family restaurants are another place to try authentic Chinese cooking. Here are some restaurants frequented by Chinese locals.
Dim Tu Tac
Address: 29B Tran Hung Dao Street, District 5
Opening hours: 8 AM – 2 PM, 5 PM – 10 PM.
Price: from VND 500,000/person
Ai Hue
Address: 418 Tran Hung Dao Street, District 5
Opening hours: 10 AM – 9 PM, 5:30 PM – 10 PM.
Price: from VND 500,000/person
Ngan Dinh
Address: Inside Windsor Plaza, 18 An Duong Vuong, District 5
Opening hours: 10 AM – 9 PM.
Price: from VND 500,000/person
Here are some dishes that you might want to try, aside from the classic dim sum and dumplings, at the Chinese restaurants:
Summary of Must-try Dishes in the Chinatown of Ho Chi Minh City
These must-try dishes in Chinatown of Ho Chi Minh City will surely satisfy you after a city tour. Besides, they represent one of the largest communities in the city, so eating them is a yummy way to learn more about life in Vietnam.
If you can’t reach Chinatown, check out these places to try Chinese cuisine in Ho Chi Minh City.