Discovering the unexpected joy of being vegan in Vietnam
I’m planning to go back to Vietnam just to eat. Yes, you heard that right — I want to go to Vietnam just to eat.
Travelling to a new place for my birthday is a yearly ritual. As I sat down to research where to go this year, one country kept coming back to me — not for its beaches or bustling streets, but for its food and flavours: Vietnam.
When I visited in 2022, I didn’t expect much as a vegan traveller. But I was proven wrong in the most delicious way.
First Bite: Falling in Love with Vietnamese Vegan Food
Before the trip, I did some basic research — how to say chay (vegetarian/vegan) in Vietnamese, where to find vegan-friendly restaurants, and how easily I could get plant-based food. But I wasn’t travelling for the food; I was going to explore the country.
On my first morning in Hanoi, I took a walk around my hotel to soak in the sights and stumbled upon a vegan Bánh Mì place. That one bite made me fall in love with Vietnamese cuisine forever.
A Bánh Mì perfectly represents Vietnam’s blend of French and local influence. The baguette here is lighter, airier, and crispier. When you take a bite, there’s a sharp crackle as the crust breaks, followed by the soft bread, then a burst of flavours from the filling dance in your mouth. The flavours hit, and suddenly stopping isn’t an option.
That was my first impression of Vietnamese food: a subtle symphony of flavours that does some kind of magic on you.
Fresh & Crunchy: Gỏi Cuốn Chay – Vegan Spring Rolls in Hanoi
After that first taste, I couldn’t wait to try more. Next came the fresh spring rolls — Gỏi Cuốn Chay. Soft rice wrappers filled with crunchy carrots, cucumber, peanuts, and fresh herbs, paired with dipping sauces made of soy, vinegar, and chilli.
Each bite was crunchy, minty, nutty, soft, and savoury — all at once. For a vegan traveller, it was a reminder that the most refreshing food can also be the simplest — rolled, dipped, and eaten slowly, one bite at a time.
Bánh Xèo – The Golden Pancake
Bánh Xèo literally means “sizzling pancake.” Its golden colour comes from turmeric. The vegan version is packed with bean sprouts, mushrooms, and tofu. Soft, juicy, and full of texture, it’s served with a sweet-tangy sauce that ties everything together — fresh, aromatic, and alive with flavour. Every bite feels like a little celebration.
Vietnamese Curry and Rice: A Blend of Cultures
The Indian curry has found its way to Vietnam too. When Tamilians from Pondicherry and Karikal came for trade during French colonial times, they brought their spices and recipes with them. Over the years, those influences evolved into a Vietnamese version — a lighter, aromatic curry made with coconut milk, lemongrass, turmeric, and vegetables.
It’s served with steamed rice or a crusty baguette; comforting, fragrant, and deeply satisfying. Its bright colour and flavour felt homely and familiar, yet distinctly Vietnamese.
A Feast for a Vegans: Discovering Plant-Based Variety in Vietnam
When I took a cruise to Halong Bay, a full vegan feast was laid out for me and another vegetarian traveller — a true testament to how accessible vegan food is in Vietnam.
Buddhism plays a big part in this. Many Buddhists practise vegetarianism on specific days, while some follow it daily. Because of this, every town or city has vegetarian options; creative, plant-based versions made with mushrooms, tofu, and fresh herbs.
Street vendors also prepare food fresh, so it’s easy to request ăn chay (vegan/vegetarian style) and they’ll simply leave out meat or fish sauce. Vegetarian food isn’t just a trend here; it’s embedded in daily life, making Vietnam a paradise for plant-based travellers.
I was amazed at the variety: steamed rice, fried spring rolls, tofu in tomato sauce, papaya salad, rice crackers, and pickled vegetables. What first surprised me soon felt natural, being vegan in Vietnam is easy.
Vietnamese cuisine thrives on contrast and balance — crunchy with soft, tangy with rich, fresh with fried — all packed into a single meal.
A Wholesome Vegan Lunch in Ninh Binh
On a sunny day trip to Ninh Binh, I got another taste of this incredible vegan spread — a wholesome lunch that mixed comfort with hearty flavours.
Crispy rice cakes with dipping sauce, peanuts for extra crunch, deep-fried tofu, boiled greens, vegan pho, and steamed rice as the anchor. I didn’t know if there was a proper order to eat, but I started with the rice crispies and moved through each pairing on the table. I was happy, and my stomach was happy.
I later learned that this meal wasn’t considered extravagant, every dish was simply there for balance and grounding.
Vegan Fine Dining in Hanoi
Since it was my birthday trip, I treated myself to a fancy dinner at Uu Dam Chay, a popular vegan fine-dining restaurant in Hanoi. The space was chic, spacious, and beautifully decorated — and the restaurant even holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition. Every dish justified it.
I started with a gorgeous cocktail and fried spring rolls. One bite, and the thin, blistered shell shattered into crisp flakes, revealing a warm, savoury filling. The pickled cucumber cut through the richness, and the dipping sauce added a sweet-tangy lift.
For the main course, I ordered pineapple fried rice. It arrived in a hollowed-out pineapple, playful and sweet. Each spoonful revealed savoury rice with bursts of tangy-sweet pineapple, crunchy cashews, soft raisins, and crisp vegetables. The caramelised pineapple pieces added a lovely sweetness, making every bite dance between umami and sweet. Comforting yet light — the perfect birthday dish.
I skipped dessert that night, but I’d love to return and try more from their menu.
Vietnamese Vegan Coffee – Smooth, Strong, and Unforgettable
No trip to Vietnam is complete without trying its iconic coffee. Traditionally brewed using a metal phin filter, Vietnamese coffee is bold, rich, and deeply aromatic.
The vegan version swaps the usual condensed milk for creamy coconut milk, a simple change that transforms the drink. The result is smooth, slightly sweet, and tropical, with the coffee’s intensity still shining through.
Whether sipped hot in a quiet Hanoi café or iced on a warm afternoon by the street, Vietnamese vegan coffee is pure joy in a cup, strong enough to wake you up and good enough to linger in your memory.
Great Food, Everywhere
As Anthony Bourdain said, “You don’t have to go looking for great food in Vietnam. Great food finds you.”
That sentiment was true for me too.
One day, walking down a crowded street in Hanoi, I noticed a small bakery called The Roti. The word “roti” caught my attention — an Indian term. The smell of freshly baked buns filled the air, impossible to resist.
I asked the baker if she had a chay version. She nodded, picked one fresh out of the oven, and handed it to me. It was still warm, but I couldn’t wait, I took a bite right there. The sweet bun was heavenly. After that day, it became a ritual ,a bun every evening, eaten on my walk back to the hotel. Simple, yet so right.
Falling in Love with Vietnamese Cuisine
There are so many reasons why Vietnamese cuisine stands out; the balance of flavours, the freshness of herbs, the light yet nourishing quality, the play of textures, and the way global influences are localised. It’s healthy, aromatic, and sensory.
Every dish tells a story; layered, balanced, full of contrasts — and it didn’t matter that I was vegan in Vietnam.
So how do the Vietnamese get each ingredient just right? How do they create this harmony of flavours that dances in your mouth? I don’t have the answers yet.
But maybe on my second visit to Vietnam — just to eat — I’ll find out.
About me: I’m a vegan writer, a wanderer at heart and someone who loves to cosy up with a book. After nearly two decades in television, I now tell stories that are plant-based, personal and rooted in the life that I’m building along the way. To know more click here.
