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Vegetarian Guide to Vietnam Local & Street Food

Find authentic meat-free options, learn essential phrases, and get local tips for plant-based dining.

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Filtered results are based on automated analysis of common food data. This is for general guidance only. Ingredient variations, preparation methods, cross-contamination risks, and data accuracy can differ significantly. Always verify all information directly with vendors before consumption, especially for allergies or strict dietary needs. See full disclaimers for filtered results.

Not all dishes marked vegetarian are strictly vegan. Some may contain eggs or dairy. Always confirm specific ingredients with the vendor.

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Essential Phrases

I am vegetarian

Tôi ăn chay

toy an chai

Indicates vegetarian diet preference

No meat, fish, or fish sauce please

Không thịt, không cá, không nước mắm

khong thit, khong ca, khong nuoc mam

Specifies no animal products including fish sauce

Watch Out For

Fish sauce (nước mắm)
Shrimp paste (mắm tôm)
Meat-based broths
Dried shrimp (tôm khô)

Safe Options

Com chay (vegetarian rice dishes)
Dau phu sot ca chua (tofu in tomato sauce)
Goi cuon chay (vegetarian fresh spring rolls)
Banh mi chay (vegetarian sandwich)

Important Notice

Fish sauce is fundamental to Vietnamese cooking and may be added even when requesting vegetarian food. Buddhist vegetarian restaurants (look for the word 'chay') understand true vegetarian requirements.