Finding a vegetarian dinner in Ho Chi Minh City is no longer difficult. Choosing the right experience takes more thought. One evening may call for an affordable bowl of noodles; another may be better suited to shared plates, wine or a complete seasonal tasting menu. This guide compares five vegetarian restaurants by occasion, dining format, location and indicative budget. It also explains which venues are fully vegan, where reservations matter and what first-time visitors should check before ordering.

How to choose the right vegetarian dinner

Start with the format rather than the restaurant’s reputation. A tasting menu may suit an anniversary, but it is unlikely to work for someone who has one hour before an evening flight. A large à la carte menu gives a group more flexibility, while a small vegan restaurant may be better for a quick, affordable dinner.

Consider five practical questions:

• How much time do you have?
• Do you need a fully vegan kitchen or simply vegetarian choices?
• Would you prefer individual dishes or food for sharing?
• Do you want wine or non-alcoholic drinks with dinner?
• Are you staying centrally, or are you willing to travel to Thảo Điền?

Location matters in Ho Chi Minh City. A journey that looks short on a map can take considerably longer during evening traffic or heavy rain. Saving the address in Vietnamese and leaving extra travel time will make the evening more relaxed.

Five vegetarian restaurants for five different occasions

Ho Chi Minh City’s vegetarian dining scene offers far more than one type of experience. The five restaurants below are selected for different needs, from an affordable vegan meal and a relaxed garden setting to wine-led dining and a seasonal tasting menu. Thus, you can choose according to your budget, schedule and occasion. 

Vị Quê Kitchen: For an affordable Vietnamese vegan dinner

Vị Quê Kitchen is a practical starting point for travellers who want recognisable Vietnamese food in a fully vegan setting. It sits on Sương Nguyệt Ánh Street near Tao Đàn Park, making it convenient for visitors staying around Bến Thành and the central districts.

The menu travels across Vietnam rather than focusing on a single region. Noodle soups, rice dishes, mushrooms, tofu and hotpots make it easy to build either a quick individual meal or a table for sharing.

Current menu examples include Bún Vị Quê and Bún Huế at VND 98,000, lion’s mane mushroom phở at VND 148,000 and nem vuông at VND 168,000. The square spring rolls take inspiration from Hải Phòng and replace the traditional filling with mushrooms and glass noodles. Larger groups can consider a vegan hotpot, currently listed from VND 348,000.

For one person, a noodle dish and a drink may be enough. Two diners could share nem vuông, one vegetable or mushroom plate and one rice or noodle dish.

Good to know

• Address: 110 Sương Nguyệt Ánh, Bến Thành Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
• Opening hours: 10:00am–10:30pm; kitchen closes at 10:00pm
• Indicative budget: VND 200,000–300,000 per person
• Best for: Solo travellers, casual dinners and diners who need a fully vegan menu
• Reservation: Usually less complicated than a tasting-menu restaurant, but groups should reserve

Chay Garden: For a central dinner with friends

Chay Garden’s Võ Văn Tần location works well when a group wants a wide menu, a calm setting and a relatively central address. The restaurant occupies a colonial-style house with small dining rooms and a tree-lined courtyard.

Its menu combines familiar Vietnamese preparations with modern vegetarian variations. Categories include rolls, salads, tofu, soups, rice, curries, hotpots and seasonal desserts. Current examples include fermented grapefruit-peel rolls, mustard-green wraps, mushroom tempura and braised eggplant with banana and green beans.

Good to know

• Address: 52 Võ Văn Tần, Xuân Hòa Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
• Opening hours: 10:30am–10:00pm; last order at 9:30pm
• Dinner buffet hours: Published as 6:00pm–9:00pm; confirm the available format with the branch
• Indicative budget: VND 200,000–400,000 per person
• Best for: Friends, mixed-age groups and visitors near the War Remnants Museum
• Reservation: Recommended for larger groups, weekends and popular lunar vegetarian days

Hum Garden: For families and a slower outdoor dinner

Hum Garden is located in the Thảo Điền area, away from the densest part of central Ho Chi Minh City. Its courtyard, patio and residential setting make it better suited to a slower dinner than a tightly scheduled sightseeing stop.

Hum Garden works particularly well for families or groups who want to share. Begin with rolls or a salad, add a mushroom or tofu plate, then choose rice and vegetables for the centre of the table. A chilled Vietnamese sweet soup can provide a lighter conclusion than a rich Western-style dessert.

The restaurant is vegetarian rather than automatically vegan. Ask the team to identify dishes containing dairy, egg or honey, and explain allergies before ordering.

Good to know

• Address: 32 D10 Street, An Khánh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
• Area: Thảo Điền
• Opening hours: 10:00am–10:00pm daily
• Indicative budget: VND 300,000–600,000 per person
• Best for: Families, groups and relaxed garden dining
• Reservation: Recommended if outdoor seating is important

CELA: For vegetarian sharing plates and wine

CELA is designed for diners who want vegetables and wine to share the same level of attention. The restaurant serves an à la carte vegetarian menu, making it more flexible than the tasting experience upstairs at Tales by Chapter.

This format suits a date, dinner with friends or an evening when diners want to control the number and pace of their courses. Smaller dishes can be ordered gradually, and the wine list allows guests to move from light, bright styles towards more structured bottles as the meal develops.

Recent menu examples have included Tomato Dashi, Mushroom Yakitori, Beetroot Salad, Mushroom Karaage and Sokupan. These dishes are built for contrasting pairings: acidity with earthy vegetables, crisp textures with sparkling wine, or soft bread with fuller, savoury wines. Availability may change with the menu, so check current dishes when booking.

A table for two could begin with one fresh dish and one fried or grilled plate, followed by a bread or larger vegetable course. Ask the team whether a wine by the glass or bottle will work better with the complete order. Guests avoiding alcohol can request the current non-alcoholic options.

CELA describes itself as a vegetarian restaurant rather than a fully vegan one. Vegan diners should confirm dairy, egg and honey in both food and wine. Wine is not automatically vegan, as some producers use animal-derived fining agents.

Good to know

• Address: 10 Nguyễn Thành Ý, Tân Định Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
• Dinner hours: 6:00pm–11:00pm; closed Tuesday
• Format: À la carte
• Indicative food budget: VND 400,000–900,000 per person, depending on sharing and wine
• Best for: Dates, friends, flexible ordering and vegetarian food with wine
• Reservation: Recommended for Friday and Saturday evenings

Tales by Chapter: For a special plant-based tasting menu

Choose Tales by Chapter when dinner is the central event of the evening. The restaurant offers a seasonal plant-based tasting menu rather than à la carte dishes, so guests should arrive ready to follow a complete sequence.

The experience places seasonal produce at the centre of each course. Ingredients from the restaurant’s Đà Lạt farm and rooftop garden may appear in different forms, while its zero-waste approach encourages the kitchen to consider roots, leaves, skins, stems and trimmings as usable parts of the ingredient.

The current menu is not presented as a permanently fixed list. The restaurant confirms the curated menu on the booking date, allowing courses to respond to available produce and ongoing development in the kitchen. This makes Tales a stronger choice for diners interested in discovery, but a weaker choice for anyone who needs a quick meal or wants to select only one main course.

Good to know

• Address: 10 Nguyễn Thành Ý, Tân Định Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
• Opening hours: 7:00pm–11:00pm; closed Tuesday
• Format: Seasonal tasting menu only; no à la carte option
• Published price: VND 1,850,000 per person before tax and service
• Best for: Anniversaries, culinary travellers and special occasions
• Reservation: Required
• Deposit: VND 500,000 per guest
• Age guidance: Reservations are requested for guests aged 12 and above

How much does a vegetarian dinner cost in Ho Chi Minh City?

A vegetarian dinner can cost under VND 150,000 for a simple noodle bowl, while a full tasting menu with pairing can exceed VND 3,000,000 before tax and service. A realistic planning guide is:

• Simple vegan noodle or rice dinner: VND 100,000–250,000
• À la carte vegetarian meal: VND 250,000–600,000
• Sharing dinner with wine: VND 600,000–1,500,000 or more
• Seasonal tasting menu: From VND 1,850,000 before pairing and charges

Do not compare the formats by price alone. A tasting menu includes a sequence of courses and a longer service experience. À la carte dining provides more control over quantity, time and budget.

When should you reserve a vegetarian restaurant?

Reserve in advance when:

• Dining on Friday or Saturday evening.
• Visiting on the first or fifteenth day of the lunar month.
• Requesting outdoor seating.
• Dining with six or more guests.
• Celebrating an anniversary or birthday.
• Following a strict vegan diet or managing allergies.
• Choosing a tasting menu.

Vietnamese Buddhists commonly observe meat-free eating on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month. Vegetarian restaurants may therefore receive more local diners on these dates. For casual restaurants, booking earlier in the day may be sufficient. Tales requires more preparation because of its deposit and cancellation policy.

A vegetarian dinner in Ho Chi Minh City can be anything from a comforting bowl of Vietnamese noodles to a carefully paced evening of seasonal courses. The right choice depends on your time, budget and occasion. For flexible sharing plates paired with wine, reserve a table at CELA. If dinner is the highlight of your evening, discover the current plant-based tasting menu at Tales by Chapter and book ahead for a deeper exploration of Vietnamese ingredients, seasonality and contemporary technique. 

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Tales by Chapter

The first zero waste plant-based dining in Vietnam

Add: 10 Nguyen Thanh Y, Tan Dinh, Ho Chi Minh City

Hotline: +84 368 150 125

E-mail: reservation@talessgn.com – Reservation

Are you ready to taste the future? Visit us at talessgn.com to book your sustainable dining experience today.