How to Eat Street Food in Vietnam Like a Local, Saigon/HoChiMinh City, Vietnam

I’m sitting in a tiny plastic chair on the side of the street, accompanied with a big bowl of noodles swimming in some slow cooked flavor-packed broth, topped with grilled meat and fresh herbs…for a whopping $1. I’m probably sharing a table with a Vietnamese couple next to me while motorbikes zip down leafy alleys, the street food lady whips together bowls of deliciousness in milliseconds, bright lights come from every direction and the sound of karaoke streams over from the bar next door. Yes. This, my friends, is why I came to Vietnam. Want in on the action? Here are some very essential “must-knows” before you jump into the vibrant Vietnamese street food scene. Chopsticks ready?

First thing’s first. When to eat. Many of the best street food spots are only open during prime eating hours: 7 – 8 am for breakfast, 11:30 – 1 for lunch and 5 – 6:30 for dinner (yea, these guys are early risers. Eek. Talk about culture shock after living in Spain!) Many of the street food stands are “pop ups”, and will close shop and roll away once their hour is finished. But don’t panic… If these hours aren’t convenient for you, you’ll still be able to find plenty of places to eat! You just won’t be eating with the locals – when the food is the freshest and the best street food stands are open for business. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).