Eating & Drinking In Vietnam

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Typical dishes
Pho (noodle soup with beef)
Banh Bao (dumplings filled with meat & vegetables)
Goi Cuon Chay (vegetarian rice paper rolls).

The cost of eating & drinking in Vietnam
To help you decide on the amount of spending money to budget for, we have outlined below the approximate cost of meals & drinks in Vietnam.

• Cost of lunch in a local restaurant: £3 excluding drinks
• Cost of dinner in a 4 star hotel: £20 excluding drinks
• Cost of a local beer: Beer Hanoi, Saigon Beer, 330ml £1- £2
• Cost of a bottle of wine: Standard Australian £15

Recommended restaurants & bars
Choosing the right restaurant to eat at when holidaying in Vietnam can sometimes be a daunting experience. To assist in making your selection we have compiled a list of restaurant & bar recommendations which have been drawn from our own experiences, and suggestions from previous clients as well as our colleagues in the country. Below we have outlined just a few of our recommended restaurant & bars. A more comprehensive list will be supplied with your travel documentation.

Hanoi
• Pho Thin – Serving possibly the best Pho in Hanoi, Pho Thin is an institution and great for breakfast or a quick lunch (provided you like Pho!). At busy times you may be queuing but it is worth the wait. It is about 10 minutes’ walk from Hoan Kiem Lake. Tel: +84 4 3821 2709.
• Green Tangerine – tucked away in the Old Quarter this charming restaurant serves a wonderful fusion of Vietnamese and French cuisine. Tel: +84 4 3825 1286. 

Hue
• Les Jardins de La Carambole - A well established Vietnamese / French fusion restaurant serving carefully prepared dishes in a charming colonial style villa. 32, Dang Tran Con. Tel: +84 543548815.
• DMZ Bar - A lively watering hole frequented by tourists that also serves a selection of Vietnamese and bar food. 60 Le Loi Street. Tel: +84 543823414.

Hoi An
• Morning Glory - One of the most well known and loved restaurants in Hoi An, a sophisticated setting offering a wide range of home-cooked Vietnamese classics. Run by legendary Ms Vy whose nearby sister restaurants, Cargo and the smaller Mermaid are also well worth trying. Cooking classes also available. 106 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street. Tel: +84 510 2241 555.
• Brothers Café - In an atmospheric French-era former police station, now one of the most stunning venues in town. Sit inside or in the garden overlooking the river. Comparatively expensive but worthy of a special occasion. 27- 29 -31 Phan Boi Chau Street. Tel: +84 510 3914150.

Ho Chi Minh City
• Quan Ahn Ngon or Nha Hang Ngon are two District 1 restaurants of identical concepts, both equally tried and tested. Cuisines of each region of Vietnam are served in a street food style around an attractive central courtyard. Reasonably priced and a good way to try a variety of Vietnamese delights. Quan Ahn - 138 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street. Tel: +84 8 3825 7179 ; Nha Hang - 160 Pasteur. Tel: +84 8 3827 7131.

See our full selection of tours in Vietnam.