Where to eat in Ho Chi Minh City

Southern cooking leans sweeter and heavier on fresh herbs than the north, and here much of it happens on the sidewalk: crisp bánh xèo pancakes wrapped in greens, fresh spring rolls, beef grilled in betel leaves, crab noodle soup, and rice paper toasted over coals after dark. Snail and seafood joints fill up with friends sharing plates, while night markets and food alleys mix Vietnamese, Chinese and Cambodian flavors.

Most picks sit in District 1 and District 3, where you'll also find stylish rooms reworking street classics, royal-style cooking from Huế, the old imperial city, and French-leaning fine dining. Each listing includes a note from the guide who chose it, and the chips split the list into street food, food markets, casual meals and big-group tables.