1. Ho Thi Ky Food Street - District 10

One of the busiest and most diverse food alleys in the city, Hồ Thị Kỷ isn’t just about Vietnamese street food. You’ll find a strong Cambodian influence, creative snacks, and a serious night market vibe.

What to eat here:

  • Grilled beef wrapped in lemongrass (nem bo nuong sa)

  • Thai noodle soup (mi Thai)

  • Pork skewers, fried chicken, grilled lobster tails 

  • Papaya salad with fermented crab

  • Grilled snails and seafood

  • Crab soup, Khmer-style sweet soup, Hong Kong dumplings, Doraemon pancakes

Ho Thi Ky Street - Top Street Food Walks in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Thi Ky Street

Vendors line up tightly along the alley. There’s barely any walking space during peak hours but that’s part of the fun. This is a place to eat small and eat often, also bring cash and a big appetite.

2. Nguyen Thuong Hien Street - District 3

Nguyễn Thượng Hiền is a hidden gem for local-style snacking. It’s narrow, messy, loud, and absolutely packed with food. Most sellers don’t have storefronts, just pushcarts and a few plastic stools.

What to eat here:

  • Mix rice paper and grilled rice paper (banh trang tron and banh trang nuong)

  • Fermented pork skin salad (tre tron)

  • Fermented pork sausage (nem chua)

  • Quail eggs and fertilized duck eggs (hot vit lon)

  • Grilled skewers of all kinds

Nguyen Thuong Hien Street - Top Street Food Walks in Ho Chi Minh City

Nguyen Thuong Hien Street

It’s not Instagram-pretty but it’s pure Saigon sidewalk culture. Come in the late afternoon when most stalls open and the crowd starts rolling in.

3. Turtle Lake (Ho Con Rua) - District 3

Turtle Lake is less of a lake and more of a hangout. It’s where students, young couples, and foodies go to chill, snack, and people-watch. Vendors set up all around the roundabout and along three surrounding streets.

What to eat here:

  • Tamarind iced tea, strawberry tea

  • Grilled rice paper and salted egg quail eggs

  • Stir-fried corn with butter

  • Vietnamese-style “coin” pancakes and rolled ice cream

  • Fruit shakes and budget milk tea

 

Street food at Turtle Lake Saigon - Top Street Food Walks in Ho Chi Minh City

If you want to sit down, grab a drink and street snack then pick a spot on the stone benches around the lake. For something fancier, walk a minute toward Pasteur or Võ Văn Tần where you’ll find bubble tea shops and modern cafés.

4. Alley 200 Xom Chieu (Hem 200 Xom Chieu) - District 4

This alley is a no-nonsense street food paradise. No decorations. No influencers. Just proper Saigon eats at local prices. Every few meters is another vendor or small kitchen with something worth trying.

What to eat here:

  • Mi hen Di Lan: clam noodles with sour and spicy broth

  • Pha lau Ca Oanh: beef organ stew in coconut gravy

  • Rice paper snacks, grilled skewers, sweet potato fries

  • Iced fruit cups and sweet soups

Alley 200 Xom Chieu - Top Street Food Walks in Ho Chi Minh City

Alley 200 Xom Chieu

The vibe is simple: order, sit on a plastic stool, eat, and move to the next spot. This is where you come when you want real street food, not a curated experience.

5. Tan Dinh Night Market - District 1

By day, Tan Dinh is a market for fabrics, clothes, and housewares. But by night, the food stalls light up and it turns into one of the most underrated food markets in the city.

What to eat here:

  • Broken rice

  • Pork rib porridge and frog porridge

  • Chicken rice and shredded chicken salad

  • Grilled oysters, snails, and seafood

  • Sweet soup, especially versions with coconut milk and sticky rice

Tan Dinh Night Market - Top Street Food Walks in Ho Chi Minh City

Tan Dinh Night Market

The grilled pork here is legendary: smoky, tender, and deeply marinated. If you only try one thing at this market, make it a big plate of broken rice with a fried egg on top.

From smoky grilled meats to fresh noodle soups and seafood straight from the grill, the top street food walks in Ho Chi Minh City offer an unforgettable culinary adventure. Whether you go on your own or join a guided tour, these tasty streets will show you why Saigon is one of Asia’s ultimate food capitals.