68 Best Restaurants in Vietnam

Set in traditional Ede houses, long timber buildings on stilts, this restaurant is designed to give tourists an atmospheric introduction to Ede and other Central Highland minority cuisines. Though touristy, it's an uncommon opportunity to try food outside of Vietnam's dominant culture, and the dining experience is done tastefully, with pretty dishware, relaxing music, and a fire pit at night. The dishes are meant for family-style sharing.

The outdoor area of this French-influenced venue is an ideal place for some very romantic dining and expat gatherings. The interior is equally convivial with stripped pine tables and wooden furniture. The food is a mixed bag of European dishes prepared and served with flare.

This sprawling seafront eatery is regarded as the best seafood place in town. Like many Vietnamese places, the interior design takes a back seat to the food and the view. It's pricier than the more local joints farther along Tran Phu Street, but you get what you pay for, which in this case, aside from the great food, is English-speaking staff, an English menu, and servers used to dealing with international tourists.

A devilishly themed cocktail bar hidden deep down a local alley, The Heo Bistro not only expertly crafts classic and signature cocktails, but their kitchen also serves delicious bistro snacks, salads, and pastas.

The name translates to "poppy flower," and this chic little eatery is in a corner of the former La Manufacture d'Opium, the French-controlled opium refinery and warehouse. It offers contemporary Vietnamese cuisine with knockout flavors and a wine list that works with the local cuisine. The Art Deco interior is elegant, with wrought-iron chairs, cast-iron lamps, hand stenciling, and a leafy outdoor terrace. Standout dishes include mustard-leaf rolls; pink pomelo, squid, and crab salad; and soft shell crabs in green rice batter with passion fruit sauce. Hoa Tuc is popular with tour groups, so reservations are recommended, especially for lunch.

This exemplary French bistro with welcoming owners is a popular spot for visitors and expats in Hoi An. Don't expect much in the way of culinary bells and whistles, but the daily-changing menu of classics and other dishes like pizza as well as the fine selection of wine make this a reliably convivial option. 

Like Sapa itself, Le Gecko bears noticeable French influence with a menu that features a host of bistro classics. There's a comfortable bar area that is popular in the evenings, while the outside terrace is a great spot for people-watching. There's nothing particularly fussy about either the restaurant or the home-style cuisine, so don't expect fancy sauces of Parisian haughtiness.

Neighboring the historic Imperial City, this French-Vietnamese restaurant is fashioned after a colonial villa with green shutters, arched doorways, tile floors, antiques dating back to 1915, and artwork depicting pastoral scenes. Slightly pricey by local standards, the enormous menu features green mango salad, fresh spring rolls, beef in banana leaves, and grilled sea bass with a Mediterranean sauce, as well as sandwiches, pasta, and pizza. The goat cheese and prosciutto platter is superb, as is the roasted chicken in a white wine sauce. The Chinese emblem embroidered on staff uniforms and napkins is a wish for prosperity and longevity. The restaurant has a second location renowned for its French-Vietnamese menu in the backpackers' district at 18 Vo Thi Sau Street.

Fusing art, music, history, and cuisine, this 19th-century house in Hoi An's Old Quarter has been beautifully restored and offers silver service at remarkable prices. Slightly overshadowed by the setting, the menu is Vietnamese-meets-modern cuisine with such dishes as bean sprout dumplings, mango and lotus salad, caramelized pork, and wok-fried noodles.

This American-style barbecue restaurant, complete with a smoker and long tables, serves up sweet, delicious barbecue (brisket, ribs, pulled pork) and Vietnamese craft beer in a hip, contemporary space. Outdoor and air-conditioned indoor seating is available.

Serving countryside dishes with a refreshing modern twist, Luk Lak is a welcome addition to Hanoi's dining scene. Many of the dishes are head chef Madame Binh's take on recipes from a particular part of the country, such as the ga nuong Tu Le (grilled chicken with sticky rice from Yen Bai Province). The minimalist design with flashes of Hanoi's colonial heritage serves to enhance an already exceptional dining experience.

One of Danang's hippest hangouts, this industrial-style, open-fronted warehouse pub-restaurant wouldn't look out of place in New York City. The ever-changing menu of authentic Italian fare includes specials such as risotto alla Milanese, pizza, pasta, and steaks. Come evening, the rustic brick walls and buzzing bar make for a different experience altogether.

Serving contemporary Vietnamese cuisine in an intimate, elegant setting, Madame Lam feels like dining in the home of a well-traveled friend. Dishes showcase flavors from all over Vietnam with an innovative twist and gorgeous presentation. Don't miss the creative cocktails featuring Vietnamese flavors and local ingredients.

The sister restaurant of the Maison de Tet in Hanoi, Maison de Sapa is the place to relax and unwind for a few hours and enjoy some delicious food and drinks. Specializing in fresh, farm-to-table ingredients, the menu is always changing to reflect the finest seasonal options. The bohemian decor is all made in-house and there are plans to create natural herbal baths upstairs, as well as host live-music events.

Authentic Italian cuisine in a dreamy space by the sea is what Mare offers, right in the middle of Sunset Town, which itself looks like it was lifted from the Amalfi Coast. The menu here is Mediterranean-focused with dishes like Iberico pork, homemade pasta, and a wonderfully spicy Spanish-style garlic shrimp. Several dishes are finished tableside like the rich tiramisu and the pasta carbonara, prepared in a wheel of Pecorino Romano. Aim to finish dinner slightly before 9:30 pm and head outside to watch the fireworks.

Well established as one of the town’s preeminent dining venues is Morning Glory, where menu highlights include roast duck leg served with a five-spice dressing and crunchy tofu coated in young sticky rice. This is where local food celebrity Miss Vy originally made her name, and standards have barely slipped over the years with tourists and visiting gourmands flocking to the venue for authentic local dishes prepared with passion and skill.

With a terrace overlooking rooftops sloping down the hillside, this sweet bistro has an eclectic menu, from brunch classics, healthy options, and an all-day vegan menu, to heartier pizza, pastas, and burgers, all consistently good.

At the midway point of one of the most incredible (and strenuous) 22-km (13½-mile) bicycle loops in the Bong Lai Valley, with views over rice fields and the river, the Pub With Cold Beer has hammocks, a pool table, and, in season, tubes for floating down the river. It’s a beautiful spot to unwind and regain energy for a few hours, which is how long your chicken lunch is going to take to prepare once you've chosen your live bird.

This American barbecue joint is wildly popular among locals, who love the tasty ribs, the craft beer, the cheeky menu, and the laid-back vibe. It was set up by an American, Australian, and French trio, who charm the local dining scene with shared plates, communal picnic-style tables, stripped-back surroundings, and reasonable prices. The most popular menu items are the ribs and the big, spicy Italian sausage, each including three sides. You can choose whether to eat with a knife and fork or chopsticks. A second outlet is at 47 Xuan Thuy in District 2.

Pizza, burgers, pastas, salads, and fish-and-chips are just some of the tasty bar food available day and night at this chilled-out, cheerful restaurant on the east coast—worth the drive if you want to hangout and enjoy the breezy space that includes a large deck, minigolf, swimming pool, petanque court, and pool table. Hosts Rory and Yoon preside over the café/bar, which has a genuinely welcoming atmosphere and fabulous vantage over the ocean.

At Cassia Cottage Resort's in-house restaurant, whether you choose to dine beside a lily-filled pond in the manicured tropical garden, by the pool, or right on the beach, expect delicious Vietnamese and Mediterranean cuisine using fresh local produce. This is a great option for a special romantic evening that won't break the bank.

Probably worthy of a Michelin star of its own, T.U.N.G Dining offers an astonishing fine-dining experience. Head chef and co-owner Hoang Tung worked in various Michelin star restaurants in Scandinavia before returning to his home city of Hanoi, and his experience is reflected in both the cuisine and the minimalist decor. There is only one set menu that consists of 15 to 20 courses, each one illustrating Tung's culinary wizardry. The menu changes with the season and the restaurant can make adjustments if you have dietary requirements. Let them know when you make your booking, which is essential.

There’s good reason this café, conveniently located just across the road from the cable car station, has been in business for over a decade: this plant-filled oasis has pretty views of the verdant valley, as well as a delectable brunch menu.

Local families who come in droves to this popular no-frills diner make out-of-town visitors feel warmly welcome, even if you don't master the art of rolling the perfect banh xeo. There’s no menu; just pull up a stool and within minutes you’ll be presented with pork skewers, crispy pancakes stuffed with bean sprouts, deep-fried shrimp spring rolls, rice paper, various greens, a satay-style dip, and an array of condiments. Go hungry; portions are large.

The in-house restaurant at this friendly eco-lodge serves fresh local seafood, vegetarian dishes, and lau (hotpots), which will be paired with a terrific view. Don't miss the house specialty, tempura shrimp, or book a beach barbecue for two. It's wise to make a reservation, as the restaurant's capacity is limited.

A basic, often busy joint designed for Vietnamese family-style eating, ordering different meat, seafood, and vegetable dishes to share, the house specialty is com ca kho to (catfish in claypot) and sweet-and-sour soup with catfish or shrimp. The service can be hit or miss when busy.

If you're looking for a change of scenery away from Mui Ne's main strip, head up the hill to Cargo Remote, and enjoy salads, burgers, pastas, and other casual Western dishes in a modern space made from industrial metal and bamboo.

The small, romantic restaurant inside boutique Cham Villas Resort adds an extra touch of class to Mui Ne. Overseen by the German owner, who also runs Ratinger-Lowe Restaurant, the kitchen serves a range of Vietnamese dishes, such as beef-and-prawn skewers and spicy lemongrass beef served with fried thien ly flowers, as well as international options if your heart desires.

This fine-dining modern Vietnamese restaurant draws from the recipes and flavors of far-flung corners of the country for a creative tasting menu. There's an emphasis on the grill, but also attentive service and storied dishes. This is a worthy splurge option to round off a few days of street food and cheap eats in the capital.

The owner of Cousins (cugini means cousins in Italian) partnered with Italian chef Nico Ceccomoro to create an authentic dining experience at decent prices. Classy red and black interiors, sensual paintings, and a tree-shaded balcony make this location perfect for a date night. The menu is updated and expanded regularly, but you can’t go wrong with the pizzas or pasta, especially the tortellini with ricotta. There are also several fine wines to choose from.