Vietnam Food Prices 2026: A Friendly Guide for Foodies & Families
If you are thinking about heading to Vietnam, one of the first things you’re probably wondering is: What is the cost of food in Vietnam? Whether you’re wandering around solo or bringing the whole family along, getting a handle on a Vietnam food price list is a great way to plan your budget. The best part? Vietnam is still one of the most affordable spots on the planet to grab a world-class meal!
In this quick guide, we’ll dive into the Vietnam food cost based on where you decide to pull up a chair—from those iconic tiny street stools to fancy high-end spots.
How Much Does Food Cost in Vietnam?
Generally speaking, if you’re on a budget, you can eat like a king for just $5–$10 USD (125,000 – 250,000 VND) a day by sticking to street food. If you’re traveling with the kids and want a bit more room to breathe (and maybe some air conditioning!), a budget of $15–$30 USD per person lets you enjoy a mix of great local restaurants and cute cafes.
Vietnam Food Price List by Restaurant Type
Checking out the food price in Vietnam is super easy when you look at it by where you’re eating:
| Restaurant Type | What to Expect | Price per dish (VND) | Price per dish (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidewalk Vendors | Tiny plastic stools & quick snacks on the go. | 20,000 – 40,000 | $0.80 – $1.60 |
| Local Eateries (Quán) | Indoor seating, ceiling fans (no aircon), variations of a single dish (cơm tấm, phở, hủ tiếu...). | 40,000 – 80,000 | $1.60 – $3.20 |
| Traditional Restaurants | A wider range of dishes, aircon, family-friendly. | 60,000 – 150,000 | $2.40 – $6.00 |
| Sidewalk juices | Fruit juices (nước ép) or smoothies (sinh tố). | 30,000 – 60,000 | $1.20 – $2.40 |
| Local cafés | Chairs on the sidewalk, no aircon. | 25,000 – 50,000 | $1.00 – $2.00 |
Local vs. Tourist Spots
Just a heads-up: Vietnam food prices can jump up by about 20-30% depending on where you are. In the busy tourist centers like Hanoi’s Old Quarter or Ho Chi Minh’s District 1, you’ll pay a little more. In any case we recommend you to always ask the price before ordering.
Tips for Families Traveling in Vietnam
Traveling with the little ones? You’re in luck! Vietnamese food is super family-friendly and welcoming.
Share the Love: In traditional restaurants, most dishes, like Lẩu (Hotpot), Cơm Chiên (Fried Rice) or Rau (Vegetables), are meant to be shared. If the price is above 100.000 VND, it is usually to share between 2-3 people. It’s a fun way to eat and keeps the Vietnam food cost down for the whole group!
Clean & Easy: For families, the traditional restaurants are usually a safe bet. They’re clean, have plenty of space, and offer a huge variety for those pickier eaters.
Check Out Our App: Don’t let the menu be a mystery! Discover more tips about Vietnam food in our app, including new dishes to discover and the ingredients actually in your bowl.
Essential Vietnamese vocabulary to order food - and their pronounciation
To help you order like a pro and chat with the vendors, here’s some handy vocabulary straight from our app. You can even hear how to say them by clicking the links below!
| Sentence | In Vietnamese | Speak it! |
|---|---|---|
| What dish do you sell? | Ở đây bán món gì? |
|
| Do you have a menu? | Cho tôi mượn menu |
|
| How much is it? | Bao nhiêu tiền? |
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| The bill please | Tính tiền |
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Pro tip #1 : Ask for a bigger portion
Sometimes the sandwich or bowl is not big enough to fill your appetite, did you know you can easily ask for a bigger serving? Depending on the regular price, ask the vendor to add 10.000 or 20.000 dongs, so they will add more of everything.
| Sentence | In Vietnamese | Speak it! |
|---|---|---|
| Can I have a bigger portion? | Cho tôi phần lớn |
|
| 10.000 dong more | Thêm 10000 đồng nữa |
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| 20.000 dong more | Thêm 20000 đồng nữa |
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Pro tip #2 : bring food at your café
When you are touring a Vietnamese city, you will want to stop at a café for a refreshing fruit juice or a coffee. If you are hungry at the same time and see a nearby restaurant, do you know you can ask the restaurant to bring the food at your café table? It’s so convenient!
Go order at the restaurant or street vendor, then ask them if they can bring your food at the café. Usually if the café doesn’t serve food there’s no problem, but you may want to ask the café too before ordering.
On the opposite side, you can often ask to bring the café/drink at the restaurant. And nobody will charge you more for the service. Isn’t life marvelous ?
| Sentence | In Vietnamese | Speak it! |
|---|---|---|
| Can i order food over there and eat here? | Tôi có thể gọi đồ ăn ở bên đó và ăn ở đây được không? |
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| Please bring the food over there | Hãy mang thức ăn sang đó. |
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| Can i order a drink from there? | Tôi có thể gọi đồ uống ở đó được không? |
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Find more tips in our app. Try Street Food Explorer Vietnam for FREE
and eat like local Vietnamese eat!
