At the end of August 2017, Ho Chi Minh City opened the country’s first legal street food area on Nguyen Van Chiem Street in District 1. Since its opening, this street has quickly become a popular culinary destination for city residents and tourists.
Sticky rice, fried noodles, dumplings, milk tea, and various other main dishes and snacks are sold at lower prices compared to restaurants. Saigonese people often add lots of vegetables and herbs, especially when eating watery dishes like noodles or Pho. Many street food dishes also include protein to balance the meal.
The pilot implementation of this business model on Nguyen Van Chiem Street has provided stability for households, eliminating the need for roadside selling. This model not only ensures security and order but also enhances the urban beauty.
Nguyen Van Chiem Street and Bach Tung Diep Park are part of the “Pilot Food Area for Temporary Business” project proposed by District 1 to the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City. The District 1 People’s Committee does not charge fees for households assigned as street vendors. These vendors receive training in food hygiene, safety, and business skills from the authorities.
With over 20 stalls on Nguyen Van Chiem Street, visitors can easily find a variety of dishes such as Com Tam (broken rice with grilled pork chops), Banh Mi (Vietnamese sandwich), Hu Tieu (pork noodle soup), crab soup, soy milk, iced milk coffee, fruit juices, etc.
Since all the vendors on Nguyen Van Chiem Street only offer takeaway options, customers can enjoy their food in the nearby Han Thuyen Park without any service charge.
Recently, there have been proposals to expand street vendors throughout Ho Chi Minh City. Dr. Du Phuoc Tan from the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Research suggested expanding the model used in District 1’s Nguyen Van Chiem Street and Bach Tung Diep Park.
According to Dr. Du Phuoc Tan, the experience from Nguyen Van Chiem Street and Bach Tung Diep Park demonstrates the positive effects of arranging street vendors. It not only creates job opportunities but also improves urban order, beauty, and ensures food safety and hygiene.
Concerns about street food hygiene are addressed on Nguyen Van Chiem Street. All stalls have glass covers to protect the ingredients, and vendors must be certified for hygiene to operate in the area.
Nguyen Van Chiem Food Street features 20 stalls along a 40m-long street. It is open every day from 6 am to 9 am and 11 am to 2 pm, offering breakfast and lunch options perfect for takeaway. Since its opening, Nguyen Van Chiem Food Street has been highly supported by locals due to its convenience, transparent pricing, and positive social impact.
10 Best Vietnamese Food
Vietnamese food is known to be both healthy and robust in flavour, thanks its generous combination of fresh herbs and greens, paired with rice, noodles, seafood, pork and beef. While many cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City offer plenty of fine-dining venues and five-star hotel restaurants decked out in extravagant settings, some of the best (and most authentic) Vietnamese delicacies are actually found at roadside eateries, vibrant street markets, and humble-looking restaurants. A typical meal includes rice or noodles, a meat or seafood dish, a vegetable dish, soup and nuoc cham (fermented fish sauce) for dipping, each of which can easily customised according to your preference. Here’s a helpful guide on what to eat in Vietnam, most of which can be enjoyed just about any time of the day. While most are familiar with pho or spring rolls, there’s a wide range of Vietnamese dishes only available in certain regions so be sure to try them out during your visit.
‘Banh mi chao’: A Vietnamese dish that sizzles in a pan
Banh mi chao (Bread with combo pan) is a Vietnamese-styled hot alternative to stuffed baguettes.
Saigon’s banh mi hailed among the kings and queens of street foods
The best place to eat one is on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, Fodor’s Travel recommends.
Banh mi – one of the reasons to fall in love with Hanoi
Experiencing new cuisines is one of the best ways to help you discover a culture-rich city like Hanoi.
Street food in Hoi An ancient town
The ancient town of Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam topped the list of 15 best cities in the world in a recent readers’ vote of the US travel magazine Travel & Leisure, surpassing many well-known destinations like Japan’s Tokyo and Italy’s Rome.
