Vegan in Hanoi: The Best Restaurants

Chaotic charm – that’s probably how we’d describe Hanoi in two words. Vietnam’s capital is loud, fast and demanding, but it’s also incredibly rewarding: rich culture, art, and something new to discover on every corner. The people are friendly and open, food is everywhere, and as a vegan in Hanoi you’re truly spoiled for choice. From authentic street food and small family-run eateries to fully vegan restaurants, eating plant-based here is easy and exciting. Add to that Hanoi’s strong coffee culture (best enjoyed on tiny plastic stools by the roadside, watching the traffic and wondering how a motorbike just crossed four lanes without causing a crash 😄) and you’ll quickly fall in love. Hanoi won’t disappoint you, and neither will its vegan options. Take a look at our favorite spots in this article.

Introduction

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Vietnam

Vietnam is an incredibly diverse country. With a length of over 1,600 kilometers from north to south, it’s home to big cities (like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City) and diverse natural landscapes featuring rice terraces, endless coastlines, mountains and caves – a place that truly has it all. Traveling through the country from north to south (or the other direction) gives you a fascinating insight into how not only the landscapes are changing, but with it the people, culture, language and local cuisine and specialties.

Hanoi

Located in the north of Vietnam, Hanoi is the country’s cultural heartbeat. Chaotic, busy, and endlessly charming, it’s a city that hits all your senses at once. Life happens outside: people chatting on tiny plastic stools, vendors calling out their goods, the smell of food everywhere, as you try to navigate your way past motorbikes and street food stalls. And all of this to the sweet soundtrack of Vietnam’s ever-present honking 😉 Hanoi merges history, culture, creativity, green spaces, and some excellent vegan food. Even if it’s not a city that tries to impress at first glance: if you give it a little time, Hanoi slowly pulls you in and leaves a lasting impression.

Vegan in Vietnam

Veganism in Vietnam

For the most part, being vegan in Vietnam is not too difficult. Vietnamese cuisine features many naturally vegan ingredients such as rice, noodles, fresh herbs, vegetables, tofu, mushrooms, and legumes. What makes it a bit more tricky is that fish sauce or shrimp paste is often added to dishes, and these ingredients can be hard to spot without asking. The good news is that meals are usually prepared fresh when you order, which means they can often be adapted to be fully vegan. In our experience, this was never a problem, as people were helpful, flexible, and easy-going. The translation cards below can help you ask about non-vegan ingredients when ordering food in restaurants.

Naturally Vegan-Friendly Food in Vietnam and Hanoi

Many Vietnamese dishes are either naturally vegan or easy to adapt. Here are some common vegan-friendly foods you’ll come across in Vietnam and Hanoi:

Dish	Description
Mì xào rau (stir-fried noodles with vegetables)	Usually made with veggies; ask for không thịt, không trứng (no meat, no egg).
Phở chay	A plant-based version of the iconic noodle soup, found in many “chay” restaurants.
Bánh mì chay	Vietnam’s famous sandwich made vegan with tofu, mushrooms, or mock meat.
Cơm chay	A mixed rice plate with a variety of tofu, vegetables, and mock-meat dishes.
Gỏi cuốn chay (fresh spring rolls)	Light rolls with herbs, veggies, tofu, and rice noodles; ask for a peanut or soy sauce without fish sauce.
Chè với nước cốt dừa	Sweet dessert soups often made vegan; choose versions with coconut milk instead of condensed milk.
Cơm tấm chay	A vegan take on the classic broken rice dish, typically served with tofu, shredded veggies and pickles.
Bánh ướt chay	Soft steamed rice sheets topped with tofu, bean sprouts, and fried shallots; ask for soy sauce instead of fish sauce.

Vegan Desserts and Snacks in Vietnam

At first, Vietnamese desserts might seem challenging for vegans, as many traditional sweets include condensed milk or are finished with creamy sauces. That said, there are still plenty of plant-based treats to enjoy. Desserts prepared with coconut milk are often a safe choice, such as chè (sweet dessert soups), mango sticky rice, fresh fruit plates, or coconut-based ice cream. If you’re unsure, simply ask for “không sữa đặc,” which means no condensed milk.

Fortunately, in Vietnam there’s a wide variety of plant-based snacks easy to find. Convenience stores and local markets offer options like seaweed snacks, rice crackers, dried mango, nuts, coconut chips, and fresh fruit. These make ideal snacks for long bus rides, hiking days, or whenever you need something quick between meals.

Vegan Coffee Culture

Vietnam’s coffee culture is world-famous, and it’s still very accessible if you’re vegan. Although small, traditional cafés don’t always stock plant-based milk, many Western-style cafés and specialty coffee shops now offer soy, oat, or almond milk; particularly in larger cities like Hanoi. You can enjoy a refreshing cà phê sữa đá (Vietnamese iced coffee) or a creamy coconut coffee (such as at IVegan) prepared with plant milk, or keep it simple with a bold cup of classic Vietnamese black coffee.

Hidden Non-Vegan Ingredients

Although Vietnam is often considered very vegan-friendly, some dishes may still contain animal-derived ingredients that aren’t obvious at first glance. Keep an eye out for the following:

• Fish sauce (nước mắm) – frequently added to soups, stir-fries, dipping sauces, and salad dressings.
• Shrimp paste (mắm tôm) – commonly found in sauces, marinades, and certain noodle dishes.
• Condensed milk (sữa đặc) – often used in desserts, smoothies, and traditional Vietnamese coffee.
• Butter or mayonnaise – sometimes included in bánh mì fillings.
• Egg (trứng) – may appear in fried rice, fried noodles, or certain versions of phở.
• Bone broth (nước lèo) – many soups are prepared with pork, chicken, or beef bone broth, even when the visible ingredients seem plant-based.

“Chay” in Vietnamese

“Chay” (ăn chay) refers to Buddhist vegetarian food, which in Vietnam is usually fully vegan. Most chay restaurants exclude meat, fish, eggs, and dairy altogether. In rare cases, small amounts of milk or butter may be used, but this isn’t common. To be absolutely certain, you can say:

“Tôi ăn thuần chay – không trứng, không sữa.”
(I eat vegan – no egg, no milk.)

These chay restaurants make traveling in Vietnam much easier for vegans. Outside of dedicated chay eateries, asking for chay dishes can also help signal that you’re looking for plant-based food. However, in practice, we found that the term wasn’t as widely understood as we had hoped – and this time, we don’t think our pronunciation was the issue 😀

Translation Card for Vietnam

Feel free to screenshot this card, save it on your phone, or print it and keep it in your wallet!

Vegan in Hanoi – Our Favorite Restaurants

Map of Vegan Restaurants in Hanoi

No matter if you’re looking for the best bánh mì in Hanoi or another local Vietnamese specialty. Our guide to being vegan in Hanoi has got you covered! This map shows our favorite places in the city:

Street Food & Food Courts

Street food is an essential part of traveling in Vietnam and shouldn’t be missed. For vegans, bánh mì is one of the simplest dishes to find in a fully plant-based version. Local food courts are equally worth exploring, serving affordable, authentic Vietnamese meals and often offering a good selection of vegan-friendly options.

Bonbagu Vegan Baguette

Price: $

Small little shop selling vegan versions of bánh mì with vegetables and paté, as well as spring rolls.

Banh Mi 25

Price: $ – $$

The VIP of Bánh mì shops! Bánh mì 25 is the most famous of its kind and features on almost every Hanoi “must-do” itinerary. With its fame naturally comes a long queue of people waiting in line. We decided to skip this place, but for people who wanna give it a try, they have multiple, clearly-labeled vegan options.

Vietnamese Restaurants

Tự Châu Veggie

Price: $

This small and very cute eatery mainly serves bánh mì and phở. There are a few seats available both inside and outside, and the staff is incredibly friendly.

Quán Chay Khai Tuệ 

Price: $

Another small, but cozy place serving local Vietnamese dishes. Everything is freshly prepared and tasty. We loved their bánh mì and phở!

Veggie Castle

Price: $

This was one of our favorite finds in Hanoi! For just 99.000 VND, you get an all-vegan, all-you-can-eat buffet, including salads, curries, phở, spring rolls, stir-fried vegetables, tofu in various forms, Vietnamese dessert, and tea. What more could you ask for?

Quán Chay Phúc An Vegan

Price: $

This is another small and charming restaurant with local Vietnamese dishes, such as noodle and rice bowls, phở, spring rolls and much more. The owners are super kind and make you feel welcome right from the start. They also have an extra English menu with pictures of the dishes, which was incredibly helpful, especially if you’re new to Vietnamese cuisine.

Madam Tran Restaurant 

Price: $ – $$

Charming restaurant on the same street as the famous Bánh mì 25. We came here for bánh mì, but they have many other vegan options on the menu.

Little Bowl

Price: $

The perfect place to try a traditional Vietnamese dessert (called Chè)! The bowls are usually made with coconut milk (or condensed milk), jelly and fruits and crushed ice. This lovely little shop offers multiple vegan options – the woman that runs it is super knowledgeable on veganism – just ask for a vegan version (it doesn’t hurt to prepare the translation on your phone before) and she will point you to what bowls to choose.

Non-Vietnamese and Western Restaurants

Loving Hut

Price: $-$$

Loving Hut is almost a classic when traveling through Southeast Asia 🙂 This vegan chain is a reliable, foolproof choice for tasty, high-quality plant-based food. On top of that, the staff is incredibly kind and genuinely committed to the vegan cause.

IVegan

Price: $$

IVegan is a fully vegan restaurant chain with locations across Vietnam, as well as in the Philippines and Singapore. The Hanoi branch offers an extensive menu of Western-style fusion dishes, including smoothie bowls, Buddha bowls, burgers, locally inspired mains, and desserts. It’s a great option and well worth visiting while traveling in Vietnam.

Dana Vegan House

Price: $$ – $$$

All-vegan restaurant serving high-quality food. The menu is creative and unique and each dish is fresh, tasty and well presented. If you’re in a bigger group, we recommend to order the menus to share, so you can try a bit of everything.

Ordering Food

Too tired or simply not in the mood to head out for food? With the Grab app, you can easily order your favorite dishes from vegan restaurants and have them delivered straight to your door.

Vegan Food Prices in Vietnam

Typical Prices for Vegan Dishes

Money-Saving Tips for Vegans in Hanoi

• Buddhist vegetarian buffets are some of the most affordable meals in Vietnam.
• Street stalls serving Bánh Mì Chay or Bun Mi Xao Chay are everywhere and very budget-friendly. Bánh Mì is also incredibly convenient for take-away, making it a perfect option for day trips or long bus journeys, like traveling from Vientiane to Hanoi.
• In supermarkets, you can find vegan versions of instant ramen noodles. Just add boiling water, and you have a quick, cheap meal ready in minutes.

FAQ: Vegan in Hanoi

Is Hanoi vegan-friendly?

Yes! Hanoi is very vegan-friendly thanks to Buddhist cuisine and a growing number of plant-based restaurants, cafés, and street food options.

Is it easy to find vegan food in Hanoi?

Yes, especially in the Old Quarter and around Tay Ho (West Lake). Dedicated chay restaurants are common, and many places can adapt dishes on request.

Are there vegan street food options in Hanoi?

Yes. Vegan bánh mì, phở chay, stir-fried noodles, and spring rolls are widely available. Always double-check for fish sauce or broth.

What hidden non-vegan ingredients should I watch out for?

Fish sauce (nước mắm), shrimp paste, condensed milk, eggs, butter, and bone broth are common in Vietnamese cooking.

Is Vietnamese coffee vegan in Hanoi?

Black coffee is vegan, but traditional iced coffee uses condensed milk. Many cafés now offer oat, soy, or almond milk, especially in Tay Ho.

Are traditional Vietnamese desserts vegan?

Some are. Coconut-milk-based chè, fresh fruit, and mango sticky rice are often vegan. Ask for “không sữa đặc” to avoid condensed milk.

Is “chay” understood in Hanoi?

Chay usually refers to Buddhist vegetarian food and is often fully vegan in dedicated chay restaurants. Outside these places, it’s best to clarify ingredients.

What’s the best area to stay in Hanoi for vegan food?

The Old Quarter is convenient, while Tay Ho (West Lake) offers many vegan cafés and international plant-based options.

Are vegan restaurants expensive in Hanoi?

No. Local chay restaurants are very affordable, while modern vegan cafés are slightly more expensive but still budget-friendly.

Further Reading

Blog Articles

Traveling to Vietnam:

• Vegan in Ho Chi Minh City
• 1-month Vietnam Itinerary (North & South Highlights)
• Sleeper Bus from Vientiane to Hanoi

Vegan Guides:

• Vegan Guide to Thailand
• Vegan Guide to Indonesia
• Vegan Guide to Laos
• Vegan Guide to Malaysia

• Why Vegan? The Reason We Travel the World Plant-Based
• Vegan Travel – Exploring the World Without Compromising Your Values

Useful Resources

• Happy Cow Hanoi