What new specialties does Saigon offer now?

As Saigon expands, so do its specialties.

From July 1st, 2025, Ho Chi Minh City will officially expand with the merger of Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau provinces, leading to a greater diversity of Saigon's specialties. (Photo: Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper)

The merger of Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau into Ho Chi Minh City has created a new face for the city's expanding culinary scene . No longer isolated, Saigon's specialties now blend with many new flavors from neighboring regions. This has made the culinary landscape of Ho Chi Minh City even richer, attracting many diners from both within and outside the country.

Binh Duong specialties with rich flavors of the Southeast region of Vietnam.

Lai Thieu spring rolls – a specialty of Binh Duong province – have become an indispensable part of any food tour around Saigon. (Photo: Collected)

Binh Duong has contributed to Ho Chi Minh City's expanding culinary scene with its rich and flavorful specialties from the Southeast region. Among them, Lai Thieu spring rolls are known as an unforgettable culinary icon with their delicate blend of sweet and sour flavors. In addition, grilled beef on a tile and banh beo bi (rice cakes with pork skin) are also popular dishes. These dishes are not only enjoyed in Binh Duong but have quickly appeared on the menus of many restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City, further enriching Saigon's culinary offerings.

Vung Tau offers delicious fresh seafood and crispy banh khot (miniature savory pancakes).

Fresh seafood and crispy banh khot (Vietnamese savory pancakes) from Vung Tau are a new highlight of Saigon's culinary scene. (Photo: Collected)

Ba Ria - Vung Tau is famous for its fresh seafood and delicious specialties such as scad fish salad, Vung Tau-style mini pancakes, and stingray hotpot. Upon becoming part of Ho Chi Minh City, these delicacies were warmly embraced by the city's residents. Saigon's specialties are now enhanced with the salty flavors of the sea, offering a more diverse and appealing culinary experience than ever before.

A longer, more diverse food tour around Saigon.

This extended food tour around Saigon allows you to discover a diverse range of specialties from Binh Duong to Vung Tau. (Photo: Collected)

With the changes in administrative boundaries, food tours around Saigon have become more exciting with longer itineraries and a wider variety of culinary experiences. Instead of just exploring the central districts, diners can now enjoy the signature dishes of Binh Duong and Vung Tau right in the heart of the expanded Ho Chi Minh City. This is a great opportunity to fully savor the flavors of Saigon's regional specialties and experience a richer culinary culture all in one trip.

Ho Chi Minh City's culinary scene is not only a blend of dishes from various regions but also a symbol of the integration and diverse development of the country's largest city. Traditional Saigon specialties are now "reimagined" by combining flavors from Binh Duong and Vung Tau, creating a vibrant and unique culinary landscape. Food lovers can easily find delicious and fresh dishes right in this dynamic and ever-changing city.

Suggested dining spots for an extended food tour around Saigon.

Whether you're in the city center or heading towards Binh Duong – Ba Ria Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City's diverse culinary scene always has delicious dishes waiting for you to discover. (Image: Collected)

Here are some suggested places to enjoy delicious food, perfect for modern-day Saigon specialty food lovers :

Specialties of Binh Duong

Nem Lái Thiêu Út Thắng – 36 Nguyễn Văn Tiết: Lightly sour, super clean wrapped nem, and a perfect accompaniment to pickled papaya.
3 Hoa Grilled Beef on Clay Tile Restaurant – 269 Binh Duong Boulevard: Fresh beef grilled on clay tiles, served with authentic Eastern-style fresh vegetables.
Ut Xi's Banh Beo Bi – Near Phu Cuong Market: Small, pretty rice cakes, drizzled with rich, savory coconut milk, served with perfectly seasoned pork skin salad.

Specialties of Ba Ria - Vung Tau

Banh Khot Goc Vu Sua – 14 Nguyen Truong To: Famous for many years, the pancakes are crispy, the shrimp is fresh, and the dipping sauce is special.
Stingray Hot Pot at Truong Cong Dinh Street – No. 40 of the same name: The hot pot is perfectly balanced in sour and spicy flavors, with fresh stingray and accompanying vegetables that truly capture the essence of Southern Vietnamese seafood.
Oyster Grill Restaurant Oyster Hien – Long Hai: Fresh seafood, prepared on the spot, affordable prices, breezy sea view.

Places to eat local specialties right in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.

Thu Duc Market – the street food hub of Eastern Vietnam: A place where you can find many authentic Binh Duong dishes, at affordable prices, and with a lively atmosphere.
Foodcourt Vũng Tàu Style – Bình Thạnh: A newly opened restaurant specializing in authentic seafood dishes such as scad fish salad and grilled sun-dried squid with chili and salt.
Pham Van Hai Market – Tan Binh: Surprised by dishes like authentic Ba Ria-style pork offal rice vermicelli or Binh Duong-style steamed rice cakes.

Here are some tips for you when going on a food tour around Greater Saigon.

It's best to go in a group of 2-4 people so you can try a variety of dishes and share them.
Go in the cool morning and afternoon, avoiding the harsh sun or rush hour.
If you're going further afield (Long Hai, Phuoc Hai), you should combine it with a weekend getaway!

Since its administrative boundaries were expanded, Ho Chi Minh City has not only "expanded its map" but also broadened the palates of food lovers. Saigon's specialties are no longer limited to a few familiar dishes, but have become more diverse with flavors from the Eastern region of Binh Duong and the coastal flavors of Vung Tau, creating a vibrant and varied culinary landscape for Ho Chi Minh City .

So, with just one food tour around Saigon, you can experience everything from mountains and forests to the sea, from rustic grilled dishes to fresh seafood, from Lai Thieu spring rolls to famous banh khot (miniature savory pancakes). Who says you have to travel far to eat delicious food?
Now, all you need to do is... hop in the car, bring an empty stomach and a bit of curiosity. Saigon is "generous," how about you?

Source: https://www.vietravel.com/vn/am-thuc-kham-pha/dac-san-sai-gon-gio-co-them-gi-v17484.aspx