Top 7 delicious and affordable dishes you must try when traveling to Vung Tau.

Vung Tau cuisine is not fancy or elaborate, but wins over diners with the freshness of its ingredients and its incredibly affordable prices.

Báo Lao Động•24/05/2026

Besides its stunning beaches and vibrant entertainment options, Vung Tau (Ho Chi Minh City) is also a true culinary paradise. It satisfies food lovers with delicious, nutritious, and affordable dishes featuring distinctive flavors.

1. Banh Khot (Vietnamese savory pancake)

The mixed banh khot dish contains both shrimp and meat fillings.

A plate of mixed banh khot (miniature savory pancakes) with shrimp and meat fillings. Photo: Linh Boo

At the top of the list of specialties you "haven't truly experienced in Vung Tau" is undoubtedly banh khot (miniature savory pancakes). On a red-hot earthenware mold, these golden, crispy pancakes appear, invitingly tempting.

Besides the traditional shrimp filling, many shops also add variations such as pork, beef, squid, or scallops, then sprinkle a layer of reddish-pink shrimp powder and rich scallion oil on top.

When enjoying bánh khọt, it's wrapped with various fresh vegetables such as mustard greens, lettuce, perilla leaves, and shredded papaya, then dipped generously in a sweet and sour fish sauce. With one bite, the crispy edge of the pancake combined with the sweetness of the seafood will instantly captivate your taste buds.

2. Stingray hot pot with sour bamboo shoots

A pot of stingray hotpot with sour bamboo shoots is enough for 2-4 people.

When visiting Vung Tau, you must try stingray hotpot. Photo: Linh Boo

If you're looking for a dish to enjoy with friends at dinner, stingray hot pot is the number one choice. Stingray meat is characterized by its chewy, fatty texture, and the bones are mostly soft cartilage that provides a crunchy texture.

The broth is a harmonious blend of the delicate sweetness of the fish and the rich, tangy flavor of the pickled bamboo shoots. The sweet, fragrant fish, combined with the spicy fish sauce, a sip of the warm broth, and fresh green vegetables, is enough to satisfy any diner.

3. Seafood and shellfish of all kinds

Grilled scallops with scallion oil.

Grilled scallops with scallion oil. Photo: Linh Boo

Grilled snapper

Grilled snapper. Photo: Linh Boo

When visiting Vung Tau, the best thing is still sitting down to enjoy a plate of snails and other fresh seafood. The seafood here is not only abundant, but the prices are also very reasonable.

From grilled giant squid with satay sauce, steamed crabs and prawns, stir-fried sea cucumbers with tamarind sauce, sweet and sour scad fish salad, to grilled oysters with cheese or scallion oil... all are tempting for hungry stomachs. The seafood is caught and processed on the same day, so the meat is always firm and retains its natural sweetness.

4. Crab noodle soup

The crab noodle soup bowl also includes shrimp, fish cake, and crab cake.

A bowl of crab noodle soup includes shrimp, fish cake, and crab cake. Photo: Linh Boo

Visitors can energize themselves at the start of the day with a hearty bowl of crab noodle soup, packed with fish cake, shrimp, squid, sweet and fragrant crab meat, and crispy fried onions. The noodles are made from rice flour, giving them a soft yet chewy texture.

The soul of the dish lies in the broth, made from simmered bones, dried shrimp, and sea crab, creating a slightly thick, beautiful deep yellow color and a rich, sweet flavor. You can order fried dough sticks to dip into this thick sauce. A bowl of crab noodle soup costs between 60,000 and 80,000 VND.

5. Salted Egg Sponge Cake

A stall selling salted egg sponge cake on Hoang Hoa Tham street.

A stall selling salted egg sponge cake on Hoang Hoa Tham street. Photo: Linh Boo

Strolling along Hoang Hoa Tham street, visitors will surely be captivated by the rows of neatly arranged salted egg sponge cake shops. The appeal of this cake lies in its soft, smooth texture, fragrant buttery aroma, and subtly sweet taste.

The most famous is undoubtedly the sponge cake with salted egg yolk, cheese, or shredded pork floss. The mild sweetness of the cake base blends perfectly with the rich creaminess of the melted cheese and the slightly salty taste of the shredded pork floss or salted egg yolk.

With affordable prices ranging from just 35,000 to 50,000 VND per box, this is always a preferred souvenir for tourists to buy as gifts for their loved ones after their trip .

6. Durian Butter Cream

A glass of durian avocado ice cream.

A glass of durian avocado ice cream. Photo: Linh Boo

For those with a sweet tooth, Vung Tau's durian avocado ice cream is the perfect snack to cool off. This upgraded version of the seaside ice cream is topped with a large, creamy durian segment and sprinkled with crispy dried coconut flakes.

Each scoop of this refreshing ice cream, infused with the rich creaminess of butter and the distinctive aroma of durian, costs between 50,000 and 75,000 VND.

7. Hot tofu

On a cool, breezy night by the sea, visitors can enjoy a steaming, warming bowl of tofu pudding.

Vung Tau tofu is made purely from soybeans, resulting in a pristine white, soft, smooth, and rich flavor. Each bowl of tofu is topped with a little thick coconut milk, fragrant ginger syrup, and a few chewy tapioca pearls. A bowl costs around 15,000 VND.

Source: https://laodong.vn/du-lich/am-thuc/top-7-mon-ngon-binh-dan-phai-thu-khi-du-lich-vung-tau-1706124.html