Banh Mi Hong Hoa is a banh mi budget eat in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
Banh Mi Hong Hoa is a bakery-and-stall near Ben Thanh where warm baguettes come stuffed with cold cuts and pate for a fraction of a sit-down meal.
Editorially verified July 1, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Must order: The mixed cold-cut banh mi with extra pickles.
Tip: Bread is baked through the day, so the baguette is almost always warm and crisp.
Address: 54 Nguyen Van Trang Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
This Co Giang stall serves a bargain bowl of bun rieu, the tomato-and-crab-paste noodle soup, for around 28,000 dong, one of the cheapest sit-down meals.
Try: Bun rieu
Order: A bowl of bun rieu cua with tofu and tomato.
Tip: At under thirty thousand dong it is a genuine bargain in the centre; go for an early lunch.
Down an alley off Ho Hao Hon, this old Chinese-Vietnamese counter serves cheap egg-noodle and wonton soups for breakfast, a longtime local favourite.
Try: Mi hoanh thanh
Order: Mi hoanh thanh, egg noodles with wontons in clear broth.
Tip: It is a morning spot down a hem; go for an early, filling and very cheap breakfast bowl.
Tu Hai is a cheap banh mi counter near the Da Kao end of Dinh Tien Hoang, known for the thin banh mi que pate sticks that locals snack on all day.
Try: Banh mi que
Order: A bag of banh mi que, the slim pate baguette sticks.
Tip: The pate sticks are made for snacking; buy several, they cost next to nothing.
Xoi Ga Number One is a Michelin Selected spot for its cheap plate of sticky rice topped with a fried chicken drumstick, scallion oil and crisp shallots.
Try: Xoi ga
Order: Xoi ga with a fried chicken drumstick and scallion oil.
Tip: It runs into the evening; the fried chicken version is the one regulars order.
Di Tam is one of Saigon's oldest broken-rice stalls, a Tan Dinh fixture plating com tam with a charcoal-grilled pork chop, egg and pickles for a few dollars.
Try: Com tam suon
Order: Com tam suon with a grilled pork chop and egg.
Tip: It is central District 1 but still cheap; go at lunch when the grill is at full tilt.
This Co Giang stall serves a bargain bowl of bun rieu, the tomato-and-crab-paste noodle soup, for around 28,000 dong, one of the cheapest sit-down meals.
Try: Bun rieu
Order: A bowl of bun rieu cua with tofu and tomato.
Tip: At under thirty thousand dong it is a genuine bargain in the centre; go for an early lunch.
Down an alley off Ho Hao Hon, this old Chinese-Vietnamese counter serves cheap egg-noodle and wonton soups for breakfast, a longtime local favourite.
Try: Mi hoanh thanh
Order: Mi hoanh thanh, egg noodles with wontons in clear broth.
Tip: It is a morning spot down a hem; go for an early, filling and very cheap breakfast bowl.
Tu Hai is a cheap banh mi counter near the Da Kao end of Dinh Tien Hoang, known for the thin banh mi que pate sticks that locals snack on all day.
Try: Banh mi que
Order: A bag of banh mi que, the slim pate baguette sticks.
Tip: The pate sticks are made for snacking; buy several, they cost next to nothing.
Bun Mam Co Cuc ladles the Mekong Delta's pungent fermented-fish noodle soup, a dark, deep broth loaded with squid, prawn and roast pork on Nguyen Thien Thuat.
Try: Bun mam
Order: The full bun mam with squid, prawn and roast pork.
Tip: The fermented-fish broth is an acquired taste; pile on the herbs and eggplant to balance it.