7 Days in Vietnam for Vegetarian and Vegan Travelers

Day 1 — Hanoi: Old Quarter vegetarian street food

Arrive at Noi Bai Airport (about 30 km north of Hanoi city center). Take the airport bus (86,000 VND, 45 min) or grab a taxi (200,000–250,000 VND flat rate) to your hotel in the Old Quarter.

Check in and walk to Ngo Gai Street, a pedestrian alley in the heart of the Old Quarter dedicated to vegetarian food. The street is lined with small restaurants serving "chay" (vegetarian) dishes — mostly Buddhist establishments. Eat at one of the family-run shops here for lunch: expect "banh chung" (sticky rice cake), vegetable "cha gio" (spring rolls), stir-fried morning glory, and tofu-based curries. Budget 40,000–60,000 VND per meal.

In the afternoon, visit the [Temple of Literature](/posts/temple-of-literature-hanoi (하노이 / 河内 / ハノイ)-guide) (Van Mieu), a 11th-century Confucian temple with peaceful courtyards. Entry is 30,000 VND. Many visitors are Buddhist and vegetarian, so the surrounding food stalls cater to plant-based diets.

For dinner, head to Quan Chay Thien Huong (a dedicated vegetarian restaurant near Hoan Kiem Lake). Prices are 50,000–90,000 VND per dish. Order the vegetable "banh cuon" (steamed rice rolls) and sesame tofu.

Hotel suggestion: Old Quarter guesthouses run 100,000–200,000 VND/night for basic rooms.

Day 2 — Hanoi: Markets and water puppet theater

Start early at Dong Xuan Market, the Old Quarter's largest covered market. Browse the ground floor for fresh produce, herbs, and dried goods. Many vendors sell pre-made vegetarian "banh mi (반미 / 越式法包 / バインミー)" (sandwiches) with tofu pate, pickled vegetables, and chilies for 20,000–30,000 VND.

Walk to Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Hanoi, sitting on a small peninsula in West Lake. The monks here follow strict vegetarian diets; the pagoda's peaceful setting and lotus ponds are worth an hour of quiet time. No entry fee.

Lunch at a local "pho" shop on the lake's edge — ask for "pho chay" (vegetable pho). Most shops will swap beef broth for vegetable broth if you ask in advance or point to "chay". Cost: 30,000–50,000 VND.

In the evening, catch a water puppet show at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre (15 Ngo Duc Ke Street). Tickets are 100,000–150,000 VND. Arrive early to eat at the in-house restaurant, which has vegetarian noodle and rice dishes (50,000–80,000 VND).

Return to your hotel and rest.

Day 3 — Hanoi to Ninh Binh (day trip or overnight)

Take a train or bus from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, a limestone karst town 100 km south. Buses leave from Giap Bat or My Dinh bus stations (50,000–70,000 VND, 2 hours). Alternatively, a minivan with a hotel can be arranged (150,000–200,000 VND round-trip).

Arrive and visit Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam (10th–11th centuries). Two temple complexes honor kings Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Hoan. Entry: 25,000 VND. The site is nestled among rice paddies and limestone peaks.

In the afternoon, take a boat tour through Tam Coc ("three caves"), a scenic route through limestone cliffs and water. Boats cost 75,000 VND per person for a 2–3 hour trip. Many vendors along the water sell vegetable "banh chung", sticky rice cakes, and fresh fruit (20,000–40,000 VND).

Dinner at a family restaurant in Ninh Binh's main town. Ninh Binh is agriculture-heavy, so vegetable stir-fries, rice, and "goi cuon" (spring rolls with tofu) are easy to find (40,000–70,000 VND per meal).

Return to Hanoi by evening bus, or stay overnight (hotels 150,000–250,000 VND/night).

Photo by Nhựt Nguyên Trần on Pexels

Day 4 — Hanoi to Sapa (overnight journey)

Take an evening minibus or train from Hanoi to Sapa, a mountain town 350 km northwest in Ha Giang province. Minibus departures are frequent (Giap Bat or My Dinh stations, 180,000–250,000 VND, 5–6 hours). Overnight buses arrive early morning; night trains take 8–10 hours but are an experience in themselves.

Arrive in Sapa in the morning. Check into your hotel and rest.

In the afternoon, walk the Sapa town center and surrounding rice terraces. The town is cool and misty; no entry fees for landscape walks. Stop at local cafes serving Vietnamese "ca phe sua da" (iced milk coffee) — many can make it with soy or coconut milk if you ask (15,000–25,000 VND).

Dinner at a hotel restaurant or street stall. Sapa's H'Mong and Tay ethnic communities eat a lot of vegetable curries, tofu, and sticky rice. Budget 50,000–90,000 VND.

Hotel: Sapa guesthouses and mid-range hotels, 150,000–350,000 VND/night.

Day 5 — Sapa: Trekking and ethnic villages

Hike to a nearby H'Mong village (3–5 hours) with a local guide. Guides cost 150,000–250,000 VND for a full day. The trek winds through terraced rice paddies and forests; guides can arrange vegetarian lunches (rice, vegetables, eggs) in village homes for 50,000–100,000 VND.

Return to Sapa by evening. Many guides are familiar with vegetarian dietary needs; mention this when booking.

Dinner at Sapa Sisters, a restaurant run by local Tay women (50,000–90,000 VND for a meal).

Photo by HONG SON on Pexels

Day 6 — Sapa to Hanoi to Saigon (travel day)

Morning: Take an early minibus back to Hanoi (5–6 hours, 180,000–250,000 VND). Arrive by early afternoon and head to Noi Bai Airport or a central departure point for your flight to Saigon.

Flights from Hanoi to Saigon are frequent and cheap (200,000–600,000 VND one-way with budget airlines like VietJet or Bamboo Airways, 1.5 hours flight time).

Arrive in Saigon by late afternoon. Check into your hotel in District 1 (central area) or District 3 (Ton That Dam Street, known for vegetarian restaurants).

Dinner at Thanh Huong, a long-standing vegetarian restaurant (50 Ton That Dam Street, District 3). Signature dishes: vegetarian "com tam" (broken rice with vegetables and egg), "banh chung", and sesame tofu (40,000–80,000 VND).

Hotel: District 1 and 3, 200,000–400,000 VND/night.

Day 7 — Saigon: Markets, temples, and street food

Start at Ben Thanh Market, a colonial-era covered market in District 1. Ground floor is produce and prepared foods. Grab a "banh mi chay" (vegan sandwich with tofu pate, pickled vegetables, cilantro, and chilies) from a street vendor outside for 25,000–35,000 VND.

Walk to the nearby Jade Emperor Pagoda (Chua Ngoc Hoang), one of Saigon's most ornate Buddhist temples. Entry is free. The Jade Emperor is venerated by many Buddhists, and the pagoda has active communities of vegetarian worshippers.

Lunch in Chinatown (Cho Lon), District 5. Many temples here have attached vegetarian restaurants. Try Thien Huong Vegetarian (on Ngo Gia Tu Street, Cho Lon) for noodle soups, stir-fries, and "banh xeo" (sizzling crepes with vegetable filling, 50,000–90,000 VND).

Afternoon: Take a cyclo (bicycle rickshaw, 50,000–100,000 VND for 30 min) through the French Quarter and visit the War Remnants Museum or Reunification Palace if interested. (Both have cafes with vegetarian sandwiches and drinks.)

Evening: Explore Nguyen Hue Walking Street (pedestrianized, new in 2020) and dine at one of the many street vendors selling spring rolls, vegetable soups, and grilled tofu skewers (30,000–60,000 VND). Coffee at a local cafe: "ca phe sua da" (25,000 VND).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get from Noi Bai Airport to the Old Quarter in Hanoi?

Noi Bai Airport sits about 30 km north of Hanoi city center. The airport bus costs 86,000 VND and takes roughly 45 minutes. A taxi runs 200,000–250,000 VND at a flat rate. For budget travelers, the bus is reliable and drops you near the Old Quarter, where basic guesthouse rooms cost 100,000–200,000 VND per night.

What vegetarian food can I find in Hanoi's Old Quarter?

Ngo Gai Street is a pedestrian alley in the Old Quarter lined with Buddhist "chay" (vegetarian) restaurants. Dishes include banh chung (sticky rice cake), vegetable cha gio (spring rolls), stir-fried morning glory, and tofu-based curries, with meals ranging from 40,000–60,000 VND. For dinner, Quan Chay Thien Huong near Hoan Kiem Lake serves steamed rice rolls and sesame tofu for 50,000–90,000 VND per dish.

When is the best time to visit Ninh Binh on a day trip from Hanoi?

Ninh Binh is 100 km south of Hanoi, reachable by bus in about 2 hours for 50,000–70,000 VND. Go early to visit Hoa Lu temple complex (entry 25,000 VND) and still have time for an afternoon boat tour through Tam Coc's three limestone caves, which costs 75,000 VND per person for a 2–3 hour trip. Evening buses return to Hanoi, or overnight hotels cost 150,000–250,000 VND.

Practical notes

Costs: Budget 40,000–90,000 VND/day for food (street food to casual restaurants); 150,000–400,000 VND/night for hotels; 50,000–250,000 VND for inter-city transport. A modest trip for one person: 12–18 million VND (500–750 USD) for 7 days.

Language: Learn "toi la chay" (I am vegetarian) and "khong co thit" (no meat). Pointing to vegetables on a menu works reliably. English-speaking staff in Hanoi and Saigon are common; Sapa and Ninh Binh less so.

Timing: October–November and March–April have the best weather (cool, dry). Avoid July–September (humid, rainy) and January–February (cold in northern regions).

Visas: Most Western visitors can get an e-visa online (25 USD) or on arrival. Process takes 3–5 days online.