Vietnam is a haven for vegan travelers. There are various vegan and vegetarian recipes and dishes around Vietnam, but you might need a little guidance. For every vegan-friendly recipe, there’s a dish smothered in fish sauce, which you might need to take note of.

Luckily for you, traveler, with a few tips and tricks, you can enjoy a vegan-friendly trip in Vietnam. Here’s how you can get started:

Learn common phrases

Vietnamese phrases can come in handy, especially when visiting restaurants. Familiarize yourself with phrases like “toi khong an”, which means “I don’t eat”, and a couple of words like, “bo” (butter), “sua” (milk), “nuoc mam” (fish sauce), “pho mai” (cheese), and “trung” (eggs).

It can be tough trying to remember all these words, so one of the best things you can do to avoid miscommunication is to print out these common phrases on a little informational card, and bring it with you wherever you go. Present the card to staff when ordering in restaurants.

Find restaurants online

There are several high-end vegan restaurants you can visit, and you can find them on TripAdvisor, Google Maps, and Happy Cow. These restaurants are popular among Buddhists especially on Buddhist holidays, so if the place isn’t jam-packed when you’re around, know that it’s perfectly normal for it to be that way.

vegetarian recipe

Find a Buddhist temple

Where there is a Buddhist temple, there is a vegan eatery or two around the same area. After a trip to a Buddhist temple, or maybe just around the town, you can try to find these eateries around the corner. They usually serve pho, banh mi, and other popular vegan cuisines.

The best part is that you can look for it on Google Maps by searching for a Buddhist temple, and browsing through the streets nearby for places labeled nha hang chay, com chay, or quan chay.

It’s not impossible to travel vegan in Vietnam. These are just some tips to remember so you can fully enjoy your vacation. Book a trip on vegan river cruises and experience Vietnamese culture today.