In short: Ho Chi Minh City is one of the easiest cities in Asia to eat vegan or vegetarian. Look for the word “chay”, and ask for “no meat, no fish, no fish sauce”. For the International Vegetarian Conference 2026 (5–6 November), we list verified vegetarian restaurants in District 1, District 3 and Thảo Điền, plus a quiet evening float to rest between conference days.
The last session ends, the hall empties, and you step out into warm Saigon air with a full notebook, tired feet and a head still buzzing with talks. You want two things now: a good plant-based dinner you do not have to research, and an hour of real quiet before tomorrow starts again. This guide gives you both: how vegetarian food works in Vietnam, where to eat, what to say when you order, and how to rest properly between the days of your event.
In town for IVC 2026? What we know
The International Vegetarian Conference 2026 (IVC 2026) runs on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 November 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City, the second time it has come to Vietnam after the first edition on 2 November 2025. This year’s theme is “Green Cuisine Trends and Green Education for Sustainable Development”. According to the International Vegetarian Union, day one is at Friendship Tower (31 Lê Duẩn) and day two at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (VNU-HCM). Please check the latest schedule with the organisers.
Missed it, or planning ahead? The city’s big vegetarian food festival usually takes place at the end of August; the 2026 edition was set for 24 to 30 August at Bình Phú Park, organised by the Ho Chi Minh City Culinary Association.
Vegetarian Saigon: a culture, not a trend
Vegetarian food in Vietnam grew out of Buddhism. Many Vietnamese eat vegetarian on the 1st and the 15th of every lunar month, and on those days the vegetarian eateries near pagodas fill up with families. You will see two styles. The first is the humble quán cơm chay: a few metal tables, trays of tofu, mushrooms, greens and mock meats, and you point at what you want. The second is a new generation of plant-based restaurants with garden courtyards and tasting menus.
One thing surprises visitors: many traditional vegetarian dishes are made to look like meat, from “sausage” to “fish” cake. It is all soy, gluten, mushroom or jackfruit. Buddhist-style kitchens often skip onion and garlic too, which gives the food a gentle, clean taste.
How to order vegan in Vietnamese
Learn one word first: chay (vegetarian). Signs that say “chay” or “cơm chay” are your friends. Then keep these phrases on your phone:
- Tôi ăn chay. I eat vegetarian.
- Không thịt, không cá, không nước mắm. No meat, no fish, no fish sauce.
- Không trứng, không sữa. No egg, no dairy (for vegans).
- Món này có trứng hay sữa không? Does this have egg or milk in it?
Fish sauce (nước mắm) is the hidden ingredient in much Vietnamese food, so mention it even when a dish sounds like it is only vegetables. In a dedicated chay restaurant, the dipping sauce is usually a soy-based “vegetarian fish sauce”. Cakes, coffee drinks and Western-style dishes may contain egg or dairy, so ask.
Vegetarian restaurants in Saigon we checked
We checked each of these in November 2026 against the restaurant’s own website, the MICHELIN Guide or HappyCow. Opening hours change often and sources disagree, so we do not list them here: check Google Maps before you go. “Vegetarian” means no meat or fish; if you are vegan, tell the staff and ask about egg and dairy.
| Where | Area and address | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Chay Garden | 52 Võ Văn Tần (District 3); 20 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai (District 1); 52 Xuân Thủy (Thảo Điền) | Vietnamese vegetarian cooking in a colonial house with a tree-lined patio; Bib Gourmand in the MICHELIN Guide 2026 (Võ Văn Tần) |
| Hum | Hum Garden, 32 Street 10 (Thảo Điền); Hum Lounge, 34 Võ Văn Tần (District 3); Hum Central, 3rd floor, 125 Hai Bà Trưng (District 1) | Modern plant-based Vietnamese food; Hum Garden is a Bib Gourmand in the MICHELIN Guide 2026 |
| Tales by Chapter | 10 Nguyễn Thành Ý, Tân Định (District 1) | Zero-waste, plant-based seasonal tasting menu for a special dinner; in the MICHELIN Guide; dinner only, closed Tuesdays, book ahead |
| Kashew Cheese Deli | 14 Trần Ngọc Diện (Thảo Điền) | Vegan cashew cheese, sandwiches and paninis; a relaxed lunch in Thảo Điền |
| Filthy Vegan | 86 Cô Bắc (District 1) | Fully vegan Western comfort food, from pizza to cake, when you need a break from rice |
For the local experience, also try a simple cơm chay near a pagoda: point at the dishes, smile, enjoy. And if you are staying near Thảo Điền, our guide to things to do in Thảo Điền covers the neighbourhood.
Rest between conference days: an evening float
Conferences are inspiring and draining at once: long hours sitting, a lot of talking, a head full of new ideas. Float therapy is the simplest way we know to switch all of that off. You lie back in about 25 cm of warm water with dense, mineral-rich Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate, a mineral) dissolved in it, so your body floats on its own. The water is about 33–34 °C, close to skin temperature, the room is private with its own shower, and you need no swimsuit. Many guests say they walk out lighter and quieter. New to it? Read what float therapy is.
Ōmni Evidence Scale: Strong evidence, for float and stress. Several trials point the same way. We rate it Strong because, on top of these trials, user experience is overwhelmingly positive: in a 2025 survey of regular floaters, 92% reported relaxation and 77% less stress, echoed by thousands of reviews, Reddit threads and forums, and by athletes and public figures who float. See how we rate evidence on the Ōmni Evidence Scale.
Ōmni Space is open until 21:00 and the last float starts at 20:00, so it fits after a full conference day. Prefer heat and cold? Our infrared sauna with red light (45–55 °C) and cold plunge (7–12 °C) are a fast reset for stiff legs and a tired mind.
Your last day: float before the flight
Checked out of the hotel but flying late? Bring your bags: Ōmni keeps up to 4 suitcases while you float, shower and get ready for the plane. Our last-day guide for late-night flights has a full plan.
Getting to Thảo Điền
The easiest way is Grab, Vietnam’s ride-hailing app: car or motorbike, price shown before you book. Type “Ōmni Space, 16C Quốc Hương”. Travel time depends on traffic, so leave some buffer in the evening rush.
If you have… here is what to do
| If you have… | Do this |
|---|---|
| One evening after the conference | Grab to Thảo Điền, a 60-minute float (last float 20:00), then dinner at Hum Garden or Chay Garden on Xuân Thủy |
| Half a day | Lunch at a cơm chay or Kashew Cheese Deli, a 90-minute float, a slow walk around Thảo Điền |
| Your last day before a late flight | Leave your bags at Ōmni (up to 4 suitcases), float, shower, then a special dinner before the airport |
When you come to Ōmni Space
Ōmni Space is at 16C Quốc Hương, Thảo Điền, open 9:00–21:00 every day, with the last float starting at 20:00. A float is 1,500,000 VND for 60 minutes or 2,000,000 VND for 90 minutes; going as two in the Couple Room is the single price plus 700,000 VND. Online booking is paid by bank transfer, and international cards are accepted at the counter; questions? Message the team or call 0326 896 369. The team behind Ōmni opened Vietnam’s first float centre, Float Vietnam, in 2017, and guests rate Ōmni 4.8 ★ across 72 Google reviews (25 October 2026). Book ahead for evening slots.
Never floated before? See what a float in Vietnam is like →
Float PlanJust landed in Saigon?Take the one-minute Float Plan quiz: tell us how you feel and what you need, and get a simple plan for your first session.Make my Float PlanFrequently asked questions
Is it easy to eat vegan in Ho Chi Minh City?
Yes. Vegetarian food is part of Vietnamese Buddhist culture, so “chay” restaurants are everywhere. Say “không thịt, không cá, không nước mắm” (no meat, no fish, no fish sauce) and ask about egg and dairy if you are vegan.
Which vegetarian Vietnamese dishes should I try?
Start with gỏi cuốn chay (fresh spring rolls with tofu), a plate of cơm chay (rice with tofu, mushrooms and greens) and the mock-meat dishes Buddhist kitchens do so well. Then try a modern plant-based menu such as Hum or Chay Garden.
Is float therapy suitable for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes. A float asks nothing of your diet. The water holds dense, mineral-rich Epsom salt, which is magnesium sulfate, a mineral. You simply lie back and rest.
Can I book a float in the evening after a conference?
Yes. Ōmni Space is open until 21:00 every day and the last float starts at 20:00. For evening slots, book ahead online.
How long does it take to get from the city centre to Thảo Điền?
It depends on traffic, so check the time in the Grab app before you book. In the evening rush, leave some buffer before your float.
Written by the team at Ōmni Space – Float Saigon in Thảo Điền. General information, not medical advice; restaurants, event details and prices checked on 4 November 2026.
Sources
- International Vegetarian Union. Vietnam opens its doors again: the International Vegetarian Conference 2026.
- Tiền Phong (16 August 2026). Lễ hội ẩm thực chay TPHCM 2026.
- MICHELIN Guide Vietnam 2026: Chay Garden.
- MICHELIN Guide Vietnam 2026: Hum Garden.
- MICHELIN Guide Vietnam 2026: Tales by Chapter.
- Chay Garden, official website.
- Hum, official website.
- Tales by Chapter, official website.
- HappyCow. Best vegan restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City, 2026.
- Kjellgren A, Westman J (2014). Beneficial effects of treatment with sensory isolation in flotation-tank as a preventive health-care intervention: a randomized controlled pilot trial. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 14: 417.
- Hilpert K, Chis Ster I (2025). Experiences and perceptions of regular floatation-REST users: results from an online survey. Journal of Clinical Images and Medical Case Reports 6(5): 3600.