Snacks You Can't Miss Once You're in Vung Tau

Vung Tau lies just over 100km from the center of Ho Chi Minh City, in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province in the Southeast region. Blessed by nature with long white-sand beaches, lush landscapes and picture-perfect scenery, it draws huge numbers of visitors from all over every year.

It's not just the scenery, perfect for young people to snap their best photos; this place leaves you with plenty to miss, especially the food. Its wonderfully varied snack scene never fails to satisfy even the pickiest appetites. Here are the dishes and eateries you absolutely must visit when you're in Vung Tau.

1. Banh khot

These mini savory pancakes are one of the most famous snacks around, and not just among young people: everyone who comes to Vung Tau seeks them out.

These days, plenty of shops in Saigon sell banh khot under the name "Vung Tau banh khot", but they still can't compare with the original.

Here are a few banh khot shops to try:

- Banh Khot Goc Vu Sua: 14 Nguyen Truong To

- Banh Khot Cay Da: 21 Ly Thuong Kiet

- Banh Khot Ut Loan: 67 Ba Trieu

2. Alibaba ice cream

The Alibaba ice cream shop on Tran Phu Street is one of the busiest snack spots in Vung Tau. It's run by a tall, burly Turkish man, and every afternoon the tables fill with the chatter and laughter of young people. The ice cream is not only tempting and comes in lots of flavors, it's also very cheap, from just 10,000 to 20,000 dong a serving.

3. Snails and shellfish

If you're crazy about snails, Vung Tau is your kind of place: from the main roads to the little alleys, snail joints are everywhere. Being so close to the sea, the snails are super fresh and expertly prepared, yet far cheaper than elsewhere, with generous plates from just 20,000 dong.

Snacking on a few plates of snails with a can of beer every evening is enough to make you fall head over heels for this place.

Here are a few snail spots to try.

- Oc Noc: 105 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia

- Oc Thien Nhien 2: 254 Truong Cong Dinh

- Vung Tau Tourist Market food court: 165 Thuy Van

4. Oyster congee

Leaving out oyster congee would be a huge oversight for any visitor. Lots of places serve it these days, but for the best bowl, head to these spots:

• A small oyster congee shop on Tran Dong Street, near Khong Ten rice restaurant
• Quan Nghia: 1637 30 Thang 4 Street

Oyster congee is made with rice, oysters and herbs, so it is very nutritious. It has the delicate sweetness of oysters, with the herbs adding a lovely aroma.

5. Banh xeo

The most famous place for banh xeo (crispy Vietnamese pancakes) in Ba Ria – Vung Tau province is Long Hai. Being by the sea, most of the pancakes here are filled with seafood such as shrimp, crab and squid, giving them a flavor quite unlike any banh xeo you've had before.

Here are a few banh xeo spots to try.

- Banh Xeo Via He: Provincial Road 44, Dat Do District, Vung Tau

- Banh Xeo Le Lai: 22 Le Lai, Ward 3, Vung Tau City, Vung Tau

- Banh Xeo Cay Bang: 6A Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Vung Tau City, Vung Tau

Source: compiled