Can you get vegan cao lau in Hoi An?

Several restaurants serve cao lau chay - vegan cao lau with tofu instead of pork and vegetable broth. The noodle and sauce elements remain the same. Reaching Out Tearoom is a good option, serving cao lau chay and vegan white rose dumplings for ₫60,000–100,000 ($2.40–4).

How do you ask for vegan food in Vietnamese in Hoi An?

Say 'toi an chay' (I eat Buddhist/vegetarian food), which is understood to mean no fish sauce, no meat, and no shrimp paste at Hoi An restaurants. The town's tourist concentration means staff are significantly more used to handling dietary requests than in most Vietnamese towns.

Are there vegan white rose dumplings in Hoi An?

Ask for 'banh bao vac chay' - white rose dumplings with vegetable or tofu filling instead of shrimp or pork. Not all restaurants carry the vegan version, but the White Rose Restaurant itself does.

Where are the best com chay restaurants in Hoi An?

Several permanent com chay (Buddhist vegetarian) restaurants operate daily near Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, one block from the old town. The standard buffet of 6–10 dishes over rice costs ₫25,000–50,000 ($1–2).

Vegan Food in Hoi An | The Vietnam Guides

Hoi An is one of Vietnam’s most vegan-friendly destinations. The town’s large tourist economy means many restaurants cater specifically to dietary requirements. Several Hoi An signature dishes have vegan versions.

Vegan Cao Lau

The town’s signature dish can be made vegan. Several restaurants serve cao lau with tofu instead of pork and vegetable broth. The noodle and sauce elements remain the same. Ask specifically for “cao lau chay” (vegetarian cao lau).

Reaching Out Tearoom: A specialist in inclusive food and a good option for vegan diners. Silent tea house format. Cao lau chay and white rose with tofu available. ₫60,000–100,000 ($2.40–4).

Com Chay (Buddhist vegetarian)

Hoi An’s Buddhist population supports several permanent com chay restaurants operating daily (not just on lunar calendar days). The standard buffet format - 6–10 dishes over rice - for ₫25,000–50,000 ($1–2).

Streets near Nguyen Thi Minh Khai: Several small com chay restaurants on the streets one block from the old town.

Vegan-friendly cafes

Morning Glory Restaurant (109 Nguyen Thai Hoc): One of Hoi An’s best-known restaurants has a substantial vegetarian and vegan section. ₫80,000–180,000 ($3.20–7.20) per dish.

Mango Mango Cafe: Good vegan options on the river terrace. International-oriented with clear menu labelling.

The Field Restaurant: Farm-to-table concept with strong vegetable focus. Good vegan selection.

International cafes with plant-based menus

Hoi An’s beach area and the streets near the old town have several international cafes with clear vegan menus - smoothie bowls, avocado toast, plant-based burgers. These are primarily near the An Bang beach area and Cam Nam. Prices are higher than Vietnamese street food.

White Rose Dumplings - vegan option

Ask for “banh bao vac chay” - white rose with vegetable or tofu filling instead of shrimp/pork. Not all restaurants carry the vegan version. The White Rose Restaurant itself does.

Navigating Hoi An restaurants

Hoi An’s restaurants are significantly more used to handling dietary requests than most Vietnamese towns - the tourist concentration means English menu labels and staff who understand “vegan” as a concept. The specific request “toi an chay” (I eat Buddhist/vegetarian food) is understood to mean no fish sauce, no meat, and no shrimp paste at restaurants in Hoi An.

At street stalls and market vendors, the com chay option is the safest choice for strict vegans.

Vegan eating at Hoi An market

The Hoi An Central Market (Cho Hoi An) on Tran Phu Street has a covered wet market section and an upstairs food court. The com chay section upstairs serves a Buddhist buffet on the 1st and 15th of each lunar month (and daily at some stalls). A plate of 4–6 dishes over rice costs ₫25,000–40,000 ($1–1.60) as of 2026.

Early morning market: The market opens around 05:00 with fresh vegetable vendors, tofu sellers, and rice noodle stalls. Strict vegans can buy fresh tofu and vegetables directly - useful for those cooking in accommodation with kitchen access.

Vegan cooking classes

Several of Hoi An’s cooking schools offer vegan-specific classes on request. The classes typically cover vegan versions of cao lau, white rose dumplings, and mi Quang. Most schools that run standard cooking classes can arrange a vegan session with 24 hours notice. Cost: approximately ₫350,000–600,000 ($14–24) per person as of 2026 for a half-day class including market tour, cooking, and meal. Browse Hoi An food tours and cooking classes for options with verified reviews.

Prices to expect

Type	Example	Approx cost
Com chay buffet	6 dishes over rice	₫25,000–50,000
Vegan cao lau	Single dish at Reaching Out	₫60,000–100,000
Vegan cafe meal	Morning Glory or similar	₫80,000–180,000
Market breakfast	Tofu soup or rice porridge	₫20,000–35,000

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