Vietnamese Seafood: Must-Try 12 Seafood Dishes & Best Places To Eat In Vietnam
| ReviewDoes Vietnam have good seafood?
Yes, Vietnam offers one of the freshest, richest, and most diverse sources of Vietnamese seafood in the world. The combination of warm tropical waters and a highly diverse marine ecosystem creates an abundant supply of high-quality seafood.
Popular seafood in Vietnam includes lobster, crab, shrimp, blue swimmer crab, squid, oysters, sea snails, sea urchins, and various fish such as mahi-mahi, mackerel, red snapper, and basa fish.
These ingredients are widely used everywhere, from street-side seafood stalls to high-end restaurants. Vietnamese chefs focus on enhancing natural flavors using fresh herbs, lime, chili, and traditional fish sauce. As a result, Vietnamese seafood dishes are often light, naturally sweet, savory, and rich in flavor, making them appealing to a wide range of palates.
Top 12 Vietnamese Seafood Dishes You Must Try
Grilled Lobster (Tôm Hùm Nướng)
Popular in: Central Vietnam (Nha Trang, Binh Hung Island, Whale Island, Phu Yen, and Ninh tnam (Ca Mau and Ho Chi Minh City).
Meaty mud crabs are stir-fried in a thick, tangy tamarind sauce that balances sweet, savory, and mildly spicy flavors. It pairs especially well with crispy Vietnamese baguettes.
Typical price: 350,000–800,000 VND per crab.
Tamarind Crab (Cua Rang Me)
Popular in: Southern Vietnam (Ca Mau, Ho Chi Minh City)
Mud crabs are stir-fried in a rich tamarind sauce that balances sweet, sour, and mildly spicy flavors. This dish is often enjoyed with Vietnamese baguette.
Typical price: 350,000–800,000 VND per crab
Vietnamese Seafood Hot Pot (Lẩu Hải Sản)
Popular throughout Vietnam, with regional variations in broth: miền Bắc thanh nhẹ; miền Trung cay nồng; miền Nam thiên vị chua ngọt như lẩu Thái hoặc lẩu mắm.
This communal dish features a fragrant broth infused with lemongrass, tomatoes, pineapple, and chili, served with shrimp, squid, fish, clams, and seasonal vegetables for guests to cook at the table.
Typical price: 300,000 – 700,000 VND per pot (serves 2–4 people).
Jellyfish Salad (Gỏi Sứa)
Popular in: Central and Northern Vietnam (Nha Trang, Quy Nhon, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh).
Crunchy jellyfish is mixed with green mango, carrots, fresh herbs, roasted peanuts, and a light sweet-and-sour dressing, creating a refreshing appetizer.
Typical price: 80,000–180,000 VND per plate.
Grilled Oysters with Cheese (Hàu Nướng Phô Mai)
Popular throughout Vietnam.
Fresh oysters are topped with creamy cheese before being grilled over charcoal until bubbling and golden.
Typical price: 25,000–50,000 VND per oyster, or 120,000–250,000 VND per serving.
Crab Tapioca Noodle Soup (Bánh Canh Cua)
Popular in: Ho Chi Minh City and parts of Central Vietnam.
This comforting noodle soup combines chewy tapioca noodles with a rich crab broth, topped generously with crab meat, quail eggs, pork sausage, and crispy shallots.
Typical price: 70,000–150,000 VND per bowl.
Fish Noodle Soup (Bún Cá)
Popular in: Northern Vietnam (Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Hanoi) and Central Vietnam (Nha Trang and Quy Nhon).
Rice vermicelli is served with fish cakes or fresh fish in a light broth flavored with tomatoes, pineapple, dill, and herbs.
Typical price: 40,000–90,000 VND per bowl.
Seafood Fried Rice (Cơm Chiên Hải Sản)
Popular throughout Vietnam, especially in coastal restaurants.
Wok-fried jasmine rice is tossed with shrimp, squid, vegetables, and eggs, creating a satisfying meal suitable for lunch or dinner.
Typical price: 80,000–180,000 VND per plate.
Grilled Sea Urchin with Spring Onion Oil (Nhum Nướng Mỡ Hành)
Popular in: Central Vietnam (Nha Trang, Da Nang, Ly Son) and Southern Vietnam (Phu Quoc and Con Dao).
Fresh sea urchins are topped with fragrant spring onion oil and roasted peanuts before being grilled over charcoal. The creamy roe develops a rich, buttery flavor with a subtle sweetness from the sea.
Typical price: 40,000–100,000 VND per sea urchin.
Caramelized Mackerel in Clay Pot (Cá Thu Kho Tộ)
Popular throughout Vietnam, commonly found in local family restaurants.
Fresh mackerel steaks are slowly braised in a clay pot with fish sauce, sugar, black pepper, and caramel until the sauce becomes thick and glossy.
Typical price: 120,000–280,000 VND per serving.
Salted Egg Sea Snails (Ốc Hương Trứng Muối)
Popular in: Coastal cities across Northern, Central, and Southern Vietnam.
Sweet sea snails are stir-fried in a rich salted egg yolk sauce that coats every shell with a creamy, savory finish.
Typical price: 180,000–350,000 VND per plate.
One-Sun-Dried Squid (Mực Một Nắng)
Popular in: Central Vietnam (Nha Trang, Da Nang, Phan Thiet) and Northern Vietnam (Quang Ninh and Co To Island).
Squid is dried under the sun for a single day before being grilled over charcoal and served with chili sauce. The process concentrates the squid’s natural sweetness while preserving its tender texture.
Typical price: 250,000–500,000 VND per plate, depending on the squid size.
Where to find the best Vietnamese seafood restaurant
Vietnam’s coastline is dotted with excellent seafood destinations. Here are some well-known restaurants where visitors can explore local Vietnamese seafood dishes.
Nha Trang
One of the country’s best-known coastal cities, Nha Trang offers everything from casual seafood eateries to upscale waterfront restaurants.
| Restaurant | Address | Average Price | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Seafood | 32–34 Tran Phu Street | 400,000–1,000,000 VND/person | Live seafood tanks, lobster, grouper, premium shellfish, beachfront setting |
| Ngoc Trai Seafood Restaurant | 97 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street | 300,000–800,000 VND/person | Local seafood, grilled lobster, tamarind crab, seafood hot pot |
| Lang Bien Restaurant (Xom Moi Garden) | 144 Vo Tru Street | 250,000–600,000 VND/person | Fresh local seafood in a modern Vietnamese dining complex |
Phu Quoc
Surrounded by the Gulf of Thailand, Phu Quoc is famous for fresh crab, sea urchins, herring salad, and grilled shellfish.
| Restaurant | Address | Average Price | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xin Chao Seafood Restaurant | 66 Tran Hung Dao Street | 250,000–600,000 VND/person | Sunset views, grilled seafood, herring salad, sea urchins |
| Ra Khoi Seafood Restaurant | 131 30/4 Street | 200,000–500,000 VND/person | Local seafood at reasonable prices |
| Cat Bien Seafood Restaurant | 40 30/4 Street | 200,000–500,000 VND/person | Popular with locals, fresh crab, squid, grilled fish |
Da Nang
Da Nang combines fresh seafood with a vibrant dining scene overlooking My Khe Beach.
| Restaurant | Address | Average Price | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| My Hanh Seafood | 3–5 Vo Nguyen Giap Street | 300,000–700,000 VND/person | Beachfront dining, mantis shrimp, mud crab, live seafood tanks |
| Be Man Seafood | Lot 11 Vo Nguyen Giap Street | 150,000–300,000 VND/person | Fresh seafood selected directly from live tanks |
| Brilliant Seafood | 178 Ho Nghinh Street | 500,000–1,500,000 VND/person | Premium seafood, modern dining space, wide shellfish selection |
Ha Long
Ha Long Bay is well known for oysters, mantis shrimp, squid, and other shellfish harvested from the bay.
| Restaurant | Address | Average Price | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Hanh Restaurant | 50 Ha Long Street, Bai Chay | 300,000–700,000 VND/person | Established restaurant, fresh oysters, mantis shrimp, steamed grouper |
| Cua Vang Restaurant | Cai Dam, Bai Chay | 300,000–800,000 VND/person | Horseshoe crab, grilled oysters, king crab, seafood hot pot, large group seating |
| Phuong Nam Restaurant | Do Si Hoa Street, Bai Chay | 250,000–600,000 VND/person | Fresh Ha Long Bay seafood, traditional Vietnamese seafood dishes, relaxed setting |
Hanoi
Although Hanoi is not a coastal city, it is home to many excellent seafood restaurants that source fresh seafood daily from Vietnam’s coastal provinces.
| Restaurant | Address | Average Price | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Gioi Hai San (Seafood World) | 60 Vu Trong Khanh Street, Ha Dong District (multiple branches) | 400,000–900,000 VND/person | Live seafood tanks, premium shellfish, elegant dining, ideal for families and business meals |
| Hai San Pho | 48 Lieu Giai Street, Ba Dinh District | 350,000–800,000 VND/person | Lobster, king crab, abalone, and a wide selection of premium seafood |
| Bay Seafood Buffet | 14 Tong Dan Street, Hoan Kiem District | 500,000–900,000 VND/person | Extensive seafood buffet featuring oysters, crab, shrimp, sashimi, and grilled specialties |
Ho Chi Minh City
As Vietnam’s largest culinary hub, Ho Chi Minh City offers a wide range of seafood Vietnamese restaurants, from casual local eateries to upscale dining venues serving fresh seafood from across the country.
| Restaurant | Address | Average Price | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ran Bien Seafood Restaurant | 30 Nguyen Khoa Chiem Street, Tan Binh District | 300,000–700,000 VND/person | Live seafood, private dining rooms, extensive Vietnamese seafood menu |
| Oc Dao Seafood | 212B/C Nguyen Trai Street, District 1 | 150,000–350,000 VND/person | Popular local seafood, snails, crab, shrimp, and signature Vietnamese sauces |
| Giang Ghe Seafood Restaurant | 680 Truong Sa Street, Phu Nhuan District (multiple branches) | 350,000–800,000 VND/person | Fresh crab, lobster, blue swimming crab, and seafood cooked to order |
4 Criteria for Choosing a Trustworthy Seafood Restaurant
- Live seafood tanks: Restaurants with live seafood display tanks are generally more reliable, as they keep seafood fresh and visibly alive before cooking.
- Price per kilogram: In many seafood restaurants, prices are calculated by weight. Always confirm the price per kilogram before ordering.
- Location near ports or fishing docks: The freshest seafood is usually found close to where it is caught, such as near ports, harbors, or fishing villages.
- Check online reviews, but read beyond the rating: Platforms such as Google Maps and TripAdvisor can be useful, but reading recent reviews provides a better understanding of food quality, service, and pricing.
Seafood Dining Tastes Better At Whale Island
If you are looking to enjoy some of the fresh seafood in Vietnam in a remote island, Whale Island Resort, located in Van Phong Bay (Khanh Hoa), is an ideal destination.
Fresh seafood caught daily
Local fishermen head out to sea early every morning and bring back fresh seafood within the same day. Lobster, squid, blue swimming crab, and various types of reef fish are prepared immediately after being caught, without any freezing process, helping preserve their natural flavor and texture.
Dinner on secluded island
Whale Island Resort, located on Hon Ong Island in Van Phong Bay, offers fresh seafood meals inspired by authentic local flavors. Seafood is sourced directly from fishermen in the bay and prepared using simple recipes with minimal seasoning to highlight its natural taste. Dining here takes place by the sea, accompanied by the sound of waves and candlelight, creating a quiet and memorable evening experience.
Best season for seafood in Van Phong Bay
- March – August: Calm sea conditions allow fishermen to go out regularly, resulting in a wider variety of fresh seafood.
- September – November: Rainy season with occasional rough seas; seafood availability may be lower, but prices are often more affordable.
- December – February: Cooler and pleasant weather, suitable for relaxed coastal travel and island stThuan).
Vietnam is one of the most attractive destinations for Vietnamese sea food, offering a wide range of flavors across its coastal regions.
From street food to coastal restaurants, seafood Vietnam reflects both tradition and local ingredients.
Whether you are exploring cities or looking for a seafood Vietnamese restaurant, Vietnam offers many choices for every traveler.
For those seeking the best seafood in Vietnam, coastal destinations like Nha Trang, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Ha Long, and Quy Nhon are ideal starting points.
FAQ
What are popular seafood dishes in Vietnam?
Popular Vietnamese seafood dishes include grilled lobster, tamarind crab, seafood hot pot, jellyfish salad, grilled oysters with cheese, and one-sun-dried squid.
Does Vietnam have good seafood?
Yes, Vietnam offers some of the finest, freshest, and most diverse seafood in the world thanks to its long coastline and rich marine ecosystems.
What are the top Vietnamese seafood dishes to try?
Top choices include grilled lobster, crab in tamarind sauce, seafood hot pot, grilled sea urchin, fish noodle soup, and salted egg sea snails.
Where can I find a good seafood Vietnamese restaurant?
You can find great seafood Vietnamese restaurants in coastal cities such as Nha Trang, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Ha Long, and Quy Nhon.
What makes Vietnamese seafood special?
Vietnamese seafood is known for its freshness and simple cooking style that enhances natural flavors using herbs, lime, chili, and fish sauce.
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