Vietnam vegetarian restaurant among top 25 in the world: Tripadvisor

Hum - Healthy Veggies Delights in Ho Chi Minh City has been voted among the world’s 25 best vegetarian restaurants by readers of Tripadvisor.

Ranked 10th on the list, the restaurant is located at 32 Vo Van Tan street in District 3. It has both indoor and outdoor seating and is capable of serving 100 customers at once.

Brown rice in lotus leaf, pineapple fried rice, and square deep-fried spring rolls are signature dishes at Hum, with prices ranging from VND100,000 to 300,000 ($4.4-13) a dish.

“The restaurant offers a cozy atmosphere with elegant design. The food is prepared on-site from fresh beans, nuts, vegetables, flowers, and fruits sourced from reputable suppliers and qualified farmers. The menu offers a variety of Vietnamese and Asian healthy cuisine dishes and is a must-visit for vegetarians and vegans,” the Tripadvisor website mentions.

Two other Hum branches in HCMC are at 2 Thi Sach street in District 1 and 32 D10 street in the Thao Dien area, which is home to the city’s largest expat community.

Chia Vegan Restaurant in Peru was voted the world’s best vegetarian restaurant, followed by Blu Bar in Spain and Time Traveller in India.

Traveler's Choice Best of the Best Restaurant awards have been decided by an algorithm that analyzes millions of reviews and ratings collected in a year from travelers around the world. “Each winner has passed our rigorous trust and safety standards,” the travel website said.

This year’s awards covered seven categories, namely fine dining, everyday eats, hidden gems, vegetarian, family-friendly, date night and quick bites.

In the fine-dining restaurant category, two Hanoi restaurants, The Rhythms and Cloud Nine, were featured in Asia’s top 25.

Located on the 7th floor of a building on Hang Dau street in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, The Rhythms focuses on traditional Vietnamese cuisine. Cloud Nine on the 9th floor of the La Siesta Premium Hotel on Hang Be street serves international cuisine. It’s Indochina-style architecture is a special feature of the restaurant.

“Some countries have strong cultural or religious traditions that promote vegetarianism such as India while other countries have secular ethical concerns, including animal rights, environmental protection, and health concerns,” the Tripadvisor report said.

Vegetarianism is becoming increasingly popular in Vietnam, with an estimated 10% of its population following a vegetarian diet.

The top rating for a vegetarian restaurant is the latest feather in the cap for Vietnamese cuisine whose reputation has grown in recent times.

Last June, four Vietnamese restaurants - Hibana by Koki, Gia and Tam Vi in Hanoi and Anăn Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City - were recognized with one Michelin Star for the first time for the high-quality cooking and outstanding culinary experience they offer.