4 Best Restaurants in My Tho, Mekong Delta

The setting of this charming vegan restaurant, which helps support the nearby Vinh Trang pagoda, is basic but pleasant with a tangle of potted plants. Service is not the fastest, but the food is truly delicious. Don't be fooled by the English menu that lists meat dishes, this is a strictly vegan place and they are made with imitation, soy-based "meats." The house specialty is the vegan Thai-style sour-and-spicy hotpot (lau Thai Lan); the braised vegetables in claypot (rau cu kho) is also a stand-out dish.

Usually packed with locals, this big eating hall with metal tables and plastic stools is the best place in town to order hu tieu My Tho, a noodle soup that's the specialty of My Tho. The staff don't speak much English but the food more than makes up for any challenges with ordering. The menu, printed on the walls, is simple: hu tieu (rice-noodle soup), banh canh (rice-and-tapioca noodle soup), bot nui (rice-macaroni soup), and hoan thanh (pork wonton soup). There are different prices for hu tieu: thit (pork), xuong (pork knuckle), muc tuoi (fresh squid) and tom tuoi (fresh shrimp).

This garden restaurant is popular with locals. The specialty is whole chicken (including the head and feet), but if that's too adventurous, you can choose a beef, pigeon, or pork dish.