The 5 best French Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City are in my opinion, those that get all the elements correct. Choosing any favourite list of anything is both difficult and of course subjective. With food, I think it is even more so. Nobody can quite understand why we all like different things. I try to be as objective as possible, but it is always important to keep in mind that if an ingredient crops up in a dish that I don’t like, then it is the ingredient and not the chef that has caused the problem.
The food though, is but one part of many that make up a great dining experience. The decor, service, ambience and the company that you are with are all important. In Saigon we are blessed with a great number of restaurants of all kinds. The French colonial past here has meant that we have more French restaurants than probably any other, foreign cuisines. With great difficulty I managed to come up with 5 of my favourites.
So what are the best French Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City?
La Villa
Address: 14 Ngo Quang Huy, Thao Dien Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: +84 8 3898 2082
See Details
Chef Thiery Mounon and his wife, Tina Trang Pham never fail to deliver. This superb French Restaurant set in an old French Colonial Mansion in District 2 is one of the finest restaurants in the city. This is fine dining at its best, the well trained wait staff deliver fabulous food to your table with the minimum of fuss and the maximum of style. The ambience is one of a timeless French House. This is like going back to a time when etiquette was at its finest. The superb staircase is the focal point of the room, but the food is definitely the star of the show. Not just one of the best French Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City, but one of the best of any kind.
Le Bouchon de Saigon
Address: 40 Thai Van Lung, Ben Nghe Ward,District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: +84 8 3829 9263
See Details
When Chef David Colpart opened his French Restaurant in Saigon he wanted it to remind both himself and his customers of authentic French restaurants from his home. He has succeeded magnificently, Le Bouchon is one of the best restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City. The lunchtime specials are excellent as are their al la carte choices throughout the day. The restaurant has a lovely ambience and an authenticity that is hard to create without genuine experience. Chef David has worked hard to make this one of the best French Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City.
Le Jardin French Bistro
Address: 31 Thai Van Lung, Ben Nghe Ward,District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: +84 8 3825 8465
See Details
Directly opposite from Le Bouchon, you will find another firm favourite among lovers of the best French restaurants own Ho Chi Minh City. I love this place, sitting in the garden enjoying a good steak with a fine wine accompaniment, is one of the good things about life in Saigon. The menu is well thought out and the food is excellent and well presented. The ambience both inside and out is perfectly suited to the venue.
Trois Gourmand
Address: 39 Tran Ngoc, Thao Dien Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: +84 08 3744 4585
See Details
This elegant French restaurant, shop and wine cellar is another one of the great attractions of District 2. Chef Gils Brault opened up in 2004 under a previous name of Le Toit Gourmand. Superb fine French dining is brought to you by this native of a south east France The restaurant specialities list mouthwatering homemade cheeses, Goose Liver and Truffles. Gils is also an experience sommelier and this shows in the magnificent wine cellar.
Atelier des Reves
Address: 20/5 Ky Dong, District 3 Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam
Tel: +84 8 3526 1518
See Details
This was started by a young couple who brought some of their favourites from France. The ambience is modern, chic and friendly. The background music and decor suits it perfectly. The main thing, the food of course, is superb. Great choices on the rather small menu, superbly cooked and presented. This is a real winner. Located in a quiet side street of a main drag, it presents a perfect indoor and outdoor oasis of calm.
