Cuu Van Long Ho Chi Minh Review: Affordable Seafood Buffet

Planning a trip to Ho Chi Minh City in 2026 and craving an incredible seafood feast without breaking the bank? Look no further than Cuu Van Long, a fantastic value-for-money seafood buffet located right in the iconic Bitexco Financial Tower. My friend and I snagged an 8 PM reservation recently and spent two glorious hours indulging in a wide array of seafood, meats, and fried delights. For around ~$26 per person, it’s an unbeatable deal!

Cuu Van Long Premium buffet

Bitexco Financial Tower, 2 Đ. Hải Triều, Sài Gòn, Hồ Chí Minh 71000 Vietnam

Operating Hours

Daily 11:00 AM ~ 2:00 PM

5:30 PM ~ 10:00 PM

Cuu Van Long Location

Finding Cuu Van Long is easy! If you're facing the Bitexco Tower, you’ll spot a Starbucks right at the front. Head to the right side of the building to enter, then take the escalator or elevator up to the 5th floor where the buffet awaits.

My friend managed our reservation by phone, though she mentioned the staff seemed a little flustered by English and had to pass the phone to another colleague! We went on a weekday evening around 8 PM, and the restaurant was quite spacious with plenty of open tables. While I can't speak for weekends, you probably won't need a reservation for a weekday visit.

The cost was approximately ~$26 per person, which is fantastic value for the spread you get. You pay upfront, then simply find your table and dive into the buffet at your leisure. It’s a straightforward and enjoyable system!

Recommended Dishes

The variety here is truly impressive! I recommend starting with a little bit of everything to find your favorites, then zeroing in on those for round two (or three!).

The sushi and sashimi are definitely above average. My only minor critique is that most of the sushi rolls come with a generous topping of sauce or dressing, which can be a bit much if you prefer simpler flavors.

Their selection of fried foods is also quite decent.

Now for the oysters and clams! While I usually prefer my oysters steamed plain to really savor their natural taste, these came topped with cheese and green onions. I still grabbed a few oysters, but passed on the clams.

You'll also find various noodle dishes like Bun Cha and Pho. There seemed to be many options and customization requests, which made ordering a bit daunting for me, so I decided to skip them this time.

Prepare for a delightful surprise at the beef steak station! Typically, buffet beef can be a bit tough, and I usually avoid it. But at Cuu Van Long, you hand over your plate, and they grill the beef right in front of you. I was absolutely blown away by how tender and delicious it was – seriously, it’s the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time)! Make sure to go back for seconds and thirds; they serve about three pieces at a time.

Once you’ve had your fill of the "cleaner" dishes, it’s time to tackle the crabs and squid! Just a heads-up: they don't provide complimentary water, which was a slight downside. We ordered two cans of Coke from a staff member, which cost us about ~$3.

There were two types of crab available. I watched to see which ones the locals preferred and noticed everyone gravitated towards the crab on the right. Naturally, I followed suit and grabbed some of those!

Plastic gloves are provided at your table, and if you motion to a staff member, they’ll bring over a sturdy cracker tool for the crab legs. You can crack open the larger legs with this tool to extract the meat. Don't bother with the smaller legs or the body's internal organs, as there's usually not much to them.

They also serve whole boiled squid, which was quite good and easy to eat – no need for cutting, just grab and enjoy! Unfortunately, the shrimp were a bit disappointing; they had large heads but very little meat in the body, a classic case of 'all head, no meat!'

And to wrap up your feast, there's a selection of fresh fruit and ice cream for dessert!

So, if you're looking for an affordable seafood buffet in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1, specifically at Bitexco Tower, Cuu Van Long is definitely worth considering. Focus on the beef, oysters, sashimi, sushi, and crab, and you’ll certainly get your money's worth. While it might not be Michelin-star quality, it’s a fantastic spot to fill up on a delicious variety of food without breaking the bank. Don't miss it if you have the chance!