Pho Vietnam Ho Chi Minh: Michelin Clay Pot Pho (2026)

Near Ho Chi Minh City's bustling Ben Thanh Market, you'll find a renowned pho restaurant called Phở Việt Nam. A friend recommended it to me, and it's so famous that if you're planning a trip to Ho Chi Minh, you've probably heard of it more than once while searching for the best local eateries.

Phở Việt Nam

14 Phạm Hồng Thái, Bến Thành, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

Operating Hours

Daily 06:00 AM ~ 03:00 AM

Phở Việt Nam Location

Phở Việt Nam is just a quick 5-minute walk from Ben Thanh Market in District 1. Right next door, you'll notice a vibrant scene with many locals gathered at a popular cafe, a true hotspot for younger crowds. My friend and I tried it one evening, but the seating consisted of small plastic stools, which felt like squatting, and my back started aching after about 30 minutes!

Phở Việt Nam is renowned for its clay pot pho. It's a Michelin-recognized spot year after year, attracting many international visitors. I loved it so much, I visited twice!

Interior

The entire building is dedicated to the restaurant, so there's plenty of seating. The food comes out incredibly fast, and with a high turnover rate, you'll rarely encounter a long wait. Plus, they're open 21 hours a day, from 6:00 AM to 3:00 AM, making it a perfect spot for a delicious meal almost anytime.

They even have an identical Phở Việt Nam restaurant right next door! If one side is full, they'll direct you to the other.

Menu

Let's take a look at the Phở Việt Nam menu. You'll want to focus on the items in the top left section. If it's your first time, I highly recommend ordering from the Wagyu Beef series. If you prefer a simpler, pre-mixed bowl, any of their regular pho options are a safe bet – you can't go wrong!

Since it's an air-conditioned indoor restaurant, the prices are a bit higher than what you'd find at a typical street-side pho stall. However, at around 100,000 to 160,000 VND, which translates to approximately $4-$6 USD, it's still incredibly affordable. They don't provide complimentary water, so it's a good idea to order a beverage along with your meal.

On my first visit, I was seated on the second floor. It was fascinating to watch the highly organized system as dishes were prepared and served efficiently.

They provide bean sprouts, some fresh herbs, and a long, hollow bread as standard sides. It reminded me of the puffy, somewhat bland bread I've had in China or Taiwan. It was quite hard and didn't have much flavor, so I skipped it after one bite.

When the clay pot pho arrived, I was initially a bit underwhelmed. It didn't look as impressive as I had imagined, but looks can be deceiving!

The pho noodles, meat, green onions, and cilantro are all served separately. The noodles were a bit thicker than typical pho noodles, and the quality of the meat looked exceptionally good. While shabu-shabu meat usually has minimal marbling, the Wagyu beef at Phở Việt Nam was so well-marbled, it looked like it would be delicious grilled.

Eating pho plain is good, but if you visit Vietnam often, you start craving more intense, authentic local flavors. These days, I love to load my pho with plenty of sliced garlic and chili peppers for a spicy kick. Try it as-is for the first half, then experiment with the various condiments to discover your preferred taste!

I quickly added the meat to the boiling broth, cooking it shabu-shabu style. As expected, it was incredibly tender.

Lost in the deliciousness, I then added the chili peppers and garlic! It was absolutely fantastic. It cut through any richness and delivered a spicy kick that was even more intense than what I'd typically find back home. I finished the entire bowl, feeling the satisfying heat!

That was my experience at Phở Việt Nam, the Michelin-recognized clay pot pho spot near Ho Chi Minh's Ben Thanh Market. I've never heard anyone say they didn't enjoy their meal here. With virtually no waiting, quick service, and a rich, savory broth that tastes like a hearty bone broth, you absolutely must try their delicious shabu-shabu style pho.