In Ho Chi Minh city, vegetarian cuisine, which is rooted in traditional Buddhist culture, is now becoming established in urban life, driven by health consciousness and tourism needs. Once a part of religious diet, vegetarianism has now expanded into a social phenomenon that has made Ho Chi Minh City the “vegetarian capital.”

根植于佛教文化的日常饮食与健康意识一起传播

Buddhism has been prevalent in Vietnam for a long time, making up approximately 14% of the population. Traditionally, vegetarian meals in Vietnam were prepared for religious occasions, memorial days, or designated ‘vegetarian days’ each month. However, in recent years, this practice has evolved in daily life, driven by rising living standards and increasing awareness of health and wellness. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a style of avoiding animal products has been spreading, especially among younger generations[1], as a diet that is “kind to the body” and “conscious of immunity.”[2]

2024 年 2 月进行的一项调查 Statista（针对 2,757 名 16 岁及以上人群）发现，约有 86% 人吃过素食，其中 44% 人每周吃几次素食.[3] 这证实了素食主义不仅作为一种宗教而传播，而且作为一种生活方式而传播。

餐饮业在全国范围内扩张，胡志明市在质量和多样性方面领先

据餐厅信息网站 全国 64 个省市中，有 51 个省市设有美食素食餐厅（截至 2024 年 5 月），渗透率接近 80%[4]. Ho Chi Minh City is at the center of this trend. The city is home to a wide variety of vegetarian restaurants, from food stalls and home cooking to high-end restaurants, and the quality of its food is internationally recognized. In 2016, Ho Chi Minh City was ranked 9th in the “World’s Most Vegetarian-Friendly Cities” selected by the US animal protection organization PETA [5]。 此外， Hum Vegetarian 被评选为素食类别全球前 25 名之一 Tripadvisor‘s “Travelers’ Choice Awards 2021,” and is ranked 10th in 2023.

[图一] 素食餐厅数量（%：2024家）

100%= 2,737 家商店

来源：Foody

其作为旅游资源的潜力也在不断扩大

过去，素食旅游常常因缺乏选择而被人们所回避，但近年来情况正在发生改变。据素食社区网站 快乐牛，预计外国素食餐厅数量将从2022年的约1,400家增加约35%至2024年的约1,894家，参与活动的餐厅也正在推出送餐服务。

然而，同样从事旅游业的“探索越南旅游”指出，现有约70%家门店规模较小，在接待团体游客方面存在局限性。基础设施建设将成为旅游业产业化未来面临的挑战。