As night falls, the plastic stools lining both sides of Vĩnh Khánh Street in District 4 fill up completely — tables covered with ginger-scallion stir-fried blood cockles, spicy-sour tossed sea snails, and freshly grilled scallops, all washed down with a round of ice-cold beer. This is Ho Chi Minh City's most authentic nighttime street food culture. Vietnam's official tourism website notes that a single shop in this area can serve up to twenty different ways of preparing snails, and nearly 90 stalls line the street, all doing the same thing: keeping you snacking on snails all night long.
What is Vietnamese ốc?
Ốc broadly refers to all kinds of snails and shellfish, and it's the centerpiece of southern Vietnam's evening drinking-snack culture. Preparations range widely — ginger-scallion stir-fry, spicy-sour toss, garlic grill, salt-and-pepper fry, and more — and a single table will often order several different kinds to try in rotation. It's the standard backdrop for friends catching up or unwinding after work over drinks.
This nighttime snail-and-beer culture is noticeably different from Hanoi's night market scene, where grilled skewers and stir-fries dominate late-night eats. Ho Chi Minh City instead centers around snails and shellfish, and Vĩnh Khánh Street in District 4 is the most concentrated landmark of this culture.
How to eat it like a local
Anchor restaurant and other classics
The anchor restaurant, Ốc Oanh, has been on Vĩnh Khánh's snail street for nearly 20 years and was added to the Michelin Guide's Selected list in 2023. It's the most-cited, longest-running name on the whole street — but with close to 90 stalls each having their own loyal following, this is a case where the category matters more than any single shop.
If Ốc Oanh is full, just walk a few steps north or south along Vĩnh Khánh Street and you'll find equally popular stalls — there's no need to fixate on one particular shop. Soaking up the buzz of the whole street is really the point.
Practical info
Prices and hours (verified July 2026)
- Most items are priced by weight or portion on the spot; average spend per person runs about 200,000–400,000 VND (roughly NT$244–488). Lobster or premium snail dishes can run 700,000–1,000,000 VND (roughly NT$854–1,220) per order.
- Most stalls open around 1pm and stay open into the early morning, with the liveliest hours after 7–8pm — a good fit for a late dinner or after-dinner snack outing.
Local know-how
- One phrase to order: "Cho tôi một dĩa ốc len xào dừa" (One plate of coconut-fried snails, please).
- With so many stalls and prices that vary, ask how the pricing works (by weight or by portion) before ordering to avoid surprises at checkout.
- Seating is mostly outdoors on the street, so keep an eye on the forecast if you're visiting during rainy season.
Compiled from Vietnam's official tourism website, the Michelin Guide, and local media like VnExpress. Price ranges are based on information verified in July 2026, and will vary by the day's weight and selection.