Essential Tips for Expats to Master Vietnam’s Food Ordering Apps (Updated 2025)

The era of 4.0 has revolutionized how we live, work, and play—and ordering food is no exception. With smartphones in hand and apps at our fingertips, it’s no surprise that Vietnam’s food ordering apps have become an essential part of daily life. For expats, mastering these platforms and using them like a local can greatly enhance your experience of living in Vietnam.

Vietnam’s fast-paced urban centers, such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, are buzzing with food delivery services that offer everything from local street food to international cuisine. But while it may seem easy to tap an app and have a meal delivered to your door, understanding how to order food like a local can truly make your experience better—whether you’re craving pho, banh mi, or something a bit more international. Here are the essential tips for expats to order food like a local in Vietnam using food delivery apps in 2025.

1. Choose the Right Vietnam’s Food Ordering Apps

In Vietnam, the food delivery landscape is dominated by several popular apps. While GrabFood remains a well-known name, there are a few newer and rising stars that locals are flocking to. The top food delivery apps in Vietnam now are GrabFood, ShopeeFood, and Be (Food). Here’s a breakdown:

GrabFood: Grab continues to lead the market in Southeast Asia, offering a seamless experience for food delivery alongside their ride-hailing services. GrabFood is widely used across urban areas, and it’s highly convenient if you’re already using the Grab platform for other services.

ShopeeFood: Formerly part of the Shopee e-commerce platform, ShopeeFood has been making waves in the food delivery sector. Known for offering a wide variety of restaurants, from local favorites to international chains, ShopeeFood also attracts locals with its regular promotions and discounts.

Be (Food): A newer entry into the market, Be is a fast-growing player that’s gaining popularity for its straightforward user interface and competitive pricing. Be (Food) focuses on providing quick and reliable delivery, often with local eateries and unique food options.

To pick the best app for you, check which ones have the best coverage in your area and compare the variety of restaurants available. You might find that using multiple apps helps you access the best variety and offers.

2. Switch the Language Setting in Vietnam’s Food Ordering App

All three of the major food delivery apps in Vietnam—GrabFood, ShopeeFood, and Be (Food)—offer English as an official language. However, when you navigate the app in Vietnam, it may default back to Vietnamese, which can make the user experience a little more challenging. To make things easier, you should switch the language setting back to English when this happens.

Doing this will ensure a smoother navigation experience, making it much easier to browse menus, check out, and find your way around the app. Most apps make it easy to toggle between languages in the settings menu.

3. Understand the Menu

Vietnamese food menus can be vast and diverse, offering both familiar international dishes and local Vietnamese specialties. As an expat, it can be daunting at first to understand what’s on the menu. Fortunately, food delivery apps often categorize dishes to make navigation easier. However, some tips for ordering like a local include:

• Use Vietnamese names: Local restaurants and delivery drivers are often more familiar with the Vietnamese names of dishes. The more you learn about signature Vietnamese dishes, the easier it will be to find authentic options. To help with this, VLS offers a Survival Vietnamese course, which covers pronunciation, conversational patterns, and practical vocabulary, so you can confidently tackle everyday situations in Vietnam.
  
• Ask for recommendations: Many apps have review sections where you can see what other locals are ordering and highly recommend. You can also check the reviews for any suggestions or even ask the app’s customer service for recommendations.
  
• Keep it simple: If you want to truly experience local flavors, stick to the classics. Some must-try dishes include Bánh mì, Bún chả, Cơm tấm, and Gỏi cuốn (spring rolls). For more on Vietnamese cuisine, read further: Exploring Saigon Cuisine: A Delicious Way to Learn the Language – VLStudies
  

4. Embrace Local Payment Methods in Vietnam’s Food Ordering App

Although most food delivery apps in Vietnam accept international credit cards, locals often use mobile payment systems like MoMo or ZaloPay to settle their bills. For an authentic experience, consider linking one of these local payment methods to your account. Not only does this make transactions smoother, but it also connects you with the wider Vietnamese payment ecosystem, which can be helpful for other services, such as transportation or online shopping.

Moreover, many restaurants and food vendors may offer discounts or rewards for payments made via these local payment apps, which makes it an attractive option.

5. Be Patient: Expect Delays During Peak Hours

In Vietnam, food delivery is incredibly popular, especially during lunch and dinner hours. You may experience longer wait times during peak hours, especially on weekends or public holidays. Locals know that delivery times can be unpredictable, so they plan accordingly.

To order like a local, consider avoiding peak times or ordering ahead of time. You can also track your delivery in real time via the app, which provides an estimated delivery time and shows the location of your food along the way.

6. Customize Your Orders (When Necessary)

One of the most important things to note when ordering food in Vietnam is that many dishes come with customizable options. This is especially true for Vietnamese dishes like Bánh mì or Phở. You can specify your preferences such as:

• Extra chili or less spice
• No cilantro or extra herbs
• More or less broth for soups

This customization ensures that your food is just how you like it. The food delivery apps also allow you to add comments or special instructions to your order to make sure it fits your taste perfectly.

7. Explore Local Promotions and Discounts in Vietnam’s Food Ordering App

Just like any major city, food delivery in Vietnam is competitive. Many apps provide discounts, flash sales, and promotional codes to attract customers. To take advantage of these promotions like a local, be sure to check for:

• App-exclusive discounts: Some restaurants or delivery services will only offer discounts to users who order through the app.
• Voucher codes: These codes often pop up in the app or on social media, especially around local holidays or special events.
• Loyalty programs: Apps like GrabFood or ShopeeFood may offer points or rewards for frequent users, which can be redeemed for discounts on future orders.

By keeping an eye out for these deals, you can order food at a more affordable price—just like the locals.

8. Communication with Delivery Drivers

When communicating with your delivery driver, keep in mind that many may not speak English fluently. While most apps allow you to contact your driver through messaging, knowing some basic Vietnamese phrases can make the process smoother.

For instance, learning how to ask where they are or how to guide them to your location will help ensure you and your driver can reach each other without any hassle. If you’re unsure what to say, you can always use the app’s text feature to send instructions or ask questions.

If you’re looking to improve your Vietnamese for everyday situations, VLS offers helpful Dynamic Vietnamese courses to get you up to speed quickly.

Final Thoughts

Ordering food like a local in Vietnam is all about embracing the local food culture, understanding the delivery apps, and being mindful of the customs that come with food delivery. By selecting the right app, navigating menus in Vietnamese, customizing your orders, and staying tuned for discounts, you’ll be able to experience the best food Vietnam has to offer—right at your doorstep.

Whether you’re craving local Vietnamese street food or international dishes, the food delivery apps in Vietnam will make your life as an expat easier and more delicious. Just remember to be patient, plan ahead, and make the most of the incredible variety of food available at your fingertips. Happy ordering!