Many popular restaurants and hotels in Ho Chi Minh City are offering lavish vegetarian buffets and a la carte selections throughout the first lunar month of 2014.

Vinh Nghiem Vegetarian Restaurant on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street in District 3, is a vegetarian buffet pioneer. It serves more than 400 different vegetarian dishes featuring natural produce and minimising oil in the interests of diner health.

Co Noi Vegetarian Restaurant on Hai Ba Trung Street in District 1 has become a popular address for local vegetarians, offering lunch and dinner buffets priced at the very reasonable 159,000 VND and 169,000 VND per person respectively.

Those who want to enjoy northern vegetarian specialties, they should come to La Tia To Restaurant in Phu Nhuan. The restaurant now provides such dishes on the 1st and 15th days of every lunar month.

The city’s budget restaurants, tailored to the city’s students, labourers, and office staff, also expand their vegetarian options, available for only 20,000 VND per set.

According to the city’s agricultural wholesale market management board, fruit and vegetable prices tend to drop after the Lunar New Year festival, a trend very much appreciated by local vegetarians.

A recent market survey showed a diverse variety of vegetarian food—both fresh and frozen—is widely available. Famous brands such as Au Lac Company, Cau Tre, Vissan, and SG Food can be purchased at supermarkets, shops, and traditional markets across the city.-VNA