Nhà hàng chay Phạm Nghiêm Trai - Bongensai Vegetarian

Located on a small street in a central area popular with expatriates, the restaurant offers a peaceful, airy atmosphere filled with greenery. A distinctive feature of Pham Nghiem Trai is its combination of vegetarian dining and a small exhibition space showcasing Buddha statues from across Asia and Southeast Asia. It is understood to be part of a chain of vegetarian restaurants in Saigon. While the food may not be extraordinary, it suits general tastes. Dining here offers a novel experience, accompanied by the distinctive sounds of the *tỳ bà* (Chinese lute). The ambiance feels refreshingly cool—a welcome respite amidst the heat of summer in Vietnam’s most bustling and vibrant city.

On the further inner part where the stairs are, there are a bunch of beautiful Buddhist statues. They're lovely but it does feel a little awkward to sit and eat amongst all of them since I usually don't eat in close vicinity. They're kind and patient and do their best to serve. The food was relatively good and I liked it. My only critique is the sushi rice for the nigiri is dense :') The rice doesn't feel "fluffy" and feels squished. The other great part about this place is there's an upstairs portion where they give you a mini tour of all the Deity statues they have. I'm not sure if they're able to do it in English but they essentially will tell you about the deities you don't know and say where some statues come from. We aren't allowed to take pictures or videos though. It was a nice learning experience!

Beautiful Restaurant with attentive and polite staff. You sit on the floor at low tables. If you get the buffet option (350k/pp) you can order freely from the menu and get everything that sounds good. Just ask for smaller portions of everything so you can try more things. The food is delishious and beautifully presented. Seems very popular so if you want to eat during dinner time it would be wise to get an reservation. Also got some live traditional music om the evening. I wholeheartedly recommend this vegetarian place.

When we got over the initial confusion regarding how the buffe worked we had a truly wonderful meal. The staff was friendly and spoke good english, the food was superb and the dining area is very beautiful. It is a bit pricey by vietnamese standards but well worth it.

I visited Bongensai, a Japanese vegetarian restaurant,in late December 2024 and had a pleasant experience. The menu is extensive, offering a wide variety of delicious vegetarian dishes that are both palatable and presentable. The zen setting of the restaurant is peaceful and beautifully designed, with several Buddha statues adding to the serene atmosphere. The prices are very reasonable, which makes it even more enjoyable. There's also a charming little shop on-site that sells traditional clothing, which is a nice touch if you're interested in souvenirs or something unique. The food was good, though I do feel that the dessert could use a little improvement. Still, overall, I left quite happy with my visit and will be returning if i am in HCM. If you are looking for a zen and flavorful dining experience Bongensai is worth a try.