What street food should I look for in Tuy Hoa?
Tuy Hoa's best street food: bun sua (jellyfish noodle soup, 25–40k VND) at Cho Tuy Hoa from 5:30am; banh canh he (thick noodle soup with chives, 25k VND) at market stalls; banh trang nuong (grilled sesame rice paper) in the evening; and goi ca mai (raw fish salad, 50–80k VND) near the fishing pier. Most disappear before noon. The evening food strip is on Tran Hung Dao street.
Tuy Hoa’s street food scene operates on a fishing town schedule: early mornings, fast service, gone before the day heats up.
Morning (5:30–9am)
Bun sua (jellyfish noodle soup): Start here if you can manage an early wake-up. Cho Tuy Hoa market has several stalls selling rice vermicelli in clear broth with freshly prepared jellyfish. The jellyfish is firm and clean-tasting, and the broth is light — a good first meal before a day of driving. Cost: 25,000–40,000 VND. Gone by 8am most days.
Banh canh he: Thick rice noodles in savory broth with garlic chives stirred through before serving. The chives are the distinguishing element — they add a mild, slightly sharp note to the soup that’s different from anything with scallion or spring onion. This is a Phu Yen specialty that’s hard to find elsewhere. Cost: 25,000 VND.
Bun ca (fish noodle soup): A broader option available across the market — rice vermicelli with grilled fish and a clear tomato-tinged broth. Several stalls serve it. More filling than bun sua. Cost: 30,000–45,000 VND.
Goi ca mai (raw fish salad): Found near the fishing pier area (Dong Tac pier, east of center). See the separate question on this dish for details. Cost: 50,000–80,000 VND.
Midday
The morning vendors close down around 9–10am. A gap in street food follows. Restaurants around the market and along the main streets serve standard Vietnamese lunch dishes (com tam, com phan, bun bo).
Evening (5pm–10pm)
Banh trang nuong (grilled sesame rice paper): Flat rice paper rounds with sesame seeds, grilled over charcoal until crispy. Eaten as a snack with drinks or as part of a larger seafood meal. Available from vendors on Tran Hung Dao street and at beer joints near the water.
Grilled seafood (hai san nuong): Small restaurants near the coast and along Tran Hung Dao serve grilled fish, squid, and shellfish from evening onward. Oc nhay (jumping snails) is common at these spots — see the separate question.
Sweet soups (che): Several che vendors set up in the evening near the central market area. Che bap (corn sweet soup), che dau xanh (mung bean), and other versions are served cold or warm.
What to avoid
Generic “pho and com” tourist restaurants in the city center will serve you a fine meal but won’t show you anything specific to Tuy Hoa. The market and pier areas will.