Vegetarian Eating in Vietnam Didn’t Suddenly Take Off

Source: Hungry Again (blog) “Vietnam didn’t suddenly “go vegan”. Here’s what’s actually changing” (Ha Nguyen, Jan. 12, 2026; original in English)

Inside a vegetarian eatery near a temple in Cam Lộ, Vietnam — The interior of a vegetarian eatery next to a temple in Cam Lộ, Vietnam. Photo: Phương Huy / CC0 1.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Summary

It argues vegetarian eating in Vietnam is not new and is spreading naturally beyond religious occasions into daily life.
The shift is framed less as ideological conversion than as lifestyle change, such as health concerns and easier access to information.
The roots are in Buddhist practice, tied to compassion, certain lunar days and prayer. Temple kitchens developed techniques for satisfying meals rather than meat substitutes.
On numbers, it gives the plant-based market as about US$103–112 million in 2024, projected to exceed US$220 million by 2033; 45% of consumers eat vegetarian meals several times a week; and 72–80% say they would pay more for sustainable products.
It adds that rice-centered meals are easy to make vegetarian by simply removing the meat.

A plate of rice topped with tofu and vegetables at a vegetarian eatery in Vietnam — A plate of rice with tofu and vegetable dishes served at a vegetarian eatery in Cam Lộ, Vietnam. Photo: Phương Huy / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Editors’ comment

The point that temple kitchens nurtured plant-based techniques connects with the thinking behind shojin ryori (What Is Shojin Ryori?).

However, this is a personal blog, and the sources of the market-size and percentage figures could not be confirmed from our summary. We do not cite them as fact; we only report that the article says so. Please check the original.

* This page is the editors’ summary of the article above, with our commentary. Please check the original for details and exact figures.