Opening a Food Truck in HCMC (?)

The only thought I have on this is that if it could be done somebody in a city of 12,000,000 people would be doing it already.  There must be some barrier for entry for foriegners if even locals aren't doing already.  It may be as simple as because nobody has done it the government may frown on it becuase it's different.  I don't know.

SteinNebraska wrote:

The only thought I have on this is that if it could be done somebody in a city of 12,000,000 people would be doing it already.  There must be some barrier for entry for foriegners if even locals aren't doing already.  It may be as simple as because nobody has done it the government may frown on it becuase it's different.  I don't know.

Here in VT there are about 10 of the operating. One stsrted, then BAM, the rest followed.

SteinNebraska wrote:

The only thought I have on this is that if it could be done somebody in a city of 12,000,000 people would be doing it already.  There must be some barrier for entry for foriegners if even locals aren't doing already.  It may be as simple as because nobody has done it the government may frown on it becuase it's different.  I don't know.

Its true to take into account whether it has been done before or people are doing it already. Still, this is the way businesses are built, doing what noone else does. If not, we would still be riding horses and talking through dumbphones. So, I would encourage you to go for it. Permits might be a big issue. Possibly, the government would want you to be a big time investor to issue working visa on behalf of your own business. I might be wrong, but I might be right too.

Furthermore, I have been living in Malaysia before. Food trucks exist there and do well. Mexican food works. Its about being at the right place at the right time: school lunch break of international schools for example, big unis, nighttime in the pub areas and so on. You always will be competing with someone, so dont expect all ppl to love you. But as you are there and gone, they might just "tolerate" for a bit you in the nice Asian way. If you pick regular spots, I think you should get acquainted with your competition and drop them a gift or something once in a while. Because I would think they could get the police moving easily to kick you out of "their" area.

Curious how this develops.

adamablitt wrote:

Hi all,

I am a Chef in my late 20's from Ireland. I have travelled around SE Asia quite extensively for the past 8 years or so and I have always felt like one day I would relocate to the region on a long term basis. Like anyone that has spent time in countries like Vietnam, I have a deep love for street food. I have been thinking for a while about the possibilities of opening a street truck in Vietnam, mostly HCMC which is a city I spent a lot of time in and loved. Being on the other side of the world, gaining information on this topic is difficult so I have a few questions that I hope can be answered by someone with a bit more knowledge than myself.

1. How would a foreign owned business be accepted by locals. Of course I won't be competing with them in the sense of selling Vietnamese food (I lose that battle hands down), instead I would be looking to sell cheap and quick street food from another country, most likely tacos.

2. Start up costs. Aside from the van itself, what other start up costs would I be looking at? I presume I will need a licence to sell my food. How much does this cost, how easy is it to obtain as a foreigner.

3. Visa issues. I have only travelled to Vietnam on a tourist visa before, which is a quick and easy process. Obviously this visa would not suffice so what visa would I need and how easy is it to obtain.

4. Harassment. Vietnam has a bad rep for scams and stuff like that. Personally I never seen it during my time in HCMC, a small bit in other places but nothing worth talking about. Would I be hassled by local enforcements often purely for my presence there.

5. Would it work? Would a business selling cheap food to locals be a big seller. The food scene is huge in Vietnam, they love to eat but would a foreigner selling non-Vietnamese food from a truck be something that the locals would flock to.

Any other advice would be hugely welcomed. I understand this idea might not be something entirely realistic but if you don't try then you will never know.

Thank you in advance for any replies,
Adam

I live in Phu Nuan and have just gone through the business registration & food safety licences for food and drink as we have opened a milktea/coffee place with snacks.

The jumping through hoops was a pretty long process and involved receipts for everything sold proving they are "safe for human consumption" so anything bought from a store with a bar code & list of whats in it was easy to get approved.

We have bought an ice machine which goes through a triple filter system and without a safety certificate they wanted it tested in a local testing centre very very expensive so on inspection day (3 inspectors) we unpluged it, used local bagged ice and said it was only used as a cooler (go figure the logic in that) the coffee machine and hot water boiler uses the same water source but is boiled so they figure that safe.

They also needed photos of all machines being used and photos of shop layout & food handlers certificate required a medical certificate along with the paperwork.

If you want prices PM me as I will have to dig out all the receipts and let you know.

I have seen 1 food van in HCMC I can't remember where as it was when we were out and about buying things for christmas so didnt take much note of it. also I can't remember what they were selling.

The ones at Vung Tau are mainly tea or ice cream, I did drive past them and thing why all doing the same hasnt someone thought of doing western food as a different style to eat?

Having opened and catering mainly to the 3 schools we are close by to we have tried chips, tornado potatoes, sausages, sausage rolls and I personally have cooked western snacks for the beer club next to us at night to try to sell.

My feed back is VN like everything with chilli in or on if it hasnt got a hit to it they say its boring and dont eat it, student from 6 -16 all come here and even 4 year olds want sugar or chilli, even the 4 year old that sits with us with his mum and dad at night talking eats rice paper with chilli far faster than I can take the heat and have to bail and get a drink to stop the burning!

Fish sauce, sugar, chilli the 3 things that if not in food they moan and don't like it, even pizza is drowned in chilli sauce, so my take is a food van is a good idea as it can carry way more stock than a side street vendor and catering for westerners in hubs where they hang out maybe than sitting on a street full of locals where they will maybe not eat what your trying to sell.

Also price is a huge thing here westerners will pay 45-100k for a beer while locals see 18-25k as normal we pay 10-30k for a snack, westerners will pay much more.

Just my opinion from trying to get family members and friends to try western foods.

adamablitt wrote:

Any other advice would be hugely welcomed. I understand this idea might not be something entirely realistic but if you don't try then you will never know.

Adam

There are a few trucks already in HCMC. The one I've actually seen is Pizza 4P's truck parked at The Vista in D2 and Bia Craft also has a truck. Pizza 4P’s is owned by a foreigner. Both trucks have made appearances at local events throughout the city and even came to Thu Dau Mot a few times.  I’m sure it can be done but don’t know the specifics. I do think it is a good business model if you target large scale apartment communities and coopering with the developer directly. Think a Masteri Thao Dien (3,000 units) or Vinhomes Central Park (10,000 units). If you planned on driving it around D1 and looking to set up near local vendors, I think that will be challenging when it comes to actually find a space to park.

Good luck!

CoderX10 wrote:

adamablitt wrote:

Any other advice would be hugely welcomed. I understand this idea might not be something entirely realistic but if you don't try then you will never know.

Adam

There are a few trucks already in HCMC. The one I've actually seen is Pizza 4P's truck parked at The Vista in D2 and Bia Craft also has a truck. Pizza 4P’s is owned by a foreigner. Both trucks have made appearances at local events throughout the city and even came to Thu Dau Mot a few times.  I’m sure it can be done but don’t know the specifics. I do think it is a good business model if you target large scale apartment communities and coopering with the developer directly. Think a Masteri Thao Dien (3,000 units) or Vinhomes Central Park (10,000 units). If you planned on driving it around D1 and looking to set up near local vendors, I think that will be challenging when it comes to actually find a space to park.

Good luck!

Yep I 100% agree this is best bet finding a big apartment block etc plus target where westerners hang out for best selling prices.

colinoscapee wrote:

SteinNebraska wrote:

The only thought I have on this is that if it could be done somebody in a city of 12,000,000 people would be doing it already.  There must be some barrier for entry for foriegners if even locals aren't doing already.  It may be as simple as because nobody has done it the government may frown on it becuase it's different.  I don't know.

Here in VT there are about 10 of the operating. One stsrted, then BAM, the rest followed.

Yup, thats how it works here. One starts, others look.....hummmm he has a lot of customers, time I got in on the act & in the end none of them will make a good living at it.

adamablitt wrote:

Hi all,

I am a Chef in my late 20's from Ireland. I have travelled around SE Asia quite extensively for the past 8 years or so and I have always felt like one day I would relocate to the region on a long term basis. Like anyone that has spent time in countries like Vietnam, I have a deep love for street food. I have been thinking for a while about the possibilities of opening a street truck in Vietnam, mostly HCMC which is a city I spent a lot of time in and loved. Being on the other side of the world, gaining information on this topic is difficult so I have a few questions that I hope can be answered by someone with a bit more knowledge than myself.

1. How would a foreign owned business be accepted by locals. Of course I won't be competing with them in the sense of selling Vietnamese food (I lose that battle hands down), instead I would be looking to sell cheap and quick street food from another country, most likely tacos.

2. Start up costs. Aside from the van itself, what other start up costs would I be looking at? I presume I will need a licence to sell my food. How much does this cost, how easy is it to obtain as a foreigner.

3. Visa issues. I have only travelled to Vietnam on a tourist visa before, which is a quick and easy process. Obviously this visa would not suffice so what visa would I need and how easy is it to obtain.

4. Harassment. Vietnam has a bad rep for scams and stuff like that. Personally I never seen it during my time in HCMC, a small bit in other places but nothing worth talking about. Would I be hassled by local enforcements often purely for my presence there.

5. Would it work? Would a business selling cheap food to locals be a big seller. The food scene is huge in Vietnam, they love to eat but would a foreigner selling non-Vietnamese food from a truck be something that the locals would flock to.

Any other advice would be hugely welcomed. I understand this idea might not be something entirely realistic but if you don't try then you will never know.

Thank you in advance for any replies,
Adam

Hope you are also taking into account the kicks backs on a weekly basis just to operate?

goodolboy wrote:

colinoscapee wrote:

SteinNebraska wrote:

The only thought I have on this is that if it could be done somebody in a city of 12,000,000 people would be doing it already.  There must be some barrier for entry for foriegners if even locals aren't doing already.  It may be as simple as because nobody has done it the government may frown on it becuase it's different.  I don't know.

Here in VT there are about 10 of the operating. One stsrted, then BAM, the rest followed.

Yup, thats how it works here. One starts, others look.....hummmm he has a lot of customers, time I got in on the act & in the end none of them will make a good living at it.

Stupid thing is 90% sell the same thing? just kills the market

Andybris2020 wrote:

goodolboy wrote:

colinoscapee wrote:

Here in VT there are about 10 of the operating. One stsrted, then BAM, the rest followed.

Yup, thats how it works here. One starts, others look.....hummmm he has a lot of customers, time I got in on the act & in the end none of them will make a good living at it.

Stupid thing is 90% sell the same thing? just kills the market

different subject but still sort of relevant, just look at the "street of 1,000 sewing machine shops" the "street of 1,000 power tool shops" etc etc.
I dont want to bore you all with my story about my "love motel" in Trang Bang for those that have not heard it, will make it short. Built it & did well for a couple of months, then within 6 months at least 10 others sprang up within a 2km radius. 2 of them on the same dirt track as our one just 100 meters further on. Needless to say after that no one made any money at it & thats how it works in Vietnam!!

adamablitt wrote:

5. Would it work? Would a business selling cheap food to locals be a big seller. The food scene is huge in Vietnam, they love to eat but would a foreigner selling non-Vietnamese food from a truck be something that the locals would flock to.

Actually, the general trend in HCMC seems to be sharply upmarket. With a growing middle class and relatively robust economy even in these times, there seems to be plenty of demand for high-quality European food (as well as Japanese, Mexican, Russian, etc.).

For example, last time I was in Sai Gon, I had dinner in a German restaurant with German beer and German owner and about a dozen tables. The place was full although the prices reflected the premium quality. As mentioned above, 4Ps, which has a restaurant (not just trucks), is another example. Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7, etc. are full of these types of places.

Obviously, rent is your major factor in this scenario, but there seem to be many success stories around town.

Andybris2020 wrote:

Fish sauce, sugar, chili the 3 things that if not in food they moan and don't like it

  And for extra credit: tương ớt, chili sauce plus tương cà, ketchup