The Ultimate Buffet Cuu Van Long Review – Bitexco Saigon Branch
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In this Buffet Cuu Van Long Bitexco review, I will share my wonderful, hearty, and eye-opening dining experience I had in Saigon. I have never thought a local buffet would impress me that much. And this is definitely worth sharing with you as well.
Located conveniently on the 4th floor of the iconic Bitexco Financial Tower in Ho Chi Minh City (“HCMC”), Cuu Van Long offers an astonishing array of over 100 dishes, from fresh seafood to authentic Vietnamese specialties, all for an incredibly affordable price of around 20USD per person.
I have been trying different buffets all over the world, from the one on the Nile Cruise in Egypt, to the Omakase style buffet in Bangkok, to the buffet in Disneyland. This ~20 USD local buffet has impressed me the most in terms of the variety, especially for the seafood.
I feel a bit regretted that I only discovered this hidden gem during my second visit in HCMC. I would highly recommend you give a try even during your first visit.
What Is Cuu Van Long Buffet?
Cuu Van Long is a Vietnamese local buffet brand started in 2018 in Hanoi, Discovery Complex. Since then, it has expanded to seven branches across Hanoi and HCMC. The buffet chain is famous for its variety of food.
From the official website’s menu , you can already feel the great variety of choices. Unfortunately, similar to most of the local brands, the menu is only available in Vietnamese. This is the reason why this is a hidden gem for most of the travelers especially first-time vistor.
I can’t read Vietnamese either. That’s why I will include a lot of first-hand photos for you to have a feeling how great the buffet is.
Buffet Cuu Van Long Premium Bitexco
The most convenient branch for the brand in HCMC is “Buffet Cửu Vân Long Premium Bitexco “. It is located on the 4th floor of the famous Bitexco Financial Tower (the same floor as the entrance of Saigon Skydeck).
It is just within walking distance of all the main attractions in HCMC District 1. It is a 13-minute walk away from Ben Thanh market, the drop-off point for day tours like Cu Chi Tunnel. Also,, it is close to the opera metro station, so it is a good dinner place after an exhausting day in Suoi Tien Theme Park. This is way better than other branches such as Landmark 81, which is instead located in Binh Thanh District.
During my visit last time, there is even a clearance sales for shoes like Hoka and Columbia at 3rd floor. So for your trip planning, you may consider doing the buffet, shopping and visit to Saigon Skydeck together.
Enjoy The Night View After The Great Buffet
The Saigon Skydeck entrance is located at the same floor of Buffet Cuu Van Long Premium. It is a good idea to also get to the top to enjoy the best landscape of HCMC after early dinner at Cuu Van Long.
Booking Of Cuu Van Long Buffet
Booking a table at Cuu Van Long Premium Buffet can be done through their official website, but as it’s primarily in Vietnamese, international tourists may find it challenging to navigate. Also, you will need a local number for that. Alternatively, you can call their hotline at 0779.345.889 to secure a table.
For tourists like us, the best way is to walk in and make a reservation earlier. I booked at the restaurant directly during my last visit in the morning, then spent half a day at Saigon Zoo, Saigon River (pick-up/drop-off point for outlying island visits like Vung Tau), and Café Apartment nearby, then headed back for the food at night.
Seeing the long queue during dinner time, I was grateful I decided to book in advance.
The buffet price is 495k VND (~20 USD) for lunch on Monday to Friday, 565k (~ 23 USD) for dinner on Monday to Friday, and 615k (~ 25 USD) during holidays.
Cuu Van Long Premium Bitexco Sai Gon Food Review
The food at Buffet Cửu Vân Long Premium Bitexco Sài Gòn is a culinary journey. Again, I have never been to a buffet with that much variety. Although the food quality may not match those high-end hotel buffets such as Ritz-Carlton, Sheraton, and Mandarin Oriental, it is a best-value option considering the variety and the price.
Now, let me go through the food with you.
Sashimi & Sushi
The sashimi bar is a visual masterpiece, with slices of tuna, salmon, and other fish meticulously arranged vertically on a board, displayed on a bed of black marble for maximum freshness. Personally, I have never seen another buffet had such a good idea.
Right next to the sashimi session is the sushi session. Again there are over 10 varieties of sushi for you to choose. I didn’t taste the sushi as I wanted to leave more space for other great food.
However, for the sashimi, I had 2 plates last time, and it was very tasty and fresh.
The Best Hot Seafood Session
Following the sushi session, it is the hot seafood sessions. It begins with various options of tempura then you will see different kind of cooked shell fishes at the corridors. It includes but not limited baked oysters, calms, crabs, shrimps and giant shell fish that I have never seen.
Other than the sashimi display, this is the session impressed me the most. Because even for the seafood buffet in Nha Trang which also has lots of varieties is no match for Cuu Van Long.
Cantonese Dim Sum
Other than the seafood, the brand also highly promotes its variety of Cantonese dim sum. That includes Siu Mai, shrimp dumplings, pork buns, Xiao Long bao, chicken legs, and others. I tried a serving of Siu Mai and shrimp dumplings last time. I wouldn’t recommend this session, as the street food or dim sum in Hong Kong is far better.
Other Hot Food
Beyond seafood and dim sum, the buffet features an international BBQ grill with premium meats like imported beef sirloin steak, chickens, and BBQ pork ribs. Other than meats there are also roasted potatoes, cheesy pizza slices, and a variety of stir-fried vegetables, ensuring there’s something for everyone.
I would say the other hot foods are just standard. They are not particularly delicious or bad. For example, the beef steak is just so-so. The texture is chewy with bland flavour. So don’t expect there would be wagyu or lamb there like Beyond Copper in Bangkok.
Vietnamese Food
At the corner of the buffet, it has several Vietnamese foods, including pho and a variety of spring rolls. I had a spring roll there but didn’t order the pho. Given that I would rather have more great seafood. I assume you would do the same, given that Pho is everywhere as a cuisine or street food here.
Dessert
The dessert section is a sweet paradise, offering nearly 40 options, from creamy cheesecakes and decadent chocolate mousses to refreshing fruit, ice cream, and traditional Vietnamese sweet soups like chè. So again, choose carefully and don’t overload yourself.
Drinks Review
The buffet does not include free drinks. So you will have to pay extra for the drinks. Fortunately, the drink price is very affordable. For example, you can have a Saigon beer at 35k VND (~ 1.5 USD). And it is perfectly fine even if you don’t order any drinks.
The variety of drinks is quite standard. It includes branded beers like Saigon, Saigon Chill, Tiger and Heineken; different flavoursa of Soju, wines and soft drinks. Alternatively, you can also give a try to their herbal tea which is like mojito. For the official drinking menu, you can click here.
Another Great Item For HCMC Visit
To me, HCMC is always the best city to visit in Vietnam. The experience at Buffet Cuu Van Long Premium further strengthens my love for the city. With the great variety and impressive seafood they offer at the prime location, the price is just around 20 USD. It is a true best-value buffet.
So, remember to make your reservation and enjoy that on your visit to HCMC.
