I'm an American who tried Vietnamese McDonald's for the first time. Here's what surprised me and how it compared to the US version of the chain.

Megan GilbertJun 4, 2023, 18:12 IST

During my stop at a McDonald's in Ho Chi Minh City, I tried items that are available globally and ones that are exclusive to Vietnam.Megan Gilbert

I ate at a McDonald's in Vietnam to see how it compared to the chain's US locations.
I sampled global favorites along with local specialties that are exclusive to Vietnamese McDonald's.

I love seeing how McDonald's adjusts its menus to fit different tastes around the globe. It's allowed me to try a cherry-blossom McFlurry in Japan and a Chicken Maharaja Mac in India.

So when I visited Vietnam during my three-month trip through Southeast Asia, I knew I had to stop at a McDonald's there.

I ordered some of my favorites from back in the US — like a Big Mac, french fries, and chicken sandwiches — to see how they compared. I also tried some unique menu items exclusive to McDonald's in Vietnam.

When I got to the McDonald's in Ho Chi Minh City, the branding was familiar, but the inside felt more upscale than the US locations I'd visited.

The fast-food restaurant has the same Golden Arches as the US locations.Megan Gilbert

I arrived around lunchtime, so I was surprised to find no one in line when I went to order.

The McDonald's had a touchscreen and a counter in the ordering area.Megan Gilbert

I ordered through a touchscreen, which streamlined the whole process and removed any language barriers.

Many of the McDonald's I've been to in the US didn't have touchscreens.Megan Gilbert

I sampled some tried-and-true favorites and some menu items that are only available in Vietnam.

I ordered more than I usually would've so I could try a wide variety of dishes.Megan Gilbert

The McRoyal Deluxe was the most similar to the Quarter Pounder, my favorite McDonald's burger in the US.

Unlike the Quarter Pounder, the McRoyal Deluxe contains mayonnaise and lettuce.Megan Gilbert

I couldn't come to a McDonald's in Vietnam without trying its version of the Big Mac.

The Big Mac in Vietnam looked smaller than the ones I've had in the US.Megan Gilbert

The McSpicy Deluxe was comparable to the US' Spicy Deluxe McCrispy, but it had mayonnaise instead of spicy sauce.

I preferred the chicken in the McSpicy Deluxe better than the meat in the Spicy Deluxe McCrispy.Megan Gilbert

The fried chicken and rice weren't my favorite, and I probably wouldn't order this dish again.

I loved the "M" written with sauce, but the two pieces of chicken and rice missed the mark.Megan Gilbert

Customers can order sweet corn as a side instead of french fries.

I ordered corn as a side with my Big Mac meal, which was an interesting pairing.Megan Gilbert

The most interesting menu items were the salted calamansi apricot juice and the iced matcha latte.

The salted calamansi apricot juice and the iced matcha latte were the highlights.Megan Gilbert

I'm glad I got to try a McDonald's in Vietnam, but I wish the menu featured more items inspired by Vietnamese street food.

I'd love to see more authentic Vietnamese dishes at the local McDonald's here.Megan Gilbert

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