Travel around Vietnam and you'll run into more Japanese chains than you'd expect. Uniqlo, MUJI and AEON, of course, but also Marugame Seimen, CoCo Ichibanya and Sukiya. Shops you're used to seeing back in Japan have blended right into Vietnam's streets. It's surprising just how far it goes — Saizeriya, Torikizoku and Gyu-Kaku, and even drugstores like Matsukiyo and Tsuruha have moved in.
In this article, we've rounded up the Japanese chains that have expanded into Vietnam, category by category — malls, fashion, goods, drugstores, convenience stores, and dining. Use it as a reference when you miss Japanese flavors or service, or when you want to buy souvenirs or everyday items.
Why there are so many Japanese chains in Vietnam
Japanese companies' expansion into Vietnam was originally centered on manufacturing, but over the past few years the focus has broadened to consumer-facing businesses like retail and dining. A middle class growing on the back of economic growth, and strong trust in Japanese quality and service, are driving this expansion.
Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi have large Japanese communities, and demand for Japanese food and daily goods is steady. For travelers, that translates into the reassurance of "a Japanese shop nearby you can turn to when you're in a bind."
Shopping malls and department stores
The most prominent at city scale are the Japanese malls and department stores. For travelers they make a handy base — you can shop in the cool and hit several Japanese stores at once.
| Shop name | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| AEON (AEON Mall) | Operates large malls across Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Binh Duong, Hue, and more). A hub convenient for travelers too, gathering supermarkets, food courts, and specialty stores |
| Takashimaya | A department store inside Saigon Centre in Ho Chi Minh City. A mall is also in the works in Hanoi (the Tay Ho Tay area) |
| Tokyu (Becamex Tokyu) | ホーチミン市（旧ビンズオン省エリア）の街づくり「SORA gardens」などを展開。ニトリの1号店もここに |
AEON lets you pick up everything from everyday items to snacks and cosmetics in one go, soSouvenirsIt also comes in handy for stocking up on.
Fashion and household goods
Japan's flagships of "just-right quality and price" are moving in one after another, too. Handy for topping up on things mid-trip.
| Shop name | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Uniqlo (UNIQLO) | Opened its first store in Ho Chi Minh City in December 2019. By 2026 it has grown to about 30 stores nationwide (plus online). Light clothing suited to Vietnam's climate, too |
| Muji (MUJI) | Simple clothing, household goods, and food. First store in November 2020, with around 18 stores as of 2026 |
| Nitori | Furniture and household goods. First store in Binh Duong in December 2023. About four stores as of 2026 |
| Daiso (DAISO) | A 100-yen-shop type store. Found inside malls such as AEON. Handy for picking up small items while traveling |
In Vietnam's fierce heat, Uniqlo's lightweight base layers and Muji's everyday goods turn out to be surprisingly handy mid-trip.
Drugstore
Drugstores carrying Japanese medicines and cosmetics are landing one after another, too. Being able to buy Japanese skincare and cosmetics locally is a nice plus for travelers as well.
| Shop name | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Matsumoto Kiyoshi (MatsuKiyo) | In addition to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, it has locations in Da Nang, Can Tho, Hai Phong, Dong Nai, and more. Around 20 stores as of 2026 |
| Tsuruha | A major drugstore chain from Hokkaido. It has opened a large store in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City (Lý Tự Trọng). A “Japanese-style health & beauty” store stocking over 10,000 items |
A reassuring presence when you're under the weather, or when you want Japanese-brand cosmetics as a souvenir.
Convenience stores
You'll also spot Japanese convenience stores, mainly in urban areas. Being able to buy rice balls, bento, and Japanese snacks is a welcome plus for travelers.
| Shop name | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| FamilyMart | Centered on Ho Chi Minh City, with store numbers expected to grow into 2026. Onigiri, bento, and Japanese snacks too |
| Ministop | A convenience store from the AEON group. It has expanded its footprint since entering in 2015. The eat-in space and soft-serve ice cream are popular, too |
For paying at convenience stores and how to handle cash,How credit cards work in Vietnamis also worth checking to be on the safe side.
Restaurant chains — noodles, rice bowls, set meals
When you start missing the taste of home, the dining chains step in. Let's start with the noodle, rice-bowl, and set-meal places familiar to Japanese diners.
| Shop name | Genre and features |
|---|---|
| Marugame Seimen (Marugame Udon) | Sanuki udon. Freshly made udon at an affordable price. Part of its worldwide expansion, it has come to Vietnam too |
| Sukiya | Gyudon (beef bowls). Entered in 2016, with about 20 stores as of 2026. Rice bowls with the same ease as in Japan |
| Yoshinoya | Gyudon (beef bowls). Entered Vietnam in 2020. The number of stores is small (a handful), but it operates in Ho Chi Minh City |
| Ippudo (IPPUDO) | Hakata ramen. Franchised by the Pizza 4P’s group |
When you're mid-trip and crave a veggie-packed bowl or a Japanese beef bowl, chains like these are a reassuring option.
Restaurant chains — curry, pizza, cafés
Beyond rice bowls and noodles, the familiar tastes of home are all here.
| Shop name | Genre and features |
|---|---|
| CoCo Ichibanya | Curry. It entered Vietnam in 2018. Found at Landmark 81, in District 1, and elsewhere. Japanese-style curry where you can choose the spice level and toppings |
| % Arabica | Specialty coffee born in Kyoto. Found at spots like the Café Apartment (Nguyen Hue Street) in Ho Chi Minh City, |
| Pizza 4P’s | A pizza chain founded in Vietnam by a Japanese entrepreneur (more below). Popular for its house-made cheese and wood-fired pizza |
If you love cafés,A guide comparing Vietnam's cafés, it's fun to compare the local coffee chains with the Japanese ones.
Family restaurants, izakaya, and yakiniku
Not just rice bowls and noodles — Japanese family restaurants, izakaya, and yakiniku chains have landed too. This is a field where the lineup has grown all at once over the past few years.
| Shop name | Genre and features |
|---|---|
| Saizeriya | An Italian-style family restaurant. First store at Giga Mall in Ho Chi Minh City in May 2025. Its same affordable prices as in Japan have been a talking point |
| Torikizoku (TORIKIZOKU) | A yakitori izakaya. In spring 2026 it opened its first store in Southeast Asia in Hanoi (on Phan Ke Binh street) |
| Gyu-Kaku | Yakiniku. A Japan-born yakiniku chain with a global presence, operating stores in Vietnam that even have their own dedicated site |
Saizeriya's affordable prices, and the "exactly-as-in-Japan dining experience" of Torikizoku and Gyu-Kaku, are popular with both Japanese residents and travelers.
Bonus: the Vietnam-born ”Japanese brand” Pizza 4P’s
A little different from the Japanese chains, but not to be missed, is Pizza 4P’s. Founded in Ho Chi Minh City in 2011 by the Japanese couple Yosuke Masuko and Sanae Takasugi, this pizza chain has grown into one of Vietnam's most popular.
A drink made with house-made cheese and its by-product, whey (Whey's kombuchaand more), it's also known for its sustainable initiatives. Having expanded into Cambodia, India, and Japan, it's a slightly proud presence — a "Japan-born chain that was born in Vietnam."
A quick-reference list of Japanese chains in Vietnam
Here's a category-by-category recap of everything so far (store counts and the like are rough estimates as of 2026 and will change).
| Category | Main chains |
|---|---|
| Malls and department stores | AEON, Takashimaya, and Tokyu (Becamex Tokyu) |
| Fashion and goods | Uniqlo, Muji, Nitori, Daiso |
| Drugstore | Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Tsuruha |
| Convenience stores | FamilyMart, Ministop |
| Noodles, rice bowls and set meals | Marugame Seimen, Sukiya, Yoshinoya, and Ippudo |
| Family restaurants, izakaya, and yakiniku | Saizeriya, Torikizoku, Gyu-Kaku |
| Curry, pizza, cafés | CoCo Ichibanya, % Arabica, Pizza 4P’s |
On the other hand, some Japanese chains haven't yet entered Vietnam ── conveyor-belt sushi like Kura Sushi and Sushiro, and Don Quijote (Don Don Donki). It's a space to watch for future openings.
A smart way to use them as a traveler
For travelers, Japanese chains are a kind of “insurance.” Used well, they make a trip far more comfortable.
- When you're under the weather：On days you miss the taste of home or want to give your stomach a rest, Sukiya, Marugame Seimen, and CoCo Ichibanya are dependable
- Getting daily necessities and medicine: Matsukiyo, Muji, and Daiso make mid-trip restocking easy
- Buying souvenirs in bulk: at AEON, you can gather snacks, coffee, and cosmetics all at once
- A break to cool off：The eat-in areas at malls and convenience stores double as a refuge from walking the streets in the fierce heat
Still, you're in Vietnam, after all.Local foodand local cafés too, we recommend using the Japanese chains wisely as a "fallback option when you're stuck."
Frequently asked questions
- Are there Uniqlo and Muji stores in Vietnam?
-
あります。ユニクロは2019年にホーチミンで1号店を出し、2026年時点で全国に30店ほど。無印良品も18店ほど展開しています。
- Can I use Japanese convenience stores in Vietnam?
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FamilyMart and Ministop (part of the AEON group) operate mainly in the cities. You can buy onigiri, bento, and Japanese snacks.
- What Japanese dining chains are there?
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There's a wide spread — Marugame Seimen, Sukiya, Yoshinoya, CoCo Ichibanya, Ippudo, Saizeriya, Gyu-Kaku and Torikizoku — covering noodles, rice bowls, curry, grilled meat and izakaya.
- Is Pizza 4P’s a Japanese chain?
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A Vietnam-born pizza chain founded in Ho Chi Minh City in 2011 by a Japanese couple. A little different from a Japanese "chain that expanded here" — it's more a "Japan-born brand that was born in Vietnam."
- Can I buy Japanese cosmetics in Vietnam?
-
Matsumoto Kiyoshi and Hokkaido-born Tsuruha have stores in places like Ho Chi Minh City, so you can buy Japanese-brand cosmetics and skincare locally. Some items are also available at AEON and Muji.
- Are Saizeriya and Torikizoku in Vietnam too?
-
Yes. Saizeriya opened its first store at Giga Mall in Ho Chi Minh City in May 2025, and Torikizoku opened its first Southeast Asian store in Hanoi in spring 2026. The grilled-meat chain Gyu-Kaku operates here too.
Summary: Japanese chains are a reassuring ally on your trip
From malls and goods to convenience stores and dining out, this many Japanese chains have taken root in Vietnam. The reassurance of getting Japanese flavors and service right away is more welcome than you'd expect in an unfamiliar place.
Enjoy the local charms to the fullest, and treat Japanese chains as your "ally when you need one." For planning your walks around town,A guide to Vietnamese foodandCafé comparison guideas well. Thank you for reading to the end.
