free street food tour hanoi

Best things to do and see in Hanoi

Hanoi is the capital of Vietman and one of the most visited cities in all of Asia. Its century-old architecture is possibly what attracts the most attention, as is the Vietnamese culture, influenced by Chinese, French and other Southeast Asian countries. The Old Town of the city is the point on which the city revolves, being somewhat chaotic at the same time that we can find with certain order the stores to be distributed by trades in its narrow streets. In addition, you will find a large number of small temples scattered throughout the city that are worth visiting. If you decide to do a free walking tour in Hanoi with a local guide you will be able to know the essential places, as well as the most emblematic places of the city. You should visit the Ho Chi Ming Mausoleum and the Hanoi Presidential Palace as first options. Other points of interest that are worthwhile are the Ho Chi Ming House, the War Museum, the Single Pillar Pagoda, the Old Quarter, the Dong Xuan Market, Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake, the Pagoda of Tran Quoc Pen, the French colonial quarter or move on to see the largest mosaic in the world. All free tours in Hanoi have the opinions of travelers who have lived the experience of visiting with the local guide. You can complement the information of each tour with the assessments about the route and what each local guide has provided. Other cities worth visiting are Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Siem Reap or Taipei City.

Free walking tour near Hanoi

Others cities to visit after hanoi, find other guruwalks in hanoi, where are you traveling to.

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Hanoi Excursions

Hanoi Street Food Experience

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What you’ll get

Duration : 3 hours

Departure : Hanoi Old Quarter

Suitable : All of people: family, friend, couple, childrem, student

Type : Land tour

Experience Hanoi like a local and tour the city’s attractions with the kids who live there. Explore Hanoi via food culture with many delicious street foods: Pho, Bun Cha, Banh Cuon, Banh Mi... Let's enjoy with us!

Sightseeing Hanoi in the evening
Enjoy many delicious street foods like Pho, Bun cha, Banh cuon, Banh mi, Egg coffee...
Learn about Vietnam cuisine via the street food
Experience Hanoi from the perspective of the kids who live there

Itineraries

If you are interested in free group tours in Hanoi, please visit Hanoi Free Day Tours
If you are interested in free private tours in Ho Chi Minh city, please visit Saigon Free Day Tours

6.00 PM: Tour guide will pick you up at your hotel and start a walking tour with the topic Hanoi street food:

Depending on your location, the start/ending of the tour can be different. However, you will have a chance to taste some of the most famous dishes of Hanoi people, described as “Hanoi style fast foods.” Your local guide will give you an insight into the intricacies and traditions of Vietnamese food culture, including details on ingredients and historical backgrounds of popular northern dishes. Many delicious dishes are waiting for your tasting in the Old quarters. Here are some examples:

Bun cha (noodles with grilled pork)
Pho (flat rice noodles)
Banh goi (Pillow cake), Banh tom (shrimp cake), Banh xeo (crepes pancake)
Banh cuon (steam rice rolls)
Nom bo kho (dried beef salad with green papaya)
Banh my Hanoi (local bread)
Nem ran/pho cuon (fried/fresh spring rolls)
Drink: Bia hoi (local bear), mixed fruits, egg coffee, Che (sweet soup)
Tasting “O mai” (fruit jam) at Hang Duong Street – well known as “ the cream of Vietnamese gift” and shopping at the fashion shops on the way. There are two main types of making apricot, which is salted dry apricot or sugared dry apricot. It is a favorite nosh for many people in Hanoi and other provinces.

At the end of the trip, free to continue exploring the area or take a taxi (or just walk) back to your hotel.

Tour ends at around 9:00 PM.

Accommodation: N/A

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If you are unable to join the tour on the day and at the time scheduled, you must notify us within 3 hours of the departure.

In case of an unexpected situation/ bad weather causes an effect on your trip after commencement, we serve the right to change the itinerary of your booked tour for the safety of all clients in the group. If there are more than one solution, we will ask for your permission and agreement to do the next step

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The Best Hanoi Street Food Tour! Full Guide + Map

There’s no better way to immerse yourself in Vietnamese culture than taking a street food tour in Hanoi. Check out my Hanoi street food guide – complete with a map. Go hungry!

Street food in Hanoi, Vietnam. Where do I start?

It’s my second time in the city – fast, frenetic and loveable, this is a destination where you never need to go hungry.

I had such good memories about my last trip (where I learnt to make some kick-ass Vietnamese food recipes ) that I simply HAD to book myself onto a Hanoi street food tour.

Did I regret it? Certainly not. In fact, I can’t think of a better way to kick off my return trip to Vietnam.

Watch the full video… Be warned. It will make you hungry!

Travelling to Hanoi? You should also read these Vietnam travel blogs :

The Best Things to do in Hanoi
Awesome places to Visit in Vietnam
Vietnamese Street Food Recipes

What’s the Best Way to Do a Hanoi Street Food Tour?

You basically have two options when it comes to exploring Hanoi’s street food scene: go on a guided tour or do it yourself.

Hanoi Street Food Tour Review

I would recommend taking a tour with a local. Even though I give you a tonne of information on this post, going it alone is just not the same as doing it with a local who lives, sleeps and (most importantly) eats, Vietnamese street food.

I took this tour and would highly recommend it. Although it’s advertised as a small group tour, it ended up being just me and my tour guide, Khanh.

Eating Vietnamese dumplings in Hanoi. Heading to Hanoi, Vietnam? A street food tour should be at the top of your list of things to do. The ultimate self-guided street food tour of the Old Quarter. Don't miss it! #travel #vietnam #food

Khanh was a straight-up legend. Funny, honest and personable, he gave me so many insights into life in Hanoi that totally opened my eyes to how cool this city is.

See more Hanoi street food tours …

Exploring Hanoi’s Food Scene Independently

The second option for your Hanoi street food tour is to go it alone.

It’s not quite the same, but if you know where you’re going, you can still sample some of the best eats in the city. That’s why I’ve written this step-by-step guide with the coolest Hanoi street food spots in the city’s Old Quarter and an easy-to-follow map.

Ready? Let’s eat our way around the city.

Hanoi Street Food Guide: 8 Unmissable Dishes to Try

Nom Thit Bo Ko – Papaya, spicy cured beef and, purple perilla and Vietnamese balm.
Banh Bot Loc – Pork, shrimp and herbs, wrapped in arrowroot.
Nem – Deep fried pork and vegetable spring rolls.
Pho – Spring onions, rice noodles,chicken and a fragrant broth.
Pho Chong – Beansprouts, herbs, fried shallots and chicken.
Banh Cuon – Paper-thin rice paper rolls with pork.
Banh Mi – Baguette filled with your choice of Vietnamese fillings.
Vietnamese Egg Coffee

Hanoi Street Food Restaurant 1: Nom Thit Bo Ko

We started our Hanoi street food tour at Nom Thit Bo Ko in Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

Now, it may look basic AF, but believe me when I say that this is one of the best places to try Nom Thit Bo Ko (surprise, surprise – guess the name gave it away) and a special kind of Vietnamese dumpling called Banh Bot Loc.

Must-Eat Hanoi Food: Nom Thit Bo Ko

Papaya, spicy cured beef and, purple perilla and Vietnamese balm (both of these herbs I’ve only ever seen in Asia) are topped with a mound of peanuts. It’s down to you to grab your chopsticks and mix it all up.

Make sure you grab some of the herbs in each mouthful – it’s going to make a party in your mouth and really brings the dish to life.

The plates are tiny and you’re bound to get some on the table, but it’s all part of the fun. Wash it down with a cold, crisp Hanoi Beer and you’re good to go.

Must Eat Hanoi Food: Banh Bot Loc

Pork and shrimp dumplings. The ultimate Hanoi street food tour guide. A step by step guide to exploring the tastiest Vienamese food in Hanoi - street food, photography and maps included. Check it out #streetfood #hanoi #travel

Pork, shrimp and herbs, wrapped in arrowroot. It may sound simple but it’s surprisingly tasty. The dumplings’ texture is chewy and a bit sticky – a bit like dim sum but with even more flavour.

Hanoi Street Food Stop 2: Nem Stall on Hang Be Street

This is a real street food stop. There’s nowhere to sit and only one thing to order: Nem.

Must-Eat Hanoi Food: Nem

Nem are pork and vegetable spring rolls wrapped in rice paper and deep fried until hot and crispy. Sounds great right? It is.

The veg are just as important as the pork – a mix of mushrooms, spring onions and carrots – plus a mix of whatever the chef feels like at the time.

Nem really one of my favourite dishes but no matter how many times I’ve tried to do this at home, it was nothing in comparison to these ones. Khanh said it best “ this is one of the best things we have ,” damned right about that.

Hanoi Street Food Restaurant 3: Pho Dung

You’d have to have been living under a rock not to know what Pho is.

This Vietnamese noodle soup has pretty much taken the world by storm. It was always going to taste better straight from the source – no surprises there.

But did you know that there is MORE THAN ONE KIND OF PHO?

This is the place that is going to show you…

Pho Dung! Heading to Hanoi, Vietnam? A street food tour should be at the top of your list of things to do. The ultimate self-guided street food tour of the Old Quarter. Don't miss it! #travel #vietnam #food

I’m not just talking about changing the ingredients, like beef pho vs chicken pho, I’m talking about a whole different noodle dish (pho chong) that is native to Hanoi. Certainly blew my mind.

Khanh made some pretty big statements about how the pho chong is actually better than the broth-based one. Guess what? He was right again…

Must Eat Hanoi Food: Pho

Spring onions, rice noodles,chicken and a fragrant broth. Pho is food for the soul – warm, soothing and yet packed with flavour, it’s one of the most famous street foods in Hanoi and for good reason.

Must Eat Hanoi Food: Pho Chong

Hanoi Street Food Tour- Heading to Hanoi, Vietnam? A street food tour should be at the top of your list of things to do. The ultimate self-guided street food tour of the Old Quarter. Don't miss it! #travel #vietnam #food

“This one right here is the treasure,” said Khanh as the pho was set in front of us. No broth – beansprouts, herbs, fried shallots and chicken. Simple yes, but absolutely delicious.

Again, the herbs are really what make this dish pop – it’s so good. If you only have one dish while you are in Hanoi, I think this should be it.

Top tip: Squeeze your lime into the flat-bottomed spoon that comes with the pho before tipping it into the dish. That way you can stop the pips from getting into the pho as they’re very bitter.

Hanoi Street Food Restaurant 4: Banh Cuon Nong

One of the very best things about taking a Hanoi street food tour is the fact that you can see dishes being made right in front of you.

Watching an learning the ingredients and methods for making scrummy dishes is the perfect way to introduce you to a flavours of a country.

So I got really quite excited eating in Banh Cuon Nong.

Must Eat Hanoi Food: Banh Cuon – Special Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls

The skilled chef whips up paper-thin rice paper rolls from scratch, cooking the wraps on a special flat hot plate before filling them and dishing them onto your plate.

This is a traditional Vietnamese breakfast food, but we’re rebels and we don’t care, so we’re going to have them in the evening anyway.

Pork and rice paper rolls. Vietnam food is fresh, vibrant and tasty. Don't miss this street food tour of Hanoi, complete with a map and stunning photography of the dishes you'll get to eat. Read now! #asia #southeastasia #food

If watching the rice paper rolls was an experience, eating them definitely was. There are two options: the meat one and an egg one for vegetarians.

The pork ones come topped with some flaked pork and a slice of cured pork on the top – it’s definitely a dish for the carnivores, though they throw in some wood eared mushrooms to balance it out too.

Khanh was pretty dismissive of the egg rolls, saying they’re not traditional and don’t taste as good.

Egg and rice rolls. Vietnam food is fresh, vibrant and tasty. Don't miss this street food tour of Hanoi, complete with a map and stunning photography of the dishes you'll get to eat. Read now! #asia #southeastasia #food

Either way, dip them in a dipping sauce with fish sauce, sugar and water (plus maybe a touch of chilli and lime) and off you go.

Only way to find out which is better is to try them both… so I did. In truth, the egg ones weren’t quite as good but they were nice enough.

Hanoi Street Food Restaurant 5: Banh My P

Must eat hanoi food: banh mi.

Leaving the best till last? Banh mi is another famous street food in Hanoi and an awesome dish to finish your foodie exploration of the city.

I’ve never been convinced by the Banh Mi I’ve had in London, but this was a whole different ball game.

Banh Mi. Vietnam food is fresh, vibrant and tasty. Don't miss this street food tour of Hanoi, complete with a map and stunning photography of the dishes you'll get to eat. Read now! #asia #southeastasia #food

First of all, the baguette was fresh and crispy, packed with the filling of your choice and always leaving you wanting more.

There are so many different fillings to choose from – grilled beef, pork meatballs, pate (Vietnamese pate, which is totally different to the pate we have in the UK and about a million times nicer)

And to round it off? Vietnamese Egg Coffee at Cafe Dinh

Egg coffee? What the hell is that I hear you asking? Well…it’s kind of what it says on the tin – strong Vietnamese coffee whisked with egg and condensed milk until thick and unctuous.

Egg coffee. The ultimate Hanoi street food tour guide. A step by step guide to exploring the tastiest Vienamese food in Hanoi - street food, photography and maps included. Check it out #streetfood #hanoi #travel

Cafe Dinh is a traditional Vietnamese cafe – with oodles of character and no frills. It also happens to be the place to get egg coffee.

You might not be sure about the idea – I sure wasn’t. But, you know what, it was a nice surprise.

In all honesty, it tasted like a cross between custard and coffee, which totally makes sense when you think about it. I loved it – go on. Give it a try…

And there we are – a cool Hanoi street food tour. Want to follow in my footsteps? Off you go.

Hanoi Street Food Map

The Hanoi Street Food Guide: What You Need to Know

Vietnamese meals generally consist of a few appetizers, a main dish, and then something sweet for dessert. You should wash it all down with Vietnamese coffee, which comes in a number of ways including the rather unique egg coffee.
At the weekend, Hanoi’s night market on Hang Dao Walking Street (sometimes called Hanoi’s street food market) is also a great place to get street food. Some people are super funny about eating from markets. I personally would rather trust somewhere where I can see exactly what they are doing and love eating at markets but it’s up to you. If you do go, try the grilled pork skewers. They cost about 10,000VND (30p / 40 cents) and are very tasty.
Other street foods you should really try in Hanoi include bun cha, grilled Vietnamese sausage and Vietnamese pate with sticky rice. Trust me, they’re great.
This tour focuses on the street food of Hanoi’s Old Quarter as it’s easily walkable and can be done in one evening. If you have more time, you should branch out to other districts of the city – there’s always a tasty bite around the corner in this city.

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15x best street food in Hanoi – Dishes, locations & tours

The capital of Vietnam has many special sights to see. But what they are most proud of here is the food. Much of this food can be found in modern or upscale restaurants, but often the best dishes are not here, but on the street. Before you hit the road, it is useful to first check where you can find the best street food in Hanoi. After all, you want to eat at hygienic places that prepare good quality food. If you don’t dare to do this yourself or if you also want to learn more about the real food culture in the city, go on a real street food tour with a local guide.

What to expect

Important to know when eating street food
Street food tour

Best street food dishes and restaurants

Street drinking scene

Not only in Hanoi, but throughout Vietnam there is a huge street food culture. It is something that is in the identity of Vietnamese and something that they are extremely proud of. But what exactly is it and what can you expect?

Street food can literally be a food stall on the sidewalk. You see them everywhere, from quiet neighborhoods to busy motorways. Depending on what they prepare for food, they are equipped with all necessary cooking equipment, such as a gas stove with gas bottles, a BBQ and pots, pans, soup bowls, plates and cutlery. They often place low stools and tables around the stall where their guests can eat and which can also be quickly stored.

But what is often also counted under street food are the people who use their own home to cook food from there and sell it directly on the street. Here too you often find low plastic stools on the sidewalk in front of the house.

Many street food stalls only sell 1 dish. This ensures that all dishes can always be made fresh. What all the street food stalls also have in common is that it is cheap. You often pay no more than 1.5 dollars for a bowl of noodle soup and 1 dollar for a filled baguette.

Important to know when eating street food in Hanoi

You can use our list below of selected street food restaurants in Hanoi , but you can also join a stall on the street yourself. For hygiene, food safety and whether it is a place with good food, it is important to check 3 points before you sit down:

1. Is the arrangement of tables, utensils and cutlery clean and organized? Check whether the cutlery, plates, bowls and tables appear (slightly) clean. It may be useful to clean the cutlery yourself with a napkin or cloth before using it.

2. Are the ingredients or dishes beautifully presented, colorful and fresh? See what the ingredients are like. Does it seem fresh? Is it somewhat shielded and are there flies?

3. Is there a group of local customers eating or waiting to be served? Probably the best way to tell if it’s a good place for street food in Hanoi is when it has many local customers sitting there. First of all, this means that the food is tasty, but it is just as important that there is a flow. This means the food does not remain too long waiting for the next customer and is therefore always freshly made.

If the answers are “yes”, you have chosen a good place.

Street food tour Hanoi

Do you not trust to go out on your own? Or do you want to try and learn more about the food culture in Hanoi? Then explore the local street food in Hanoi with a guide. It is one of the best things to do in Hanoi . Not only delicious, but also a very interesting and fun way to learn more about the city and Vietnam. Because a street food tour in Hanoi is more than tasting dishes, it is also a tour where you will explore the old streets and learn more about the culture and history. A local guide can give you great insights and show you hidden street and alleys.

Local Vietnam’s Street Food Tour in Hanoi

Join our local street food tour in Hanoi, either in a small group or a private tour. Our local guide will bring you to some great and safe street food places and show you hidden streets and local culture. It is our biggest recommendation in Hanoi, where you explore the old streets in a fun (and tasty) way.

Pho is arguably the most popular street food in Hanoi and one of the best known Vietnamese dishes. It’s a rice noodle soup and it comes in two main varieties: pho bo (beef pho) and pho ga (chicken pho). Hanoi is more known for pho ga, but both types are widely available in the city, especially for breakfast and lunch.

Best Pho Street Food in Hanoi

Phở Gia Truyền – This street food stall in Hanoi is on every “must-eat pho” list. As soon as you arrive you will realize how popular it is from the long line of people waiting for their pho.

Pho Thin – A little way from the center of Hanoi’s Old Quarter , but many people still make this trip.

Banh mi is the most famous Vietnamese dish outside the country. Strictly speaking, it is the Vietnamese word for bread, but people use it to mean sandwich. A small French baguette is split lengthwise and filled with a variety of ingredients such as liver pate, cold cuts, pickled vegetables, cucumber slices, and cilantro. It is a light sandwich usually eaten as a snack.

Best Banh Mi street food in Hanoi

Bánh Mì 25 – Google “best banh mi in Hanoi” and this place pops up often. Bánh Mì 25 is one of the most popular banh mi stores in Hanoi, especially among tourists, based on more than 5,300 TripAdvisor reviews. But that does not mean that it is touristy and not authentic. Filter reviews by language and you’ll read that most Vietnamese reviewers give it an “excellent” rating as well.

Bami An Bread – In this small cozy street food restaurant you can get delicious sandwiches. They also have many different vegetarian choices.

Bami Bread – They sell their sandwiches as “Hoi-An style” banh mi. Bread baked in Hoi An is different from other parts of the country. They are thinner, crunchier and lighter.

Normally, Vietnamese people serve Bun Cha for breakfast because it takes 12 hours for the rice noodles to ferment at night. Due to the fermentation, the noodles have a light and pleasantly spicy edge, which contrasts nicely with the fresh herbs, garlic and sweet dipping sauce.

Best Bun Cha street food in Hanoi

Bun Cha Huong Lien – The most famous Bun Cha restaurant in Vietnam. Anthony Bourdain once brought ex-president Barack Obama here! They even changed their menu with the Obama set.

Bun Cha Ta – One of the most popular Bun Cha street food restaurants in Hanoi.

4. Bun Bo Nam Bo

Bun Bo Nam Bo (beef noodles in the south) is also known as smoked beef vermicelli. Instead of using refined broth like Pho, it is eaten without soup, but with sauce. In addition, fresh raw vegetables, fried onion, roasted peanuts and bean sprouts are indispensable elements.

Best Bun bo nam bo street food in Hanoi

Bun bo nam bo – For some of the best bun bo nam bo in town. The narrow restaurant is well back, so there is plenty of seating for diners to partake of their excellent bowls of vermicelli noodles and beef.

5. Bun Ca Ro

Bun Ca Ro means fish noodle soup. The fish is cut into slices or made into fish cakes and baked so that it is slightly crispy on the outside. Bun noodles are medium thickness rice noodles. The broth is usually quite light. In Hanoi they often also put tomatoes and a piece of pineapple in it.

Best Bun Ca Ro in Hanoi

Bun Ca Sam Cay Si – Very tasty fishcakes and Bun Ca. Tasty local food on a stool. Quick service.

Like bun cha and banh cuon, cha ca is a dish associated with Hanoi. It refers to grilled turmeric marinated catfish served with a mountain of fresh dill.

Best Cha Ca La Vong in Hanoi

Chả Cá Lã Vọng – It was popularized and maybe even invented over a hundred years ago by the restaurant Chả Cá Lã Vọng. That restaurant still exists in Hanoi, although it has had its best days. People often complain about the service, hygiene and poor value for money.

Chả Cá Lão Ngư – One of Cha Ca’s favorite. Pricing is fair. Service is fine. However, it is often packed with guests in the afternoon.

7. Banh Cuon

Banh cuon is delicious as a light breakfast or afternoon snack and is a combination of ground beef (chicken, shrimp or pork), chopped ear mushroom, onions, Vietnamese ham (cha lua), steamed bean sprouts and cucumbers in a steamed rice flour leaf.

Best Banh Cuon street food in Hanoi

Bánh Cuốn Bà Xuân – The cafe was made famous by Mrs. Xuan who operated it many years before her death, with her daughter now taking over the duties and cooking at the front of the store.

8. Hanoi BBQ

When you walk through the old streets you will probably see them everywhere, the BBQ stalls and BBQ restaurants. There are different versions, but the most popular is that a mini BBQ is placed on your table and that you can choose what meat, fish, shellfish and vegetables you want. The meat is served raw so that you can barbecue it yourself on your table. Often the employees help or show how it works and when the grid gets dirty, they replace it.

Best Hanoi BBQ in Hanoi

The best streets for a BBQ are: Nướng Xuân Xuân – 47 Mã Mây and Phương Mực – Số 5 Hàng Đậu . Walk through the Old Quarter and you will see plenty of stalls and restaurants.

9. Mien Luon Xao

Mien Luon is a popular street food in Hanoi, made from eel noodles. There are 2 types of eel noodles: “dry eel noodles” and “eel noodle soup”. Dry eel noodles are made by frying oil with dried onion, then adding eel and mushrooms. Glass noodles complete the dish. It is usually served with raw vegetables. Eel noodle soup is made with a broth of braised eel bones with salt and ginger. Eel and glass noodles are served in the broth along with other raw vegetables.

Best Mien Luon Xao in Hanoi

Mien luon No.1 Chan Cam – In the center and therefore accessible to travelers.

10. Bun Dau Mam Tom

he famous noodle that not every foreigner is brave enough to try because of the strong smell of the shrimp sauce that is served with it. If the smell is too strong, ask for an alternative sauce. Like durian, people get addicted to it very easily and it is one of the favorite foods of the locals, especially those from the north. Bun dau mam tom has three main ingredients: vermicelli noodles, fried tofu, and shrimp paste. Often served with different pieces of meat that you can dip in the sauce.

Best Bun Dau Mam Tom in Hanoi

Phat Loc Alley – The place for Bun Dau, located in the Old Quarter. At less than 100 meters in length, Phat Loc Alley is always busy, especially in the afternoon.

11. Xoi Xeo

Xoi xeo is one of Hanoi’s best-selling breakfast dishes because it is both easy to eat, nutritious and convenient to take away. Each grain of white, shiny sticky rice is covered with a layer of green beans, sprinkled with a little oil, and fragrant dried onions. It is also possible to add different toppings, such as, boiled chicken, marinated pork belly, or preserved eggs.

Best Xoi Xeo

Xoi Yen is selling Xoi Xeo from 15,000 and you can add different kind of toppings.

12. Banh Goi

Another popular street food in Hanoi dish is Banh Goi. Banh Goi is a typical cake or dumpling from Hanoi, especially eaten in autumn and winter, when it is getting colder. The crust is made mainly from wheat flour and is crispy. The filling is usually made from minced pork and some vegetables. The cake is served hot with raw vegetables, pickles and sweet and sour dipping sauce.

Best Banh Goi

Quan Goc Da is a good place to get Banh Goi.

13. Bun Thang

Bun thang is a typical Hanoi dish with bold flavors and famous for its sophisticated and elegant style of the local cuisine. It is a soup made of 20 ingredients, including rice vermicelli with egg, pork, chicken, dried shrimp, shrimp paste, squid, coriander, spring onion, ginger, mushroom, beet, fish sauce, vinegar and sugar candy.

Best Bun Thang

You can find Bun Thang anywhere within Hanoi Old Quarter, but Bun Thang Ba Duc is recommended, as you can enjoy a generous bowl for about VND 30,000.

14. Oc Luoc

Oc Luoc are hot boiled snails dipped with sweet and sour sauce to bring up the taste of ginger and lemongrass. It may sound a bit strange and exotic to eat snails, but you should give it a try, because it is extremely popular in Hanoi.

Best Oc Luoc

There are a few places where you can eat snails, but the most well known in the center is at 1 Dinh Liet .

15. Hoa qua dam sua chua

Street food in Hanoi is more than just noodles, rice, baguettes and hot dishes. You can also go there for dessert. A favorite among the inhabitants of Hanoi are the yogurt with fruit desserts, or Hoa qua dam sua chua. In addition to yogurt and fruit, you can also choose from different toppings, such as jelly, ice cream and sprinkles.

Best Hoa qua dam sua chua

To Tich street is full of dessert street food in Hanoi, with a lot of different choices.

On the corner of 5 Dinh Liet street you will find another great place for desserts, only serving in the evening and often very crowded.

Street drinking scene in Hanoi

Besides the culture of street food in Hanoi, you also have a drinking culture on the street. At the end of the working day, friends and colleagues gather to eat first and then drink. When you walk through the streets of the old quarter you will see this in enough places. There are certain street stalls that sell local draft beer, also known as Bia Hoi. With a price from 30 cents, this is also the cheapest beer in the world. So if you are looking for nightlife in Hanoi , it is definitely recommended to sit with the locals at least once to drink beer. Read all about Bia Hoi in Hanoi here.

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The Best Hanoi Street Food Tour + Runners Up 2024

by Kev Shepherd

the very best Hanoi Street Food Tour gets you some bun cha

Exploring a new city can be daunting. We explore why street food tours are amazing on day one and show you the best Hanoi street food tour in the whole city.

Banner Title

Necessary Spacing

If you want a more conventional Hanoi street food tour then go with ‘Hanoi Explore Travel’.
If you’re looking for a little less conventional Hanoi street food tour and to experience where the locals go then check out ‘Crossing Vietnam Tour’.
All of the Hanoi street food tours in this article are in Old Town so check out this budget accommodation or this nice hotel in Old Town for ultra convenience.

The Best Hanoi Street Food Tour (There’s 2…)

Hanoi Explore Travel: Guided Street Food Tour – Check Prices & Book Here

Crossing Vietnam Tour: Old Town Street Food Tour – Check Prices & Book Here

We went on 2 different street food tours in Hanoi to see if there was a big difference between them and we were actually very surprised about how different they were. You would imagine that the best food in Hanoi would be similar, meaning that the tours would also be similar.

Bun Cha on the best Hanoi Street Food Tour

However, between the two Hanoi street food tours we went on there was only one meal that was the same and even then it tasted quite different as it was in a different restaurant.

Read More: Like Food?! Then Check Out These Immense Cooking Classes In Hanoi

Not only that, the whole vibe of the tours was completely different. For example, the first tour (Hanoi Explore Travel) was quite a bit of walking, which included famous landmarks of the city and famous well-known places to eat.

Kev eating spicy food on a Hanoi Street Food Tour

Whereas the second street food tour (Crossing Vietnam Tour) was much more of a local experience with small restaurants which were mostly full of locals rather than tourists.

Either way, both were absolutely amazing and I am absolutely sure that you will have an incredible time on either tour. Keep reading though as I go into more detail on both tours individually so you can make your mind up on the best Hanoi street food tour for you.

Read More: Incredible 2-Night Halong Bay Cruises!

Hanoi Explore Travel – Guided Hanoi Street Food Tour

We chose to go on the afternoon Hanoi street food tour. Unlike other tours you may go on, choosing a time actually does alter the tour in some ways. Food in Hanoi is served at particular times and certain food is not served in the afternoon and some are not served in the mornings.

Tasting The Best Vietnamese Snacks On A Hanoi Street Food Tour! [With Hanoi Explore Travel]

Either way, our guide arrived at our hotel (as we were in Old Town) and the tour started from there which was extremely convenient. We then proceeded to stop at 7 different venues plus a cheeky doughnut purchase as we were walking.

Stops & Food

Stop 1 – Ban Xeo
Stop 2 – Ban Pizza/Sticky Roll
Stop 3 – Pillow Cake/Prawn Pancake/Rolling Pho
Stop 4 – Bun Cha
Stop 5 – Ban Mi
Pit Stop – Street Doughnuts
Stop 6 – Coconut Ice Cream With Sticky Rice
Stop 7 – Egg Coffee

If you’re looking at this list and thinking ‘that’s a lot of food’ then you’re completely right! One thing I can say for certainty is you WILL NOT be hungry at the end of this Hanoi street food tour.

Read More: The Best Tailor In Hoi An To Visit

What really impressed me about this tour is how much information we learnt about the city and the food. I’ve always thought that street food tours are a brilliant way to get an introduction to the city but this one really went above and beyond what I was expecting.

A selection of local food on a Hanoi Street Food Tour

Things To Know

A Lot Of Walking – I don’t see this as a negative as it’s a walking tour and you get to see so much of the city. However, if you are mobility impaired then my other top pick has a lot less walking which might be a better option.

Final Thoughts About Hanoi Explore Travel

We thoroughly enjoyed this Hanoi street food tour and it was an absolutely fantastic introduction to the famous Old Town district in Hanoi (my favourite city in the world).

The beautiful old town during a Hanoi Street Food Tour

The tour was a very good length and had enough food to feed a whole army. The tour guide gave us so much information about the city and the food that we could comfortably order street food independently after this experience.

I highly recommend this tour and you can look at more reviews, availability and book here.

Read More: Check Out The Best Beaches In Hoi An!

Crossing Vietnam Tour – Old Quarter Food Tour

The very next day we were booked onto the Old Quarter Food Tour with Crossing Vietnam Tour. We were very much expecting this to be almost identical to the tour above but how wrong we were.

Why To Get A Hanoi Street Food Tour! With Crossing Vietnam Tour

We had to walk to the company office to start the tour, however, this is in Old Town and was literally a 5-minute walk from our hotel so this is not an issue.

We started the tour immediately as we arrived and the first stop was literally on the other side of the road. One of the very first things we were told about this tour was how it was geared much more towards eating where the locals eat.

You could sense this immediately as we walked under tarpaulins to reach our first stop. I, personally, love this approach as these are the places that you always overlook. Tourists are well known to keep walking until a well-lit restaurant with English writing comes into view (ourselves included).

Stop 1 – Crispy Pork/Mozerella Sticks
Stop 2 – Fried Bread
Stop 3 – BBQ Pork & Sausage
Stop 4 – Dessert/Fruit/Yoghurt/Sticky Rice
Stop 5 – Ban Xeo With Pork
Stop 6 – Egg Coffee

So, nearly every single thing was different from the first tour we went on. This meant that we had a completely new experience. Not just in the type of restaurants we were going to but also in the food that we were trying.

A selection of BBQ on a Hanoi Street Food Tour

Of course, the egg coffee was the same as this is so famous in Hanoi that no Hanoi street food tour would be complete without it! Definitely try this, by the way, I thought it was going to be horrible but actually, it was immense.

This was actually slightly less food than the previous tour BUT we wasted quite a lot of the first day as we couldn’t finish it all by stop 4 so do not think this is a disadvantage!

Not All Walking – There is a lot less walking on this tour and there is even a section in which you will be taken by motorbike or car to the next location. This means this tour is much more suited to people wanting to prioritise the food over the walking aspect of the tour.

Final Thoughts About Cross Vietnam Tour

I really enjoyed the more local approach of this Hanoi street food tour so if this is the kind of thing you are looking for then look no further.

You also get to try some of the less known/famous Hanoi street food which means you may have a more unique experience than others taking more conventional Hanoi street food tours.

Check out availability, reviews and book here.

Read More: How To Travel To Hoi An From Hanoi

Other Hanoi Street Food Tours

Walking tour of hanoi old quarter with food.

This 3-hour Hanoi street food tour tries to incorporate the walking side of the walking tour much more into the tour as a whole. They try to show you loads of the winding streets of Old Town as well as taste the amazing food that this area has to offer.

It’s another Hanoi street food tour with incredible reviews so check it out here.

Street Food Tour With Cyclo

If you don’t know what a cyclo is then it is basically a bike with a large carriage at the front to sit inside to taxi you around. This Hanoi street food tour starts with a 30-minute cyclo tour around the famous Hoan Kiem Lake!

If you are looking to do a cyclo tour whilst you are in Hanoi then this is a fantastic way to tick off two activities in one go. Check out this tour right here!

Read More: The Sticky Waterfall In Chiang Mai – Proper FUN!

Intrepid Urban Adventures Street Food Tour

This is a standard 3-hour Hanoi street food tour in a small group that takes you around the old town and samples the local food. There are a few incredible locations on this tour which you wouldn’t find by yourself.

Check out this very highly rated Hanoi street food tour right here.

Read More: All You Need To Know About The Phu Quoc Cable Car

Why Take A Street Food Tour?

If you are wondering if it is worth the price then here are some of the best reasons to take the plunge and book your tour today.

Introduction To The City – Jumping on a street food tour is a very good way to be introduced to any city you visit. You get to build your confidence talking to street vendors and not just the expensive westernised restaurants.

Hassle-Free – When you travel around cities like Hanoi you will be continuously hassled by sellers of various things. On a tour, it is clear you have a guide so you are left well alone.

Learn The Local Food Language – This seems small but in Hanoi nearly all of the writing is in Vietnamese with no English translation available. After our food tours, we realised that this food is literally available everywhere, we just didn’t know what we were looking for.

Find Hidden Gems – Quite a few times we found ourselves walking down small alleyways and into areas we would not even have seen if we were on our own. We would then find out that these places are the most famous in all the city for that particular food or drink.

Not Getting Ripped Off – Before we went on our Hanoi street food tour, we would usually go into restaurants with English translation which is always much more expensive. But even when we tried to go for street food we ended up getting much more food than we actually wanted because of the language barrier (and they do this on purpose sometimes) so we had to pay a lot more than we wanted to.

Finding Famous Landmarks – On some of these Hanoi street food tours, you may actually find yourself being shown some of the incredible landmarks in Hanoi. Just another bonus of the walking aspect of these tours.

Specific To Hanoi – Hanoi Old Town is hectic. I absolutely love it but it can be very daunting and quite intimidating to the new arrival. After one of these Hanoi street food tours, you’ll basically be a pro in Hanoi Old Town which is very important to make the most of this incredible city.

Read More: CAMBODIA – The Incredible Angkor Wat Sunrise

What To Expect On A Hanoi Street Food Tour

No Fancy Establishments – You will not be going into air-conditioned restaurants with chairs and tables. This is a street food tour and you will stay on the street. Be this on small plastic chairs on the pavement or not sitting down at all for the quick stops!

A Decent Amount Of Walking – Be prepared for at least 4km of walking. It can be less and more than this but it’s a walking tour as well as a food tour so I don’t recommend flip-flops.

Lots Of Food – These tours come with A LOT of food. Do not eat just beforehand as you will ruin your appetite…and you’re gonna need it.

Water Throughout – The guide will not order water for you but many of these restaurants offer free drinking water. Make sure you either bring water or tell your guide you need some as they will not order it without you asking.

Lots Of Information – You will get a lot of information about the town, the streets and the local food throughout your tour.

Read More: The Best Cooking Classes In Siem Reap

What To Bring For A Hanoi Street Food Tour

You don’t need anything particularly special for a Hanoi street food tour but here are the things that we think will make your tour that little bit more enjoyable and comfortable!

Jade has used this backpack throughout the world on our travels and we have both been very impressed with the design. It comfortably holds a 3L water reservoir in the specifically designed pouch and contours very nicely over your back to distribute the weight well. I have always had a full camera bag so Jade usually has to take enough for two people which it can do. It's a very reasonable price for a very good day pack.

The perfect travel companion! The Panasonic Lumix LX10 fits easily into your pocket, captures beautiful 20.1MP images, records gorgeous 4K footage, and does this all through the brilliant 24-72mm Leica lens. Level up your travel photography today!

Walking boots are good for some situations but sometimes you don't need heavy, warm, and waterproof shoes to get the job done. These walking shoes by Akk will keep your feet a nice temperature and comfortable for those long days sightseeing and partying in the sun!

We all know what sunscreen is and we all know how important it is but why go with Sun Bum? They are cruelty-free and are compliant with the Hawaii 104 Reef Act meaning that you will be helping decrease the amount of damage sunscreens have to the environment that you are swimming in. If that hasn't convinced you then click through to find out even more.

Ranger Ready Picaridin Insect Repellent Spray

Do not let a brilliant experience be ruined by pesky insects biting you all over your body. Insect repellant is not expensive but not having it can affect much more expensive activities. Pick up a bottle of this Picaridin bug spray and enjoy your travel.

We all know the benefits of antibacterial hand spray, even before the pandemic. These are especially important for backpackers as you will find yourself in situations where soap and water might not be at hand. These small spray bottles have been specifically designed for travel and can easily fit into luggage and day packs.

This will probably be the last selfie stick you ever buy! It has a sturdy aluminum telescopic 40" range, a tripod for propping your phone up in better locations, a detachable wireless shutter button so you can control when all pictures are taken, and extends down to a brilliantly compact size making it perfect for any type of travel.

If you're into hiking, walking or general outdoor activities, then you need to grab this water reservoir for your backpack. It holds p to 3L of liquid and slides easily into the pouch in the Osprey backpacks. There's a bite valve on the straw part and has a wide opening for easy filling and cleaning.

Anywhere tourists travel to in high numbers will be hotspots for thieves. Having your personal documents, cards, and cash in one of these discreet travel wallets is a very good idea for peace of mind. This one also comes with RFID blocking so people will not be able to scan cards through your clothing.

We have been using Anker portable chargers for years and highly recommend their easy design and reasonable size. This super cool 10,000mAh battery pack has magnetic wireless charging capability to help minimise wires and hassle even further. This makes it extremely versatile and helpful for those long periods away from a socket. A must-buy for any backpacking traveller.

Other Things To Do In Hanoi

Tam coc, hoa lu & mua caves full-day trip.

Some people might find being in the Hanoi Old Town a bit too much after a couple of days. So, what better way to escape the hustle and bustle by taking a tour through the gorgeous and tranquil countryside surrounding Hanoi.

If this sounds like your kind of thing then check out the price and reviews here.

Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre

The Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is an absolute must-visit when you are in Hanoi. You can pre-book your tickets here or save some money and get them at the venue on the day.

Halong Bay has to be the most famous activity in Hanoi, even though it is a 2.5-hour drive away from the city. The most famous thing at Halong Bay has to be the cruises around the bay. You can get a single-day tour or a multi-day tour on a luxury boat.

I highly recommend at least checking out both options as it will be the highlight of your trip. Take a look at our review of an incredible luxury overnight cruise in Halong Bay . You can also take a look at these great hotel options in the area.

Read More: Our Review Of This 1 Day Halong Bay Tour

Hanoi Old Town

All of the Hanoi street food tours in this guide are situated in the Old Town so hopefully, you’ll be well acquainted after your Hanoi street food tour.

If you decide not to do a Hanoi street food tour then you simply must make sure to walk through these winding streets at least once whilst on your trip to Hanoi!

One minute you will have discovered a hip bar down a hidden alleyway and be sipping on cocktails overlooking the bustling street and the next you’ll be ordering 30cent beers on a plastic chair with karaoke and partying all around.

Hanoi Night Market

This is a great little market on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, however, I would highly recommend going on Saturday. Check out our full guide here or watch the video below!

Read More: Check Out The Phu Quoc Night Market Here & The Hoi An Night Market Here!

Where To Stay In Hanoi

There really is only one place to stay in Hanoi and that is the Old Town. This is where all of the main attractions are located (including all of these Hanoi street food tours).

Click on the hotel deals below to find the best accommodation in Hanoi!

Budget Accommodation – Old Quarter View Hostel

The best hostel in the whole of Hanoi has to be the Old Quarter View Hostel. It has everything you would expect from a seriously high-rated hostel, including; clean bathrooms, clean rooms, comfortable bunks and good facilities.

It only has mixed dorms so if you are looking for single-gender rooms then look here.

Hotel Accommodation – Hanoi Hotel Royal

There are so many hotels in Hanoi that it is difficult to choose the best one for this article. However, make sure to check out the Hanoi Hotel Royal as this is one of my absolute favourited available right now.

Boutique Acommodation – Oriana Boutique Hotel & Spa

Boutique? Spa? Need I say more? Check Out Oriana Boutique Hotel & Spa for the absolute pinnacle of comfort and style.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a hanoi steet food tour worth it.

Absolutely. Not only do you get to learn about the incredible food of Hanoi but you also get a brilliant introduction to this incredible city which really set you up for the remainder of your stay.

How Much Is A Hanoi Street Food Tour?

Currently around $25 – $40. If it is more than that there are probably better options.

How Long Is A Hanoi Street Food Tour?

Nearly always 3 hours.

How Much walking Is On A Hanoi Street Food Tour?

I would say that they average around 4km but this can be much less and somewhat more than this depending on the tour.

How Much Food Do You Get On A Hanoi Street Food Tour?

If it’s a good tour (which the two in this article are) then absolutely LOADS! Always too much to actually eat, for me anyway.

That’s it, folks. Let me know if this article has been helpful and if you decided to take any of the tours discussed in this article. Also, let us know if you have taken a different one so we can add it to this list!

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8 Best Food Tours in Hanoi With Local Guides 2023

This website contains no sponsored content. The content is written entirely on my own and is based on my personal experience and extensive research. This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the disclaimer for more information.

Want help selecting the best food tours in Hanoi? I have got you covered! In this article, you will get information on the 10 best food tours and eating experiences of Hanoi all led by locals – so be assured of a great food experience without the risk of a tourist trap.

Don’t have time to read through the 10 Hanoi food tour options? No worries – Small-Group Hanoi Street Food Tour with a Real Foodie is the best Hanoi food tour with a smashing 5-star rating with over 1700 reviews!

My husband and I are crazy foodies and in our own different ways. My husband eats everything under the sun while I am a strict vegetarian. In fact, our research on traveling to any place begins with the food options there and we absolutely make it a point to try out local food on all our trips. In fact, we prefer starting off a new city adventure with a food tour as it’s the best way to directly connect with the soul of the city.

Plus because I am a vegetarian, it lets me figure out the availability of food options for those with dietary preferences while my husband gets to try the whole gamut of local food offerings!

In any case a win-win for you!

Let’s get started with exploring the best food tours in Hanoi – there are 8 on this list with brilliant ratings and offerings – so you can go ahead and book one right away!

#1 Top Pick

Small Group Hanoi Street Food Tour with a Real Foodie

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Best walking street food tour in the Hanoi Old Quarter Taste bun cha, pho, banh mi, coffee, finger foods and dessert

Hanoi By Night Foodie Motorbike Tours

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Experience the thrill of exploring Hanoi on a motorbike Taste the best Bun Cha, Pho, salty & sweet donuts and more

Private Hanoi Street Food Walking Tour With Real Foodie

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Best private tour Enjoy tastings of pho, bun cha, spring roll, coffee and more + load yourself with a full meal

Best Food Tours in Hanoi 2023 – Reviews and Recommendations

# 1 small group hanoi street food tour with a real foodie.

1701 reviews | 5 Star Rating | 3 hours | BOOK NOW

Go hungry as you will be eating all the way on your walk around the Old Quarter. It’s crazy how many different types of food you get to taste on this tour right from – the classic Vietnamse pho or bun cha ie. rice noodle soup with beef, chicken, grilled pork even a crazy taste of snail. You also try out staples like dry noodles and sticky rice with a sumptuous bites of donuts, steamed pancakes or Vietnamese sandwiches aka Banh Mi.

“Chung was one of the best tour guides we have ever had! We tried bun cha, sugar cane juice, banhi mi, rice pancakes, green papaya salad, egg drinks, and lots of finger food. Chung was so knowledgeable, had great interpersonal skills, and was kind and perceptive. We learned a lot about Vietnam and Hanoi and had a great time walking around even though it was super hot! Would recommend this tour to anyone coming to Hanoi.” – Elizabeth_D | Read more reviews

What makes the tour so popular is the guide’s love for food and an elaborate knowledge of the city.

If you are a vegetarian like me, you don’t have to worry as the tour can easily accommodate your dietary preferences. Just inform in advance!

The tour is also happy to welcome infants onboard and is usually conducted in a small group of 8 and operates twice a day.

This tour is easily the best Hanoi street food tour for someone who loves a deep dive into local cuisine coupled with a scenic walk around the Hoan Kiem Lake – that too, without feeling rushed.

Book Small Group Hanoi Street Food Tour with a Real Foodie

#2 Hanoi Old Quarter Walking Street Food – Small Group Tour

438 reviews | 5 Star Rating | 3 hours | BOOK NOW

This tour is a proper walking tour that takes you around all the small streets and lanes of the Hanoian Old Quarter while also delivering on its promise of excellent Hanoi street food.

The reason why this tour may suit you better than the tour above is that this tour operates 10 times a day so you can easily accommodate it in your Hanoi itinerary.

” The morning food tour was wonderful. Until this point we could not seem to find food we liked but the tour filled us in on what to order and where to find it. The chosen restaurants had delicious food and our guide was great…friendly, knowledgeable, and spoke good English. Part of the tour was an egg coffee making class….great fun and delicious” Catherine_D | Read more reviews

On this tour, you would be delighted to find the famous Vietnamese Bun Cha, Pho, Banh mi as well as fresh spring rolls from places that you would hardly know about or dare to try.

The guide also encourages you to make your own egg coffee to make your overall experience thrilling.

I think that if it’s your first time in Hanoi and you have no idea how to cross the streets, find your way or look for tasty satisfying local meals – start with this tour.

The guide is not only knowledgeable but also orients tourists on how to cross the streets, introduces the tourists on trade-specific 36 guilds of Hanoi Old Quarter, etc.

Book Hanoi Old Quarter Walking Street Food

#3 Private Hanoi Street Food Walking Tour With Real Foodie

460 reviews | 5 Star Rating | 3 hours | BOOK NOW

Hate group tours but still want to do a walking tour? Here’s the perfect find for you – a private food tour of Hanoi. So you can go with your partner, your kids or your parents and the guide will help you walk around at your own pace and comfort.

In fact, the guide may also be able to accommodate your specific ‘tastes’. The start time is also flexible. So book this private tour as per your schedule and convenience.

“Linh was a fantastic guide and took us to a huge variety of different food stops, even tailoring it to our specific tastes and considered what we had already tried. Very knowledgeable and gave us lots of information about Hanoi and the history of some of places we visited.” Will_S | Read more reviews

The private tour typically lets you taste Pho, Bun Cha, Banh Mi and plenty of other local dishes – savoury and sweet. After spending about 2.5 hours in the lanes and stalls of the Old Quarter, it takes you to Café Giang – the place that invented the famous egg coffee.

What’s amazing about this tour is that it not only includes tastings but a full proper meal (unlike the tours above!) Go hungry to do justice to this tour.

Book Private Hanoi Street Food Walking Tour with Real Foodie

#4 Hanoi By Night Foodie Motorbike Tours

289 reviews | 5 Star Rating | 4 hours | BOOK NOW

This motorbike-led tour is an excellent way to get a first-hand feel of riding through the crazy traffic of Hanoi, exploring all the major areas while also eating the diverse range of local Vietnamese food.

This tour lets you taste a wide variety of dishes like Banh Cuon (steamed roll cake), Bun Cha (grilled pork with vermicelli noodles), and Banh Ran Ngot (salty and sweet donuts).

But the real reason why you would love this tour is because it covers a much larger area than the Hanoi Old Quarter.

“Su and Linh were the best guides. We ate at the best places. Still thinking about all the delicious food to be honest. The tour on the motorbike was hands down one of the best experiences in Hanoi. Worth every penny for such an unforgettable experience. Don’t miss out. Recommending to anyone who will listen. So good. Thank you Linh and Su!” Belinda| Read more reviews

If you stay in the Old Quarter, you get a free pick-up else you can meet right outside the Hanoi Opera House.

The tour starts with you being provided high-quality helments with visor, face masks and even a raincoat if required.

The drivers are all professional and the bikes used are spacious and in great condition.

You will be provided with coffee or tea as well as alcoholic beverages which are otherwise not included in other tours.

The tour takes you through a large geographical area starting from

a family-run restaurant
busy lanes of the Old Quarter,
Ba Dinh square (quick pass by)
Long Bien (Across the red river)
the famous train street.

The only downside is that infants and kids can’t be taken along on this tour.

But it is easily the best way to get the best overview of Hanoian food, culture, architecture and city highlights in just a few hours.

Book Hanoi By Night Foodie Motorbike Tours

#5 Hanoi Food Lovers Walking Tour: Street Food Experience with 5 Food Stops

412 reviews | 4.5 Star Rating | 3 hours | BOOK NOW

This Hanoi food tour adds some touristy attractions to its offerings. It combines food with a visit to the local attractions of Vietnam. It is conducted as part of a small group of up to 12 people.

If you are wondering where to eat in Hanoi, check out this tour as it lets you taste not only the famous dishes like Bun Cha and Banh Mi, but also try out seasonal fruits, shop for local spices etc.

“We started our trip with this food tour so that we could revisit foods we enjoyed. San was an amazing tour guide. Very clear, made sure we didn’t get left behind and made extra efforts to make sure we were comfortable and happy. Would strongly recommend! An amazing experience” Audric_S| Read more reviews

The tour as the name suggests takes you on 5 key stops.

The tour starts with you visiting the lanes around the famous wholesale indoor market – Dong Xuan. Here you sample street food delicacies while also trying out seasonal fruits.

Next, you enter the chaotic buzz of the Old Quarter where you stop for sumptuous tastings of the best Vietnamese food in Hanoi – a bun cha, a fermented pork roll, and a fresh fruit salad.

The Hanoi street food closes with egg coffee in a secret coffee house or a cold beer in one of the most happening areas of Hanoi.

An impressive highlight of this tour is that the entire street food tour of Hanoi is conducted in a carbon-neutral manner and runs twice a day.

Book Hanoi Food Lovers Walking Tour: Street Food Experience with 5 Food Stops

#6 Hanoi Old Quarter Vegetarian Food Tour

9 reviews | 4.4 Star Rating | 3-3.5 hours | BOOK NOW

Are you looking for Vegetarian food in Hanoi? Are you an Indian who generally only eats vegetarian food and doesn’t know where to look for vegetarian food in Hanoi old quarter?

This Vegetarian Food Hanoi tour is ideal for you.

The tour comes in two attractive options

a tasting tour
and a sightseeing tour concluding with a buffet meal in a restaurant in Hanoi.

Plus the tour only needs a minimum of two people. So if you are travelling with a family or as a couple – it can work like your very own private food tour around Hanoi.

“We had the best time doing the vegetarian tour with Hoàng! He showed us the hidden spots of Hanoi and ended the tour in a lovely local café to have the best egg coffee. This tour can be done as a non-vegetarian too, you always have the option to choose between the vegetarian meal and the non-vegetarian. Definitely a recommendation for every food lover!” – Anonymous traveller on GetYourGuide | Read more reviews

This vegetarian food tour of Hanoi would open you up to the vast number of options you enjoy even as a vegetarian in Hanoi.

The first option – i.e. the vegetarian food tour in Hanoi Old Quarter lets you taste vegetarian Banh Mi, Spring rolls cooked with delicious mango, papaya, carrots, etc, Vietnamese vegetarian fried dumplings, Vietnamese traditional desserts, egg coffee and lovely unique steamed rice roll cake. Love the options! So do I!

The second option, on the other hand, lets a guide walk you around the Hanoi Old Quarter for about 1.5 hours with a stop on the way for egg coffee followed by a visit to a restaurant with a massive vegetarian buffet.

Keep lots of space in your tummy to be able to stuff everything from salads, soups, main dishes, rolls, fruit and coconut milk deserts – the menu literally changes every day to reflect Vietnamese cuisine’s diversity and seasonality in cooking.

The first option is suitable for those who want to walk around the town while exploring its food scene.

But if you hate multiple stops, and hate walking around for 3 hours, the second option of the vegetarian buffet meal is far more suitable.

Book Hanoi Old Quarter Vegetarian Food Tour

#7 Family Vietnamese Lunch

This option is a little different from all the options stated above because this tour is not about hopping around the town trying local food.

Instead, this tour lets you eat a local’s. home. The experience doesn’t involve walking. But it is still private and very insightful.

This option is excellent for those travelling to Vietnam with kids or for older couples, senior citizens, etc.

“Had a wonderful evening with Ngoc. She is such a really nice host – the food was lovely prepared and also she gave me the chance to interact with her in the kitchen. Had great time and nice conversations. Totally recommend!” – Florian | Read more reviews

In this option, a local host cooks a local, delicious Vietnamese lunch for you. Most of the products used in the preparation of the lunch are homegrown.

This experience is also a little more personal and deep in terms of getting to know local Vietnamese culture.

The lunch is not just about food but also about chitchatting with the host (who by the way can speak English and French fluently!) and also trying out food items like pickles which you would otherwise not find on a Hanoi walking food tour.

Book Family Vietnamese Lunch

#8 Book Hanoian Dinner on Your Table

Don’t find dining with a local over lunch convenient? No problem, head out for dinner at this fun host’s place.

The menu is so elaborate that you are served the best food in Hanoi on your table. No need to walk around the crazy, loud town. Instead you can understand local cultures and customs while being hosted by a chatty, food-loving local.

“Thank you so much Viet for the lovely, generous and delicious dinner 🙏🏻 Our best dinner in Hanoi, being welcome by you and your beautiful family. We felt very privileged 😍 The food cooked by your wife was so tasty, many dishes we never tried before ! The conversation was so interesting, we learned a lot about Vietnamese culture and you have given us so many recommendations in Hanoi and Vietnam. It always feels special to meet like minded people around the world and be welcome like old friends 💕. A night we will remember ! A Must Do for sure!” Camille | Read more reviews

The menu is a lavish mix of typical Hanoian dishes like

Spring Rolls with pork and rice paper, Fried Tofu, Mix Boiled Vegetables, Omelette, pork skin and sour soup.

In addition to the delicious taste, personal experience and hospitality, the food served here is far more hygienic than the street food in Hanoi. So if you want to avoid tummy troubles, this is a far better yet equally engaging experience.

Book Hanoian Dinner on Your Table

Frequently Asked Questions – Famous food in Hanoi

What food is hanoi famous for.

The famous food in Hanoi is – Bun Cha i.e. rice vermicelli with barbequed pork, – pho – Vietnamese noodle soup, – Banh Mi – Vietnamese sandwich with baguette – Banh Cuon – rice rolls – Egg coffee

In addition to this you can also find classic Vietnamese spring rolls, a variety of soups, hotpots and fruit jelly desserts in Hanoi.

What is a typical breakfast, lunch and dinner in Vietnam?

Banh Cuon, Banh Mi, Pho or sticky rice forms are the most common breakfast options in Vietnam. For lunch and dinner, Vietnamese have noodles or sticky rice with meat or seafood with a side of stir-fried vegetables, sauce and soup. Bun Cha is a famous lunch option in Hanoi.

A typical Vietnamese meal is served in a family-style set-up. So all the preparations are put on the table and then the family members serve small portions into their own bowls or plates. Vietnamese meals also don’t comprise courses served in chronological order.

Is it safe to eat street food in Hanoi?

Street food in Vietnam is probably as safe or unsafe as street food in other developing countries. It may also be said that street food is probably no less safe than the food cooked in restaurants. If you have a sensitive stomach, it is best to avoid spicy food, food that doesn’t look hygienic or food that you are allergic to. Get a doctor’s advice to clear your doubts and protect yourself against an upset tummy.

But street food in Hanoi is enjoyed by thousands of tourists visiting Hanoi every single day. Its variety and flavour is the primary reason why it is so popular even amongst tourists and it is definitely worth trying. Of course, practice basic precautions like avoiding food that looks obviously unhygienic, allergic substances etc. Always drink bottled water.

Final Thoughts: Best Hanoi Street Food Tours

I hope that this guide on the best food tours in Hanoi helped you. To get the most for your money’s worth I recommend that you book Small Group Hanoi Street Food Tour with a Real Foodie . which has over 1700 stellar reviews.

Pro Tip: Before you book the tour, go through the details and the reviews by fellow travellers to see than the Hanoi tour company you go with meets your needs.

Each of the Hanoi street food tour companies mentioned in this post including the private Hanoi meals listed above are conducted by locals who speak excellent English.

To have the best experience, go with an open mind and an empty stomach! 🙂

Visiting Vietnam? Read more helpful articles

1 day in Hanoi – what to do, see and eat

What to do in Hanoi Old Quarter – A perfect guide

28 must-have apps for traveling to Vietnam

Saigon Skydeck – Is it worth it?

Vrushali Ketkar is a lawyer turned travel blogger. She has travelled to 14 countries. She travels like a regular working woman with family. Her lawyer-level research skills make her a destination expert and help her get the most out of my trips. Today, her travel articles and videos help thousands of people across the world plan their trips to various parts of the world.

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Top 15 Must-Try Hanoi Street Food Experiences | Best Tastes of Hanoi

Hanoi , Vietnam’s capital city, is known for its rich culture, history, and, most especially, its street cuisine. Hanoi has established a reputation as a foodie’s paradise, with hundreds of street food sellers spread across the city.

From the iconic Pho and Banh Mi to the lesser-known Banh Cuon and Bun Thang, Hanoi street food offers an extensive variety of tastes that are distinctive to the city. In this blog, we will highlight the top 20 Hanoi street foods for first-time tourists, as well as provide some useful tips for discovering the city’s bustling street food scene.

Related Article: Best Time To Visit Hanoi For Weather, Festivals, And Tourism

Criteria For Selecting Top 15 Hanoi Street Foods

Prior to getting started, let’s go through the criteria we used to identify the top 20 Hanoi street food experiences for Hanoi-lovers.

1. Popularity Among Locals And Tourists

We selected the street foods that are popular among both locals and tourists. These street foods have stood the test of time and have become an integral part of Hanoi’s culinary culture.

2. Uniqueness And Distinctiveness Of Flavor

Hanoi street food has a particular taste profile that is unique to the region. We chose street dishes that highlight these tastes and offer a unique culinary experience to foreign tourists.

3. Availability And Accessibility

We chose street cuisines that are widely available and can be obtained in most locations of the city. These street dishes are reasonably priced and a popular choice for both residents and visitors.

Let’s see how Paddy Doyle tasted Hanoi street foods!

Top 15 Hanoi Street Food Experiences For Satisfying Your Tastes

All of the foods listed below can be found at a reasonable cost in most locations of the city and provide a unique culinary experience for any tourist visiting Vietnam. Join us to find out which is the greatest match for you!

1. Pho – Vietnam’s National Dish

Pho is the most well-known Hanoi street food and is considered Vietnam’s national cuisine. A clear broth, rice noodles, and thinly sliced beef are used to make this beef noodle soup. It is served with fresh herbs, raw vegetables and lime wedges, which give the meal a zesty taste. Pho is available almost everywhere in Hanoi and is a must-try for any foreign tourist.

If you’re looking for the best pho in Hanoi, you have a lot of options. Pho Gia Truyen, Pho Ly Quoc Su and Pho Thin in the Old Quarter are both recognized for their classic beef pho, or Pho Bo, while Pho Suong and Pho Bat Dan in quieter areas serve delicious versions of the dish. Another renowned place for beef pho is Pho Thin Bo Ho in the Ba Dinh district. There are lots of wonderful options to discover in Hanoi, whether you want basic pho or something with a twist.

Pho Gia Truyen: 49 Bat Dan, Old Quarter, Hanoi
Pho Ly Quoc Su: 18 Le Truc, Hanoi
Pho Thin Bo Ho: 61 Dinh Tien Hoang, Hanoi

Tips: Try this Hanoi street food at different street vendors to experience the different flavors and styles of preparation.

Pho / “fuh.”

Pho is a popular Vietnamese dish that has captured the appetites and tastebuds of people all over the world. Learn more!

2. Banh Mi – From International Cuisine Culture To National Brand Equity

Banh Mi is a popular Vietnamese sandwich that has become internationally recognized. A crispy French baguette is loaded with pickled vegetables, pate, egg, meat or tofu, and fresh herbs to make this sandwich. This Vietnamese cuisine is a quick and easy dish that can be found on nearly every street corner in Hanoi.

Banh Mi 25 in Hanoi Old Quarter is the place to go for the best banh mi in town. This renowned restaurant delivers tasty, freshly-made Banh Mi with a variety of fillings such as pork, chicken, and tofu. Another excellent choice is Banh Mi Pho Co , which is located near Hoan Kiem Lake and has this best street food with crispy pig belly. Whether you’re a meat-eater or a vegetarian, Hanoi has plenty of tasty Banh Mi choices.

Banh Mi 25: 25 Hang Ca, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Banh Mi Pho Co: 38 Dinh Liet, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Tips: Check for street food stalls that serve freshly baked bread with a variety of meat fillings.

Banh Mi /ˌbɑːn ˈmiː/

Banh Mi is a Vietnamese sandwich that has acquired popularity both in Vietnam and beyond. Learn more!

3. Bun Cha – Grilled Pork With Noodles – Iconic Hanoi street food

Bun Cha is a dish of grilled pork served with vermicelli noodles, fresh herbs, and a dipping sauce. The pork is marinated in a sweet and flavorful mixture of fish sauce, sugar, and garlic. Bun Cha is a popular lunch choice for locals and can be found in most districts of Hanoi.

Bun Cha Huong Lien , widely known as “Obama Bun Cha” since the former US president – Barack Obama dined there during his visit to Hanoi, is one of the greatest spots to taste this exquisite cuisine. This restaurant in the Dong Da district provides superb Bun Cha with succulent pork patties and a tasty soup. Another excellent choice is Bun Cha Ta in the Old Quarter, which serves a good and reasonably priced version of the meal. While visiting Hanoi, be sure to include Bun Cha on your list of must-try delicacies!

Bun Cha Huong Lien: 24 Le Van Huu, Hanoi
Bun Cha Ta: 21 Nguyen Huu Huan, Hanoi

Tips: To achieve that authentic smoky flavor, look for street vendors who use charcoal grills.

Bun Cha is a typical Vietnamese dish that any foodie visiting Vietnam should experience. Learn more!

4. Nem Ran – Fried Spring Rolls

Nem Ran is a crispy fried spring roll with minced pork, mushrooms, and vermicelli noodles within. The dipping sauce for this famous street food is comprised of fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and chili. Nem Ran is a must-try street snack in Hanoi because of its crispy texture, flavorful stuffing, and tangy dipping sauce.

An excellent choice is Nem Ran Phan Boi Chau in Hoan Kiem, which serves a vegetarian version of the meal made with mushrooms and tofu. This is the ideal places to savour the crispy, delicious delights of Nem Ran while wandering Hanoi’s streets.

Nem Ran Phan Boi Chau: 18 Phan Boi Chau, Hanoi

Tips: Search for the street food stall that makes fresh spring rolls to order and serve them hot.

Wonder why Hanoi Old Quarter attracts most tourists? Learn more through our comprehensive Old Quarter guide now!

Nem Ran, commonly known as Vietnamese fried spring rolls, is a famous and tasty dish that any foodie visiting Vietnam should eat. Learn more!

5. Cha Ca – Grilled Fish with Dill

Cha Ca is a grilled fish dish that is marinated in turmeric and served with vermicelli noodles, fresh herbs, peanuts, and a sweet and sour dipping sauce. The fish is grilled on a charcoal stove and is infused with the flavors of dill, garlic, and onions. This Hanoi food is a specialty and is a popular choice for lunch or dinner.

To try some of the best Cha Ca in the city, head to Cha Ca La Vong , a restaurant that has been serving up the dish for over 100 years. Located in the Hanoi Old Quarter, this eatery offers a delicious version of Cha Ca with perfectly cooked fish and a savory, flavorful marinade. Another great spot is Cha Ca Thang Long , which offers a slightly different take on the dish with a mix of grilled fish and pork.

Cha Ca La Vong: 107 Nguyen Truong To, Hanoi
Cha Ca Thang Long: 6B Duong Thanh, Hanoi

Tips: Look for street vendors or small restaurants that use fresh fish and grill it over charcoal for the best flavor.

This meal is a must-try for visitors visiting Vietnam since it provides a special gastronomic experience unique to the country's northern area. Learn more!

6. Banh Cuon – Steamed Rice Rolls

Banh Cuon is a steamed rice bun with ground pork, mushrooms, and minced shallots within. These thin rice rolls are served with a fish sauce, sugar, and lime juice dipping sauce. This Hanoi street food is a popular breakfast choice in Hanoi and can be found in nearly every district.

Banh Cuon Gia Truyen Thanh Van , located in the Hanoi Old Quarter, serves some of the greatest Banh Cuon in town. For almost 25 years, this family-run restaurant has been serving exquisite Banh Cuon with soft, silky rice flour wrappers and a savory filling. Banh Cuon Ba Hanh , located near the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, also serves a wonderful vegetarian version of the meal.

Banh Cuon Gia Truyen Thanh Van: 14 Hang Ga, Hanoi
Banh Cuon Ba Hanh: 16B Tho Xuong, Hanoi

Do you know that Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is also one of the top museum in Hanoi? Learn more about Hanoi’s museum to choose your best next stop!

Tips: Seek for street sellers that prepare Banh Cuon fresh to order and offer it hot and soft.

Banh Cuon, a typical dish prepared with steamed rice buns with a savory filling, is one food that Western travelers must try when visiting. Learn more!

7. Xoi – Sticky Rice

Xoi is a sticky rice dish with various toppings like as fried shallots, shredded chicken, or pork floss. This famous street cuisine is prepared in tiny servings and is suitable for snacking or as a light supper. Xoi is widely available across Hanoi and is a favorite breakfast option among residents.

Just go Xoi Yen , a little bistro in the Old Quarter, for some of the greatest Xoi in town. This restaurant is well-known for its tasty and reasonably priced Xoi, which comes with a choice of toppings such as fried shallots, shredded chicken, and pork floss. Another excellent choice is Xoi Ga Hang Hom , which serves a tasty Xoi with grilled chicken and a savory sauce.

Xoi Yen: 35B Nguyen Huu Huan, Hanoi
Xoi Ga Hang Hom: Hang Hom, Hanoi

Tips: Seek for street sellers who use high-quality sticky rice and provide a range of toppings.

Xoi is a typical Vietnamese meal made with sticky rice and a variety of toppings. This meal provides a one-of-a-kind gastronomic experience that is distinctive to the country's culture and traditions. Learn more!

8. Bun Dau Mam Tom – Fermented Shrimp Paste With Rice Vermicelli

Bun Dau Mam Tom is a famous Hanoi street food made of rice vermicelli noodles, tofu, pork belly, and herbs, served with fermented shrimp paste on the side. While it may not appear to be the most appetizing combination, the distinct flavors and textures make it a favorite of both residents and visitors. It’s usually consumed as a snack or light meal and may be found from street sellers and small restaurants all across town.

Bun Dau Hang Khay , a prominent street vendor in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, serves some of the tastiest Bun Dau Mam Tom in town. This restaurant is famous for its crispy tofu and savory fermented shrimp paste sauce, which match the fresh herbs and vermicelli noodles nicely. Bun Dau Co Hang , located in the Dong Da area, also provides a quite different take on the meal with a range of toppings such as grilled pork and shrimp cakes.

Bun Dau Hang Khay: 31 Hang Khay, Hanoi
Bun Dau Co Hang: 174 Xa Dan 2, Hanoi

Tips: Start with a tiny quantity and gradually add more to modify the flavor to your preference if you’re new to fermented shrimp paste. You could also eat it with fish sauce instead. For the finest experience, go for vendors who sell freshly produced tofu and crispy pig belly.

Bun Dau Mam Tom

Bun Dau Mam Tom is not just a traditional cuisine, but also a culinary journey that provides a one-of-a-kind and remarkable taste experience. Learn more!

9. Bun Thang – Chicken Noodle Soup

Bun Thang is a chicken noodle soup that is made with vermicelli noodles, shredded chicken, and an assortment of toppings such as eggs, shrimp floss, and mushrooms. This dish is light and flavorful, making it a popular choice for breakfast or lunch in Hanoi.

Bun Thang Ba Duc , located in the Hoan Kiem area, serves some of the greatest Bun Thang in town. This little restaurant is recognized for its original and tasty Bun Thang, which is created with high-quality ingredients and served with crispy fried bread on the side. Bun Thang Thanh Van , located in the Hang Ga area, also provides a somewhat different spin on the meal with extra toppings such as chicken.

Bun Thang Ba Duc: 48 Cau Go, Hanoi
Bun Thang Thanh Van: 12-14 Hang Ga, Hanoi

Tip: When eating, first slowly sip to enjoy the sweetness and heat of the water radiating in your mouth, next you will taste the aroma of the accompanying spices. Finally, you should eat the noodles together with eggs, pork rolls and shrimp rolls, so you can feel the indescribable deliciousness of this dish.

Watch out when you walk on the street looking for the best food stalls! Learn all the things you should know about Hanoi transportation here!

Bun Thang, a typical Vietnamese meal that originated in Hanoi, is one food that tourists must sample when visiting. Read on to learn more about this one-of-a-kind cuisine!

10. Mien Luon – Eel Noodle Soup

Mien Luon is a Vietnamese noodle soup made with vermicelli noodles and freshwater eel. Deep-fried eel is served in a transparent broth seasoned with ginger, onions, and herbs. Mien Luon is a speciality dish in Hanoi and a popular breakfast or lunch option.

Mien Luon Dong Thinh , located in the Hoang Mai area, serves some of the best dishes in town. This little restaurant is famous for its flavorful and aromatic Mien Luon, which is created with fresh eel and a variety of fragrant herbs and spices. Another excellent choice is Quan Luon 34 , which has been serving its famous Mien Luon for over 40 years and is located in the Ba Dinh district.

Mien Luon Dong Thinh: 87 Hang Dieu, Hanoi
Quan Luon 34: 34 Yen Ninh, Hanoi

Tips: If you like the crispiness, the dried eel vermicelli is a great choice to eat. If you choose soft eel vermicelli, you will have the opportunity to enjoy fragrant, sweet and extremely flavorful eel vermicelli.

Mien Luon is a popular Vietnamese dish that almost all travelers should sample while in Vietnam. Learn more!

11. Ca Phe Trung – Egg Coffee

Ca Phe Trung is a traditional Vietnamese coffee that is made with egg yolks, sugar, condensed milk, and coffee. This unique coffee drink is creamy and sweet and is a popular choice for locals in Hanoi. Egg coffee can be found in most cafes in Hanoi and is a must-try for foreign tourists.

Café Giang in the Hoan Kiem district serves some of the top egg coffee in the city. This café is recognized for developing the famous egg coffee recipe in the 1940s and has served it ever since. Café Dinh , located in the Hanoi Old Quarter, has a somewhat different take on the dish, with a layer of whipped cream on top of the egg mixture.

Café Giang: 39 Nguyen Huu Huan, Hanoi
Café Dinh: 13 Dinh Tien Hoang, Hanoi

Tips: You should drink it as soon as you can when the cup of coffee is still hot, otherwise it will have unpleasant smell and is difficult to drink. You can prepare a bowl of hot water so that the egg coffee doesn’t get cold. You can stir when drinking, but don’t stir too much as that the coffee will quickly cool down!

Love a nostalgic Hanoi? Explore Hanoi hidden gems that most people never know!

Ca Phe Trung – Egg Coffee

Ca Phe Trung, often known as Vietnamese Egg Coffee, is a must-try for visitors to Vietnam. Learn more!

12. Bia Hoi – Fresh Beer

Bia Hoi is a fresh, light beer that is brewed daily and served in small plastic cups. This beer is a popular choice for locals in Hanoi and is enjoyed at street-side bars and restaurants. Bia Hoi is a must-try for any tourists who want to experience the local drinking culture in Hanoi.

Bia Hoi Corner in the Old Quarter is the place to go for the tastiest Bia Hoi in town. This busy junction is home to a number of street vendors and small pubs that provide ice-cold glasses of Bia Hoi as well as a range of excellent appetizers to accompany the beer. Another excellent option is Bia Hoi Ha Noi 19c , which has been brewing and serving its own Bia Hoi for over 50 years and is located in the Ba Dinh district.

Bia Hoi Corner: 14 Dong Thai, Hanoi
Bia Hoi Ha Noi 19C: 19C Ngoc Ha, Hanoi

Tips: Look for street-side bars that serve fresh Bia Hoi and offer a variety of Vietnamese snacks to pair with the beer.

Related Article: What is Bia Hoi culture and where to find it in Vietnam?

Let’s see how Max McFarlin sampled Bia Hoi:

Bia Hoi is a typical Vietnamese beer that every foreign visitor who visits Vietnam should sample. Learn more!

13. Com – Green Rice – A good food choice for Hanoi’s autumn!

Com is a type of green rice harvested while the grains are fresh and wet. After that, the rice is roasted and served with a variety of toppings such as fried shallots, shredded chicken, or pork floss. Com is a popular Hanoi street food that international travelers who want to try the Vietnamese cuisine should taste.

Mrs. Man’s Com store, which has been providing tasty and aromatic Com for many years, is a popular stop. Another great option is Com Lang Vong , which is located in the Ba Dinh district and provides a broad range of Com tastes like as lotus seed, pandan, and toasted sesame.

Mrs. Man’s Com: 86 Tran Thai Tong, Hanoi
Com Lang Vong: 36 Xuan Thuy, Hanoi

Tips: Search for street vendors who serve high-quality green rice with a variety of toppings.

Com – Green Rice

Com is a popular traditional Vietnamese dish among both residents and tourists. Learn more!

14. Kem – Ice Cream

Ice Cream is a Vietnamese ice cream prepared with coconut milk, fruits, and sugars. This creamy and delicious snack is available in most Hanoi cafés and street-side vendors.

Kem Trang Tien , located near Hoan Kiem Lake , is one of the greatest places to obtain excellent and distinctive ice cream flavors. For nearly 60 years, this ice cream shop has been offering its renowned flavors including green tea and black sesame. Fanny’s Ice Cream , located in the Tay Ho area, is another amazing addition, offering a broad selection of flavors created with high-quality ingredients.

Kem Trang Tien: 35 Trang Tien, Hanoi
Fanny’s Ice Cream: 2 Hang Bai, Hanoi

Tips: Look for shops that offer a variety of flavors to have more fun with your small group of friends or family!

Kem – Ice Cream

Kem, commonly known as Vietnamese ice cream, is a popular dessert in Vietnam. Learn more!

15. Pho Cuon – Rolled Pho

Pho Cuon is a Vietnamese cuisine that consists of wrapped up sheets of pho noodles loaded with beef or pork, herbs, and a sweet and salty dipping sauce. This dish is a popular Hanoi street food and can be found in nearly everywhere.

Pho Cuon Huong Mai , located in the Thanh Xuan district, serves some of the best Pho Cuon in town. This restaurant is well-known for its tasty and delectable Pho Cuon, which is cooked from high-quality ingredients and served with a side of fish sauce. Another excellent choice is Pho Cuon Ngu Xa in the Ba Dinh district, which serves a somewhat different version of the meal with extra toppings like fried onions and roasted peanuts.

Pho Cuon Huong Mai: 50 Le Van Thiem, Hanoi
Pho Cuon Ngu Xa: 27 Ngu Xa, Hanoi

Tips: Look for street food stalls that use high-quality ingredients and make their Pho Cuon fresh to order. Compared to other specialties in Hanoi, eating pho rolls is very simple. No need for chopsticks or fancy spoon, you just need to pick up each noodle roll, dip it directly into the bowl of dipping sauce and then take a bite!

Let’s see how Sonny from Best Ever Food Review Show enjoyed different types of Pho Cuon:

Pho Cuon – Rolled Pho

Pho Cuon is a famous Vietnamese dish among both residents and tourists. Learn more!

What’s next?

Hanoi street food is a bustling and fascinating experience that no foodie should miss while visiting the city. Tourists may discover a world of distinct flavors and tasty cuisine that will make a lasting impression by stepping off the main route and visiting the lively streets and local markets. So if you’re planning a vacation to Hanoi, be sure to come hungry and ready to indulge in some of the city’s greatest street cuisine!

Would like to learn how to cook Vietnamese food? Join our Hanoi cooking class now!

Excited to try a Hanoi street food tour now?

If you’re visiting Hanoi, consider taking a Hanoi street food tour to explore the city’s culinary delights. A guided tour will take you to the best street food spots in the city, and you’ll get to try dishes that you might not have discovered on your own. Plus, a knowledgeable guide will offer insights into the history and culture of Hanoi’s street food scene.

Want to join a street food tour? Check our Hanoi Half-Day Street Food Tour now!

Written by Hannah Ngo

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Destinations
Tours in Hanoi

Hanoi Night Food Tour on a Vespa

Overview of the tour in Hanoi

At 18:00, we pick you up and drive through narrow streets to the historic Old Quarter to join the group. Our first stop is to enjoy Bun Cha Obama, one of Hanoi's most famous dishes. Next, ride to the French Quarter to see the Hanoi Opera House, where you'll have the chance to take beautiful pictures and learn some history of the area. Then, we head to the Long Bien Bridge, a magnificent structure built over a hundred years ago that spans the Red River and connects the Hoan Kiem and Long Bien districts. Only motorbikes and bicycles can traverse this bridge, so off we go! We'll continue along the beautiful ceramic road and Chuong Duong Bridge to enjoy "Burned garlic goose" and "Liver paté goose." You'll also try different versions of Pho, like "Pho Chien Phong" and "Pho Cuon," along with many other world-famous Vietnamese dishes. Ride Vespas around Hanoi city, passing by the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to take night-time pictures. Lastly, enjoy an egg coffee before being transferred back to your hotel around 21:30. Trip ends. Join us for this unforgettable journey!

This activity includes:

Long Bien Bridge
Vespa, fuel
Experience professional vespa riders
English speaking guides
All entrance fees & cold water throughout
Free pick-up and drop-off
Rain coat (if needed)

Meeting point

We will contact you and advise you on where to meet, depending on where you are.

Free Cancellation

Free Cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity starts. Late cancellation or your non-arrival is not refundable.

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Flavors of Hanoi

Visiting hanoi.

Get the best of what Hanoi has to offer with these Foodie Experiences by the #1 Food Tour Company

HOW IT WORKS

Foodie experiences, heart and soul of hanoi old quarter, hanoi street food tour, hanoi home-hosted dinner, hanoi cooking class, food. culture. history..

“Since coming to Asia, I’ve never met such a great group of people. It’s been food, folks, and fun like I’ve never experienced. There are, by Vietnamese standards, party animals – warm, generous, thoughtful, kind – occasionally very funny, sincere in both their hospitality and their fierce pride. I don’t want to leave.”

— Anthony Bourdain , A Cook’s Tour: In Search of the Perfect Meal .

WHAT CUSTOMERS SAY ABOUT US

Sandra & Bobby, TX The “Heart & Soul of Hanoi Old Quarter” tour really lived up to the hype! We learned interesting facts while touring the neighborhood, received generous & delicious portion sizes of a variety of foods. Joe was passionate about food and really took the time to get to know all four of us. Most importantly, the food was AMAZING! This tour was fantastic and I would 100% recommend it for every Hanoi visitors! I made sure my friends will contact FOH when they come.

Deborah & James Wallace Wolfe, WA Though my travel agent recommended them, we were unsure about the tour, but we went and LOVED it! They are so much more than just being walked from place to place, eating Hanoi street food. The food is the vessel, but you also get to experience the city in a way that goes way below the surface. FOH made me feel like a true insider! Would highly recommend to any foodie or someone looking to see a different side of the normal Hanoi touristy activities.

Kate & Michael, NY It's not just about the food, although that was delicious. Lots of history, too. Aside from the great food we saw various entertainment spots famous in the area, met the family who make rice noodles for pho restaurants in the city, learned what lies under Hoan Kiem Lake, walked through hidden alleys where people share really small pace, and lots of other interesting facts. Highly recommend this company!

THE STORY OF A FOODIE

Meet Joe, Owner & Founder

My first delicious street food in Hanoi city was in 2002 when I was leaving my village for the college. It was a lovely bowl of pipping hot noodle soup, Pho, served by a family living on the bank of the Red River, and that was the best fresh noodle with the richest stock I’ve ever eaten. The flavors of the noodle dish that day was the beginning of Flavors of Hanoi, even though I didn’t realize it at the time.

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The Best Vietnamese Food Guide - what to eat in Vietnam

W hen you salivate involuntarily looking at photos of food, you know it’s going to be good. That’s what Vietnamese Food does to me. It invokes memories of aromas, of tastes of good times, and of a serious foodie love affair with the country. The reality of Vietnamese food, is, however, much better than the thought. Here’s our guide to eating your way around Vietnam and our experiences with Vietnamese Food and the highlights of our multiple trips to Vietnam with Vietnamese Food.

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The cuisines of Vietnam differ from south to north, but it has been a delicious and interesting trip around the kitchens of Vietnam. We’ve eaten in what I’d call nice restaurants (ok, so one), we’ve cooked our own food in a kitchen right on the beach and we’ve eaten street food more times than we can remember. We’ve eaten breakfast on a boat on the Mekong River in the Vietnamese Delta. Raw garlic when we visited the Vietnam DMZ war sites. We’ve taken cooking classes over the years and continue to cook these dishes that we’ve come to love from Vietnam.

We’ve got used to paying sometimes 15,000 VND for an amazing bowl of noodles, and we’ve drunk Bia Hoi (fresh beer) for 3,000 VND, and it’s all been fabulous.

BEST WAY TO EAT

Take a Food Walking Tour

Some of the best food you’ll eat in Vietnam is street food, and the best way to eat that food is to take a walking tour where locals will take you around and find the best of it all.

The 2 Best Ways to Experience Vietnamese Food

Well, there are a few ways that you can do this. On our first trip to Vietnam, we just went around and ate everything. And then we learned to cook what we liked. We haunted fresh markets and the food stalls nearby. We sought out regional specialties (I’ve covered some of those later) and ate multiple versions of them. And we took food walking tours (more on that shortly). And what did we come up with? Do all of it. Or as much of it as you feel comfortable with. Find what you like and eat more of it.

1. Take a Food Walking Tour in Vietnam

Well, I suppose you don’t have to walk. You can also take scooter tours. Our most recent food walking tour was in Hanoi. You can do one of the free food walking tours, or take a paid-for one. I think the most important thing to look at is the reviews of the guides. And the list of what you’ll get to eat. Take a tour that will take you off the beaten track, to places that you wouldn’t get to by yourself. Here are my recommendations.

2. Take a Cooking Class in Vietnam

This was one of the best things we’ve done with regard to food in Vietnam. Took a cooking class. It’s easy to find a great one – I’ve put some recommendations in further in this article, but pick a dish that you already like eating, or that you like the sound of, and then you’ll be able to cook it at home afterward. It’s fabulous.

We took a cooking class on the beach in Mui Ne (which we’ve visited several times) on our first trip there, and it was fabulous. And there are also some great cooking classes all over Vietnam, so you don’t have to go to Mui Ne. Here’s a selection of the top-rated cooking classes in Vietnam. And here are the results of my first Vietnamese Cooking class. And yes it tasted as good as it looks. We cooked this at the Mui Ne Cooking School, this is one of the best things to do in Mui Ne!

Key Vietnamese Food & Dishes to Eat

There are dishes that are world-famous and that you’ll find in Vietnamese restaurants all over the world. Let me tell you now. They’re better in Vietnam. But you might have to hunt them out. Here are some of the staple Vietnamese dishes and what to eat in Vietnam.

Banh Mi and the Best Banh Mi in Vietnam

We’ve been searching for the most amazing Banh Mi since we had our first, in of all places, Pacifica, California, and decided that it was everything that a sandwich should be. Crisp French baguette, crunchy salad, soft tender pork, fragrant herbs, the tang of rice vinegar, and a little heat from chilis.

We’ve tracked Tripadvisor, Lonely Planet, the Rough Guide, the Wall Street Journal, and every blog in between in search of the best Banh Mi in Vietnam. We met the Austrian in Hoi An, who’s eaten so many of them that he’s put on 6 kilos in 4 months eating Banh Mi and drinking Vietnamese Coffee.

We found that elusive Banh Mi. It’s not Madam Khanh’s, neither is it the one from Phuong Banh Mi declared the best by Anthony Bourdain. (although we have tried both of them several times). Although there is another small Banh Mi shop in Hoi An that is currently (as of 2023) winning my best Banh Mi in Vietnam award.

You’ll find the best Banh Mi in Hoi An at Phi Banh Mi, 88 Thái Phiên, Phường Minh An, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam. Go at lunchtime and see the lizard come out for a little sunshine.

However, the Banh Mi In Saigon that we had was extremely memorable also. And, heck there was an amazing Banh Mi in Vientiane, Laos that was also really, really good.

Vietnamese Noodle Dishes

We’ve eaten fried-up instant noodles in an alley in Saigon, flat rice noodles, and yellow noodles, and we’ve even made our own noodles in Hoi An and then eaten them. Noodles are more of a staple between Saigon and Hanoi, once you get north of Hanoi it’s mainly rice.

But I think I’ve eaten so many noodles that I might look like a noodle. That’s not a bad thing. Vietnamese Noodle dishes are fabulous. There are wet noodle dishes, aka soups. There are drier noodle dishes in Vietnam. On this trip from Hoi An, you can even make your own noodle dish.

In Nha Trang , at the Au Lac restaurant, we’ve paid 15,000 VND for a bowl of the most fragrant noodle broth with vegetarian bits and pieces on top – added our lettuce, herbs, and squeeze of lemon (although it looks like lime) and we’ve returned less than 12 hours later because it’s so good.

The most famous of Vietnam’s noodle-based dishes follow:

Pho: One of the most famous dishes of Vietnam, Pho is noodle-based
Bun Bo: Often called Bun Bo Hue, as that’s where it originates from. Bun Bo is noodle-based
Cao Lau: this noodle-based dish from Hoi An can only be found there.
Mi Quang: a popular noodle dish from the central province of Quang Nam
Bun Rieu: traditionally made with crab meat, this is a noodle-based dish
Bun Cha: Possibly Vietnam’s most famous dish ever, due to the fact that President Obama ate it with Anthony Bourdain in Hanoi’s Bun Cha Huong Lien

Vietnamese Rice-Based Dishes

Not to be left out are Vietnam’s most famous rice-based dishes.

Com Tam – Vietnamese broken rice, a fabulous dish we first tried in the Con Dao Islands.
Ninh Binh Burnt Rice
Phu Quoc Crab Rice
Hoi An Vietnamese rice and chicken
Hue mussel Rice

Where to Eat in Vietnam

We ate a lot at small stalls, street food, and local restaurants and I have a theory, that there is a direct correlation between the price of food and the height of the stool, so go low, go really low.

We ate a lot at markets too and that’s where we discovered Mi Quang and Cao Lau, at the food court area of Hoi An Market, where there’s fixed pricing in place.

Regional Vietnamese Food Specialties

While there are staples that you’ll get all over the country there are some regional specialties when it comes to Vietnamese food and you absolutely must seek them out. They’re well worth it. If you take a morning market boat trip on the Mekong River down in Can Tho, then you absolutely must have breakfast on the boat. Boat Noodle Soup is fabulous. And it’s so much better because you watch it being prepared. In the middle of the Mekong River!

Mi Quang (Hoi An Speciality)

The dish is made with rice noodles tinted yellow with the use of turmeric. The protein is pork. The broth is made by simmering the pork in water seasoned with fish sauce, black pepper, shallot, and garlic. Added to this are crushed peanuts, chili pepper or chili sauce, fresh vegetables including water mint ( rau hung lui ), basil, Ipomoea aquatica , Vietnamese coriander, and lettuce, and pieces of toasted sesame rice crackers called banh trang me.

It’s a single bowl of spicy, fragrant, nutty, pork goodness that you will slurp and dribble and smack your lips around.

Cao Lau (Hoi An ONLY)

Cao lầu is a regional Vietnamese dish made with noodles, pork, and local greens, that is only found in the town of Hội An, central Vietnam. Its unique taste and texture are achieved by using water from an undisclosed ancient Cham well, just outside of the town. The noodles are served with very little broth. The broth is seasoned with cilantro, basil, and mint; sometimes chili peppers and lime are provided on the side.

It is served with salad greens and bean sprouts, and thinly sliced pork slices and deep-fried croûtons are sprinkled on top to complete the dish. I couldn’t decide which I liked best, Mi Quang or Cao Lau, so I kept eating them both.

Bánh Bao Bánh Vạc (White Rose Dumpling) – in Hoi An only

You’ll find this dish in only a couple of places in Hoi An. It’s a simple dish and the best restaurant in Hoi An to eat White Rose Dumpling only serves that single dish. It’s a steamed rice flour dumpling that’s filled with minced shrimp and pork. It’s served with deep-fried shallots sprinkled on the top.

The dish is supposed to be ONLY made with water from the same well that’s used for Cao Lau. You’ll find White Rose Dumplings at the White Rose Restaurant in Hoi An. And nowhere else.

Cơm Gà Hoi An (Hoi An Chicken Rice)

Hoi An Chicken rice is a Haianese dish. Of, well, chicken and rice. Here in Hoi An, it differs from neighboring countries’ versions of Chicken Rice, and it is served with shredded chicken.

Pho (Hanoi)

The quest for Pho (a spicy fragrant beef noodle soup) started at the Viet Kitchen in Colchester , and Nige says they’re doing pretty well when it comes to delivering great Pho. We ate a mixed Pho down a back alley in Saigon, that included all parts of the cow and was interesting, but more interesting than tasty. We had tasty, good, but not great Pho at Pho 10 in Hanoi.

Eating Pho is one of the top things that you should do in Hanoi – and here are more things that you should do in Hanoi if you have just 2 days there .

Eat Bun Cha from Huong Lien in Hanoi

On May 23, 2016, the Huong Lien restaurant became world famous as Anthony Bourdain walked in with a special guest, US President Barack Obama. What they ate is now a special on the menu. The table they ate at has also been preserved. You can’t sit at it, but you can take photographs. This place is as popular with locals as it is with tourists!

Bun Cha is made from grilled pork with noodles. Grilled, fatty pork (the cha) is served over a plate of white rice noodles (bun). You’ll get a side dish of dipping sauce and broth. The Obama special also includes a fried crab spring roll (Nem cua). It’s worth having it all together. It’s great to eat and good value too.

Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese Pancake)

This name in Vietnamese translates to Sizzling Pancake, and that’s the noise that it makes when you pour the rice batter onto the hot plate. You’ll find Bánh xèo everywhere in Vietnam. Some are better than others. Some can be a little oily rather than crispy. You may also see this written as Banh Khoai.

The style of Bánh xèo changes around the country. In Ho Chi Minh City, it’s an enormous pancake that you’ll need to fold over or break up to eat. You can usually opt for different types of Bánh xèo, which include either just beansprouts and vegetables, pork, or like this, prawns.

In Hoi An Bánh xèo are much smaller and much more manageable. Usually, you’ll be served a dipping sauce into which you can dip your Bánh xèo.

The Huế the most famous local dish is Bún Bò Huế, a noodle soup served with slices of beef and lashings of chili oil. It’s the first thing we tried in Hue. It has a sweet, salty, umami taste that means you’ll want to keep coming back for more.

With limited time in Hue, we headed to the Dong Ba market and the food stalls that you’ll find right in the middle. There you can try for the tiniest amount of money all the Hue specialties. And there’s always a smoothie or cane sugar drink stall nearby willing to deliver you a drink too. We feasted on all the local favorites for 90k including a cane sugar drink. There’s more on what to eat in Hue in our guide to Hue here.

Morning Glory

Hue was also where we had our first taste of Vietnamese Morning Glory, sauteed in garlic. It’s delicious and seriously worth adding to your order wherever you see it. Morning Glory is water spinach, and it’s a great way of getting one of your 5 a day.

Nem Lui from Hue

Also originating from Hue is Nem Lui. It’s a dish of sweet, minced pork around bamboo sticks grilled over hot coals. There’s usually a coating of black pepper, garlic, shallots, and fish sauce too. They’re delicious.

We have loved the food of Vietnam, especially when we ate local and hot and spicy – turns out we loved the drinks too – and not necessarily in the way that you think!

Vietnamese Drinks

There are some unique things to drink in Vietnam that completely epitomize the country. And of course, you’ll find the usual soft drinks and beers that you’ll find in other countries, but here are some of the specialty Vietnamese drinks to try.

Regular Iced Vietnamese Coffee

I’ve always reacted badly to iced coffee, I never understood why anyone would want to wreck a decent coffee by putting ice in it. The same went for milk, what a ridiculous waste of coffee dumping all that cow juice in it. My hands are in the air and I’m admitting surrender as I say that.

I’ve fallen head over heels for Vietnamese coffee. Cold, tall, with condensed milk. Moorish. Sweet. Wonderful. Even black iced Vietnamese coffee, although that means I need to heap teaspoon after teaspoon of the not-very-sweet Vietnamese sugar in to make it drinkable. Saigon style to make it a taller drink. Yes, you can safely say that I’m hooked.

Iced Yoghurt Vietnamese Coffee

We even sought out some specialties, and believe me, they’re well worth seeking out. In the small, hidden coffee shops of Hanoi, we went on the hunt for Iced Yoghurt Coffee. OH MY GOD. Yes seriously, this is a drink that you’re going to love. All that caffeine goodness with the sharp tang of yogurt. Over ice. There’s more on egg coffees, yogurt coffees, and where to find them in our guide to the best things to see, do, and eat in Hanoi. Not enough? Ok, try the Iced Yoghurt Coffee with cocoa. That’ll put your Mochaccino to shame.

Vietnamese Egg Coffee

Then take a step outside the normal and get yourself an Egg White Iced Coffee – invented apparently when there was a shortage of milk, it’s worth considering giving up milky coffee for. Almost.

Vietnamese Cane Sugar Drinks

Deep inside the Ham Tien market near Mui Ne, there’s a little Cane Sugar drinks machine that dispenses the coldest, sweetest cane sugar. It’s squeezed right in front of you, the lemon is added and there you have a cup of sunshine. I’d never tried it before and enjoyed every single drop. You’ll generally find this type of drink in many of the Vietnamese food markets. Try it.

Best Vietnamese Beer

From the first bottle of Saigon Green, we drank, sitting on the small red plastic stools on BIEN THIEN in Saigon – one of the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City , to bottles of Hanoi and Lao Cai, beer is something that Vietnam is very good at.

Oh, it’s not your special microbrew taste, and it’s all very light-tasting and easy to drink. It’s also pretty darned cheap. From 10,000 VND for the Saigon Green bottles in Saigon right down to 3,000 VND for a glass of Bia Hoi in Hoi An, yes you can certainly say it’s cheap.

Drink Bia Hoi in Vietnam

It’s Hanoi that is famous for Bia Hoi – the fresh beer that is delivered or collected in barrels each day and has to be drunk that day, but you can find it in a lot more places, from Sapa in the north to the furthest place south we found it was Nha Trang.

In Hoi An, they use it to tempt you into the restaurants – Cafe 41’s offer was 3,000 VND a glass, dropping to 2,000 VND if you drank 3 of them. Most other Bia Hoi, or fresh beer places in Hoi An charge 5,000 VND for the beer – we found Bia Hoi at Lots of places, Cafe 43, Trip Nguyen, and Red Sail all for prices from 3,000 VND to 10,000 VND.

In Hanoi, it’s much more the culture that you go to the Bia Hoi places to drink beer and perhaps a snack. On Bia Hoi Corner, you can sit on small plastic stools, watch the world go by, and snack on boiled peanuts in their shells, on chickens’ feet, and fermented pork wrapped in banana leaves. If the mood takes you, you can also try the cement-fried frog…(the translation might not be the best)

Drinking Bia Hoi in Hanoi and Getting Raided by the Police

Our most fun Bia Hoi experience was sitting on the steps of a closed building. Here we met Jim and Sarah who were on their honeymoon, ate peanuts, drank Bia Hoi, and watched, assured that we were safe, as the police raided our “establishment”. We watched as they picked up the barrel, and a few stools loaded it into their van and drove across the intersection. We watched as one of the staff from this makeshift little place, raced after them, did some form of a deal, and had his beer and equipment returned.

Shrugging he returned, “It’s just a normal day”, as we paid 60,000 VND for our 3.5 hours of entertainment, beer, and peanuts.

Travel Tips for Exploring Vietnam

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Final Words on Vietnamese Food and Drink

Just writing this is making my mouth water and want to jump back on a plane. Vietnamese food is a delight. There are specialties around each of the regions, but these are the main Vietnamese food and drink dishes you shouldn’t miss when you’re traveling here.

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Our guide to What to Eat in Vietnam - Our favorite Vietnamese food guide - where to find it, what to eat and drink in Vietnam

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