Hanoi Street Food Experience
Introduction
Early in the morning, after a bus ride that could easily serve as a near-death experience, I was introduced to Hanoi. The night bus had brought me, Eva and an Irish travelling companion, Ian, from the elegant and quiet Hue – the old royal capital of Vietnam — to the centre of Hanoi. Dazed, but especially relieved, we were competently conducted — as is done with all tourists to a guesthouse in the Old Quarter, the old beating heart of Hanoi. Hanoi Street Food Experience would be the most precious gem in my journey in Vietnam.
You can easily get lost in a maze of small streets and little alleyways. You are never alone. Life is constantly in motion: Vietnamese merchants with their goods (too many to list), artists and performers, tradesmen, street vendors and a paradise of street food that is finger-licking good.
After we booked our rooms, Ian and I went into the street, looking for a little drink to seal our new friendship after meeting on the bus. We made our way along the pavements peppered with mopeds, and zigzagged through the busy streets, shaking off a pushy vendor here and there.
Personal experiences with local dishes
In the meantime, it was 11 0’clock and we found a bar among a few Chinese business establishments. Twenty tiny, charming stools had been set up on the pavement, Among them were slightly higher versions that served as little tables. Above the pavement, there was a green and white striped awning with the sign ‘Bia Hoi’. The patron, a friendly, gentile Vietnamese lady stood behind a large barrel of beer. Little groups of Vietnamese sat there chatting companionably. The lady behind the beer barrel filled jolly plastic cups with ice and beer. The price? 2000 dong per glass, extremely inexpensive thus! The business seemed to be going well, the atmosphere was warm and pleasant. We ordered a couple of Bia Hoi beers.
Fermennted pork
Soon we were approached by a young woman who rode by on her bicycle. Over the handlebars hung pouches of green tubes that were tied together with strings. She spoke with a sensual, gentle voice. It almost sounded like singing: ‘Nem Chua, Nem Chua’. We allowed ourselves to be tempted by this charming person with the beautiful voice and bought a wrap. We did not know exactly what we had ordered, but we negotiated briefly about the price. As we watched, she detached a dozen filled banana leaves. Then she took a little orange plastic plate from her bicycle bag and poured a generous squirt of chilli sauce on it. She kept the chilli sauce in a worn plastic water bottle – in Vietnam, they know what recycling is. I paid for our purchase, I noticed how she gave the change with both hands, a sign of politeness and respect. She sat the little plate with our snack on the table and disappeared in the street.
Curious about the contents of the banana leaves, we opened one. There was a rose bar of fermented pork in it. We dipped the sausages in the chilli sauce and were immediately sold. Our very first street-food experience in Hanoi was a fantastic success: a combination of sweet, salt, sour and spicy, the perfect snack with a fresh, although watery, a glass of beer. Sitting on our little stools we dispatched all the snacks as we watched the world go by.
Street food vendors
The activity on the street was a joy to behold: merchants sold their wares, vendors with a bamboo pole and two large baskets (Don Ganh) full of kohlrabi passed by, others went by on bicycles with baskets full of flowers, barbers opened their businesses, insistent shoeshine men sought customers.
In the street itself, it was especially busy, but the microcosm on the pavement breathed calm and sociability, A few cups of Bia Hoi later, the woman with the bicycle appeared again. She came to collect the empty little plate. Laughing she pointed at her handlebars and asked if we wanted another portion. In the meantime, we were wanting something more substantial to eat, so we thanked her for the offer. Our next destination was on the other side of the street. Even getting there was a major challenge considering the swarm of mopeds in the street zipping here and there. We succeeded and took a seat at a long low table where one could order Pho Bo. ‘Cho toi hai Pho Bo’, I asked, and a few moments later two steaming bowls of noodle soup with finely-cut pieces of beef spread their delectable aromas.
Conclusion
Along Vietnam, there is no short of diverse typical cuisines. These Hanoi Street Food Experience became indelible in my memory because of local people’s warmth and friendliness. Many thanks!!!
If you are in Vietnam and interested in discovering more about Hanoi – the capital and its significance, we invite you to join us at Free Walking Tours Hanoi. We’ll take you across the building, tell you all about its history, and provide you with a unique perspective of the city. Book now and don’t miss out on this amazing experience.