THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO HANOI CUISINE

 

Whether traveling from Europe to Asia, it’s so regrettable not to immerse yourself in the home country’s cuisine, as food serves as a bridge to its culture, the past and locals. 

Narrowing down the best time to visit Vietnam is a little tricky, as the food here varies year-round and promises to make anyone mouth-watering at once. If you visit Hanoi on a summer day, a glass of cool and sour dracontomelon water will immediately quench your thirst. The cold of winter reminds visitors of the moment sitting next to the charcoal burners and enjoying the grilled smokey corn with sweetness and crunch of each ear of corn. Hanoi cuisine has deeply been embedded into Hanoians’ hearts, has become brandy across the country and been a unique aspect of the trips for any foreigners. 

What makes Vietnamese cuisine an unforgettable experience for newcomers are not luxurious restaurants or the likes, as they swarm on the other side of the Earth, but unroofed and self-catering food stalls. Besides, tourists will be shocked by the image of a long queue waiting to enjoy just a bowl of “pho” or a loaf of Vietnamese baguette. Many shared that it was once of a lifetime experience, as they enjoy not only the taste of the food, but the way they are served with the friendliness and hospitability of the Vietnamese. More impressively, tourists can be struck by “sitting-flat-on-the-mat” culture here in which people gather around on a mat, have some sunseed flowers and gossip together.

Let’s find out some of the best authentic and must-try food in Hanoi. 

1. Bun 

Hanoi food culture is planted into locals and foreigners’ minds through the delicious taste of “bun” or noodles first. Do you notice that Hanoians can have “bun” in almost all their meals?  It’s understandable if you may be possibly familiar with the famed “bun cha Obama” – the one President Barack Obama spoke highly of, in his visit to Vietnam in the year 2016. The special feature of this dish is the grilled meat which features a seductive aroma. dipping sauce well-prepared by finely ground ingredients and herbs such as coriander. . However, if being a fan of “bun”, you must never miss other variants of ‘bun”, namely “bun thang” (Hanoi combo noodle soup), “bun rieu cua” (Crab paste vermicelli), “bun oc” (roasted snails soup), “bun hai san” (seafood soup), etc.   

 

 

 

 

2. Lau Ho Guom (Sword Lake Hotpot) 

If you and your buddies want somewhere to spend the dinner together, then Lau Ho Guom (Sword Lake Hotpot) will definitely be the one. Located at Dinh Tien Hoang Street, overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake, Lau Ho Guom attracts tourists by a variety of delicious dishes, convenient location, beautiful space and perfect view of the century-old lake. What could be better than raising a toast with friends, watching and cheering up a football match, immersing yourself in the shouting of applause on the victory team? 

3. Nuong ngoi (BBQ) 

It is common that meat is grilled on a BBQ stove, but Vietnamese people make it more unique by replacing the stove with tiles. Meat can be marinated or kept original to go with the sauce. By this way, tourists can share their own stories with one another while waiting for the meat to be ready.  It’s the restaurant’s open space and the breeze that spreads the appetizing aroma over every corner of the restaurant and makes any passersby’s mouth water.  

4. Coffee 

Finishing a long day with historical places, famous food streets, tourists can experience walking activities around Hoan Kiem Lake or West Lake. It ‘s an easy task to catch up with many coffee shops with eye-catching designs, various menus which are customized and prepared locally. If you are a coffee lover, you should try Vietnamese coffee at least once, as it is a kind of drink that is manually processed from a small plant to finished products. Coffee lovers can feel the natural bitter but rich smell after sipping each gulp of coffee. 

5. Ta Hien Beer Street

 

 

 

If you are a night owl and love the cheering atmosphere of the night life, you belong to Ta Hien Street. All lounges and pubs here do not seem to be closed at night. Which offer a vibrant and bustling space with eye-catching light and sound. Visitors sometimes watch vibrant and lively performances by famous DJs. Another option for beer lovers is to join street beer and enjoy Hanoi street food such as boiled peanuts. It also has “nem chua” (sour meatball – a kind of speciality from central provinces of Vietnam), or grilled dried squids, etc. It’s never a bad choice to pick Ta Hien. As one of your choices on your trip to Vietnam. 

Hanoi cuisine varies by weather and is affordable, however, with just a short stay in Hanoi, here are wonderful choices for your vacation. Whenever you stumble across food stalls by chance in Hanoi streets, don’t hesitate to try it once as it brings you a chance to explore Vietnamese cuisine and lifestyle. 

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, and provide you with a unique perspective of the city. Book now and don’t miss out on this amazing experience.