Hanoi Foods You Should Not Miss While Travelling

Remember the times when Barack Obama enjoying bun cha with late Anthony Bourdain way back in 2016 at a café in Hanoi – ahh, the happy times!

The capital city of Vietnam, Hanoi, is an international city – thanks to the constant tourist influx from different parts of the world. You can find international and local foods in Hanoi spiced sufficiently to tickle your taste buds. The elaborate street food culture of the country is often the talk of food lovers.

As you stroll through the streets of the city, you will find numerous food stalls selling everything possible under the night sky (a large number of portable food stalls appear post sundown, and run till late at night). The streets are bustling with sounds and noises of pans simmering vegetables, boiling kettles, and people moving from one stall to another to check out the assorted delicacies.

While in the national capital takes on a more cosmopolitan take on the food culture, the northern regions of the country offer dishes constituting mainly of rice and noodles. 
 When talking about street-food culture of Hanoi, only one word comes to mind – bewildering. The aroma, colors, and long line of plastic stools is a common sight on the streets of the city. Most stalls sell one dish, cooked on the charcoal burners, giving out a smokey flavor.

And surprisingly, street foods in Hanoi are easy on the pocket and satiate your hunger at the same time. Although the stalls charge around VND25, 000 to VND70, 000 for a plate, but the prices subjected to change.
Here are some of the popular Hanoi delicacies you must try while touring the city.
 • What is it? – A noddle soup, served with several condiments
• Cost – Usually VND50, 000

Probably the national dish of Vietnam, you will find a stall selling Pho at almost every corner of the street. The clear but appetizing broth, Pho, causes an explosion of flavors in your mouth. It is a noodle dish, made alive with basil, chili, and lime - giving out spicy, sweet, salty, and citrus taste in a single bite.

Usually, Pho is made up of filling broth, freshly made noodles, slices of meat – each cooked separately – are brough together on request. The popular street Hanoi foods is often served with few condiments.
 • What is it? – A deep fried steamed rice and grilled pork dish served with green papaya salad
• Cost – VND10, 000

If Pho is the star of Hanoi, then Bun Cha is the diva of street foods. The Bun Cha is a mouthwatering delicacy, comprising of grilled pork and steamed sticky rice mixed with papaya slices, fresh herbs, garlic and red chilies. It is a perfect deep-fried dish made to leave a lasting taste in your mouth.
 • What is it? – A sticky rice dish, available in sweet and savory variants
• Cost – VND10, 000

One of the classic foods in Hanoi, Xoi is the comfort food for many Vietnamese. One of the popular variants of Xoi, Xoi Yen – steamed rice with paste of green mung bean sprouts – is a preferred breakfast item for the locals. Often the dish is served with pork, boiled eggs, fish or beef as a side.
 • What is it? – A finger food
• Cost – VND50, 000

Pho Cuon is an interesting finger food, consisting of delicately wrapped noodles and meat in an almost transparent pastry sheet. Served with condiments including Nuoc Cham – a dipping sauce consisting of sugar, vinegar, chilies and fish sauce. 
 • What is it? – A popular custard-like dessert
• Cost – VND50, 000

While Che is one of popular sweet dish, in reality it includes a variety of delicacies under its wing.  It is a typical traditional sweet soup consisting of jellied fruits, beans, porridge, pulses, and even tapioca beans. The dish is often served as hot or cold, according to the preference. But both taste equally delightful.

 See More: Popular Hanoi Street Foods for You to Eat Like Locals 
 After picking out some of the popular street foods of Hanoi, you might be making a mental note to visit these places and explore these stunning dishes. But where will you find these street delicacies in this vast crowded city?

Well, to help you with the matter, we have collected the names of few popular street where the food is just out of the world.
 Just a few steps away from the West Lake, the Ð Thuy Khue street houses a host of seafood outlets selling delightful delicacies from the Vietnamese gastronomy. The smorgasbord of Hanoi foods and a beautiful view of the lake is sure to fill your stomach as well as your soul with pleasure. You can eat a full meal in VND160, 000 per person.
 Another popular venue for popular Vietnamese cuisines, the Pho Cam Chi Street is one of the oldest regions of the city. You can still find hundred years’ old establishments selling budget-friendly delicacies.
 Just off the Central Hanoi, the P Nghi Tam Street is a one kilometer long stretch selling (believe it or not) dog meat delicacies. Usually, these street food joints are vacant during the first half of the lunar calendar, since locals believe that eating dog meat during the period can bring in bad luck. If you are in the mood for adventure, then this is the place to try something unique. 

Overall, the Hanoi street food culture is unique and quite fascinating. Although chaotic, the streets of Hanoi are filled with numerous outlets selling delightful and mildly spicy dishes.

So, which were your favorite foods in Hanoi.

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