Hanoi, Vietnamโs capital city has a lot to offer, from the mausoleum of Uncle Ho Chi Minh, the One Pillar Pagoda, the crazy new buildings being built in the business district, and of course the great food and drink that can be enjoyed in the fabulous old quarter. Even Donald Trump and Marshal Kim Jong Un decided to come here.
But if you really want to understand the life and attitude of the Hanoians, then the only way is to jump head-first into the fabulous Hanoi street food scene.ย
Thereโs a lot of sights, sounds and smells to deal with when sampling Hanoi street food, but donโt be put off! Let The Street Food Guy guide you to the top 5 spots for Street Food in Hanoi!
The Best Street Food of Hanoi
Bia Hoi
Old Quarter, Hanoi
Our first entry might not exactly be street food โ in fact it is not at all; itโs beer โbut this is no ordinary beer. Ba Hoi is not only brewed and delivered daily, but has to be drunk that very day. You will see Bia Hoi bars throughout Hanoi, but the best place to get drinking is in the Old Quarter.
Oh and get this! It costs 5000 dong a glass! Now that might sound a lot, but itโs 20 cents a glass. Let that sink in a bit. The glasses are small though, and thereโs a 100-beer challenge if youโre so inclined.
Phแปย Bo Gia Truyen
Old Quarter โ 49 Bat DanFrankly youโve not been to Vietnam unless you try Phแปย at least once. Phแปย was inspired by the French settlers and can be called your quintessential fusion cuisine. Itโs basically a soup with meat and noodles.
You can (and will) see and eat Phแปย everywhere, but at Phแปย Gia Truyen itโs so good that people line up around the street to get it every morning.
Lแบฉu Thรกi
Seemingly most backstreets of HanoiI guess the best way to describe this dish would be Vietnamese hot pot, and it is a particularly big thing in Hanoi. When youโre walking along many a backstreet you will see a sign that says โLauโ and then the words for beef/ fish etc, and then a price from anywhere between 99000 and 150000 dong, which is between about $4-6 and is enough to feed at least two people.
Vietnamese hot pot differs from its Chinese cousin in that you get your salt, and calamansi (small lime), pineapple, and Vietnamese hot sauce! A fine Vietnamese meal.
Bรกnh Tรดm
Bo Dinh District and most backstreets
Bรกnh Tรดm is another Vietnamese favourite that originates in good old Hanoi. What is Banh Tom? Itโs battered sweet potato and shrimp!
The bright colours come from the tamarind and the natural colours of the shrimp and sweet potato, and you can either eat it as it is, or wrap it in a lettuce leaf and then dip it in the nuoc mam cham spicy dipping sauce! As you can imagine this tends to make a great post-beer snack after youโve knocked back a few in the Old Quarter.
Our first entry might not exactly be street food โ in fact it is not at all; itโs beer โbut this is no ordinary beer. Ba Hoi is not only brewed and delivered daily, but has to be drunk that very day. You will see Bia Hoi bars throughout Hanoi, but the best place to get drinking is in the Old Quarter.
Frankly youโve not been to Vietnam unless you try Phแปย at least once. Phแปย was inspired by the French settlers and can be called your quintessential fusion cuisine. Itโs basically a soup with meat and noodles.
I guess the best way to describe this dish would be Vietnamese hot pot, and it is a particularly big thing in Hanoi. When youโre walking along many a backstreet you will see a sign that says โLauโ and then the words for beef/ fish etc, and then a price from anywhere between 99000 and 150000 dong, which is between about $4-6 and is enough to feed at least two people.
Bรกnh Tรดm is another Vietnamese favourite that originates in good old Hanoi. What is Banh Tom? Itโs battered sweet potato and shrimp!
Our first entry might not exactly be street food โ in fact it is not at all; itโs beer โbut this is no ordinary beer. Ba Hoi is not only brewed and delivered daily, but has to be drunk that very day. You will see Bia Hoi bars throughout Hanoi, but the best place to get drinking is in the Old Quarter.
Frankly youโve not been to Vietnam unless you try Phแปย at least once. Phแปย was inspired by the French settlers and can be called your quintessential fusion cuisine. Itโs basically a soup with meat and noodles.
I guess the best way to describe this dish would be Vietnamese hot pot, and it is a particularly big thing in Hanoi. When youโre walking along many a backstreet you will see a sign that says โLauโ and then the words for beef/ fish etc, and then a price from anywhere between 99000 and 150000 dong, which is between about $4-6 and is enough to feed at least two people.
Bรกnh Tรดm is another Vietnamese favourite that originates in good old Hanoi. What is Banh Tom? Itโs battered sweet potato and shrimp!