Hanoi Street Food: How to Enjoy a Hanoi Street Food Tour

There is no more authentic Vietnamese flavor than the street food of Hanoi. In the winding streets of the Old Quarter and in night markets around the city, you’ll find the vibrant food culture mixing traditional with international influences for a unique eating experience. Immerse yourself in the part of local life closest to people’s hearts with a Hanoi street food tour.

Top 5 Popular Street Foods in Vietnam and Where to Go for These Street Foods? 

Pho is the first food that comes to mind when people think of Vietnamese cuisine. The beef noodle soup is iconic for a good reason. Made with rice noodles, thinly sliced fresh beef, vegetables, and fresh herbs, it’s a delicious meal with lots of room for chefs to add their own signature. The Old Quarter has many excellent places for pho:

Pho Gia Truyen – 49 Bat Dan, Hoan Kiem District
Pho 10 – 10 Ly Quoc Su, Hoan Kiem District
Pho Thin Bo Ho – 61 P. Dinh Tien Hoang, Hoan Kiem District

Pho

Banh Mi is a French-inspired Vietnamese take on the sandwich and one of the best street foods in Hanoi. It’s made with a range of fillings, including pork, chicken, and tofu, served on a fresh baguette with pickled vegetables and sauces. Banh Mi is great on the go or any numerous restaurants around the city like:

Bami An Bread – 128 Giang Vo, Ba Dinh District
Banh Mi Pho Hue – 118A Pho Hue, Hai Ba Trung District

Banh Mi

Banh trang tron is a street food loved by students and young locals. The popularity of rice paper salad comes from how easy it is to personalize. Strips of rice paper seasoned with oils, chili pepper, and fried onions can be combined with toppings like dried shrimp, beef jerky, quail eggs, peanuts, green mango, and all kinds of sauces.

Banh Da Tron – 42h P. Ly Thuong Kiet, Hoan Kiem District
Linh Chi Banh Trang Tong – 66 P. Me Tri Thuong, Nam Tu Liem District.

Banh Trang Tron

Che is the way to beat the summer heat. The sweet soup is often served cold. Made from red bean and mung bean, with rice balls, jelly cubes, and coconut cream, it’s a light treat you can enjoy any time of day.

Che Go - 9 Tran Phu, Ba Dinh District
Che 4 Mua - 4 Hang Can, Hoan Kiem District

Che

Bun cha is a truly local dish. The mix of vermicelli noodles with grilled pork originated in Hanoi. It can be served with many ingredients, such as pickled vegetables, fresh herbs, and side dishes of crushed garlic, chili, or sliced limes.

Bun Cha Dac Kim – 1 Hang Manh, Hoan Kiem District
Bun cha Tuyet – 34 Hang Than Street, Ba Dinh District

Bun cha

Is Hanoi Street Food Safe? The Answer is Yes! 

Food in Hanoi, and Vietnam in general, is considered safe. Since 2018, the Hanoi Department of Health has been working with vendors and the public to raise awareness and standards of food safety, particularly with street food. It’s common to see street food vendors working with gloves and using tongs to ensure hygiene, and many of the city’s 77,000 street food vendors are involved in programs to ensure food safety standards from farm to table.

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More Hanoi Street Food Worth Trying during a Hanoi Tour

Banh Ran is a northern Vietnamese dessert. Similar to a fried donut, it can be found on every street corner and market. The outside is made from glutinous rice flour, often coated in sesame seeds. The sweet filling is a mung bean paste scented with jasmine flower essence. A savory version filled with minced pork, wood-ear mushroom, dry vermicelli, carrot, salt, and pepper is also available.

Banh Ran Hang Chieu - 52 Hang Chieu, Hoan Kiem District
Banh Ran Vong Thi - 242 Lac Long Quan, Tay Ho District

Banh Ran

Xoi is another sweet or savory dish. Sticky rice is popular for breakfast or as a snack, and it is a comfort food for Hanoi locals. Savory versions are made with sticky rice and fried fish, chicken, sausage, eggs, and other ingredients. Sweet Xoi can be made with coconut, mung bean, durian, or other fruit.

Xoi Xiu – 258 Bach Dang, Hoan Kiem District
Xoi Hiep Hoa – 425 D. La Thanh Cong, Dong Da District

Xoi

Nom Bo Kho is a salad that demonstrates the well-balanced nature of Vietnamese cuisine. It’s primarily made with green papaya and carrots mixed with beef jerky, peanuts, and herbs. The dish is healthy and refreshing in the summer heat.

Nom Bo Kho Ong Gia - 1 Nguyen Trung Truc, Ba Dinh District
Nom Bo Kho Co Van - 16B Duong Thanh, Hoan Kiem District

Nom Bo Kho

In other cities in Vietnam, many delicious Vietnamese foods are still waiting for your coming. If you want to extend your stay in Vietnam, try them please!

Is Hanoi Street Food Cheap? How to Pay? Do I Need to Tip for the Street Food? 

Street food in Hanoi is very affordable. A bowl of pho or a plate of rice with meat and vegetables usually costs between 1 and 3 USD per person. On a street food tour you could be spending as little as 10 USD per day on food. That’s without sacrificing quality or flavor, and while getting an authentic experience of eating in Vietnam.

Tipping is not expected when buying food from street food vendors. It’s best to have local currency in smaller denominations for payment, but you can just take your change and go. In small local eateries, a small tip is appreciated but not required. A tip of 5 to 10% of the bill will be highly appreciated.

A dish of yummy salad

Can I Take a Cooking Class when Traveling to Hanoi? 

A cooking class is an excellent, hands-on way to learn about local food. We can arrange a traditional cooking class as part of a tour. Typically, these classes involve learning about selecting the right ingredients with a shopping trip to a local market. Then, the chef will take you through the process of preparing, cooking, and serving popular dishes like pho and spring rolls. The best part is getting to try your results at the end of class.

Our 7 Days Taste of Vietnam Food Tour goes from Ho Chi Minh City, to Hoi An, and then Hanoi. You’ll try the best of street food in each region. From the fresh fruits and vegetables of the Mekong Delta, to the imperial cuisine of Hoi An, to the vibrant street food of Hanoi, it’s a deep experience of the history and culture of local cuisine.

Specialty food tours are also popular. Our 5 Days Hanoi Vegan Food Tour includes the best vegan options of northern Vietnamese food. You can also experience food around the country with extensive 11 and 12 day tours that will include the fresh seafood of Halong Bay, river cuisine along the Mekong River, and all the highlights from north to south.

Joyful cooking class

More Insider Tips about a Hanoi Food Tour 

- Take advantage of review sites to pick the best restaurants. Trip Advisor and Google Business are great references for finding out about other people’s experiences.
- The best street food restaurants have limited menus. Too extensive a range of options can mean many ingredients are being stored too long before being served.
- Popular locations and popular times of day ensure the freshest served food. Paying attention to where and when the locals are eating, and you won’t go wrong.
- Don’t forget about your own and the restaurant’s hygiene. Pick a clean-looking establishment with well-managed ingredients and food preparation areas. Wash and disinfect your hands before eating after touring around the city.
- Thoroughly cooked food that is served hot will be safer to consume. The heat kills bacteria, while raw or undercooked dishes have a higher risk of foodborne illnesses.
- Vegetarian are also welcomed in Vietnam. Vegetarian food and restaurants can be easily found in Vietnam.

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Conclusion

Indulge your taste buds and expand your palette with a Hanoi Street Food Tour. From sweet to savory, breakfast to dessert, there is a whole culture of food to discover in the city. Our Hanoi and Vietnam food tours will take you to the best places to experience all the best the country has to offer.

If you need more assistance or guidance, you can always contact us. We specialize in Vietnam tours and can arrange the most convenient and cheapest way for you to travel in Hanoi!