Buzz
If the breathtaking scenery of Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, The Huc Bridge, or Turtle Tower mesmerizes us, then the street foods introduced below will make travelers unwilling to leave the capital. Give them a try and experience Hanoi through its culinary delights.
Must-Try Dishes in the Historic Capital
1. Bun Cha
This dish is not only famous in Hanoi but also echoes throughout every province in Vietnam. Thinly sliced pork pieces, some minced and molded into patties, marinated with spices, grilled over charcoal, served in a bowl with vermicelli, fresh herbs, and a dipping sauce made of vinegar, sugar, and lime. When everything blends together, diners simply indulge and rejoice. The best place to savor this delicacy is at 34 Hang Than, Hanoi.
2. Snail noodle soup
While Saigon is renowned for its stir-fried, steamed, and boiled snail dishes, Hanoi captivates palates with snail noodle soup. This dish is prepared simply with noodles, snails, crab meat, tofu, and a touch of beef. The broth is made from tomatoes, rice vinegar, and chili. Diners mix in fresh herbs before enjoying. Surely, snail noodle soup will warm the hearts of visitors on chilly days.
3. Eel glass noodle stir-fry
The next must-try dish when traveling domestically to Hanoi is eel glass noodle stir-fry. Ingredients include glass noodles, chopped eel, mixed with eggs and bean sprouts. When eaten, diners will taste the chewiness of the eel, the fragrance of the bean sprouts, and the richness of the eggs. The eatery at 87 Hoan Kiem district is renowned for this dish.
4. Mixed rice paper
A popular street food in Hanoi. To enjoy the uniquely flavored mixed rice paper, head to 42c Ly Thuong Kiet, Hoan Kiem district, where you'll find a woman sitting by the roadside with a cart emitting a tantalizing aroma. A bit of rice paper, sausage, fish cake, peanuts, tofu, and vegetables accompanied by a flavorful sauce will be neatly arranged in a bowl. Simply grab your chopsticks and start savoring.
5. Pillow cake
Similar to folded cake in Saigon, but pillow cake has a different shape and taste. The outer shell is shaped like a small pillow enclosing a filling consisting of pork, mushrooms, glass noodles, etc. In addition to this type of cake, tourists can also enjoy meat-filled fried cakes or sweet fried cakes.
6. Rolled beef
If bun cha and pho have made their names for centuries, rolled beef will surely make waves in Hanoi in 2017. This delicious dish will bring a unique flavor to tourists. A thinly sliced beef roll wrapped around a layer of green mustard, eaten with cornmeal, when placed in the mouth, diners will feel the crispy, chewy, bitter flavors blending together, making you unable to resist, just wanting to keep eating.
7. Sweet soup
If the above dishes have left you in awe, then Hanoi sweet soup will leave you mesmerized. There are dozens of different types of sweet soup to choose from, but the best ones include mixed sweet soup, black bean sweet soup, green bean sweet soup, pomelo sweet soup, and Thai sweet soup.
And if you want to sit and chat with friends, head to the roadside lemon tea stalls to enjoy the special flavors of drinks that have intoxicated many young people. You can also order a refreshing glass of sour sop juice or a gentle peach tea with chewy sunflower seeds to savor together.
