Indulge in the top 5 must-try bun dishes in Hanoi that you cannot miss

When you step foot in Hanoi, make sure to savor the incredibly delicious bun dishes. You'll be captivated and cherish this land of a thousand years of civilization, renowned for its famous landmarks and diverse culinary scene.

Indulge in the top 5 must-try bun dishes in Hanoi that you cannot miss

1. Bun Cha

The main ingredients for making Bun Cha include vermicelli, grilled pork, fresh vegetables, and dipping sauce. A serving of Bun Cha consists of two types of grilled pork—patties and slices—served with vermicelli, sweet and sour dipping sauce with shredded papaya, carrots, and fresh vegetables. Some eateries also serve fried spring rolls and crab cakes depending on the diner's preference. The secret to Hanoi's Bun Cha lies in the dipping sauce and the marination process for the grilled pork.

To make delicious Bun Cha, the marination process plays a crucial role—the meat should be seasoned to perfection, grilled to a slightly charred texture, which enhances its appearance and taste since the grilled pork is the essence of this dish. Therefore, one cannot overlook the preparation steps involved.

Discover the best Bun Cha restaurants in Hanoi:

– Bun Cha Huong Lien: 24 Le Van Huu, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi.

– Snow Bun Cha 34: 34 Hang Than, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.

– Bun Cha Sinh Tu: Block A – Udic complex N04, House N 04, Hoang Dao Thuy Ward, Trung Hoa, Cau Giay, Hanoi.

2. Snail Vermicelli

Hanoi's snail vermicelli is characterized by its tangy broth, the rich flavor of snails, the spiciness of chili, and the nutty taste of fried tofu. Served with a bowl of snail vermicelli, essential fresh vegetables include lettuce, coriander, and morning glory.

There are numerous types of snail vermicelli for you to choose from such as: banana snail vermicelli, cold snail vermicelli, crab beef snail vermicelli, fat snail vermicelli… The most important aspect of this dish is selecting the snails and cooking the broth, a bowl of fragrant, flavorful broth with the essence of snails will elevate the quality and taste of your dish.

Discover the best snail vermicelli restaurants in Hanoi:

– Mrs. Beo's Snail Vermicelli: 2 Hoe Nhai, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.

– Nham Thin Snail Vermicelli – Phu Tay Ho: 24 Phu Tay Ho, Quang An Ward, Tay Ho District, Hanoi.

– Mrs. Giao's Snail Vermicelli: 210 Kiot 8 Le Trong Tan, Khuong Mai Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi.

3. Bun Thang

When mentioning Hanoi's bun dishes, one cannot overlook bun thang, one of the dishes that brings the traditional flavor of this ancient land. A bowl of bun thang contains many ingredients such as fried eggs, Vietnamese sausage, shrimp, chicken, onions, bean sprouts... all beautifully decorated with colorful flower petals.

The secret to the allure of Hanoi's bun thang lies in shrimp paste. Good shrimp paste elevates the flavor of this traditional dish. However, equally important is the broth—the rich broth enhances the aroma and taste of the dish like never before.

Discover the best bun thang restaurants in Hanoi:

– Bun Thang Restaurant: 25 Hang Hanh Alley, Hang Trong Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

– Bun Thang and Sticky Rice Restaurant 29 Hang Hanh Alley: 29 Hang Hanh Alley, Hang Trong Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

– Mrs. Duc's Bun Thang Restaurant: 48 Cau Go Street, Hang Bac Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

4. Crab Vermicelli Soup

It would be a miss if you visit Hanoi without trying crab vermicelli soup here. Crab vermicelli is made from ground river crab, finely chopped tomatoes, dried onions, and finely chopped spring onions. A bowl of crab vermicelli soup is enticing with its clear broth, many people eat this dish to feel light. A bowl of crab vermicelli soup contains simple ingredients such as vermicelli, crab bricks, broth, spring onions served with lettuce, banana flowers... Some eateries also add more diverse ingredients according to the taste of customers such as pig's ears, cartilage ribs, Vietnamese sausage, fried tofu...

Discover the best crab vermicelli soup restaurants in Hanoi:

– Mrs. Hoan's Crab Vermicelli Soup: 14 Hang Luoc Street, Hang Ma Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

– Huyen Thu's Crab Vermicelli Soup: 2F Quang Trung Ward, Tran Hung Dao Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

– Bat Dan's Crab Vermicelli Soup: 25A Bat Dan Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

5. Fermented Shrimp Paste Vermicelli with Tofu

Fermented shrimp paste vermicelli with tofu is one of the dishes you cannot miss when visiting Hanoi. A plate of fermented shrimp paste vermicelli with tofu consists of vermicelli, crispy fried tofu, shrimp cake, fried spring rolls, pig's intestines, and pork knuckle. Accompanied with this dish are various types of vegetables such as cucumber, raw vegetables, and perilla leaves. The soul of this dish lies in the fermented shrimp paste; good fermented shrimp paste enhances the delicious aroma of the dish and brings an explosive taste sensation to diners when enjoying this dish.

The shrimp paste bowl is poured with hot oil, then squeezed with tamarind, finely sliced ​​chili, a little sugar, and then vigorously stirred with chopsticks. Dip each ingredient in shrimp paste and enjoy with slices of cucumber, raw vegetables blending together deliciously, making diners fall in love with this delicious dish.

Discover the best fermented shrimp paste vermicelli with tofu restaurants in Hanoi:

– Viet Fermented Shrimp Paste Vermicelli with Tofu: 31 Hang Khay, Trang Tien Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

– Cay Da Fermented Shrimp Paste Vermicelli with Tofu: 235B Thuy Khue, Tay Ho District, Hanoi.

– Nghia Tan Fermented Shrimp Paste Vermicelli with Tofu: 104 c3 Nghia Tan Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi.

As per Mytour

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Reference: Mytour Travel Handbook