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Sitting here and listing the extensive array of the most delicious and famous Hanoi specialties, known for their age-old legacy, is truly awe-inspiring. A pride of Hanoi locals and all Vietnamese alike. Let's be patient and explore these extraordinary dishes together!
- These are the delectable Hanoi dishes that have been around for generations, since the time of our ancestors
- Culinary delights that are intricately woven into the historical development and transformations of the capital city, Hanoi
- These are the dishes that everyone visiting Hanoi wants to try at least once, whether they are Vietnamese or foreign tourists.
- And these are also the dishes that Hanoians of old reminisce about the most, taking great pride in.
1. Hanoi Pho
The most famous specialty, but its origin remains a mystery!
Pho is a traditional dish of Hanoi residents and can be considered a quintessential representation of Vietnamese cuisine. While the exact origins of Hanoi Pho are unclear, since the 1930s, it has become a familiar dish in the lives of Hanoians.
Pho is the most famous traditional dish of Hanoi residents
The flavor of traditional Pho has made Hanoi locals, and Vietnamese people, even more proud as it has received praise from international media like CNN. Renowned figures worldwide, including former US President Bill Clinton and the late Senator John McCain, have made it a point to try Hanoi Pho when visiting Vietnam.
Today, in Hanoi, you can savor the renowned brands of Hanoi Pho such as Thìn Lò Đúc Pho, Bát Đàn Pho, Lý Quốc Sư Beef Pho, Gánh Hàng Trống Pho, Yên Ninh Chicken Pho, Vui Hàng Giầy Pho, Nhớ Huỳnh Thúc Kháng Pho, Sướng Mai Hắc Đế Pho, and Bản Tôn Đức Thắng Pho...
2. Hanoi Bun Cha
Has been around since the early 20th century
The exact origin and time of the appearance of Hanoi Bun Cha are unclear, but it dates back to the time of writer Vũ Ngọc Phan (1910 – 1942). In his book, 'Those Years,' Vũ Ngọc Phan wrote: 'Bun Cha sold by street vendors is absolutely delicious. Three or five pennies per bowl... Wherever the Bun Cha vendor is, the fragrance is there, the vendor fans the grilling meat over the red charcoal in a Western iron box, the meat sizzles and the smoke rises.'
The irresistible taste of Hanoi Bun Cha captivated Vũ Ngọc Phan in the past, and in 2016, it led former US President Obama, during his visit to Vietnam, to personally visit an old Bun Cha shop on Lê Văn Hưu Street to taste it, earning high praise. Hence, Hanoi has gained additional fame with the name 'Obama Bun Cha'.
Hanoi Bun Cha even earned praise from former US President Obama
3. Hanoi Fermented Shrimp Paste Noodle
Almost a century old!
Hanoi Fermented Shrimp Paste Noodle is a delicious and well-known dish, existing for nearly a century now. It is commonly enjoyed as a light meal, a snack, or lunch by the people of Hanoi. The main ingredients include fresh vermicelli, golden-fried tofu, Hanoi green rice flakes sausage, sour fermented pork roll, shrimp paste mixed with lime, chili, and accompanied by various aromatic herbs like basil, cilantro, mint, lettuce, and purple perilla...
These days, a common bowl of Hanoi Fermented Shrimp Paste Noodle also includes fried pork sausages, boiled pork leg meat, or sliced cucumbers on the side to balance the flavors.
Hanoi Fermented Shrimp Paste Noodle is a top choice for many office workers in Hanoi for lunch
Today, Fermented Shrimp Paste Noodle has become a widely popular dish available in many places across Vietnam. However, Hanoi's Fermented Shrimp Paste Noodle still maintains its unique and irreplaceable flavor. The key lies in the dipping sauce.
It can be said that the dipping sauce is the 'soul' that enhances the deliciousness of this renowned Hanoi Fermented Shrimp Paste Noodle. Check out how to make a delicious and proper shrimp paste dipping sauce
4. Hanoi Sand Worm Cake
A dish often enjoyed in the lunar month of September every year
Many believe that Hanoi Sand Worm Cake appeared at least since the early 20th century, as it was mentioned by Hanoians at that time.
Hanoi Sand Worm Cake is served simply with fresh vegetables, fresh chili, and dipped in a tangy and spicy fish sauce. O Quan Chuong Sand Worm Cake, Hang Chieu Sand Worm Cake, Lo Duc Sand Worm Cake,... are renowned places offering the most delicious Sand Worm Cakes in Hanoi.
Sand worms usually appear on certain days of the year when the water rises, flooding the cracked and dry rice fields, often in the first half of the lunar month of September. Therefore, Hanoi Sand Worm Cake is not always available for enjoyment. If you want to taste this specialty, make sure to plan ahead.
Sand Worm Cake is not always readily available for you to savor.
5. West Lake Shrimp Cake
In the 1970s - 1980s, street vendors selling shrimp cakes were popular in Hanoi along Thanh Nien Street, Truc Bach area, West Lake. West Lake Shrimp Cake is unique because it uses shrimp caught from West Lake - a small, firm, sweet, and tender variety. Therefore, the best Shrimp Cake is only found in Hanoi!
You can savor West Lake Shrimp Cake at the West Lake Shrimp Cake Restaurant on Thanh Nien Street or many small eateries in the surrounding West Lake area.
West Lake Shrimp Cake is made from the very shrimp bred in West Lake
6. Hanoi Snail Vermicelli Soup
A rustic dish from the countryside
Best enjoyed in the summer due to its cool nature, Snail Vermicelli Soup has long been a beloved dish of Hanoians. The vermicelli used here is the tangled variety. The broth is simmered from bones with a touch of vinegar to create a subtly sour and refreshing taste. The distinctive aroma of vinegar adds to the allure of this dish.
Hanoi Snail Vermicelli Soup - A rustic and affordable Hanoi specialty for everyone.
7. Thanh Tri Steamed Rice Rolls
A dish dating back to the 18th Hung King period
This is a famous specialty of Hanoi, Thanh Tri Ward, Hoang Mai District (formerly the ancient Thanh Tri village of Thang Long Imperial Citadel - Hanoi).
According to the local legend, people gathered in Thanh Tri village to reclaim land from the time of Hung Vuong. An Quoc, the son of the 18th Hung King (a friend of Son Tinh), taught people how to make steamed rice rolls. Unlike other types of steamed rice rolls, Hanoi's Thanh Tri steamed rice rolls usually have no filling, only thin, delicate sheets brushed with lard and topped with golden-fried tofu, fatty pork sausage or cinnamon-flavored sausage, fresh herbs, coriander, and basil. Dip in a diluted fish sauce with chili and pepper.
Thanh Tri Steamed Rice Rolls in Hanoi have been passed down since the 18th Hung King.
8. Hanoi Vermicelli Soup with Chicken and Pork
A delicacy reserved for those with refined tastes
Bun thang is one of the longstanding dishes of Hanoians. In the past, Hanoi residents only had the opportunity to enjoy a bowl of bun thang on special occasions, especially during festivals and Tet (Lunar New Year).
Hanoi's Bun Thang reflects the sophistication and refinement of Hanoians.
To create a delicious and complete Hanoi bun thang, it requires nearly 20 ingredients. Cilantro, shiso leaves, thinly fried eggs, shredded chicken, thinly sliced Vietnamese pork sausage evenly spread on a bed of white vermicelli. The vermicelli must be small and fine. Sprinkle shrimp floss and add a few slices of Chinese sausage. And an essential and unique spice is ca cuong essence.
It truly is a display of meticulousness, patience, and the heart of the cook. Therefore, this is the most elegant and sophisticated dish of Hanoi cuisine. It's just a matter of effort; the method of cooking Hanoi bun thang is not too difficult. On weekends, you can personally cook these delicious bowls of bun thang for the whole family. You can refer to our article on PasGo for a guide on how to cook bun thang here.
Some great places to enjoy delicious bun thang in Hanoi include: Bun thang 48 Cau Go, Bun thang Hang Hom, Bun thang 29 Hang Hanh,... (Old Quarter of Hanoi, near Hoan Kiem Lake).
9. Vong Village Green Rice
Has existed for over a thousand years.
According to the legend of Vong Village's rice-making craft, this specialty of Hanoi has been around for thousands of years and still exists today. It is a distinctive product of Vong Village.
Formerly known as Hau hamlet, part of Dich Vong commune, Tu Liem district; now part of Dich Vong Hau ward, Cau Giay district, Hanoi.
Vong Village Green Rice - The most famous specialty of Hanoi's autumn season
The name Vong Village Green Rice is also peculiar. Legend has it that this name originated from the location of Vong Village, which is situated along a circular road. This means going around the village along a road, and if you go outside that circle, you enter the territory of another village.
Legend has it that a thousand years ago, during an autumn when the rice was just starting to bend, the sky became furious with heavy rain, strong winds, broken dikes, submerging the highest rice fields. The people of Vong Village had to cut the remaining young rice ears, bring them home to dry, and eat them slowly to ward off hunger. Unexpectedly, this involuntary product had a unique flavor, very chewy, very fragrant, making the people of Vong Village often make it for enjoyment every autumn.
Hanoi's Vong Village Green Rice is made from young glutinous rice, wrapped in two layers of leaves, one layer of fresh palm leaves to prevent the green rice from drying, and another layer of fragrant lotus leaves, tied with dry straw outside, giving the dish an even more rustic aroma of the countryside breeze.
Lã Vọng Fish Cake
A famous dish fit for kings.
Hanoi's Lã Vọng Fish Cake dates back to the French colonial period, made according to the ancestral recipe of the patriotic Doan family. In the past, Lã Vọng Fish Cake was often made from Anh Vu fish, a type of boneless, fragrant delicacy reserved for offerings to the King. Nowadays, Anh Vu fish is rare and expensive, so Lã Vọng Fish Cake is replaced with Lang fish (usually Da River Lang fish, or Phu Tho Viet Tri Lang fish, equally aromatic and delicious).
Lã Vọng Fish Cake in Hanoi must be made from Lang fish.
This fish cake must be eaten hot. The Lang fish is crispy fried in a hot pan, served with vermicelli, spring onions, dill, fresh chili, and dipped in a distinctive fragrant shrimp sauce. Absolutely delicious!
When in Hanoi, you can enjoy this fish cake at some very famous restaurants such as Anh Vu Fish Cake, Delicious Fish Cake, King Fish Cake, An Nam Fish Cake,... These are also fish cake restaurants that often offer great deals when you book online in advance through PasGo. You can call PasGo's hotline at 19006005 to book directly with a hotline operator (1,000đ/minute), or check out other ways to book PasGo reservations on the web/app (free) here
>> Explore more in these articles:
- Top places to enjoy the best Lã Vọng Fish Cake in Hanoi
- How to make Hanoi's Lã Vọng Fish Cake as delicious as the Old Quarter artisan
11. Hanoi Steamed Rice Cakes
Delicious rustic dish with authentic flavors.
Hanoi Steamed Rice Cakes have been a part of our culinary heritage for as long as memory serves, a dish that has withstood the test of decades. This Hanoi delicacy is delightfully rustic, carrying the essence of simplicity and a profound sense of community. It's a cherished gift eagerly anticipated by children, a treat they eagerly await when their mothers return from the market. The nutty texture of peanuts, the crispiness of the cake, and the smoothness of the black sesame sauce create a familiar yet unique sensation.
Today, Hanoi Steamed Rice Cakes may not be as sought after as they once were. However, it undoubtedly remains a 'childhood intense flavor' for countless Vietnamese. Only in Hanoi can you find steamed rice cakes that are truly delicious, unique, and steeped in tradition.
Hanoi Steamed Rice Cakes - a nostalgic childhood delicacy for generations of Vietnamese
Apart from the aforementioned Hanoi specialties, the city boasts many other famous traditional cakes like sticky green bean cake, Tranh Khuc square cake, and Hoang Mai village 'Khuc' cake,...
Hanoi's unique street snacks and dried specialties, such as Hong Lam preserved apricots and tofu pudding, are greatly beloved by both domestic and international tourists.
It's a true source of pride that Hanoi offers not only renowned landmarks like the Temple of Literature, Turtle Tower, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and West Lake but also delectable and captivating local cuisine.
We hope our list of the 'most famous Hanoi specialties over the past few decades' enhances your travel itinerary, making your visit to Hanoi more enticing and memorable. Share your thoughts on your favorite dishes or leave comments suggesting other famous Hanoi specialties you know.
Thank you all.
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Mastering the art of selecting Vietnamese specialties as exquisite gifts.
