Top 16 Timeless Delicacies in Hanoi You Should Try

Pho is a traditional Vietnamese dish, and it can be considered one of the iconic representatives of Vietnamese cuisine. However, perhaps Pho is a special gift from Hanoi, not that it is exclusive to Hanoi, but it is simply the best in Hanoi.

Anyone who sets foot in Hanoi wishes to savor a dish with the essence of the capital. Pho became popular in Hanoi around the 1940s. Undoubtedly, if you are in Hanoi, you must indulge in the traditional pho here. It's no wonder that in the book 'Hanoi's Six Streets,' writer Thach Lam wrote: 'Pho is a special gift from Hanoi, not that it is exclusive to Hanoi, but it is simply the best in Hanoi.'

Pho in Hanoi has long become a culinary symbol not only here but also a national culinary icon. It is a refined traditional Vietnamese dish deeply embedded in the culture for generations.

Some addresses for delicious pho in Hanoi:

• Pho Bat Dan (49 Bat Dan with prices ranging from 30,000 to 55,000 VND per bowl).
• Pho Thin (13 Lo Duc, with prices from 40,000 to 60,000 VND per bowl).
• Pho Ly Quoc Su (with 3 locations for people to enjoy: 10 Ly Quoc Su, 42 Hang Voi, and N2A Hoang Minh Giam, with prices ranging from 50,000 to 77,000 VND per bowl).
• Pho Bung Via He: Intersection of Hang Bong & Hang Trong.

Because it is a popular and distinctive dish in Hanoi, there are many other pho restaurants that attract customers throughout the streets of the capital, such as Ton Duc Thang, Quan Thanh, Thuy Khue, Huynh Thuc Khang, Hang Trong, Dinh Liet, and more.

It would be a miss not to include Bun Thang in the list of delicious dishes in Hanoi. When it comes to deliciousness, sophistication, and meticulousness in the selection of ingredients, processing, and presentation of the dish to make it visually appealing, Bun Thang surpasses many other types of vermicelli, deserving the title of 'The first-class vermicelli of Thang Long.'

Bun Thang is a specialty of Hanoi cuisine. Making Bun Thang is a meticulous process, from preparation to cooking. It is estimated that up to 20 ingredients are needed to make Bun Thang. Vietnamese coriander, Chinese chives, thinly fried chicken eggs, shredded chicken breast, and sliced sausage are evenly spread over a bed of white vermicelli.

The vermicelli must be small strands. Shrimp floss is sprinkled on top, and a few slices of Chinese sausage are added. The broth is clear, delicious, and sweet (a carefully selected synthesis from chicken bones and a dried cuttlefish). People can enjoy Bun Thang with condiments such as vinegar, chili, garlic, pepper, or add a bit of shrimp paste to make the bowl of vermicelli more flavorful.

Some delicious Bun Thang eateries in Hanoi:

• Bun Thang Cau Go: 48 Cau Go, Hoan Kiem. (Bun Thang 32 and 48 Cau Go with prices ranging from 30,000 to 66,000 VND per bowl)
• Eatery Bun Thang Hang Hom: No. 2 alley Hang Chi, Hang Hom, Hoan Kiem.
• Bun Thang Ha Hoi: 11 Ha Hoi, Hoan Kiem.
• Bun Thang Giang Vo: house D2 Giang Vo, Ba Dinh.
  

When it comes to the oldest and most delicious dishes in Hanoi, we cannot ignore the familiar dish of Bun Cha. Recently, this dish became famous again thanks to the visit of the world-famous President Obama to Vietnam and his attempt to enjoy this dish. It is true that the world's top famous president wanted to try a very popular dish in Vietnam because its taste brings a unforgettable and unique sensation.

Present on every street, market, and even in the deep and charming alleys, these Bun Cha stalls are still very attractive to tourists because of their special deliciousness. The grilled meat is marinated with rich flavors, grilled to perfection over charcoal, served with vermicelli and a perfectly balanced dipping sauce. The rich, sweet, and fragrant taste of the dish, combined with the aroma of onions, will leave anyone who has tasted this dish unable to forget it.

All harmonize to create a charming dish and one of the best street foods in the world. US President Barack Obama could not resist the allure of Bun Cha during his visit to Hanoi last May:

Some good places for Bun Cha in Hanoi:

• Bun Cha Hang Than: 34 Hang Than, Ba Dinh District.
• Eatery Bun Cha Hang Manh 1: Hang Manh, Hoan Kiem District.
• Bun Cha Hang Quat: 74 Hang Quat, Hoan Kiem District.
• Bun Cha Huong Lien: 24 Le Van Huu, Hoan Kiem District. (24 Le Van Huu, average price is around 40,000 VND - 60,000 VND per serving).

Cha Ca La Vong is the name of a specialty dish in Hanoi. This dish is made from fish (usually smooth-skinned fish) sliced, marinated, grilled over charcoal, and then fried in fat. The Doan family at 14 Cha Ca Street (formerly Hang Son Street) in the Old Quarter holds the business secret and names it as above.

During the French colonial period, a family named Doan lived at 14 Hang Son Street, and they often used their house as a place to take care of Vietnamese soldiers. The host used to make a very delicious fish dish for guests, which became a habit. Over time, these guests helped the family open a restaurant specializing in this dish, both to support the family and to create a gathering place. Gradually, the two words 'Cha Ca' were named after the street, and today Cha Ca La Vong has truly become an icon of Hanoi cuisine.

Some good places for cha ca in Hanoi:

• Cha Ca La Vong: 14 Cha Ca Street and 107 Nguyen Truong To. (with prices ranging from 30,000 VND to 66,000 VND)
• Cha Ca Anh Vu Shop: 120 K1 Giang Vo, Ba Dinh District.
• Cha Ca Thang Long: 21 Thanh Street, Hoan Kiem District.
• Cha Ca Lao Ngu – Thai Ha: 171 Thai Ha, Hoan Kiem District.
  

West Lake shrimp cake is one of the famous dishes in Hanoi. They are made from the unique ingredients of river prawns or West Lake prawns.

In the 1970s-1980s, there were many state-owned shrimp cake stalls along Thanh Nien Street, next to Truc Bach Lake. At that time, this place was a typical entertainment venue in the capital, and like fate, West Lake shrimp cake became a memory for many generations.

By the late 1980s, the improved living standards of the people led to the strong development of other services. Therefore, the West Lake shrimp cake stalls no longer held a dominant position in the choice of diners. But when a distant traveler comes to Hanoi, they still want to go to West Lake to enjoy the hot and crispy shrimp cake, feel the crispiness of the cake, accompanied by a dipping sauce with a sour, sweet, and spicy taste, along with pickled radishes.

Some good places for shrimp cake in Hanoi:

• Shrimp Cake Hang Bo: 48 Hang Bo.
• Shrimp Cake: 25 Le Dai Hanh.
• West Lake Shrimp Cake Restaurant, Thanh Nien Street, Tay Ho District, Hanoi with an average price of 80,000 VND - 132,000 VND/dish.

Green rice flakes are a dish made from ripe rice by roasting and sieving to remove the husk, although found in many regions across Vietnam, it is particularly prevalent in the cuisine of the Red River Delta, especially in Hanoi.

A people closely associated with the Water Rice culture, the grains of rice have become familiar to every Vietnamese. And who knows since when, these grains of rice, the green rice flakes, have been closely attached to the Vietnamese people from daily meals to religious and cultural activities such as weddings, celebrations...

When mentioning green rice flakes, even if you are not a Hanoian, you immediately think of the traditional green rice cake in Hanoi or the grains of Vòng Village green rice flakes. The fresh green color of the green rice flakes along with the gentle fragrance has created the attraction of Vòng Village green rice cake - a refined gift from the people of Hanoi for generations. If you have the opportunity to visit Hanoi, you should enjoy green rice flakes and Vòng Village green rice cake at the address:

Some addresses to buy green rice flakes and delicious dishes made from green rice flakes:

• Vòng Village Green Rice Flakes: Vòng Village, Dịch Vọng Hậu, Cầu Giấy. (With cake prices from 4,000 VND to 6,000 VND/piece, and green rice flakes prices from 260,000 VND to 280,000 VND/kg.)
• Nguyên Ninh Green Rice Cake: 65A Hang Than, Ba Dinh.
• Sautéed Green Rice Flakes: 1A Đinh Liệt, Hoàn Kiếm.
• Hom Market Green Rice Sticky Rice: Hom Market Gate, Tran Xuan Soan.
• Green Rice Flakes Sweet Soup: Thanh Cong Market, Ba Dinh.

When it comes to steamed rolled rice pancakes in Hanoi, it is impossible not to mention the famous Thanh Tri steamed rolled rice pancakes that are renowned far and wide. To make the 'perfect' steamed rolled rice pancakes here, the bakers must choose good-quality sticky rice, soak it for 3 hours in clean water, and then grind it into a smooth batter. The batter is spread on a white cloth, placed on a pot of boiling water to cook the pancakes to perfection.

According to the Annals of An Nam by historian Lê Trắc, steamed rolled rice pancakes have been around since 1291 during the reign of King Tran Nhan Tong and is considered a gift that people often make to give to their relatives on the occasion of the Cold Food Festival (Tet Han Thuc).

Until now, this dish has been around for 725 years and has been closely associated with the lives of people in many places, including Hanoi. When it comes to Hanoi's steamed rolled rice pancakes, perhaps we cannot forget the dish from Thanh Tri - a charming culinary feature of the Kinh Kỳ land. The pancakes are made from the finest quality sticky rice, thin and fragrant like a sheet of paper.

Thanh Tri steamed rolled rice pancakes do not have any filling, and are usually arranged in layers inside a basket, covered with lotus leaves, banana leaves, or dong leaves.

There are 3 famous addresses where you can enjoy this dish in Hanoi:

• Ba Hoanh Steamed Rolled Rice Pancakes – 66 To Hien Thanh, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi (30,000 VND/serving)
• 17 Steamed Rolled Rice Pancakes – 17 Cha Ca, Hang Dao, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi (15,000 VND - 33,000 VND/serving)
• Vegetarian Steamed Rolled Rice Pancakes – 9 Nguyen Che Nghia, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi (15,000 VND/serving).

For many people, especially those living and working in Hanoi, perhaps there is no one who does not know the brand Trang Tien Ice Cream. Born in 1958, the flavor of ice cream here has enchanted countless generations of Hanoians.

The soft aroma of sticky rice in the stick of sticky rice ice cream, or the sweet coconut strands in the coconut ice cream... all create an ice cream brand that cannot be matched anywhere else. From babies, students, adults to the elderly, everyone seems to have a joy every time they mention or enjoy the 'renowned' ice cream of Hanoi.

Trang Tien Ice Cream is a famous ice cream brand that has been around since 1958 in Hanoi. The reason why the ice cream is called 'Trang Tien' is because the ice cream is sold and produced on Trang Tien Street, first at 35 Trang Tien, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Trang Tien Ice Cream has become a familiar ice cream brand to Hanoians.

There are 2 types of ice cream: stick ice cream and spiral ice cream with various flavors such as: Chocolate, vanilla, sticky rice, coconut milk,... The ice cream is fragrant, delicious, and refreshing. When you come to the capital Hanoi, remember to visit Hoan Kiem Lake Walking Street, Hanoi Old Quarter, and savor the renowned Trang Tien Ice Cream with prices ranging from 5,000 VND to 13,000 VND!

Address: 35 Trang Tien

Fermented shrimp paste vermicelli with fried tofu or tofu vermicelli with shrimp paste is a simple, rustic dish in the Northern Vietnamese cuisine. This is a dish often enjoyed as a light meal or snack.

The main ingredients include fresh vermicelli, golden fried tofu, shrimp paste mixed with lime, chili, and accompanied by various fragrant herbs such as basil, perilla, coriander, mint, lettuce, etc.

It can be said that fermented shrimp paste vermicelli with fried tofu is one of the most distinctive dishes of Hanoians. It is the combination of a plate of soft fresh vermicelli, crispy fried tofu, and a bowl of fragrant, rich shrimp paste, along with fresh herbs.

Famous places for fermented shrimp paste vermicelli with fried tofu in Hanoi are often street-side stalls, perhaps this is the uniqueness of these stalls selling this traditional dish. There is probably no need to discuss much about this dish because it is truly amazing. When visiting the capital, remember to visit the following 5 locations to enjoy this traditional dish:

Addresses for delicious fermented shrimp paste vermicelli with fried tofu in Hanoi:

• Fermented shrimp paste vermicelli with fried tofu at Hang Khay (Alley 31 Hang Khay) with 45,000 VND/serving.
• Fermented shrimp paste vermicelli with fried tofu at Cay Bang, Dai La (30,000 VND/serving).
• Fermented shrimp paste vermicelli with fried tofu at Trung Huong, Phat Loc Alley (20,000 VND - 50,000 VND/serving).
• Fermented shrimp paste vermicelli with fried tofu at the ancient banyan tree, Gach Alley (50,000 VND/serving).
• Fermented shrimp paste vermicelli with fried tofu at grilled heart alley, Hoang Cau area (20,000 VND - 60,000 VND/serving).

Vietnamese Baguette originated from the French Baguette brought to Vietnam. In the process of adaptation, the Vietnamese people transformed the Baguette into a distinctive Vietnamese bread with a shorter length, only about 30–40 cm.

The bread roll was modified, and various fillings such as pâté, fish cakes, skewered meat,... were added, or eaten with sauces like beef in red wine sauce, becoming familiar enough to become a popular food for the Vietnamese people.

Depending on the ingredients stuffed inside or the accompanying sauces, the Vietnamese bread has different names. This is a long-standing common food, widely popularized throughout the country in recent years.

When in Hanoi, you can indulge in the various versions of Vietnamese bread. You can enjoy a glass of soy milk with baguette in red wine sauce.

Addresses for delicious Vietnamese bread in Hanoi:

• Đình Ngang (40,000 VND/serving).
• Nguyen Sinh Bread (17 Ly Quoc Su - 80,000 VND/serving).
• Bread with Bít-tết at 22 Hoa Ma (100,000 VND/serving).
• Kebab bread at Goethe Institute (30,000 VND/serving).
• Skewered grilled meat bread at 31 Quang Trung (15,000 VND - 20,000 VND/serving).
• Pâté Bread at 8 Cha Ca Street (20,000 VND/serving).
• Grilled Fish Sauce Bread at 20 Le Dai Hanh (20,000 VND/serving).
• Pan-fried Bread at 35 Thai Thinh (25,000 VND - 30,000 VND/serving).

Despite not originating in Vietnam, coffee has become a familiar and indispensable beverage for many Vietnamese people. Therefore, Vietnamese coffee is brewed in many types to satisfy customers such as black coffee, iced milk coffee, iced milk coffee with a lot of milk (Bạc xỉu), egg coffee, and more.

Egg coffee? It might sound strange. Is this combination wonderful? The answer is beyond wonderful, my friends. Vietnam is the place that created this masterpiece of a drink.

The creator of this masterpiece is Mr. Nguyen Van Giang. Mr. Giang was a bartender at the Metropole Hotel during the French colonial period, and the famous egg coffee at Giang's has been transformed from the cappuccino drink when he worked at Metropole.

Egg coffee at Giang's has a rich taste of coffee, the aromatic flavor of egg yolks, and the sweetness of cream. All of these create a gentle, fragrant, and sweet taste, warm enough for cold winter days.

Addresses for Egg Coffee in Hanoi:

• 109 Yen Phu and 39 Nguyen Huu Huan to enjoy Egg Coffee for only 17,000 VND!
• Cafe Dinh at 13 Dinh Tien Hoang (15,000 VND).
• Old Quarter Cafe at 11 Hang Gai (35,000 VND).

When we were young, every morning before going to school, our parents used to take us to the pork rib porridge stall at the beginning of the alley, near the school. We enjoyed hot, smooth porridge with fragrant pork floss. This dish remains like a childhood gift for every Hanoian, a nostalgic flavor that cannot be forgotten.

It's perfect to have this dish on a cold day. A bowl of pork rib porridge with pork floss is quite simple, just a large pot of porridge cooked with sweet bone broth, containing both meat and cartilage ribs inside, combined with the rich flavor of pork floss and the crunchy texture of the accompanying fried dough sticks. All blended together creates a familiar, simple yet entirely satisfying overall taste.

Addresses for delicious pork rib porridge in Hanoi:

• Dong Xuan Market Pork Rib Porridge: 14 Dong Xuan, Hoan Kiem District.
• Ngõ Huyen Pork Rib Porridge: Head of Ngõ Huyen, Hoan Kiem District.
• Crunchy Rib Porridge Stall – Doi Can: 101 Doi Can, Ba Dinh District.
• Quail Egg Pork Rib Porridge: Alley Luong Su C, Dong Da District.
• Bach Khoa Pork Rib Porridge – Ta Quang Buu: Alley 17 Ta Quang Buu, Hai Ba Trung District.

Crab noodle soup (Bún riêu cua) is a familiar and unique dish in the northern provinces of Vietnam. Compared to the southern version, although it may not have as many ingredients, Hanoi's crab noodle soup still carries a distinctive and delicious flavor. The rich taste of field crab, the sourness of tomatoes, and the flavorful broth create an unforgettable impression on every diner.

This dish consists of vermicelli or shredded rice patty and crab vermicelli. The crab vermicelli is a crab soup cooked from crushed crab shells and bodies, filtered with tomatoes, pig fat, pig liver, fermented shrimp paste, salt, and scallions. Crab noodle soup is often served with pork sausage, tofu, raw vegetables, and shrimp paste, creating an incomparable combination of flavors.

Some places for delicious crab noodle soup in Hanoi:

• Quang Trung Street Crab Noodle Soup: 2F Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem.
• Nguyen Sieu Crab Noodle Soup: 32 Nguyen Sieu, Hoan Kiem.
• Thi Sach Street Crab Noodle Soup Shop: 2 Thi Sach, Hai Ba Trung.
• Mrs. Teo's Crab Noodle Soup Shop: 104 C6 To Hieu, Cau Giay.
• Hoè Nhai Snail Beef Crab Noodle Soup.

Sandworm sausage or sandworm with poured eggs is considered a rare specialty of Hanoi because sandworm season only occurs for a very short period in late autumn. To make delicious sandworm sausage, the selection of sandworms is crucial. The worms must be plump, green, and healthy, resulting in a fresh and flavorful taste when cooked. On the other hand, worms with a red or brown color have a less appetizing flavor.

Hanoi's sandworm sausage is particularly fragrant and delicious due to its unique ingredients such as pork belly, duck eggs, chicken eggs, betel leaves, scallions, basil, ginger leaves, pepper, seasoning powder, and fish sauce. Especially, the addition of citrus peel helps reduce the fishy smell and enhances the overall flavor of the dish.

Sandworm sausage is fried in hot oil, cooked over low heat. Taking a bite, you will experience the crispy outer layer along with the sweet and tender sausage, rich and fragrant, with the aroma of citrus peel. Rolling the sandworm sausage with raw vegetables, adding a piece of white vermicelli, and dipping it in slightly spicy fish sauce on a chilly day is perhaps nothing more wonderful.

Some addresses for sandworm sausage in Hanoi:

• Hung Thinh Sandworm Sausage Shop at O Quan Chuong – Hang Chieu: 1 Hang Chieu, Hoan Kiem.
• Gia Ngu Sandworm Sausage: 25 Gia Ngu, Hoan Kiem.
• Hang Beo Sandworm Sausage: 244 Lo Duc.

One of the familiar afternoon treats for Hanoians that is incredibly easy to eat, suitable for any season, or any time of the day without feeling overwhelmed is pyramid-shaped rice dumpling (Bánh giò). It is made from plain rice flour with a filling of minced meat, wood ear mushrooms, and dried shallots, creating a rich and flavorful taste.

Typically, pyramid-shaped rice dumpling (Bánh giò) is enjoyed with pickled radish to reduce the richness. You can also add soy sauce and chili sauce according to personal taste, making it even more delicious. This is one of the snack items similar to afternoon gifts but quite substantial, and its price is only around 10,000-15,000 VND/piece, making it extremely popular.

Addresses for delicious pyramid-shaped rice dumpling (Bánh giò) in Hanoi:

• Thuỵ Khuê Pyramid-shaped Rice Dumpling: 05 Thuỵ Khuê, Tây Hồ.
• Countryside Pyramid-shaped Rice Dumpling Shop: Pasteur Flower Garden, Hai Ba Trung District.
• Đông Các Pyramid-shaped Rice Dumpling: 33 Đông Các, Ô Chợ Dừa, Đống Đa District.

When mentioning Hanoi, people often remember the famous pho, bun... but tend to overlook the traditional yet incredibly enticing dish: Lotus Leaf Sticky Rice (Xôi xéo).

Not that Hanoi only has Lotus Leaf Sticky Rice (Xôi xéo), but the rich flavor and elaborate cooking method make it incomparable to other types of sticky rice. Lotus Leaf Sticky Rice (Xôi xéo) is the oldest and most familiar delicacy in Hanoi, a timeless gift for many city residents.

The rice used for making sticky rice must be the type of sticky rice with yellow flowers, soaked with turmeric-infused water, and steamed with lotus leaf water. Mung beans are finely crushed and shaped into small spheres, resembling grapefruits, and when eaten, they are thinly sliced and spread on the sticky rice. Crispy-fried shallots, along with fried shallot oil, are used to pour over the sticky rice. Enjoying a piece of Lotus Leaf Sticky Rice (Xôi xéo), you will feel the fragrant and chewy taste of the rice, the rich and creamy flavor of shallot oil, and the refreshing taste of lotus leaf.

This dish, as beautiful as the early morning sun, is an integral part of Hanoi's Old Quarter, representing the values of Vietnamese culture in a bygone era.

Addresses for delicious Lotus Leaf Sticky Rice (Xôi xéo) in Hanoi:

• May's Lotus Leaf Sticky Rice Stall: Sidewalk at the intersection of Hang Bai and Ly Thuong Kiet.
• Bát Đàn Lotus Leaf Sticky Rice.
• Yến's Sticky Rice Shop: 35B Nguyen Huu Huan.