When strolling through the 36 streets of Ha Noi’s Old Quarter, visitors can see that street food of the capital seems to be endless.

The world of street food is diverse

Pho is one of typical street scenes in Ha Noi. The broth is simmered for several hours using pork or beef bones. When the broth is ready, the dish will be served with pho noodles (flat rice noodles), onions, meats and herbs. Traditional pho also has many flavours, of which chicken pho and beef pho are the two popular with diners. This is a great and healthy breakfast to start the day.

Beef Pho (Photo: TITC)

The next dish that Travel Mole mentioned is Banh cuon (steamed rice rolls) – another local breakfast favourite. Rice is ground into powder and coated into thin, smooth and hot layers. The chef will quickly add the filling of ground pork, black fungus and mushrooms. Once rolled up, they are covered with fried shallots, scallions and bean sprouts. Diners can come across fragrant banh cuon shops all over Ha Noi.

Banh cuon (Photo: TITC)

There would be a loss not to mention Bun cha – grilled pork and rice noodles. The noodles will be served with richly marinated grilled pork, sweet and sour dipping sauce and many accompanying herbs such as cucumbers, carrots, bean sprouts, mint, chilli, and lettuce. This dish will help diners feel full for a long day of sightseeing.

Bun cha Ha Noi (Photo: Vinpearl)

One of the favourite dishes of international tourists in Ha Noi is Banh mi. When walking around the streets of Ha Noi, visitors can see many small bread carts. Crispy hot bread topped with rich sauce, fragrant pate, various meats and herbs to balance the flavours. It is easy to recognize delicious bread sellers when you see many locals driving motorbikes pulling up to the side of the road to buy.

Banh mi (Photo: Vinpearl)

And what better combination than enjoying these wonderful street foods with a cup of tea or egg coffee. The rich flavour of egg yolk, robusta coffee, sugar and condensed milk has attracted many diners. Not only does it have a special flavour, egg coffee also gives visitors energy for a whole day of exploration.

Numerous exceptional local markets and fine restaurants

In addition to experiencing and enjoying street food, Ha Noi also has countless high-quality restaurants for visitors to enjoy a more formal lunch or dinner. Restaurants located right next to Hoan Kiem Lake or Hanoi Opera House with exceptional views, professional service and staff, plus multi menus are recommended. Around Ha Noi’s Old Quarter, there are also many local food markets that attract tourists. Chau Long market, Dong Xuan market or Hang Da market are all bustling from early morning. The stall owners start selling early before sunrise and get ready for a busy day. Shoppers arrive on motorbikes, loaded with fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, herbs, fish and noodles. The atmosphere at the markets is always bustling and enchanting. When going to the market, visitors always look for fresh fruit stalls and when they come home they can enjoy mangosteen, rambutan, passion fruit and many other wonderful fruits.

Dong Xuan market (Photo: TITC)

Before leaving this culinary wonderland, visitors can take a cooking class to learn local recipes. When participating in these classes, visitors will be led to the market, shown how to choose ingredients and detailed instructions by professional chefs. If given the opportunity, tourists should also visit a local Vietnamese family. They are wonderful hosts, welcoming guests with tea and snacks before serving delicious local dishes. When sitting and enjoying delicious local Vietnamese dishes with your host, there will be many things to share and learn from each other about life, history, culture and traditions. This is truly a heartwarming, unforgettable experience.