Don’t worry, this isn’t all I ate! I stuffed in quite a bit more during my brief stay in Hanoi, yet I discovered that photographing food in Vietnam can be a little more challenging than other places.
Sitting on 6 inch stools on the roadside, balancing drinks and dishes on tiny or nonexistent tables, extremely uneven light coming from makeshift roofing, people shoving, and a slight concern of being hit by motorbikes all add to the exciting challenge! Here are a few things I ate while in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Pho Ga – Vietnamese rice noodle soup with chicken
Pho Bo – Beef noodle soup
Pho Xao Bo – Rice noodles fried with beef and vegetables
Xa Lach Tron Dao Dam – Vietnamese beef and lettuce salad
Banh Goi – Vietnamese empanada dumplings (left), Nem Cua Be – Vietnamese fried crab spring rolls (right)
Nom Chim Quay – Pigeon and papaya salad
Nom Bo Kho – Beef and papaya salad
Rice and buffet
Goi Cuon – Vietnamese fresh summer rolls
Banh My Doner Kebab – Baguette stuffed with kebab meat and vegetables
Bun Cha – Barbecue meat soup, rice noodles, and herbs
Mien Xao Luon – Stir fried cassava noodles with fried eels
Xoi Ga / Xoi Thit Kho Tau – Sticky rice with chicken and with glazed pork
Xoi Xeo Ga – Sticky rice, corn, bean paste, chicken, fried onions, sauce!
I have to give my vote to Hanoi’s Bun Cha with Xoi Xeo coming in next!
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I know I missed a few of Hanoi’s dishes, if only I had had a bit more time…
Like Vietnamese food too? What are your favorite Vietnamese / Hanoian dishes?
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alex
1 month ago
Helo,
Such a Great information,Thanks fot sharing.
vishal kaushik
2 years ago
Loved it Mark!
Ravin kumar
2 years ago
Such a Great information, nice to read your blog. Keep updating.
Brady and Shelly
6 years ago
It can be a little overwhelming the culinary experience in Hanoi. We found a great place called “Quan An Ngon” which is a restaurant of street food vendors. You can try most of these dishes located on this list and some others that aren’t. It really a great place to visit in Hanoi and try some local street food in a restaurant setting!
Catherine – Red Door Ponderings
6 years ago
Nem Cua Be are our absolute favourites. Both times we have been to Hanoi we have managed to track down an amazing road side place that is only open for lunch. Beautiful fresh Nem Cua Be and piles and piles of fresh herbs/lettuce. Unbeatable.
Madeline Parrish
6 years ago
I like to refer to nem cua be as little crab pillows. They are so delicious at anytime of day!
vynhu
6 years ago
Next time, I hope you will visit Hanoi again, and you should try some famous Hanoian food like: Bún thang (rice vermicelli and chicken, fried egg, dried white radish and pork), Bún giả cầy (rice vermicelli and pork legs), Bún riêu Hanoi (Bun rieu Hanoian style) , Bún ốc Tây Hồ (Bun and snail Tay Ho), Bún cá (Bun and fish), Bánh đa cá (flat dried rice noodle and fish), Bánh đa cua (flat dried rice noodle and little crab), Bún mọc (Bun and pork legs, vegatables…), Bánh tôm Tây Hồ (fried shirmp cake), Bánh rán mặn (fried wheat cake with miced pork meat, vermicelli), Miến lươn (vermicelli and swamp eel), Bún hải sản bề bề (Bun and seafood), Phở cuốn (flat rice noodles roll beef and lettuce), Phở chiên phồng Ngũ Xã (fried rice noodle and beef, bok choy), Lẩu soup, Ốc luộc (Boiling Snail), Cháo trai, Cháo gà, Cháo Sườn…
Mark Wiens
6 years ago
Thank you very much for all your tips. I would love to visit Hanoi again in the future!
Hanoi street foods
9 years ago
Chicken noodle is best one in Hanoi
Gerard ~ GQ trippin
10 years ago
I heard about the banh mi Doner Kebab, but never got a chance to try it. How was it?
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Gerard, I loved it! Hope you can try it soon!
Chau Nguyen
10 years ago
Thanks, Mark. It’s about my country, lol.
Karthik
10 years ago
Yes, Hanoi makes the some on the best Pho in Vietnam and street food scene is amazing. Also, never forget to savour the Pho Cuon spring rolls.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Karthik, yes those spring rolls are wonderful!
Dong Y
10 years ago
Vietnam’s Pho is the best. Try it if u r in hanoi. U will never forget its taste
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Dong, yes a I had some delicious pho in Hanoi, I really like it!
mimi
11 years ago
well it seems like asian foods r really scary to western ppl :'(
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Thanks Mimi, different and delicious!
Sophie
13 years ago
Ooh, how delicious it all looks. Great photos.
wandering educators
13 years ago
i am now officially super hungry. gorgeous photos!
ayngelina
13 years ago
Bun cha is one of my favorites but it all looks so fresh.
Michael Hodson
13 years ago
You had me at Vietnam and food. Such a yummy country. Thanks for the photos!
Nancie
13 years ago
Great shots! Yes, eating and taking photos in Hanoi can be a challenge 🙂 Love pho!
Could not do the pigeon dish………just the thought makes me gag 🙂
Railway Reservation
13 years ago
Wow lovely dishes Here are a few things I Want eat while in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Mark Wiens
13 years ago
@Jetpacker: Haha, it was a little bone filled, but the flavor was excellent!
@Riku: Yes man, the fresh herbs and mild soups definitely added a unique natural flavor. I didn’t make it to the dog street in the end, sort of ran out of time, and my girlfriend wasn’t too thrilled! Next time!
@Digital Nomadism: Yah, sucked on the whole thing and spit out the bones! You have got to try it when you are in Hanoi!
Digital Nomadism
13 years ago
Also not sure about that Pigeon head!! Did you crunch down the whole thing or is it for show?
Chau Nguyen
10 years ago
Just for show, man. I’d rather take it out.
Riku S
13 years ago
haha, ”comment luv” 😀 nice one
Riku S
13 years ago
Wow dude, awesome pics. Rice noodle soup w chicken/beef/pork + some liver in it was propably the best dish that I ate in Vietnam. Döner kebab and fresh summer rolls were really tasty too.
Btw did you notice that those Vietnamise soups had that unique taste of freshness on them? I mean if you compare to ones you get in Thailand or Laos.
And did you go to that ”dog street”?
Chau Nguyen
10 years ago
There’s nowhere noodle is tasted like in Hanoi, all are the modifications. “Dog street”? You mean dog meat on the street ? Sometimes you can find it in some markets but not regular. You have to go to some restaurant to try it.
The Jetpacker
13 years ago
Everything looks awesome… except the pigeon… with the HEAD in the dish. I’ve never walked through a city and went, “Hmm… that pigeon looks edible.” How was it?
Chau Nguyen
10 years ago
It was nothing, lol. Just for decorating. I don’t eat that stuff but other is enough to say extremely great. Vote for Beef Noodle, Bun Cha, Beef Salad … and everything, lol.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Thanks Chau!