A question our travelers always ask when they arrive in Vietnam is: Where can we eat?
The street food there is truly delicious, but let’s be honest, for those who are not used to it, the appearance of the places can often be a deterrent when choosing a good spot.
Choosing the right place when traveling in Vietnam is key to success. We, at One More Destination, will provide you with the insights and some of the best street food spots in the Old Quarter, Hanoi’s ancient district.
First of all, as always, we show you a map with the locations:
Discover Vietnamese Gastronomy and Cuisine
1 – BÁNH CUỐN
This is a roll made with rice flour, filled with minced pork, mushrooms, and onion, and steamed. It is eaten with a fish sauce containing vinegar, sugar, and chili.
A simple recipe, though not always easy to prepare.
Our favorite spot: Thanh Vân, at 14 Hàng Gà Street
Price: 30,000 VND for 10 pieces (1.5 USD)
2. BÚN CHẢ
Possibly the most famous street food among the foreign community in Vietnam. It consists of a broth made from vegetables and fish sauce, mixed with grilled spiced pork and meatballs, and rice noodles.
It can be accompanied by the famous Nem, Vietnamese spring rolls, or, in very few places, Vietnamese seafood rolls.
The broth is the main secret of this recipe. A broth prepared with carrots and papaya, simmered for 20 minutes. Mixed with sugar, vinegar, lemon, and chili, it has a very distinctive flavor.
Our favorite spot: Bun Cha at 1 Hàng Manh Street
Price: 30,000 – 40,000 VND per plate (1.5 – 2 USD)
3 – PHỞ
If the previous dish is the most prestigious for foreigners, Pho is, without a doubt, number one for Vietnamese people.
Pho is the traditional noodle soup with meat and vegetables. There are mainly two variations: beef and chicken.
For Vietnamese people, there is no set time for this dish. From 7 AM, you can find street stalls packed with locals eating it for breakfast. From that moment on, any time is good for a break. Pho time is 24 hours a day.
Price: 50,000 VND per plate (2.5 USD)
4 – BÚN CÁ
This dish consists of rather spicy fried fish with soup and ginger. All of this is accompanied by the essential rice noodles. Although not strictly so, this dish could be considered a variation of Bun Cha.
Our favorite spot: Bún Cá Sâm Cây Si – 5 Ngõ Trung Yên
Price: 50,000 VND per plate (2.5 USD)
5 – BÁNH RÁN THỊT/ BÁNH RÁN NGỌT
You will immediately recognize the Vietnamese doughnut. Many women cycle through Hanoi’s Old Quarter selling them in wicker baskets.
There are 2 variations: savory and sweet. The savory one is filled with minced meat and glass noodles (transparent, not to be confused), mushrooms, and carrots in a mixture of flour and glutinous rice.
The sweet doughnut is filled with mung beans and cooked with sugar.
Our favorite spot: Bánh Rán – 54 Ly Quoc Su
Price: 10,000 VND per savory piece (0.5 USD)
Price: 2,000 VND per sweet piece (0.10 USD)
6 – BÁNH MÌ
The Vietnamese sandwich. It may seem comical, but Vietnamese sandwiches are very famous for their unique flavor.
The most traditional one is filled with pâté, sliced pork, cucumber, and cilantro. For spicy food lovers, chili is not an unreasonable addition.
The interesting fact is that each establishment has its own special sauce to give the sandwich its unique identity. Although there are many fast food options today, the Vietnamese sandwich remains the number one choice for locals.
Our favorite spot: 2 Lương Ngọc Quyến
Price: 20,000 VND per piece (1 USD)
7 – PHỞ CUỐN
To taste this famous dish, we will have to venture a bit outside the Old Quarter, as the best places are located around the lake, north of the city.
Pho Cuon is a rice noodle roll filled with fried beef, lettuce, and cilantro, and is eaten with fish sauce.
A rather light dish, ideal for those who prefer a light dinner.
Our favorite spot: Phở Cuốn Hưng Bền – 26 Nguyễn Khắc Hiếu
Price: 50,000 VND per plate of 10 pieces (2.5 USD)
8 – BÚN ĐẬU MÂM TÔM
Perhaps less known but equally delicious, this dish consists of short rice noodles with sliced tofu and shrimp paste. Lemon juice is added.
For those who have never tried this dish, it can be challenging as the shrimp paste has a very strong taste and smell. Typically, places offering this dish also have other options to choose from.
Our favorite spot: Bún đậu – 1 Mã Mây
Price: 20,000-30,000 VND per plate (1 – 1.5 USD)
9 – XÔI YẾN
Actually, the dish is called Xoi, but in this case, we are referring to a specific place, named after its owner.
Xoi is sticky rice served with a soy base and various types of meat and condiments of your choice. Many different ingredient options that you can mix without fear of making a mistake: pork, chicken, egg, pâté, mung beans, etc.
Perfect for midday or to take with you if you are taking an overnight train.
Our favorite spot: Xôi Yến at 35 Nguyễn Hữu Huân Street
Price: 40,000 VND per plate (2 USD)
10 – Hoa Quả Dầm
A typical fruit salad for the warmer months of the year. Watermelon, mango, dragon fruit, or any other seasonal fruit. They are cut into cubes and mixed with condensed milk and coconut milk.
Ideally, serve it with ice or yogurt.
Our favorite spot: Number 5 in Hàng Chỉ alley, Hàng Hòm Street
Price: 25,000 – 35,000 VND per cup (1.5 USD)
I am sure you are hungry now, aren’t you? We look forward to welcoming you to try all these typical dishes.
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