Street Food Itinerary: Hanoi, Vietnam

They say that if you want to know a city and its culture really well, then you need to sample its signature dishes - and street food is the perfect way to do this authentically. Street food plays an important role in cultures all over the world; bringing local communities together, upholding traditional recipes, fostering food innovation, and is an important part of the economy, particularly in developing countries.

Today, people travel all around the world to different cities to experience some of the most delicious, unique cuisines that the streets have on offer. Street food is renowned for being on the forefront of food innovation, with some of the best Michelin star delicacies found at a ‘hole in the wall’, not at the five star restaurant.

Knowing where to go is an important part of truly experiencing the very best on offer. Over the next few months we will be highlighting key cities that have some of the best street food experiences. We’ll highlight some of our favourite vendors to check out, and provide some insider tips to eat as the locals do.

First city on the menu is Hanoi, Vietnam.

Famed around the world, Vietnamese cuisine is light, fresh and full of delicious surprises. Hanoi is full of marvelous hidden gems that lie within the streets and we’re about to take you on a journey!

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, but we affectionately like to call it the food capital of Vietnam! From Pho to Banh Bar, this city is buzzing with deliciousness; the delicacies are endless. Even Anthony Bourdain himself said he would rather eat at one of the street food vendors than in a 5-star restaurant - that’s saying something!

To really experience the local flare, we recommend taking a specialised tour of the streets to ensure you get everything you came for. 

As a company, we really pride ourselves on the priority we place on supporting local businesses and recently we’ve seen a rise in the local street vendors wanting to promote their business on our platform. We understand how much a local business relies on tourism to feed their families and is vital for the economic development of a city. We host a variety of local vendors on our site, including Crossing Vietnam Tours, a vendor who hosts a range of activities including the 1969 Old Quarter Food Tour, Hanoi.

This tour is a crowd favourite, as it enables travelers to sample a myriad of local delicacies, from the French influenced Vietnamese banh mi and Bun Cha noodles to sweet milk dessert and fruity drinks.

Tour operator, Crossing Vietnam Tours, says that this is their best seller in terms of tours and it’s no wonder why! The tour sends taste buds into a frenzy with the famous spicy noodle soups, fried meats, pancakes and sweet desserts like tapioca.

“This tour is a best seller for us because people get to dive into the wonderful aromas of the busy food stalls as they explore Old Quarter. They not only get to taste all the wonderful foods, but they also get to understand the history of this cultural landmark,” said a representative from Crossing Vietnam Tours.

“We’ve noticed the trend that travelers are more adventurous with food. Just a couple of years ago we only saw Korean and some Eastern Asian customers, however today we are now receiving more bookings from European, American and South Asian customers. Thats is a remarkable development for us. Some of our most adventurous eaters now are travelers from Korean, Indian and Malaysian, Indonesian, Israel.”

1969 Old Quarter Food Tour, Hanoi can be taken at any time of the day, so it can fit perfect with whatever you have going on throughout the day.

Other unique street food tours to try in Hanoi are:

This is any coffee enthusiasts dream and not one to miss. Taste the country's most popular drink and learn about locally grown coffee in Vietnam. On this tour you will get the try three different types of Vietnamese coffee as well as manual brewing methods. You’ll even leave with bag of freshly roasted coffee beans, so you can bring the taste of Vietnam back home with you.

If you love the idea of a street food tour matched with a little bit of pampering, then this 3 in 1 tour was made just for you. You'll start their adventures in Hanoi and take in the many gorgeous sites of the city aboard a, a traditional Vietnamese vehicle. You will then taste the sumptuous flavours of Hanoi with a relaxing walking tour on Hanoi's vibrant streets and end with a treat - a soothing foot massage!

If you love a little adventure, matched with delicious food then the Hanoi Food and City Motorbike Tour is one not to miss. Discover the bustling city of Hanoi as you visit iconic sites and eat delectable food - all while riding a motorbike! You'll not only discover the history of this city, but you will explore the many boutiques and bistros, sampling specialty food, like the world renowned Vietnamese coffee, mixed fruits, dried beef salad, and more.

The markets in Hanoi are incredible and a definite on the list of things to do in this amazing city. Experience Vietnamese culture through taste, as you walk around the city’s Old Quarter and its markets. You’ll get to taste seasonal fruits, authentic Vietnamese pastries, fried rice pancakes, grilled chicken wings, pho, and dessert. You’ll even drop by a bar and drink a bottle of local beer.