Hey Leosquad! If you think you know Vietnamese food, Hanoi will humble you. Smoky grilled pork, steaming bowls of noodles, crispy street snacks — during my time in Hanoi, I tried everything from iconic local specialties to everyday favorites. Here are 8 Vietnamese foods you must try in Hanoi.
- 🥢 1. Bún Chả – Hanoi's Signature Dish
- 🐟 2. Chả Cá – Hanoi's Famous Turmeric Fish
- 🍜 3. Phở Trộn – A Different Way to Eat Phở
- 🍜 4. Bún Thang – A Light and Comforting Noodle Soup
- 🦆 5. Bún Miến Ngan – Hanoi's Duck Noodles
- 🌶️ 6. Nem Cua Bể – Crispy Fried Crab Spring Rolls
- 🥖 7. Bánh Mì Chảo – Bánh Mì Served in a Pan
- 🍅 8. Bún Riêu – Tangy Tomato and Crab Noodle Soup
- 🍜 Which Hanoi Food Should You Try First?
- 🍴 Tips for Trying Food in Hanoi
- 🌆 Final Thoughts: Why Hanoi Is Such a Great Food City?
- 🎥 Watch The Full Video Here
- 🏨 Where to Stay in Hanoi?
- 🔗 LeoTrails Links
🥢 1. Bún Chả – Hanoi’s Signature Dish
If you’re trying only one dish in Hanoi, Bún Chả is a great place to start.
Bún chả is made with Bún (rice vermicelli noodles), grilled pork, fresh herbs, and a sweet-tangy dipping sauce. The sauce is made with fish sauce, vinegar, garlic, and sugar, with crunchy green papaya and carrot.
The pork includes pork belly and minced pork patties, which are smoky, savory, and slightly sweet from caramelization. I also ordered Nem rán, crispy fried spring rolls filled with minced pork, vermicelli noodles, wood ear mushrooms, and bean sprouts.
To eat it, pick up the noodles and herbs with chopsticks and dip them into the sauce with the pork.
What to expect: Smoky, savory, slightly sweet and tangy, with fresh herbs, crunchy vegetables, and crispy spring rolls.
Best for: First-time visitors who want to try a classic Hanoi dish.
📍 Location: (Bún chả 41 Cửa Đông), 41 P. Cửa Đông, Phố cổ Hà Nội, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
💰 Prices: Bún Chả ~70,000 VND (2.7 USD) ; Nem rán 15,000 VND (0.6 USD)
⏰ Opening Hours: Daily, 10:00 –21:00
🐟 2. Chả Cá – Hanoi’s Famous Turmeric Fish
Next is chả cá, one of Hanoi’s most distinctive dishes.
The grilled catfish is already marinated before being cooked, giving it an aromatic, nutty, smoky, and savory flavor. It’s best eaten while still hot.
To eat it, I dipped the fish into shrimp paste, which has a very strong flavor and gives the dish an extra kick. I also picked up some bún (vermicelli noodles) and dipped them into the fish sauce, which added a sweet, savory, and tangy taste.
For me, the combination of smoky fish, strong shrimp paste, fresh herbs, and vermicelli noodles made this a dish that felt very different from the usual Vietnamese food I had tried. Definitely worth trying when you’re in Hanoi.
What to expect: Aromatic, savory, nutty and smoky.
Best for: Seafood lovers or anyone looking to try something distinctly Hanoi.
📍 Location: (MaDam Tư Hồng), 5 ngõ Hội Vũ, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội:, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 10000, Vietnam
💰 Prices: Chả cá ~145,000 VND (5.5 USD)
⏰ Opening Hours: Daily, 11:00–13:30 , 17:00–21:30
🍜 3. Phở Trộn – A Different Way to Eat Phở
You probably already know phở, Vietnam’s famous noodle soup. But in Hanoi, you can also find phở trộn, a dry version that’s quite different from the traditional bowl of soup.
Instead of being served in hot broth, the noodles come with fried shallots, peanuts, cilantro, and chicken, which you mix together before eating. I chose the thigh meat, and the combination was salty and savory, with the peanuts adding a nice nutty crunch. A squeeze of lime brought some refreshing tanginess to the dish.
I also ordered soy milk (Sữa đậu nàn) and Youtiao (quẩy) to go with it. The Youtiao (quẩy) was buttery, crunchy, and savory, and it came with a small bowl of soup served separately for dipping, which made it even more enjoyable.
I had this lunch with Milly, my high school friend from Indonesia who now lives in Hanoi. It was a fun meal to catch up over. If you’ve had phở several times already, phở trộn is a fun way to enjoy the familiar noodles in a completely different style.
What to expect: Savory, slightly sweet, nutty and refreshing.
Best for: Anyone who wants to try a less traditional take on phở
📍 Location: (Phở Gà Nguyệt), 5b P. Phủ Doãn, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam
💰 Prices: Phở Trộn ~100,000 VND (3.82 USD) with extra chicken thigh meat; Sữa đậu nàn 10,000 VND (0.4 USD)
⏰ Opening Hours: Daily, 06:30- 00:00
🍜 4. Bún Thang – A Light and Comforting Noodle Soup
Bún thang was my first breakfast in Hanoi, and it was such a comforting way to start the morning. This Northern Vietnamese specialty combines rice vermicelli with shredded chicken, thinly sliced omelette, shiitake mushrooms, and pork sausage in a light, slightly sweet and savory broth.
What I enjoyed most was the variety of toppings. Compared with phở gà, I found bún thang more interesting because each ingredient added a different texture and flavor to the bowl.
I also had their coconut coffee alongside the noodles. It was creamy, rich, and slightly sweet, and the cool coffee made a nice contrast to the warm, savory soup.
What to expect: Light, comforting, slightly sweet and savory, with a variety of toppings.
Best for: A cozy Hanoi breakfast on a cool morning.
📍 Location: (Phở Gà – Bún thang Stall Beside Ja café), 9 P. Tôn Thất Thiệp, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam
💰 Prices: Bún thang ~55,000 VND (2.1 USD) ; Coconut Coffee ~55,000 VND (2.1 USD)
⏰ Opening Hours: Daily, 07:00 – 22:00
🦆 5. Bún Miến Ngan – Hanoi’s Duck Noodles
If you’re a fan of duck, don’t skip Bún Miến Ngan.
It combines rice and glass noodles with tender duck, bamboo shoots, herbs, and a flavorful broth. The duck has a more earthy and stronger flavor than chicken, while the bamboo shoots add a nice crunch. The dipping sauce is salty and tangy, and I liked dipping the duck into it.
I also enjoyed the pork meatballs, which had wood ear mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms mixed in. The dish also came with duck blood, which had a soft, jelly-like texture.
I’m not usually a big fan of duck, but I still found this dish enjoyable. If you love duck, though, this could be a great choice. And honestly, the best way to finish the meal is to drink the flavorful broth straight from the bowl.
What to expect: Savory, comforting and earthy.
Best for: Duck lovers or travelers who want to go beyond Hanoi’s most famous dishes.
📍 Location: (Quán Ngan Trăm Món Yến Phương), 65 P. Lý Nam Đế, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
💰 Prices: Bún Miến Ngan ~60,000 VND (2.2 USD); an additional 10,000 VND (0.4 USD) for two pork meatballs
⏰ Opening Hours: Daily, 7:00 –21:00
🌶️ 6. Nem Cua Bể – Crispy Fried Crab Spring Rolls
For something smaller, try Nem Cua Bể.
It is a crispy Vietnamese crab spring roll served with bún (rice vermicelli noodles) and a dipping sauce. The filling contains crab meat and glass noodles, giving it a savory, slightly salty flavor with a satisfying crunch.
I added some garlic and chili to the dipping sauce, which is made with fish sauce, vinegar, and crunchy green papaya. Dipping the spring roll into the sauce gives it a nice sweet, tangy, and savory kick.
What to expect: Crispy, savory, slightly tangy and satisfying.
Best for: Street-food lovers looking for something casual to snack on.
📍 Location: (Quán Nem Giảng Võ), 106-k1 P. Giảng Võ, Ô Chợ Dừa, Hà Nội, Vietnam
💰 Prices: Nem Cua Bể ~91,000 VND (3.5 USD) ; bún ~6,000 VND (0.2 USD)
⏰ Opening Hours: Daily, 09:30 –21:30
🥖 7. Bánh Mì Chảo – Bánh Mì Served in a Pan
If you want a hearty Vietnamese breakfast, bánh mì chảo is worth trying. Instead of a filled bánh mì sandwich, you get a hot sizzling pan with eggs, pâté, char siu, and sausage, with bread served on the side for dipping.
I found it savory and salty, with a slight bitterness from the pâté. Without chili, the flavor felt a little bland, so I definitely recommend adding some chili for an extra kick. Tear off some bread, dip it into the egg and sauce, then add the char siu meat, sausage, or pâté.
It’s filling, comforting, and best enjoyed while everything is still hot.
What to expect: Savory, salty, hearty, and satisfying, with a richer flavor when you add chili.
Best for: A filling Vietnamese breakfast, especially if you enjoy eggs, pâté, and grilled meats.
📍 Location: (BANH MI 25), 5 P. Hàng Cá, Phố cổ Hà Nội, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
💰 Prices: bánh mì chảo ~75,000 VND (2.86 USD)
⏰ Opening Hours: Daily, 07:00 – 21:00
🍅 8. Bún Riêu – Tangy Tomato and Crab Noodle Soup
Finally, there’s bún riêu, a colorful noodle soup made with a tomato-based broth and crab-based ingredients.
Bún riêu is a Vietnamese rice noodle soup with a savory, tomato-based broth that has a refreshing sourness. My bowl came with several toppings, including fried tofu, fish cake, pork sausage, and tomatoes, with fresh lettuce served separately.
Sadly, they had already run out of snails (ốc), which would have added a chewy texture. I don’t eat beef, so I skipped the beef option, but I really enjoyed the pork sausage made with pig ears and the grilled fish cake. You can also add chili flakes if you want more heat.
For me, this is definitely a dish worth trying when you’re in Hanoi.
What to expect: savory, tangy, and full of different textures.
📍 Location: (Bún Ziu Gánh), Lương Sử C/104 Quốc Tử Giám, Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám, Hà Nội 10000, Vietnam
💰 Prices: Bún Riêu ~30,000 VND; two additional toppings ~40,000 VND (total ~70,000 VND / 2.68 USD)
⏰ Opening Hours: Daily, 10.00 –14:30 ; 17:00–21:30
🍜 Which Hanoi Food Should You Try First?
If you’re overwhelmed by the choices, here’s an easy way to narrow it down:
- First time in Hanoi? Start with bún chả.
- Want something uniquely Hanoi? Try chả cá.
- Already love phở? Give phở trộn a try.
- Prefer lighter flavors? Order bún thang.
- Love duck? Go for Bún Miến Ngan.
- Want a street snack? Try Nem Cua Bể.
- Looking for a hearty breakfast? Have bánh mì chảo.
- Love tangy, tomato-based soups? Try bún riêu.
You don’t have to try all eight in one day. Hanoi is best explored slowly, one meal at a time.
🍴 Tips for Trying Food in Hanoi
Don’t judge a dish by how familiar it looks
Some of the best Hanoi foods may not look familiar at first. If you’re used to Vietnamese dishes like phở or bánh mì, don’t be afraid to order something you’ve never heard of before.
Eat where locals eat
Busy food stalls and small restaurants can be a good sign, especially during normal meal times.
Go beyond the famous dishes
Phở and bún chả are popular for a reason, but don’t stop there. Dishes such as bún thang, miến ngan, and phở trộn show just how varied Hanoi’s food scene can be.
Bring cash
Many smaller food stalls and local restaurants may prefer cash, so it’s useful to keep some Vietnamese đồng with you when exploring Hanoi’s food scene.
🌆 Final Thoughts: Why Hanoi Is Such a Great Food City?
What I enjoyed most about eating in Hanoi wasn’t just the individual dishes, but the variety. From smoky bún chả and aromatic chả cá to comforting bún thang, crispy Nem Cua Bể, and tangy bún riêu, each dish offers a different taste of the city.
You don’t need a fancy restaurant or a planned food tour to enjoy Vietnamese food in Hanoi. Sometimes, the best meals come from simply walking down a busy street, finding a small local spot, and seeing what’s cooking.
If you’re visiting Hanoi for the first time, don’t stick only to the dishes you already know. Try something new, leave some room for surprises, and enjoy the city one bite at a time.
Eight dishes, countless flavors — and plenty more waiting to be discovered.
So, which one would you try first?
🎥 Watch The Full Video Here
🏨 Where to Stay in Hanoi?
Recommended Stay: The Oriental Jade Hotel (Hanoi Old Quarter)
From $99/ Night
If you want a more luxurious and polished stay, The Oriental Jade Hotel is a great option. The rooms are comfortable and stylish, with excellent facilities and a rooftop pool offering views over Hanoi. Its central location also makes it easy to explore Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter, and nearby attractions.
👉 Perfect for travelers who want to experience Hanoi’s local atmosphere while staying close to the city’s main attractions.
