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Here is the ultimate Hanoi food guide – the best dishes to eat in Hanoi and where to find them in 2026. We absolutely loved the food available in Hanoi so we thought you would write a Hanoi food guide to wet your appetite. Hanoi has a well-earned reputation for amazing street food and epic drinks. In this article we will review and recommend the absolute best places to find the best food in Hanoi.
Despite all this amazing food, Vietnam remains one of the fittest and healthiest countries in the world. This is a testament to the fresh, healthy nature of Vietnamese food. Another great thing about Vietnamese street food, it is super cheap! Vietnamese street food is readily available around Hanoi and it is very affordable, meaning that you can try a wide variety of dishes and then go for seconds!
We love Hanoi so much we have also published a 3 day Hanoi itinerary
GET ORGANISED – You can actually book an EPIC Hanoi old quarter food tour on Klook. Make sure you arrive hungry. It is very affordable and lots of fun!
In this Hanoi food guide we will share some HIDDEN GEMS for the best local foods. So stick with us and read on…
Map of the best food places in Hanoi
Don’t miss our video of trying Hanoi street food
Check out our video of trying some of these amazing dishes on our first day in Hanoi
1 Bahn Mi – Vietnamese Baguettes
Kicking off with an absolute classic. If you haven’t tried Bahn Mi you haven’t been to Hanoi. So what’s all the fuss about?
Bahn Mi is a Vietnamese sandwich and you can find it all over the place in Hanoi. It consists of a baguette (or other type of French bread) filled with various ingredients such as pork, beef, chicken, pickled vegetables, cucumber, cilantro, mayonnaise, and chili sauce. The sandwich is usually served hot or cold. Bahn Mi has its roots in French colonialism in Vietnam.
During the colonial period, French baguettes were introduced to Vietnam and combined with traditional Vietnamese ingredients to create the Bahn Mi sandwich. Bahn Mi is very popular in Hanoi. These tasty sandwiches are often served at corner stores, street food carts and small street side cafes. We highly recommend these super tasty treats if you are in Hanoi.
TOP TIP: Banh Mi is available throughout the day. However, this is a very popular morning food so we recommend trying Bahn Mi at breakfast.
Where is the best place to try Bahn Mi in Hanoi?
One of the BEST and most popular places to try Bahn Mi in Hanoi is the Bahn Mi 25 cafe located in the Hanoi old quarter.
How much does Bahn Mi normally cost in Hanoi?
Bahn Mi can cost as little as 10,000VND (£0.30 or $0.40). Most good Banh Mi cost between 30,000VND – 60,000VND (£1 – £2 or $1.20 – $2.50). Upmarket places may charge 90,000VND (£3 or $4) or more for a Banh Mi.
2 Pho Soup – Vietnamese Noodle Soup
One of our favorite all time dishes is Pho soup. No Hanoi food guide would be complete without a mention of Pho Soup. Healthy, hydrating and super tasty – this simple yet delicious dish is brilliant. Pho Soup is a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup. It is made with a beef or chicken broth and is typically served with a variety of garnishes including fresh herbs, bean sprouts, lime wedges, chili peppers and hoisin or fish sauce.
The flavor can range from light and herbal to spicy and flavorful. Most soups start mild and you can add extra garnishes to give it your preferred kick. We couldn’t get enough of the pickled garlic (yeah – we love our strong flavors).
Pho Soup is widely available in Hanoi and can be found at most restaurants throughout the city. The variety of Pho Soup in Hanoi can range from the classic beef or chicken broth to more unique offerings such as spicy beef or pork broth, vegetarian options, and even seafood broth.
TOP TIP: This is also a great option for families with kids. The soups are generally served quite mild which is awesome for kids. Alternatively, you can normally request a soup with just noodles and broth to make it super simple for children.
Where is the best place to try Pho in Hanoi?
One of the best places to try Pho in Hanoi is at the Mỳ Phố cafe in the old quarter.
How much does Pho normally cost in Hanoi?
Pho soup normally costs around 30,000VND – 60,000VND (£1 – £2 or $1.20 – $2.50) depending on the ingredients. Beef is normally more expensive.
3 Snails – Vietnamese street food
Boiled snails were one of the strangest things we tried in Hanoi. Use a sharp wooden stick to pick the slimy snail out and then restrain every instinct to vomit as you chew through the slime. And then you hit the succulent meat with a subtle seafood taste. And you’ve tried your first snail. Ready for more?
Snails are an ingredient in many traditional Vietnamese dishes and are a popular street food in Hanoi. Preparation of snails for eating usually involves boiling them in a broth, often with herbs and spices. The snails are then placed onto a plate and garnished with lemon wedges, garlic, and fresh herbs.
The broth is used to dip the snails into, as well as to make sauces or soups. Snails may also be cooked in a stir fry with vegetables or served in a noodle soup. In Hanoi, the most popular type of snail is the ốc, or “sea snail”, which is small and has a chewy texture. Another popular dish made with snails is Snail Congee, a rice porridge with seasoned salt (also a popular breakfast dish).
TOP TIP: If you want to try boiled snails the best time of day is the evening.
Where is the best place to try snails in Hanoi?
One of the best places to try snails in Hanoi is at ốc nóng hà trang on Dinh Liet street in the old quarter.
How much do snails normally cost in Hanoi?
A portion of snails normally costs 60,000VND – 90,000VND (roughly £2 – £3 or $2.50 – $4.00)
4 Vietnamese spring rolls – healthy Vietnamese snack
Now for one of our favs on our Hanoi food guide. Vietnamese spring rolls (also known as Cha Gio), are a popular Vietnamese dish made from a delicate wrapper that is filled with a variety of ingredients. The most common fillings are a mixture of minced pork, shredded carrots, giant prawns, mushrooms, and vermicelli noodles. The wrapper is made from rice paper. Spring rolls can be deep fried (making the wrap crispy) or they can be served fresh (the wrap is soft and chewy).
Spring rolls can be served with a variety of dipping sauces such as fish sauce with lime and peanuts or hoisin sauce. The cost of Vietnamese spring rolls varies depending on the ingredients used and where they are purchased.
TOP TIP: Spring rolls are generally served earlier in the day in Vietnam. We recommend trying to find spring rolls for lunch.
Where is the best place to try spring rolls in Hanoi?
Try the Noodle & Roll cafe in the old quarter.
How much do spring rolls normally cost in Hanoi?
Spring rolls normally cost between 30,000 – 60,000 VND (£1 – £2 or $1.20 – $2.50) for a portion (usually 3-4 rolls)
5 Sweet Tarot Porridge (Chè khoai dẻo) – traditional Vietnamese dessert
Here is the sweet member of our Hanoi food guide. Sweet tarot porridge may sound strange – but it’s actually really tasty.
Chè khoai dẻo is a traditional Vietnamese dessert that is made with tarot and sweet potatoes. It is served cold and usually topped with sweetened condensed milk, coconut cream, and various other ingredients.The ingredients of Chè khoai dẻo include tarot, sweet potatoe, sugar, water, and other optional ingredients such as coconut cream, sesame seeds, and crushed peanuts.
Chè khoai dẻo is typically served cold in a bowl or cup. The mixture is sometime poured over ice cubes to keep it cool.
TOP TIP: Desserts are a popular evening food in Vietnamese culture. So if you’re looking to try some tasty desserts try the evening.
Where is the best place to try traditional desserts in Hanoi?
For an impressive selection of traditional Vietnamese desserts try Chè Ngon 93 cafe in the old quarter
How much do traditional desserts normally cost in Hanoi?
Most desserts cost 30,000VND – 40,000VND (£1 – £1.30 or $1.20 – $1.50)
6 Vietnamese Coconut Coffee – refreshing Vietnamese drink
You may wonder why we have included coffee on our Hanoi food guide. You need to try it to see!
Vietnamese Coconut Coffee is a delicious, creamy beverage made by combining freshly brewed Vietnamese coffee with iced coconut cream. The coffee is usually made with medium-roast Robusta beans, but dark-roast or espresso-style beans can also be used. The coffee is brewed in a traditional Vietnamese filter, often referred to as a “phin”.
To prepare the beverage, the coffee grounds are placed in the phin and boiling water is added. The coffee is then brewed slowly, allowing it to drip through the filter and into a cup below. Once the coffee is brewed, it is combined with iced coconut. The iced coconut sits on top of the coffee creating an impressive looking drink.
Where is the best place to try coconut coffee in Hanoi?
We recommend grabbing a coconut coffee at train street Hanoi. There are plenty of epic coffee shops along this fascinating street.
How much does coconut coffee normally cost in Hanoi?
A coconut coffee normally costs around 40,000VND in Hanoi (roughly £1.30 or $1.50)
What else is there to do in the Hanoi old town
There is SO MUCH more to do in Hanoi. Don’t miss our self-guided tour of the Hanoi Old Quarter.
What are some of the best places to stay in the Hanoi old quarter?
Hanoi is packed with amazing hotels and guesthouses. You will be amazed how far you money goes in this epic city.
1 Golden Time Hostel
This is one of the cheapest hostels around. Golden time offers affordable, comfortable and secure accommodation. All rooms at The Golden Time Hostel are private with, A.C. and ensuite bathrooms. It is worth being aware that the rooms are pretty small but comfortable.
2 Kingdom Hotel Hanoi
Kingdom hotel Hanoi offers excellent value for money. Rooms are well decorated and offer comfortable and secure accommodation.They also have a family room with two double beds which can sleep up to 4 people. This is a relatively central but quiet location.
3 Hanoi Saga Hotel
The Hanoi Saga hotel is a beautiful and stylish mid-range hotel located in the Hanoi Old Town. We are particularly impressed with the triple room at this hotel. They have a large double bed and a sofa bed. There is also a private ensuite bathroom including a bathtub.
4 Hotel Emerald Waters Classy
We were very impressed with this one. Hotel Emerald Waters is a beautiful 4 star hotel excellently located in the Hanoi old town. We love the elegant interior design and use of subtle art in this hotel. Rooms are stylish, spacious and very comfortable. They also offer a connecting Family Suite that can sleep up to 4 people. Keep an eye out for amazing deals and discounts at this awesome Hotel.
5 Royal Holiday Hanoi Hotel
The Royal Holiday Hanoi hotel is a luxurious and regal hotel with grand and comfortable furniture. It is beautifully situated next to the Hoan Kiem Lake – some rooms offering a lake view. If you’re looking for a hotel with an aristocratic colonial vibe – then this is the choice for you.
6 Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique hotel
If you’re looking for exquisite luxury in Hanoi and check out the Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique hotel. This hotel has a fusion of regal, eclectic and classic 1900 interior design. There is also a rooftop swimming pool here – a very unique feature for Hanoi. This is one of the most luxurious hotels around. We are amazed how far your money can go in Vietnam.
7 The Oriental Jade Hotel
The Oriental Jade hotel in Hanoi is a luxurious 5-star hotel with a rooftop swimming pool. Having a swimming pool is a very unique feature in the Hanoi Old Town, making this property a unique and desirable option. Rooms and suites at the Oriental Jade hotel are spacious, luxurious and well furnished. You can choose your view and select rooms with large outdoor terraces. This is genuinely one of the most impressive hotels in Hanoi.
And don’t miss these essential Things to Know before you go to Vietnam
