Hanoi eats on the pavement. 20 bookable food tours below — plus the neighbourhoods and dishes the city is built around.
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The guide
Hanoi eats on the pavement. Plastic stools, a single dish, a pot that has been going since dawn, and a family that has cooked nothing else for three generations. The food is lighter and more herb-driven than the south, with more black pepper and less sugar, and the city runs on a strict schedule where certain dishes only exist at certain hours. Pho is breakfast. Bun cha is lunch. Nobody serves either outside those windows and asking will get you a confused look. A full meal costs a couple of dollars. The coffee, thick and filtered over condensed milk, is worth building an afternoon around.
Where to focus
Four neighbourhoods to anchor a few days of eating
Old Quarter
36 streets each named for the trade once practised there. Dense, loud, and where most of the famous single-dish shops are. Go early because the good ones sell out.
Tay Ho (West Lake)
Lakeside and residential, where the expat and Korean communities live. Bun oc, banh tom by the water, and the calmest eating in the city.
Ba Dinh
The government quarter, wide boulevards and colonial buildings. Fewer stalls, but the ones here serve office workers and are reliably good at lunch.
Hai Ba Trung
South of the centre and largely untouristed. Neighbourhood pho, bun rieu carts, and bia hoi corners where the beer is brewed that morning.
What to eat
The dishes the city is known for
- 01
Pho
· Beef broth simmered overnight with charred ginger and onion, flat rice noodles, raw or cooked beef. Northern style comes with fewer garnishes than the south. - 02
Bun cha
· Grilled pork patties and belly in a bowl of sweet and sour fish sauce broth, with cold rice noodles and herbs to dip. Lunch only. - 03
Banh mi
· Baguette from the French period, filled with pate, pork, pickled carrot and daikon, coriander, chilli. Northern versions are simpler than Saigon's. - 04
Cha ca
· Turmeric-marinated fish fried at the table with dill and spring onion, eaten with rice noodles and shrimp paste. One street built its name on it. - 05
Egg coffee
· Egg yolk whipped with condensed milk over strong coffee, invented in the forties when milk was scarce. Closer to a dessert than a drink. - 06
Bun rieu
· Tomato and freshwater crab noodle soup, sour and savoury, topped with crab paste. Sold from carts in the late morning.
Practical notes
Meal timing, tipping, payment
Pho is a breakfast food and most shops close by 10:00. Bun cha runs 11:00 to 14:00 and then stops. Dinner is early, and much of the Old Quarter shuts by 22:00. Cash only at street level, small notes. A stool on the pavement is normal seating and the busiest stall on the block is the right one. Tipping is not expected.
All 20 food tours
Viator last revised 2026-11-09The full list · sponsored partner links
- 01
Hanoi Motorbike Tour: Food, Culture and Fun by Vintage Motorbike
Hanoi FOOD, CULTURE, SIGHT & FUN on Vintage Minsk Motorbike is an exciting way to immerse yourself in the sights, smells, and tastes of Hanoi. It’s truly the best way to discover and understand the authentic Hanoi beyond
4.5h - 02
Ninh Binh Hightlight & Hidden Gem from Hanoi with Skip-The-Line
Discover the authentic charm of northern Vietnam with our luxury & Small Group Ninh Binh Tour from Hanoi. This immersive day trip blends food, adventure, culture, and breathtaking nature, allowing you to explore the high
10h - 03
Hanoi Food and Culture Sightseeing Army Jeep Tour
Hanoi FOOD, CULTURE, SIGHTSEEING & FUN By Vietnam Army Legend Jeep is an exciting way to immerse yourself in the sights, smells, and tastes of Hanoi. It’s truly the best way to discover and understand the authentic Hanoi
4h - 04
Hanoi Half-day with Food + Fun + Culture By Russian Jeep
There is different way to discover the city; however, one of the best ways is seeing the city on an open-air war-time jeep car. On our special Jeep car, all you need is sit back and relax. By jeep, our guide will show yo
4h from $70 - 05
5 Traditional Dishes Hanoi Cooking Class with Market Trip
Our Apron Up Cooking Class has been gaining popularity through years in giving people an intensive and interesting lessons. People who come to us can be experts who want to open Vietnamese restaurant back home or a perso
3.3h - 06
Hanoi Coffee Experience: 6 Brews, 9 Recipes & 3 Liquor Tastings
This workshop is led by true coffee experts: • A certified trainer who has coached head baristas at 5-star hotels and restaurants. • The founder of Sử Quán Roastery, dedicated to preserving the untold stories of Vietname
3h - 07
Hanoi Motorbike Tours Led By Women: Hanoi By Night Foodie Motorbike Tours
Taste your way through Vietnam’s capital city on this nighttime excursion. After a convenient hotel pickup, hop on a motorbike and savor complimentary dishes like Banh Cuon (steamed roll cake), Bun Cha (grilled pork with
4h - 08
Hanoi Coffee Workshop: Make Egg, Salt and Coconut Coffee
You do the brewing yourself. Instead of watching a demo, you make every cup with your own hands, guided by a barista at Local Beans Roastery. - Six coffees in one session, including egg, salt and coconut coffee, so you k
3h from $23 - 09
Hanoi Street Food Tour with local delicacies
Explore the city's culinary scene with diverse food options: vegan/vegetarian/train street choices, while enjoying sidewalk green tea. Travelling to Hanoi city – Vietnam capital, you may be surprised by Hanoi street food
3h from $28 - 10
Hanoi Cooking Class: Culture, Local Market & Community Care
- Your booking directly supports meaningful programs that benefit local communities and the environment. - Complimentary round-trip transfers within Hanoi’s Old Quarter and French Quarter for your comfort and convenienc
4h - 11
Hanoi Food Tours
Sample delicious Vietnamese cuisine just like the locals do - on the street Stroll through hidden alleyways and bustling markets of Hanoi’s charming old quarter Learn more about Hanoi’s unique food culture Try local spec
3h - 12
Hanoi Tea Workshop: 3 Signature Teas, 6 Recipes & 10 Tastings
One cup of lotus tea carries the fragrance of an entire summer at West Lake. Unlike factory-made scented teas, this workshop reveals a living heritage, preserved through patience, skill, and respect for nature — a quiet
2.5h - 13
Hanoi Cooking Class and Market Tour
Getting to know the food is also a great way of learning about the country. Vietnamese food is healthy, simple to cook, delicious, and forms a large part of the culture. This half day tour gives you a hands-on lesson on
4.5h from $55 - 14
Private Unstoppable Gourmet Gastronomic Tour
Vietnamese foods is renowned Worldwide. It’s stunning. It blends together rich culture; rich history and even richer flavors. What is the best foods in Hanoi are not Noodle soup”Pho” ;Spring roll”Nem” or Vietnamese sandw
3h - 15
Hanoi old quarter sightseeing & street food eating by Motorcycle
Inclusions: English speaking tour guide, all street food items as per itinerary ( 6 to 8 different street food vendors stops with 10 tastings ). Drink includes 01 bottles of water, a cup of local fresh beer, rice wine, e
3h - 16
PRIVATE TOUR HALONG BAY ONE DAY with Cave, Kayaking, Bamboo Boat
Escape the crowds and discover the quieter side of Ha Long Bay in one day from Hanoi. Glide past towering limestone islands, step inside the glittering Thien Cung (Heavenly Palace) Cave, and paddle into hidden lagoons by
9h from $160 - 17
Ninh Binh Heritage Full Day Tour with Buffet Lunch and Limousine
Ninh Binh Heritage Premium-a member of Heritage Viet Nam Travel Group, has organized the widest choice of luxury tours to this wonderful province including must see attractions such as Hoa Lu, Tam Coc, Trang An complex.
11h - 18
Small Group Hanoi Street Food Tour with a Real Foodie
Discovering Hanoi’s Old Quarter street foods can be a leap of faith without a guide to steer you to the must-eats and prevent you getting lost. With this small-group tour, you’ll visit tried-and-trusted food spots to sam
3h - 19
Tasting 8 Different Hanoi Street Foods at Noon Time
Visiting 6 to 8 different street food vendors with 10 tastings , drinks ( 01 water, 01 local beer , 01 rice wine, egg coffee , dessert and English Tour Guide
3h from $26 - 20
Private Hanoi Street Food Walking Tour With Real Foodie
For all the regions in over the world, it is said that food and beverage are important parts of the culture. In Vietnam, especially in Hanoi city, the local people here are also picky eaters, it is simple as they are spo
3h
Frequently asked
- How much do food tours in Hanoi cost?
- Roughly $23–$160 per person, with the median around $55.
- When should I book?
- One to two weeks ahead in peak season; same-day is sometimes possible off-peak but limits choice.