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
Updated 2026-09-11The full list · sponsored partner links
- 01
3 Hours Hanoi Walking Street Food Tour with Local Guide
ITINERARY: • Meet tour guide at hotel or meeting point before 3 hour walking tour. • Quick Vietnamese greeting lessons. • Tour guides discuss any food allergies before starting tour and tell tourists about Vietnames
3h - 02
Hanoi City Walking Tour Explore Local Culture and Train Street
With thousands of years of history and entrenched in a clash of cultures, seeing Hanoi with a local guide is the way to go. Explore the highlights and hidden gems of Hanoi’s Old Quarter on this private guided walking tou
3h - 03
Small Group: Hanoi Old Quarter Street Food Walking Tour
Cuisine is a part of culture that is the reason why to experience a culture one must experience their cuisine also. You can go eat by yourself but you will get much more than your expectation after our tours such as: • M
3h - 04
Hanoi Cooking Class with Local Market & Guide (3,5 Hours)
This cooking class provides an immersive experience in traditional Vietnamese cuisine and culture. The sounds, sights, smells and tastes found in a typical Vietnamese market are yours to experience before creating a fant
3.5h - 05
Best Seller Ninh Binh Daily-Highlights Tour from Hanoi with Lunch
Skip the hassle of arranging boats and bike rentals and enjoy Ninh Binh’s highlights on this guided door-to-door experience. Visit Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam, explore Mua Cave and admire the views from the mo
11h - 06
Hanoi Food Trails by Jeep
Choosing the Amazing Jeep Tour for Food Lovers lets you discover Hanoi’s rich culinary scene in a truly unique way. Riding in an open-air Jeep, you’ll weave through hidden alleys and vibrant streets, stopping at handpick
3.5h - 07
Ninh Binh Tour: Hoa Lu, Trang An, Mua Cave with Boat, Bike, Lunch
1. Skip the crowded tour that you find on many large-group tours. Instead, really escape the press of the city on this small-group tour from Hanoi to the scenic landmarks of Ninh Binh Province. 2. Take a chance of knowi
11h - 08
8-Day North Vietnam: Culture, Cuisine, Nature Off the Beaten Path
HIGHLIGHT ✔️ Escape the crowds and discover off-the-beaten-path destinations, from Hanoi suburbs to the serene villages of Pu Luong and hidden corners of Halong Bay ✔️Experience a variety of exciting activities: Cookin
192h - 09
Bai Dinh - Trang An boat- Mua cave with Limousine & Lunch (Full day)
The UNESCO World Heritage site of Trang An is renowned for its lush landscapes, dramatic karst valleys, and beautiful Buddhist temples. On this full-day tour from Hanoi, explore the magnificent temple complex of Bai Dinh
11h - 10
Small Group Hanoi Street Food Walking Tour with Local Guide
The atmospheric Old Quarter of Hanoi is one of the best places to sample Vietnam’s famous street food. On this tour, benefit from the undivided attention of a local guide, who will show you where and what to eat, and giv
3h - 11
Hanoi City Walking Tour Discover Hidden Gems and Train Street
With thousands of years of history and entrenched in a clash of cultures, seeing Hanoi with a local guide is the way to go. Explore the highlights and hidden gems of Hanoi’s Old Quarter on this private guided walking tou
3h - 12
Hanoi Cooking Class: Local Market, Local Food & Local Restaurant.
One of the most interesting things when traveling to a new land is enjoying its culinary delights. Take part in a cooking class that provides an immersive experience in Vietnamese traditional life. Shop for local ingredi
3.5h - 13
1 Day Trip 6 Hours on the Aura cruise Halong
Aura Cruise Ha Long 1 Day Small Group Tour HighLight: - New morden Bus with A/c Service Ha Noi - Ha Long - Ha Noi - Enjoy exciting cruise to discover the most beautiful Islands in Ha Long Bay - Visit the most famous and
6h - 14
Hanoi Street Food Walking Tour By Night
Savour the flavours of Hanoi on an evening walking culinary exploration of the Old Quarter. Explore the labyrinth of alleyways and flavours that make Hanoi such an iconic gastronomic destination. Discover the tastes of c
4h - 15
Lan Ha Bay 1 Day Tour
Lan Ha Bay is located in the South East of CatBa Town. The 300 or so karst and limestone islands share the same amazing scenes as Halong Bay but with the additional attraction of numerous white-sand beaches and more floa
6h - 16
Ha Long Full Day Luxury Cruise, Jacuzzi, Buffet Lunch, Activites
Discover the breathtaking beauty of Ha Long Bay on a luxury day cruise featuring top highlights like Luon Cave and Titop Island (Dao Titop). Travel in style with optional limousine transfer from Hanoi, and indulge in a p
12h - 17
Hanoi: Vietnamese Coffee (2) Culture and Tea (3) Making Workshop
• Discover authentic Vietnamese teas and coffee culture in the heart of Hanoi through a hands-on ceremony. • Learn the history and cultural significance of traditional tea and coffee rituals from local experts. • Taste a
0.8h - 18
Ninh Binh Daily Tour All-Inclusive Bus, Guide, Lunch & Activities
Escape the bustling confines of Hanoi city, and breath the fresh air on this full-day rural Vietnam tour. With a local lunch of goat meat, fried rice and local fruits onboard, you’ll be fueled for an afternoon of action,
12h - 19
Hanoi Old Quarter Street Foodie walking tour and Cycle Tour
visit Old Quarter, styled narrow streets full of antique brick houses seems to nostalgically resist the flow of time while still actively trying to adapt to the dynamic atmosphere of the modern city. Visiting this uniqu
0.1h - 20
Ha Long Bay 2 Days 4 Star
+ Kayaking at Pearl Farm village and swimming. + Cruising among the thousands of limestone islands in Bai Tu Long Bay and visit the most beautiful cave in the Thien canh son Cave +Participating the cooking demonstration
48h