Vietnam's cuisine is a highlight of any visit — from iconic street food to refreshing drinks and bold coffee classics.
Many dishes can be made vegetarian (ask for "chay"), and fish sauce (nước mắm) is very common — so feel free to say "Không nước mắm" (no fish sauce) if needed!
An aromatic and hearty noodle soup with rice noodles, broth (usually beef or chicken), herbs, and meat (beef, chicken, or tofu). It's light, filling, and full of flavor. A national dish you simply must try! Don’t miss pairing your bowl with quẩy (fried dough) - it’s a real game changer
Estimated Cost: 30,000 - 60,000 VND / 1 - 2€
A crispy baguette filled with ingredients like grilled meat, pickled vegetables, cilantro, chili, and mayonnaise or liver pâté. A perfect, portable snack with a great variety of textures and flavors. For vegetarians simply ask for options like tofu or omelette.
Estimated Cost: 20,000 - 45,000 VND / 0.70 - 1.50€
Fresh, non-fried rice paper rolls filled with rice vermicelli, shrimp or tofu, fresh herbs, lettuce, and often thin slices of pork. They are light, refreshing, and healthy. Perfect with peanut sauce!
Estimated Cost: 10,000 - 25,000 VND per roll / 0.30 - 0.80€ per roll
Grilled marinated pork (often as small patties and slices) served with cold rice vermicelli noodles (Bun), fresh herbs, and a sweet and sour fish sauce for dipping. A Hanoi specialty!
Estimated Cost: 40,000 - 80,000 VND / 1.30 - 2.60€
A crispy, yellow crepe made from rice flour, turmeric, and coconut milk, filled with bean sprouts, shrimp, pork, and onions. It is wrapped in lettuce leaves and dipped in a sweet and sour fish sauce. A delightful crunch!
Estimated Cost: 35,000 - 70,000 VND / 1.15 - 2.30€
Thin, silky, steamed rice flour rolls filled with minced mushrooms and ground pork. They are served with crispy fried shallots, fresh herbs, and a light fish sauce. A delicate and savory breakfast or snack.
Estimated Cost: 30,000 - 55,000 VND / 1 - 1.80€
A spicy beef noodle soup characterized by its rich broth with lemongrass and chili, rice noodles, and beef. A flavorful experience for lovers of spicy and aromatic soups, originating from Hue.
Estimated Cost: 40,000 - 75,000 VND / 1.30 - 2.50€
A refreshing noodle salad bowl with warm rice vermicelli (Bun), marinated and stir-fried beef, fresh herbs, lettuce, peanuts, and fried shallots, topped with a sweet and sour fish sauce. A delightful fresh alternative to soup.
Estimated Cost: 45,000 - 80,000 VND / 1.50 - 2.60€
A diverse category of Vietnamese desserts. These can be sweet soups, puddings, or drinks, often containing coconut milk, beans, jellies, tapioca pearls, fruits, and sticky rice. A perfect sweet treat!
Estimated Cost: 15,000 - 40,000 VND / 0.50 - 1.30€
The classic: strong-brewed Robusta + sweet condensed milk + ice. Ubiquitous, bold & sweet — Vietnam in a glass.
Silky, dessert-like mix of egg yolk, sugar, condensed milk and hot coffee. Originally from Hanoi — tastes like tiramisu in a cup.
Freshly pressed sugarcane over ice, sometimes with a squeeze of kumquat. Lightly sweet and very refreshing.
Ice-cold coconut served straight from the green shell. Naturally sweet and ultra-hydrating — perfect in the heat!
Iced coffee blended with creamy coconut milk/ice. Tropical, sweet, refreshing — a modern favourite on hot days.
Pineapple juice + cold brew coffee — a fun, bright combo you’ll see in some cafés (e.g., Hanoi - Still Color Cafe).
Freshly squeezed lemon with green tea and a touch of sugar. Zesty, refreshing and perfect for hot afternoons.
A popular local spot known for its amazing, authentic bowls of beef phở - perfect for early birds, as the shop is only open from 5:30 to 10 a.m.
A good alternative to Phở Lâm, especially since the other spot closes at 10 a.m.
A renowned family-run phở restaurant, famous for its stir-fried beef phở served in a rich, aromatic broth.
A great spot for chicken phở, with the dry chicken version also worth trying. Don’t miss pairing your bowl with quẩy (fried dough) - it’s a real game changer.
A great spot for bún chả - vermicelli served with grilled pork on bamboo skewers.
Local spot for bánh cuốn - fresh rice rolls with wood ear mushrooms, served with grilled pork, meat cakes, herbs, and fried onions, all dipped in fish sauce.
Hoi An style bánh mì with vegetable option
A top-rated local stall famous for its classic bánh mì pâté - crispy baguettes filled with creamy pâté, cold cuts, and flavorful meats. Beloved by locals for its rich, traditional fillings in every bite
This spot serves the city’s beloved sticky rice-soft, chewy grains with plenty of toppings.
A great spot for crispy bánh xèo - Vietnamese pancakes filled with a variety of savory ingredients.
The largest restaurant chain in Hanoi specializing in chả cá, with 11 branches across the city. Their signature dish features grilled catfish marinated with turmeric and galangal, then cooked with dill and scallions in sizzling hot fat.
A great spot for bánh mì sốt vang - bánh mì dipped in Vietnamese beef stew simmered with red wine.
Wonton egg noodle soup (Mì vằn thắn)
Wonton egg noodle soup (mì vằn thắn) - a favorite of Linh’s grandma.
Fried phở with beef and vegetables - a tasty twist on the traditional phở soup.
Juicy chicken and pork skewers grilled over charcoal for a smoky flavor, with the option to enjoy them with bánh mì.
A light snack for a little hunger - try banana fritters (bánh chuối) or crispy fried sweet potatoes (bánh khoai).
Plant-based specialties, breakfast & desserts are served in this industrial-chic restaurant.
Tranquil, fashionable locale with all-you-can-eat offerings of vegan & vegetarian dishes.
Vegan place - we don't know it, BUT it is top rated! Let us know how it was.
Vegetarian place - again...we don't know it, BUT 4.9 rating with 23k reviews!
Coffee & pastries served in a warm café known for colorful, customer-written notes lining the walls.
A hidden coffee spot at the lake with a really creamy egg coffee.
Loving the vibe of this coffee place with our favorite: Pine Sea!
A spacious coffee shop tucked away in narrow alleys, offering plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. The highlight is undoubtedly the giant dinosaur skeleton inside the shop.
A vintage-style coffee shop with warm yellow lighting, gentle music, and a hidden courtyard inside.
Tucked away in a quiet alley of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, this charming coffee shop is set in an old French building. The star of the menu is definitely the egg coffee.
A nostalgic café where great coffee meets timeless tunes. Old cassette tapes and vinyl records line the walls, creating a throwback vibe that feels straight out of the ’90s and beyond.
A tourist café on train street - it’s best to contact them on WhatsApp before your visit to check the train schedule.
Coffee & Bar offering a wide variety of drinks in Hanoi’s old-style setting, with creative options served in a cozy, rustic, yet artistic atmosphere.
Want to try out different Matcha tastes and regions? This place gives you the full traditional experience with a great view to the lake!
Looking for a good Matcha / Coffee then check out this indochine styled bar.
A modern interior combined with living room vibes: A perfect way to enjoy your daily Matcha.
This place is a blend of coziness and japanese style spot for every Matcha lover.
If you are looking for a place to enjoy Matcha in a special way, this is where you go and get delighted!
Creative and unique pastries for sweet lovers - several locations across Hanoi, may be right next to you.
Trang Tien ice cream is a well known place in Hanoi with a long history - bringing back childhood memories for many Hanoians.
Linh's comfort dessert - nice glutinous rice ball with ingredients of black sesame and mung bean with hot ginger tea and topped with some crushed peanuts.
Silky, rich crème flan (locally known as caramen), topped with a golden caramel sauce that strikes the perfect balance between bitter and sweet. We also recommend trying the coconut ice cream served in a fresh coconut.
Refreshing, lightly sweet treats that are perfect for warm weather. Enjoy homemade yogurt and Vietnamese panna cotta sweet soup, made with soft cubes of panna cotta in a pandan- and lychee-infused syrup, topped with toasted almond flakes for crunch and served chilled.
A local dessert spot where you can enjoy treats while sitting on stools by the bustling street. We recommend trying ‘Chè’ with sticky rice, tào phớ (silky tofu), bánh chay, and Chè thập cẩm.”