14 Best Hanoi Foods To Try in 2025
Vietnam’s capital city boasts a rich history and culture and the bustling feel of a thriving global metropolis, but foodies in the know will tell you that Hanoi’s food scene is its most alluring attraction. With the endless choices Hanoi cuisine has to offer, it’s a top destination for culinary enthusiasts to travel to.
You might already be familiar with some of the most beloved Hanoi eats thanks to the growing popularity of Vietnamese cuisine overseas, especially in the U.S., where PBS, among other sources, has covered how Vietnamese immigration has had a major culinary influence in the country. However, there’s much more to the food culture of Vietnam than dishes you’re likely familiar with, such as pho and bánh mì.
From street foods to all-out feasts, you will be able to find a type of Hanoi food to fill every culinary niche and satisfy every craving. So if you’re not sure where to start, begin your culinary journey with these 14 can’t-miss Hanoi foods.
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What Food Is Hanoi Known For?
Vietnamese food is interesting in that its northern and southern regions have quite distinct cuisines. The best foods in Hanoi, which is located in the far north of the country, are very characteristic of the northern Vietnamese style of cooking: subtle flavors, meticulous preparation and lots of soups are patterns you might notice.
The northern regions of Vietnam are also some of its most historically rich, so many food traditions in this region date back centuries. Hanoi cuisine reflects both the attention to detail and the long history that are common to many Northern Vietnamese dishes.
In addition, Hanoi is very close to China, which has historically had a great deal of influence on Vietnamese culture and cooking. You’ll see much more Chinese influence in Hanoi food than elsewhere in Vietnam.
Another thing you’ll no doubt hear is that Hanoi’s street food culture is especially vibrant. Many of the best and most quintessential Hanoi food experiences revolve around this casual, unfussy, sometimes grab-and-go style of dining.
What you won’t find in Hanoi, by and large, is spice. The spicy dishes you may have tried in a Vietnamese restaurant overseas most likely came from the central region of Vietnam, where the local cuisine is much more likely to pack a peppery punch. Both the central and southern parts of Vietnam also emphasize fish more than Hanoi foods (with some exceptions).
To find the top Hanoi food picks, reading up on popular dishes and traditional ingredients is an excellent idea. If you're visiting the country and would like to get an introduction to the best Hanoi street food, restaurant dishes and more, food tours in Hanoi are also a great option. An expert guide will take you to a range of foodie spots, from street food markets to hidden gems and restaurants loved by locals.
The 14 Best Foods in Hanoi, Vietnam
1. Mien Gà
Soup is the star at many Hanoi eateries, and the recipes for this type of Hanoi food are endless. This one, however, is an especially beloved classic. Mien gà is a simple chicken soup that is made with glass noodles and topped with onion and cilantro (a very common garnish in Northern Vietnamese cooking).
Thanks to its incredibly simple ingredients and mild but complex flavor profile, enjoying a bowl of mien gà is a great introduction to Hanoi foods. This dish is also a perfect example of what Hanoi cooking more generally is like: subtle, refined and simple yet incredibly flavorful.
2. My Van Than
Myy van than (or mi van than) is one example of the Chinese influence on Hanoi foods. It was inspired by wonton soup, which was a Cantonese invention, and it uses Chinese-style noodles made of wheat and egg instead of the traditional Vietnamese rice noodles. With its Chinese noodles and Vietnamese flavor profile, my van than is a perfect example of the blending of cultures and cuisines that you can see in Hanoi foods.
Some form of wonton soup has been sold by Chinese immigrants to Hanoi residents since the 1930s, but at first, it didn’t sell very well. Sales didn’t pick up until vendors realized that their customers wanted familiar Vietnamese flavors and incorporated ingredients more commonly used in local cooking.
Those additions, such as shrimp, fresh vegetables and a clear broth, created the Hanoi food now known as my van than, and these days it is one of the most iconic Hanoi eats.
3. Cha Cá Thang Long
As a general rule, Hanoi foods don’t incorporate as much seafood as some other regional cuisines in Vietnam. However, the city’s location on the Red River means that freshwater fish are widely available, and they are the star of one of the most famous Hanoi dishes: Cha cá thang long, or turmeric fish.
Cha cá thang long consists of pan-fried fish — traditionally the snakehead fish, but catfish is also common — that is seasoned with turmeric and served with dill, peanuts and rice noodles.
This Hanoi food is beloved for its crispiness and complex flavor profile. And if one fish isn’t enough for you, you’ll find it served with anchovy sauce. If possible, enjoy it at Cha Cá Thang Long, a restaurant said to have created the dish that is also Michelin guide recommended.
4. Pho Bo
If you’ve heard of one Vietnamese dish, it’s probably this one: pho bo. More commonly known in the U.S. as simply “pho,” it has enjoyed a recent rise in popularity overseas.
If you haven’t tried it, two things you should know: pho is pronounced “fuh,” and it’s considered to be Vietnam’s national dish. Indisputably, pho is the most popular of all Vietnamese street foods.
This beloved soup consists of rice noodles, beef, vegetables and herbs in a mild, clear beef-based broth. Filling but refreshing, it’s no wonder this deliciously simple Hanoi street food is one of the city’s (and nation’s) most beloved. Pho gà, a similar soup made with chicken, is also very popular. Our recommendation? Put both on your foodie bucket list!
5. Bún Thang
Many beloved Hanoi foods start out with a base of clear meat-based broth and vermicelli noodles, but they all have their trademarks. Bún thang, a chicken-based soup with vermicelli rice noodles, stands out for its additions of thinly sliced egg omelette and a Vietnamese pork roll called cha lua.
It’s both one of Hanoi’s best-known specialties and one of the oldest, and it’s much-loved for its use of contrasting flavors and textures to create a complex and delicious flavor profile. Interestingly, this soup is often enjoyed around the Lunar New Year, using leftover ingredients from the holiday’s celebratory feast.
6. Bánh Mì
China isn’t the only country that’s influenced Hanoi’s cuisine. Under French colonial rule, the baguette was introduced to Vietnam, and thus this wildly popular fusion sandwich was born. A typical bánh mì contains some kind of meat, carrots (usually pickled), cilantro, mayonnaise and other fresh or pickled vegetables, all served on a crisp baguette.
Although the sandwich actually originated in Saigon (also known as Ho Chi Minh City and another of the best foodie cities in Vietnam), it’s become so popular both throughout Vietnam and abroad that it’s absolutely worth adding to your Hanoi food bucket list.
Popularized abroad by Vietnamese immigrants to the U.S., Australia and the U.K., among other locations, bánh mì has been adapted to local tastes in many places. As a result, you may be familiar with the kind of bánh mì served overseas, which usually includes pork or chicken. That said, the most traditional version of the sandwich uses Vietnamese sausage, so be sure to try this variety while exploring the Hanoi food scene!
7. Bún Riêu
Here’s a soup that really stands out: in a sea of chicken, beef and seafood broth, bún riêu uses a tomato base. This Hanoi food is often eaten for breakfast in Hanoi and includes vermicelli noodles, crab meat and fried tofu.
Bún riêu’s tomato broth is believed to have been inspired by French soups with a similar base. Like bánh mì, it is an example of a French culinary technique that Vietnamese cooks adapted to fit local tastes and ingredients.
8. Bún Bò Nam Bo
Although many noodle-based Hanoi foods are soups, there are other ways to enjoy Vietnamese noodles. This popular beef noodle dish is one of those. Bún bò nam bo consists primarily of beef and rice noodles served over lettuce and finished with a lime and fish sauce-based dressing and a sprinkling of peanuts.
While bún bò nam bo is often referred to as a salad, this dish is quite hearty, focusing on meat and noodles. So don’t let this Hanoi food being referred to as a salad convince you that this wholesome but filling meal will leave you hungry — you’ll be more than satisfied.
9. Bún Ca
The word “bún” is the Vietnamese name for vermicelli noodles, so if you see it on a menu, that means you’re looking at a noodle-based dish. This one is a fish noodle soup consisting of vermicelli, fried fish, pickled bamboo sprouts and herbs, served with either a complex broth or a dipping sauce.
There are two ways to order this Hanoi food: soup-style bún ca cham and dipping-style bún ca chan. The former lets the flavors of the dish blend, while the latter keeps the fried fish from getting soggy. Bún ca is popular throughout Vietnam, but what makes the Hanoi version stand out is its use of pickled bamboo shoots.
10. Ca Phe Trung
Vietnam is the second-largest producer of coffee in the world, so it’s no surprise that its coffee culture is superb. Its most unique contribution to the coffee world is ca phe trung, a sweet coffee drink made by whipping egg whites, condensed milk and sugar into coffee.
The resulting beverage is frothy, rich, creamy and utterly delightful. Visitors to Hanoi would be remiss not to stop at a coffee shop to sample it at least once.
11. Nem Nuong
There are a few Hanoi foods that are ubiquitous all throughout Vietnam, and one of them is nem nuong or pork sausage. The use of fish sauce, sugar and garlic gives Vietnamese sausage an entirely unique flavor profile, and it can either be formed into sausages or meatballs before grilling.
Nem nuong is truly one of the most universal dishes, not only among Hanoi foods but also in all of Vietnam. Because it’s so popular at family celebrations, many families have their own recipe and you’ll find almost endless variations.
12. Bánh Cuon
You might take these rice-wrapped bundles for spring rolls at first, but bite into one and you’ll quickly realize you were mistaken. Why? Because this Hanoi food has a chewy rice-dough wrapping that’s impossible to mistake for anything else.
To make bánh cuon, flattened rice cakes are wrapped around pork, onion, jicama and mushrooms and then steamed. It’s best to eat them fresh to get the best impression of their unique texture — you’ll certainly have no trouble finishing a plate!
13. Xoi
Rice is one of Vietnam’s most important crops, but up until now, it’s only featured on this list of Hanoi food in the form of rice noodles. That isn’t the only way Hanoi locals enjoy rice, though. Xoi, or sticky rice, is a staple that can be prepared in countless ways — sweet or savory, hot or cold, for breakfast or as an afternoon snack.
Because sticky rice is such a staple crop in Vietnam, this isn’t just a Hanoi food, and you’ll find variations throughout the country. Nearly every region has its own take on the best way to prepare xoi. The Hanoi food you’ll most often find xoi used in is xoi xéo, a breakfast dish that tops sticky rice with mung bean paste and fried shallots.
14. Bánh Da Cua
Thanks to its proximity to rice-growing regions, Hanoi foods often feature paddy crab, a species of freshwater crab that inhabits rice paddies. This soup is one such dish where crab is the star, but there’s much more to it than shellfish. Crab shares the spotlight with pork meatballs, greens and a uniquely chewy type of rice noodle.
Bánh da cua is one of the meatiest and most filling of all Hanoi foods, and a particular local specialty. You can recognize it at a glance from its brown noodles and reddish tomato broth.
Learn To Cook Hanoi Foods
Hankering for pho, bun thang or bánh mì right now? If so, you always have the option of learning to make them in your own kitchen, and with online cooking classes, you won’t even have to leave home to learn to make your favorite Hanoi foods. If you'd rather learn with an instructor in person, there will likely be cooking classes near you that specialize in Vietnamese dishes.
Alternatively, if you’re lucky enough to be planning a visit soon, why not get even more immersed in Hanoi’s food scene and take some cooking classes in Hanoi?
Hanoi food is all about taking the slow route to bring flavor out of every ingredient, and in a fast-food world, it’s a wonderful reminder of what food can be if we only give it time. Set against the bustle of a modern global metropolis, Hanoi’s food scene is one you absolutely won’t want to miss.
For even more ways to explore your favorite foods, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
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