Hanoi's Must-Try Local Delicacies: Essential Eats and Perfect Souvenirs for Your Trip

When planning your trip to Hanoi, the question of which local specialties you simply must try is always at the forefront of every traveler's mind—it’s a daily quest for many! To help guide you through the city's incredible food scene, this 63Stravel article is packed with fantastic recommendations for delicious dishes to savor in Vietnam's captivating capital.
Hanoi's cuisine is meticulously and carefully prepared using only the freshest ingredients. This is why each dish is not only delicious and nutritious but also embodies a unique culinary cultural beauty. Today, let's join63Stravelto discover the must-try specialties in Hanoi when you visit!
Must-Try Specialties in Hanoi
Here are 14+ must-try specialties in Hanoi that you should save for your reference when you visit.
Hanoi Pho
When it comes to Hanoi's must-try specialties, Pho is arguably always the 'best seller' on the list. From traditional noodle soup (phở nước) to stir-fried pho (phở xào), chicken pho (phở gà), and pho rolls (phở cuốn), each offers a unique culinary experience for travelers.

Hanoi Pho - The Dish That Made Vietnamese Cuisine Famous
Hanoi Pho is also a traditional dish enjoyed across all three regions of Vietnam, loved by millions. Pho is typically served with fresh herbs, bean sprouts, lime, chili, and more, creating an intoxicating aroma and a rich, delicious flavor that captivates everyone who tries it for the first time.
Bun Thang
Hanoi's Bun Thang is a rather elaborate dish, requiring over 20 ingredients to create a fragrant and perfectly balanced bowl. Each bowl of Bun Thang typically includes fried egg, shredded chicken breast, Vietnamese pork sausage (giò lụa), shrimp, squid, and more. All these elements combine to create an eye-catching, exquisitely delicious noodle soup. If you have the chance to visit the capital city, don't forget to try this Bun Thang!

Hanoi Bun Thang - A Must-Try Specialty When Visiting the Capital
Banh Com (Green Sticky Rice Cake)
Banh Com is one of Hanoi's most famous specialties. Not only beloved by local diners, but Hanoi's Banh Com also captivates thousands of international visitors upon their first taste.

Hanoi Banh Com - A Famous Specialty of the Capital Region
The cake not only carries the fragrant aroma of young sticky rice but also offers a rich, sweet flavor from pure mung bean paste and sugar. Shaped squarely, it holds special cultural significance. This is a delightful snack you absolutely must try when in Hanoi!
Banh Khuc (Gnaphalium affine Cake)
Hanoi's Banh Khuc is not just a specialty but also a familiar breakfast treat for locals. The cake is wrapped in a fragrant, chewy sticky rice layer, blending the flavors of Gnaphalium affine herb and glutinous rice. The filling consists of finely mashed mung beans, accompanied by rich, pepper-marinated fatty pork. You can find this dish on almost any street corner in Hanoi, at markets, or even in supermarkets.

Banh Khuc - A Must-Try Specialty When Traveling to Hanoi
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Xoi Com (Green Sticky Rice)
Hanoi's Xoi (sticky rice) is a traditional dish characteristic of the capital, beloved by both locals and tourists. It's a popular breakfast item, often found at street food stalls and from vendors carrying baskets. There are many diverse types of Xoi, such as Xoi Xeo (sticky rice with mung bean and fried onion), Xoi Khuc (sticky rice with Gnaphalium affine cake), Xoi Cha (sticky rice with Vietnamese sausage), and Xoi Thit Kho (sticky rice with braised pork). Beyond its delicious taste, Xoi is an important part of Hanoi's culinary culture.

Xoi Com Wrapped in Lotus Leaves - A Must-Try Specialty in Hanoi
Old Quarter Coffee
Old Quarter Coffee always captivates both locals and visitors from afar. The most prominent is Egg Coffee (cà phê trứng), a unique specialty combining black coffee with whipped egg yolk and sugar. Besides that, iced milk coffee (cà phê sữa đá) is also very popular, offering a fragrant and rich flavor. The cafes often have a simple yet cozy ambiance, allowing you to feel the slow pace of Hanoi's Old Quarter. You can sip your coffee while admiring the characteristic scenery of the area.
Trang Tien Ice Cream
A must-try specialty in Hanoi is Trang Tien Ice Cream. This small-looking ice cream cone is incredibly creamy and refreshingly cold, sure to captivate you. Nowadays, Trang Tien Ice Cream comes in many different flavors, and for just 12,000 VND per cone, you can enjoy its impressively sweet and aromatic taste!
Banh Cha (Pork Floss Cake)
Among Hanoi's specialty cakes, don't forget to try the incredibly famous Banh Cha! Each pretty little cake, with its rich fatty filling and the delightful combination of kaffir lime leaves and other spices, is sure to charm you. Enjoying Banh Cha with a hot cup of tea is simply wonderful.

Hanoi Banh Cha - A Specialty Dish Rich in Hanoian Flavor
Chao Trai (Clam Porridge)
This is a rather simple, rustic dish beloved by Hanoi locals. Especially on chilly days, Chao Trai is always sought after by food connoisseurs. The porridge has a delicate sweetness, and when eaten with crispy fried dough sticks (bánh quẩy), it creates a delightful combination of flavors that stimulates the taste buds of every visitor.
Bun Oc (Snail Noodle Soup)
Hanoi's Bun Oc is famous not only for its elaborate preparation but also for its rich, distinctive flavor that's hard to mistake for other dishes. When in Hanoi, be sure to order a bowl of Bun Oc brimming with eye-catching toppings. The sweet and clear broth, fresh snails, crispy fried tofu, combined with the tangy and spicy notes of lime and chili, make this an enticing dish you absolutely must try when visiting this region.

Hanoi Bun Oc - A Must-Try Specialty When Traveling
Cha Ca La Vong
Cha Ca La Vong is a distinctive delicacy of Hanoi, deeply imbued with the traditional flavors and culture of this land. The fish pieces, typically catfish or tilapia, are cut into bite-sized portions, marinated with aromatic spices, and grilled over charcoal until golden and crispy. The dish is served in a hot pan, accompanied by fresh dill and spring onions, stir-fried until tender. Cha Ca La Vong is enjoyed with fresh vermicelli noodles, roasted peanuts, and either shrimp paste (mắm tôm) or fish sauce, creating an irresistible blend of rich and fresh flavors.

Hanoi Cha Ca La Vong - A Delicacy of the Imperial City
Banh Da Cua (Crab Noodle Soup)
Banh Da Cua is one of the dishes you absolutely cannot miss when visiting Hanoi. Made with banh da (a type of wide rice noodle) combined with fresh freshwater crab, this dish offers a distinctive and enticing flavor. The broth, cooked from crab, has an appealing reddish hue, and with spices like ginger, turmeric, and fried shallots, it creates an alluring aroma.

Banh Da Cua - A Hanoi Specialty You'll Remember Forever
Banh Da Cua is typically served with accompanying ingredients such as bean sprouts, fresh herbs, fish cakes, and fried tofu, creating a rich array of flavors. You can find Banh Da Cua at many roadside eateries or in bustling markets, where customers are always plentiful. This will certainly be an exciting culinary experience when you visit Hanoi.
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Banh Cuon (Steamed Rice Rolls)
Hanoi's Banh Cuon differs from the versions found in Central and Southern Vietnam. This dish combines elements of plain steamed rice sheets (bánh ướt) and traditional steamed rice rolls. It's served with Vietnamese sausage (chả), grilled pork, shredded dried pork (chà bông), and a sweet and sour fish sauce. This makes for a perfect, nutritious, and delicious breakfast choice for your first visit to Hanoi.
Chao Suon (Pork Rib Porridge)
Hanoi's Chao Suon is an appealing breakfast dish, famous for its rich flavor and easy-to-eat texture. The porridge is cooked from finely ground rice until silky smooth, combined with slow-braised pork ribs to create a sweet and aromatic broth.

Chao Suon - A Long-Standing Street Food in Hanoi
The porridge is typically garnished with chopped scallions and ground pepper, and served with crispy fried dough sticks (quẩy), offering a delightful contrast between the porridge's softness and the quẩy's crunch. You can also add a touch of shrimp paste (mắm tôm) or lime to enhance the flavor. Chao Suon is not just a delicious dish but also an indispensable part of Hanoi's culinary culture, definitely worth trying!
Above are 14+ must-try specialties in Hanoi that you should experience when you visit! As you plan your trip to the capital city, don't forget to save these delicious dishes so you can enjoy them upon arrival. We wish you delightful culinary moments.
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Update day : 25/09/2024
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