20 years later: christmast, family, and a whole new hanoi!
Updated: 28 minutes ago
⚡ Story Snapshot from Hanoi • Real Moments Around Our Table: A personal look back at the dishes, neighborhood alleys, and conversations we shared with guests exploring Hanoi together. • Local Takeaways Inside: Notice how small adjustments to timing, portion sharing, and hands-on stops make exploring the Old Quarter effortless for every age group.
Taste of Hanoi, December 17th, 2024
What’s better than spending Christmas with your family in a new country and diving into its culinary treasures? 🎄🌏 Say hello to Nicola from Australia, her husband Tony, and their adorable little one, Rafe! 👋
Nicola’s connection to Vietnam goes way back, she first visited over 20 years ago. But stepping into Hanoi today, wow, Hanoi has had a major glow-up since then! On their first day, the family wandered by St. Joseph’s Cathedral, now sparkling in full Christmas spirit, and Nicola couldn’t help but feel all warm and fuzzy inside. 🥰🎁
This trip is extra special though, not just because it’s Christmas, but because Nicola is now sharing her love for this place with Tony and Rafe. And of course, what’s a trip without truly authentic Vietnamese food, right? 🍜 Nicola is pescatarian, but no worries at all, we got it covered!
Let's dive in and see what tasty surprises awaited them during our 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐢 tour!🍴
Joining us today is Cream! 🎉 Let’s see how our awesome family explored delicious food, had fun, and created wonderful memories together! 🌟
Let’s kick off our food journey by digging into some crispy, piping hot bánh rán (Vietnamese donuts)! 🍩🔥With Hanoi’s cool weather, there’s nothing more satisfying than a warm, delicious snack like this!
One dish you can’t miss when in Hanoi: bánh mì! 🥖 Rafe’s a bit picky with food, but this bánh mì? It won over his heart from the very first bite! Rafe excitedly said, 'I already know what we’re having for lunch tomorrow!
Next up, we’ve got some piping hot delights, nem rán (fried spring rolls), bánh tôm (shrimp cakes), and bánh gối (Vietnamese pillow shaped cake)! 🍤🍥 And guess what? Bánh gối totally stole the crown in Tony’s eyes, he was absolutely hooked! 😍
Bánh cuốn (steamed rolled rice pancakes) is another mind-blowingly delicious dish! 😋 Here, Rafe got a special lesson from Cream on how to hold the chopsticks and pass them to his parents (because, you know, in Vietnam, it's a big honor for the youngest to handle the chopsticks! 🍜🥢)
A little refreshment and sweetness to wrap up the day, what could be better than a bowl of chè (Vietnamese sweet soup)? 🍧😋
Check out the photo, our family went for a selection of sweet soups: chè caramel (caramel sweet soup), chè khúc bạch (tapioca and almond sweet soup), and chè cốm hạt sen (green rice with lotus seed sweet soup).
Nicola absolutely fell in love with the green rice and lotus seed soup, while Tony couldn’t stop digging into the chè khúc bạch. They devoured everything in no time, all those sweet treats were a hit! 😋🍧
What's our family up to? You ask? It's “Ô ăn quan”, a traditional Vietnamese board game that combines strategy and counting. It’s a fun way to connect and challenge each other while enjoying some friendly competition!
After Cream gave them the lowdown on the rules, the whole family is now deep in thought, strategizing their next move! 🧠💡 Let the game begin!
And guess what? Little Rafe turned out to be a math whiz! 🧮 That's why, after playing twice with dad, he won both rounds! 😎 Look at that victorious smile! 😄
That’s how Nicola’s family spent their Christmas holiday, diving into Hanoi’s delicious food! 🎄🍜 Want to taste all these yummy dishes too? Join us on a food adventure you’ll never forget! 😋✨
Check out our tour details by following this link!
Exploring Hanoi With Your Family & Our Local Team
If you want your family's time in Hanoi to feel relaxed and hands-on, our interactive Hanoi Family Quest turns the Old Quarter into a playful cultural adventure with clues, wooden stamp carving with a local artisan, painted bamboo dragonflies, and kid-friendly snacks. Families also love cooling off at our 2-hour indoor Cocoa-Coffee Workshop ($20 USD per person at 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM, where kids 6+ craft Vietnamese Artisanal Cocoa alongside parents brewing Egg, Salt, and Coconut Coffee), joining our daily Taste of Hanoi street food walk (10:00 AM and 6:00 PM), or booking our private car-based Hanoi Bites & Sights when traveling with grandparents. Feel free to reach out on WhatsApp (+84 969 655 521) anytime for honest family planning advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Hanoi's Old Quarter manageable for families with children or older relatives?
Yes, as long as you break your day into short 15-minute walking segments separated by seated cafe or snack stops. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, the entire road loop around Hoan Kiem Lake closes to traffic, creating a wide pedestrian promenade where families can stroll comfortably.
2. Are Northern Vietnamese dishes too spicy for children or cautious eaters?
No. Unlike Thai or Sichuan cuisine, traditional Hanoian cooking is naturally mild, with fresh chilies and garlic vinegar kept in separate jars on the table. Dishes like chicken noodle soup (Phở Gà), steamed rice rolls (Bánh Cuốn), crispy spring rolls (Nem Rán), and honey-glazed rice donuts (Bánh Rán) are very popular with kids.
3. What is the best time of day for outdoor sightseeing in Hanoi?
Starting between 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM lets you enjoy cooler temperatures and calmer courtyards at landmarks like the Temple of Literature, leaving the warmest midday hours (1:30 PM to 4:00 PM) for indoor museums, craft workshops, or a hotel rest before dinner.
Keep Exploring Hanoi with Us
Ngoc Anh (Ice) · Beyond Vietnam Xin chào! I am part of the local host and storytelling team at Beyond Vietnam. Through these stories, I share the everyday flavours, laughter, and real moments from our walks and workshops in Hanoi.
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