Taste of Hanoi: A street food tour full of flavors, stories and laughter 🥢❤️🥢❤️
Updated: 3 days 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.
Hanoi Street Food Tour, November 23rd, 2024
Meet Carly and Shannon from Australia who joined our Taste of Hanoi street food tour for a day of authentic flavours, local connections and unforgettable moments!
After following us on Facebook for a while, Carly was a bit nervous at first after seeing our ‘exotic food’ challenge from Kathrin’s food tours. But there was no problem at all! We always tailor our Hanoi street food tours to match your tastes. Just let us know your preferences, and we’ll craft a perfect menu! 😉
By the end, Carly and Shannon loved every moment. Shannon even joined a "mini cooking class" right at the table, made a papaya salad from scratch, and quickly earned the title of “staff of the day,” chatting and laughing with other customers like a local. Other fun parts? Cracking jokes with Mrs. Mai, our legendary bánh giò vendor with 27 years of expertise and stories to share.
Sitting in a tiny alleyway where everything is mini, from the chair to the table to the plate, Shannon had the important task of protecting his plate and bowl of noodle soup as motorbikes whizzed by. It was so fun watching him guard his food like a pro! 🍜😂
Here's a hilarious conversation between Shannon and our legend Mrs Mai at her place:
Shannon: Are you 20 years old?
Mrs. Mai: No way, I am over 60. And you? How old are you?
Shannon: I am 25 *laughs out loud*. Just kidding, I am 52.
The man: You just ate balut, "trứng vịt lộn"?
And for the curious, "lộn" means "upside down", which adds an extra twist to the fun! 😂🍜
Start the day off right with a plate of delicious steamed rice rolls (bánh cuốn). Not a crumb left when we finished, it's just that good! 🥢✨
Here’s Shannon on his first day of our "mini cooking class" right at the table, mastering the art of making Vietnamese green papaya salad. 🍽️✨
The lovely seller stepped in and guided Shannon.
Shannon: "Is it good enough to be your staff? Will you pay me?"
The seller: "Pay you? If I did, I’d have to close my shop, there wouldn't be enough left to pay you!" 😂
Just a few more steps and Shannon's green papaya salad will be ready to serve! 🥗✨ Almost there, Chef! 👨🍳👏
Here it is, Shannon's very first plate of Vietnamese green papaya salad, one of Hanoi's must-try dishes! 🥗✨ And who better to take the first bite than Carly? Full of flavor and made with love, it quickly became Carly’s favorite dish of the entire tour. 👨🍳👩🍳
Here's Shannon proudly holding his hot and freshly fried dumplings, crispy, golden and straight from the pan, bánh gối! 🥟🔥✨
They were both amazed by the tiny alleyway that led us to our coffee today, it felt like stepping into a quiet local spot! ☕✨
We wrapped up the tour with a cup of hot egg coffee on the balcony, overlooking the lively streets below. As we sipped, we shared stories and laughs like old friends. Our hearts were so full when Carly and Shannon shared how much they loved every moment, not just the food but also the warm connections we created with local vendors and neighbors, breaking through all barriers.
Shannon: “We’ll come back to Hanoi and definitely book this tour again, but only if you’re with us next time!”
Without missing a beat, Linh shot back, “Deal, but the exotic food next time 🤣” 🥰☕✨
Every tour is a new story waiting to be told. Come see for yourself why our Taste of Hanoi street food tours are about so much more than just food, they’re about sharing, connecting, and creating memories.❤️🍴 Join us now!
Walking & Eating Through Hanoi With Us
If you would like to explore these neighborhood kitchens with a local friend who knows the families behind the stoves, join us on our daily Taste of Hanoi street food walk (running at 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM for 3 to 3.5 hours across 6 to 8 family-run stops, serving 6 to 7 full dishes plus a local cafe drink, with dedicated Veggie Delight and Off the Beaten Path routes available right on the booking form). Depending on your travel style, you can also combine history and food on Hanoi Eat & Explore or private car-based Hanoi Bites & Sights, bring the kids on our Hanoi Family Quest, or spend two cool hours at our $20 USD Cocoa-Coffee Workshop (9:00 AM and 2:00 PM). Message us anytime on WhatsApp (+84 969 655 521) if you want local tips for your trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do Hanoians spot a great street food stall in the Old Quarter?
Locals look for single-dish stalls that are busy during local meal rushes (breakfast from 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM, lunch from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, and dinner from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM) where broths are kept at a rolling boil and dishes are cooked fresh to order.
2. Do Hanoi street food stalls accept credit cards, or should we carry cash?
Family-run sidewalk stalls and wet-market vendors operate almost exclusively with Vietnamese Dong (VND) cash for visitors. Carrying smaller banknotes (20,000, 50,000, and 100,000 VND notes) makes paying for bowls of noodles and drinks quick and easy.
3. How can vegetarians or travelers with food allergies order safely on the street?
Because clear broths often use pork or chicken bones and dipping sauces use anchovy fish sauce (Nước Mắm), simply saying 'no meat' is often misunderstood. Carrying a short written Vietnamese note on your phone explaining your exact dietary needs or visiting dedicated plant-based (Chay) kitchens is the safest approach.
Keep Exploring Hanoi with Us
Dung (Emma) · Co-founder of Beyond Vietnam Xin chào! I grew up on the outskirts of Hanoi, and no matter how far I travel, this busy and slightly chaotic city still feels most like home. I’ve explored Vietnam on my own and with the people I love, while also spending years volunteering and joining community projects. Along the way, I’ve collected plenty of stories, local tips and unforgettable moments. I share them here to help you feel closer to Hanoi and Vietnam, hopefully even before you arrive. You can also find me on Facebook. Come and say hi!
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