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Vietnamese food in general is well-known as cheap yet healthy, full of flavours and nutrients. But have you ever wondered if you can get something in Hanoi with only a dollar? Our answer is yes. Let’s come with Asia King Travel and discover the list of USD 1 food in Hanoi (~ VND 25,000)
There is no doubt that banh mi is included in the list, as it is already one of the first dishes that people would think about when talking about Vietnamese cuisine in general. What makes banh mi so attractive lies in the way all the ingredients combine, from the crispy bread, rich meat filling to the fresh vegetables and special sauce.
Banh mi is one of the most famous street foods in Hanoi
Although the average price of banh mi starts from VND 30,000 (~USD 1.4), it is also not too hard to find one under VND 25,000 (USD 1). Instead of getting into famous shops in the Old Quarter, try to look for local ones or street vendors so that you can get a banh mi with similar toppings, but cheaper.
In Hanoi's cold winter night, there is nothing that warms you up better than a hot bowl of porridge, and it’s about time to try some chao suon. The crushed rice is cooked with young pork ribs until everything becomes soft and tender, so each spoonful of porridge melts right in your mouth and warms your tummy and your soul.
A bowl of chao suon can warm your tummy and your soul on winter days
From VND 15,000 (~USD 0.6), you can already have a basic bowl of chao suon with crispy fried doughs (quay), and the price will go up a bit depending on the toppings you want to add in. When serving, sprinkle some ground peppers or chillis. The velvety texture of the porridge and the fragrance of Vietnamese rice perfectly match the savoury toppings.
Wondering what to eat for breakfast or late nights besides banh mi and pho? Xoi would be a good option, especially for your list of must-try USD 1 food in Hanoi.
One of the simplest and most popular types of xoi in Hanoi is xoi xeo. The sticky rice is usually cooked with turmeric and combined with some onion oil so that it becomes golden and shiny. Coming with the rice, there are also cooked mung beans sliced from a big ball, served with fried onions, pork flakes and cha (Vietnamese ham). The price for a simple serving ranges from VND 10,000 to VND 20,000 (~USD 0.4 - USD 0.8).
Xoi xeo is simple yet appetizing and makes you full for a long time
Another popular option for a USD 1 food in Hanoi challenge is banh bao. This is a familiar dish, available everywhere that can save your hungry stomach at any time of the day. What makes Hanoi banh bao so fascinating is the special fragrance, soft, chewy crust, and the filling inside is extremely diverse and tasty.
The fragrance from banh bao and the diverse fillings make it such a special food to try
The original filling of banh bao is usually minced meat with quail eggs, but these days, people have been getting creative with other fillings like salted egg, chicken mushroom - cheese, coconut - green rice, etc., so that you can choose according to your preference.
Most of the filled banh bao cost only between VND 10,000 and VND 20,000 (~USD 0.4 - USD 0.8), and a few flavours will go beyond VND 25,000 (~USD 1), but they are all affordable and enough to stuff your tummy.
This is a typical dish of Northern cuisine that is commonly seen in plenty of places in Hanoi, especially near crowded places like markets and school gates.
Banh gio is usually chosen for a quick breakfast
Banh gio is made from simple ingredients: the outer layer is made from a mixture of rice flour and tapioca flour; the filling is stir-fried minced pork, wood ear mushrooms, and sometimes quail eggs. It is then wrapped in banana leaves and steamed for about half an hour, creating a pyramid shape for the dumpling. The price of a banh gio usually starts from VND 15,000 (~USD 0.6).
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When talking about street food in Hanoi, meat skewers are always among the recommendations of locals and experienced travellers. They can be seen on almost every street but more easily in markets or near school gates. In general, a skew of meat would usually cost around VND 10,000 to VND 15,000 (~USD 0.4 - USD 0.6). Because of the fair price, this is the favourite street food of many young people here.
Banh mi thit xien (bread with meat skewers) is also a famous street food in Hanoi
The meat has a golden brown colour, with a special mix of spicy, salty, sweet and sour flavours. Also, the fat, chewy texture balances perfectly, creating a unique experience when enjoying them. Meat skewers can be eaten alone with some hot sauce, sandwiched with bread or mixed with rice noodles.
Initially, there is only one kind of sweet fried donut that became a part of the childhood of many Hanoians. This has the stuffing of mung beans and coconut, sometimes coated with sugar, sesame seeds or glazed with molasses. Later, to suit the tastes of customers, a salty version of fried donuts was born with fillings mainly made from minced meat, wood ear mushrooms and glass noodles, eaten with a sweet and sour fish sauce.
Banh ran has become a part of many Hanoians' childhoods
Banh ran can be easily bought at street vendors for just under VND 10,000/piece (~USD 0.4), even cheaper, so that it is such a snack that perfectly fits into the list of USD 1 food in Hanoi. There are many renowned shops that are recommended by both locals and experienced tourists.
Banh goi has a similar filling to the salty banh ran, but instead of being chewy inside like the banh ran, the whole crust is crispy and drained of oil, so they will be less greasy when eaten.
Banh goi is bigger, crispier and less greasy than the salty banh ran
Banh goi is quite big, so it is usually cut into four pieces to make it easier to eat. This piece is then rolled with fresh vegetables and dipped into the signature sweet and sour dipping sauce. The price of banh goi usually ranges from VND 10,000 - VND 15,000 (~USD 0.4 - USD 0.6) per piece, which is so affordable for a dish that you can get with as many vegetables as you want.
Most of the banh goi stalls do sell other types of fried dumplings and desserts. All of them are worth trying and affordable but also perfect for a budget Hanoi food tour!
Maybe you have heard about Vietnamese fermented pork before, but this type of street food is quite different. Pork rolls for frying haven’t fermented yet. Instead, it is shaped into thin strips, coated with bread crumbs and then deep-fried. In contrast with fermented pork, these ones are crispy on the outside and rich, fragrant, a bit chewy on the inside.
Fermented pork has not actually fermented yet
With a fair price of about VND 5,000/piece, you can get a set of 5, which is just about one dollar. You can ask the seller to cut them into small pieces, then slowly enjoy them with the sweet and salty hot sauce. This is definitely a must-try for your USD 1 food challenge in Hanoi.
Banh xeo is more than a dish originating from the central and southern part of Vietnam, but has become a must-try Hanoi street food as well.
Banh xeo is usually eaten with lots of vegetables
The interesting part of banh xeo is not only about its appearance, but also about the way you eat it. To eat like a local, cut it into four to five pieces, roll with vegetables and some pickles, then dip the roll into the sauce. By doing this, the textures and flavours combine perfectly that almost everyone would have to get another one. For about VND 15,000 to VND 20,000 (~USD 0.6 - USD 0.8), it is a great option during your street food adventure.
This trendy street food originated from Hekou County in China, but then suddenly became popular in Vietnam at the end of 2023. Usually, food trends in Vietnam last for only a few months, but because of being truly good, these sausages are still the favourite street food of many young people up to now.
These stone-grilled sausages originated in China, but they are surprisingly popular in Vietnam
The average price is VND 15,000 (~USD 0.6) for one sausage, but it may be cheaper in some places. With a crispy skin and the soft, moist meat because of the fat, along with Chinese chilli powder sprinkled on the outside, almost everyone is unwilling to have a second one.
Tao pho is another refreshing Vietnamese dessert that is worth mentioning. The soft, silky tofu is sweetened with a jasmine syrup, eaten with some black herbal jelly, coconut tapioca pearls, roasted coconuts and maybe some lotus seeds. People will usually be afraid of the grassy flavour, but believe us, the light floral scent coming from the syrup and the richness from the soy beans make it pretty easy to eat, even to fully enjoy.
Tao pho is one of the cheapest dishes that can be found in Hanoi
Besides the refreshing taste, tao pho is also one of the most affordable desserts in Hanoi. For each “full topping” bowl, it costs from VND 15,000 to under VND 20,000, which is even less than a dollar. You can easily find tao pho at plenty of dessert stalls and street vendors.
To finish your food tour in Hanoi or simply have a light sweet treat, you can truly choose che. This dessert refers to a variety of kinds, but the main ingredients usually include coconut milk, tropical fruits, beans and some other toppings made from tapioca flour.
Che has an attractive mix of ingredients and colours
From VND 15,000 (~USD 0.6), you can already have a cup of che. The vibrant colours and the special flavours from fruit toppings go well with the white coconut milk base, so that che is both delicious and pleasing to the eye.
Vietnamese food is well-known for its cheap price, along with the quality that goes beyond most people’s expectations. If you are trying to do a USD 1 food challenge in Hanoi, with this guide, it won’t be a big deal at all. In case you are interested and want to visit this city, feel free to contact us, and we will arrange a suitable tour for you.
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