English
French
Spanish
Italian
Vietnamese street food has recently been gaining more popularity on the global food scene, thanks to its unique lightness and homely feel. Notably, in early September this year, the British magazine TimeOut published a blog naming Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, as Asia’s second-best street food city.
The article praised Vietnam’s capital city as a treasure trove of foodie finds. These culinary gems can be found anywhere, all the way from the modern streets to narrow alleys, the bustling tourist center downtown to quiet local neighborhoods. In fact, the hunt for these hidden spots is part of the fun when exploring the Vietnamese street food scene.
The best Hanoi street food is eaten on a plastic stool
The article also recommends several Vietnamese street food eateries worth seeking out in Hanoi, including the popular Banh Mi 25 in the Old Quarter for its barbecue pork banh mi. For northern-style pho, nothing beats venturing down a dark hallway and up a winding staircase into the living room of Ms. Minh at Pho Hang Trong. And for classic banh cuon, the place to be is on a plastic stool at Banh Cuon Ba Loc.
The ranking also emphasizes bun cha as the unofficial signature dish of Hanoi street food. It features an addictive umami broth with grilled pork meatballs and pork belly, served alongside fresh vermicelli noodles for dipping. For this dish, the writer recommends Quan Bun Cha at 74 Hang Quat Street as the best place to try it.
.jpg)
Bun cha is among the best food in Hanoi you can find
Vietnam is a tropical country with a hot and humid climate for much of the year. Heavy, oily, or overly spiced foods can often feel overwhelming in such conditions. Instead, fresh herbs, vegetables, and light broths create balance, keep meals refreshing, and aid digestion, making them naturally preferred by the locals.
One Vietnam food tour, and you’ll see for yourself how Vietnamese people can’t live without their greens
The abundance of fertile river deltas, the Mekong and the Red River, is also a major factor, providing year-round access to fresh produce, fish, and rice. All of these elements have naturally shaped a cuisine centered on freshness over time.
Both Vietnamese street food and family meals always include an abundance of fresh vegetables and herbs such as mint, basil, perilla, bean sprouts, lettuce, and cucumber. These are eaten raw or lightly blanched, which helps preserve their vitamins and antioxidants. Compared to cuisines that rely more heavily on oils or rich sauces, this creates a nutrient-dense yet light eating style.
Fresh herbs like mint, basil, perilla, and cilantro are not just flavorings, they also provide digestive and medicinal benefits. In a hot climate with limited historical refrigeration, eating fresh and lightly cooked foods minimized spoilage and kept diets safer.
Greens are probably the ingredient you’ll see the most on your Vietnam food tour
Boiling, steaming, and grilling are the dominant cooking methods. Frying exists (as with Vietnamese street food like spring rolls or banh xeo), but even those fried dishes are often wrapped in fresh greens and dipped in light sauce to balance richness. This reduces reliance on excess fats and makes digestion easier.
In Vietnam, eating out is not a luxury, but rather a part of daily life. Vendors sell food at low prices to serve workers, students, and families daily, which keeps costs reasonable.
Most stops on an authentic Hanoi food tour will be small and random vendors by the roadside
Street food stalls often operate from small carts, with open-air seating on plastic stools and only a few staff. With minimal rent and overhead, vendors can offer food at much lower prices than restaurants.
Authentic Hanoi food is usually found at small street stalls with “rusty, 10-year-old plastic tables,” not in fancy restaurants.
Much of the best Vietnamese street food can be found around the Old Quarter near Hoan Kiem Lake. For pho, you can try Pho Bat Dan or Pho Thin Bo Ho for traditional northern-style pho, or head to Pho Tron Gia Ngu and Pho Tron Ma May for pho tron (dry mixed pho).
Many Hanoi street food dishes are altered versions of each other
If you’re a fan of bun cha, make sure to stop by Bun Cha 74 on Hang Quat Street at noon, or Bun Cha Dac Kim on Hang Manh Street.
For sticky rice, head to the Old Quarter for some xoi cha cua (sticky rice with Vietnamese crab cake), or try Quan Xoi Thu at 57 Tho Nhuom Street for sticky rice with pork belly and egg.
Some of the best food in Hanoi can be found around Hoan Kiem Lake
For a sweet snack, banh ran is a deep-fried glutinous rice ball that originated in the north. You can enjoy it as an afternoon treat at Banh Ran Bi in O Quan Chuong or Banh Ran Goc Da on Ly Quoc Su Street.
You may also like: Vietnam Food Tour 10 days: Vietnamese Cuisine Experience
When it comes to Vietnam, you cannot miss the country’s signature coffee. Stop by Ca phe Giang at 39 Nguyen Huu Huan or Ca phe Dinh at 13 Dinh Tien Hoang for some of the best cups of Vietnamese coffee in town.
Vietnamese egg coffee is a must-have on your Hanoi food tour
In the West Lake area, you’ll find the best pho cuon (pho rolls) and banh tom (crispy shrimp fritters). Pho cuon Chinh Thang, near Truc Bach Lake, is one of the oldest stalls in the neighborhood, loved by locals and offering many tasty alternatives to traditional pho.
If you’d like some fried snacks, head into Tam Thương Alley, a popular spot from late afternoon until midnight. Here you’ll find plenty of stalls serving fried nem chua, fried spring rolls, and French fries.
Make sure your Hanoi food tour includes a stop for fried nem chua
Beyond this alley, many streets in Hanoi are famous for specific late-night Vietnamese street food. For example, grilled squid on Hang Bo, grilled beef on Gam Cau, or chicken pho on Hang Hom. To find the best food in Hanoi, knowing these specific spots is a must.
Several other cities in Southeast Asia also made the list, and each is worth including in your Southeast Asia food tour. At the top is Penang, Malaysia, famous for its hawker streets offering everything from koay teow th’ng to refreshing desserts like cendol.
Singapore came in third, with its street food officially added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020. Among its many highlights, Hainanese chicken rice, a dish with Chinese roots, continues to be a beloved staple for both locals and visitors.
Southeast Asian street food is a gold mine waiting to be explored
Thailand also stands out among Southeast Asia food rankings, with Chiang Mai securing fifth place and Bangkok eighth. While Chiang Mai is known for the bold, chili-rich flavors of its distinctive Lanna cuisine, Bangkok is world-famous for many dishes, including mango sticky rice, often hailed as one of the region’s most satisfying desserts.
Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, claimed ninth place. Its culinary scene has long been underrated among the food of Southeast Asia, but the city’s street food culture goes far beyond exotic offerings like fried tarantulas and scorpions. Visitors can try out authentic local favorites such as num banh chok, fish amok, and samlor machu.
Southeast Asian street food has a very diverse flavor profile
No trip to Southeast Asia would be complete without experiencing Vietnamese street food. But it’s not just Vietnam, Southeast Asia food as a whole is reason enough to travel here. Reach out to our team at Asia King Travel for a tailor-made Southeast Asia tour itinerary, and get ready to set off on the culinary journey of a lifetime.
You may also like: Food Tour Vietnam
