VI
EN
Starting at 6 PM, a group of international tourists gathered on a small street near Ho Guom Lake, beginning a three-hour food tour exploring the culinary delights of the Old Quarter. The unique aspect of the tour is the lack of a pre-set menu. As soon as the group assembled, the tour guide individually inquired about each person's tastes and preferences, ensuring every dish was "personalized."
Each tourist shared their tastes and preferences.
This food tour is organized by Hafoodtour, a company specializing in providing travel experiences for international tourists in Hanoi, including city tours, motorbike tours, and food tours. The food tour typically lasts 2.5-3 hours and costs between $25-$30 (approximately 650,000-790,000 VND). Departure times are flexible, the itinerary is adjusted according to the group size, and there is no fixed menu.
Tour guide Luke Tran said: "Each tour usually takes guests to 7 or 8 different places. I will talk to each member of the group to understand their preferences, tastes, and dietary restrictions, and then I will design a personalized itinerary for that group. That's why no two tours are the same."
The culinary journey begins with dried beef salad – a specialty deeply rooted in Hanoi's culinary memories. The dish presents a harmonious blend of colors: the golden yellow of the dried beef, the crisp white of the papaya, the fresh green of the vegetables… and the nutty brown of the roasted peanuts. The balanced sweet and sour dressing, the crunchy papaya, and the rich flavor of the dried beef create a perfect whole – small details that reflect the discerning palate of the people of Hanoi.
Everyone was excited when the tour guide introduced the first appetizer.
But the highlight of this culinary tour doesn't stop at local specialties. Immediately afterwards, visitors get to enjoy Nha Trang grilled spring rolls – a dish with the flavors of Central Vietnam. This deliberate combination aims to showcase the diversity and cultural exchange of Vietnamese cuisine.
Nina Truelove (Australia) enjoys Nha Trang grilled spring rolls during her food tour of Hanoi's Old Quarter.
From Hoan Kiem Lake, the group of tourists moved to Trung Yen Alley, where a mixed rice noodle salad stall was tucked away, with tables and chairs lined up along the narrow passageway. Tourists enjoyed sitting and savoring a bowl of mixed rice noodles in the typical Hanoi alleyway atmosphere: the rumble of motorbikes passing by, the rich flavors of the dish blending with the rhythm of daily life – all creating an authentic Hanoi culinary experience that any visitor would find memorable.
The tour guide introduced how to enjoy banh da tron – a familiar dish of Hanoi.
A highlight of the tour is the opportunity to savor fried spring rolls on Hang Be Street. Each visitor holds a golden, crispy spring roll fresh from the pan. No fancy tables or chairs are needed; simply walk along the street and enjoy the experience – a true taste of "street food": quick, simple, yet full of flavor.
Experience street food, no fancy tables or chairs needed.
The most important stop was bun cha, an iconic Hanoi dish. The tour guide meticulously explained how to enjoy it: picking up the noodles, adding vegetables, and dipping the grilled pork patties into the fish sauce. "Bun cha is truly a dish we can't forget," shared David, a German tourist. The subtle sweetness of the grilled pork patties, the freshness of the vegetables and noodles, combined with the sweet and sour dipping sauce – all create a very balanced and distinctive Hanoi experience.
The tour guide demonstrates to visitors how to remove each piece of grilled pork patty from the bamboo skewer – a small but distinctive detail of Hanoi cuisine.
After a quintessential Hanoi dish like bun cha (grilled pork with vermicelli), the journey continues with another familiar icon of Vietnamese cuisine: banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich). Each crispy baguette is sliced in half, revealing fragrant pate, flavorful grilled pork slices, accompanied by cucumber, herbs, and, of course, a refreshing glass of iced tea. It's safe to say that without iced tea, banh mi would lose half its authentic Hanoi flavor.
The tour guide discusses with the tourists to help them choose the type of bread that suits their taste.
The final stop was a small dessert shop on Hang Bac Street. In the small space, with just a few tables and chairs crammed together, visitors sat and enjoyed mango sticky rice ice cream, red bean sweet soup, and chewy sweet potato. The sweet and refreshing taste of the desserts, combined with the mild autumn weather of Hanoi, concluded the journey with a truly pleasant aftertaste.
Nina Truelove, an Australian tourist, excitedly shared: "I loved savoring Hanoi's unique cuisine and strolling through its charming streets. It was an unforgettable experience, and I will definitely recommend all the food I tried to anyone who visits Hanoi."
A memorable moment captured for the group after 3 hours exploring the culinary culture of Hanoi's Old Quarter.
At 9 PM, the group of tourists took a commemorative photo at the tea shop before saying goodbye. The three hours concluded not only with a culinary experience, but also with a connection to the rhythm of life in the Old Quarter, the hospitality, and the cultural identity of Hanoi.
