Cuisine has long been considered a representative of the culture of each land. If mentioning America is to think of the unmistakable fast food culture, mentioning Japan is to think of fresh dishes that are delicately prepared, then with Vietnamese cuisine, it is the diversity of dishes as well as the rich, colorful seasoning.
Bun cha became famous around the world when former US President Barack Obama visited Hanoi in 2016 and went down the street with chef Anthony Bourdain to enjoy this local specialty. We also cannot forget to mention the "national soul" of Vietnam, pho, when introducing it to international friends.
But that's not all. Hanoi has many delicious dishes worth exploring. Below are 5 dishes that CNN recommends every visitor to Hanoi should try.
Fish cakes
Hanoians claim that if you want to eat this unique fried fish dish, you just need to go to Cha Ca Street, in the Old Quarter.
Along the busy streets with overhead power lines, dozens of shops sell this crispy fried fish marinated in turmeric. The most famous restaurant is Cha Ca La Vong - one of the oldest eateries in Hanoi.
This fish cake dish has been around for 130 years thanks to the creativity of the Doan family. During the French colonial period, his family cooked special meals for the army.
Shrimp cakes
Hanoi-style shrimp cakes have just a few main ingredients: fresh freshwater shrimp or shrimp from West Lake, flour, and sweet potatoes. Instead of being pounded into a smooth paste, the shrimp in the shrimp cakes are left whole, standing out on the round dough cake. The shrimp cakes are usually served with lettuce, chili, and dipping sauce.
Shrimp cakes became popular in the 1930s, when small street vendors began to gather along Thanh Nien Street. When the dish became so popular, the government combined the small stalls into one large restaurant along the lake shore.
Today, the West Lake Shrimp Cake restaurant is still a prominent destination on Thanh Nien Street, attracting a large number of diners every day. Most of the people who come here are groups of friends or families gathering in the late afternoon after work, enjoying the crispy shrimp cake with cold draft beer.
Fish noodle soup
Fresh and light, bun ca is a combination of fried fish, dill, tomatoes, green onions and perilla.
At lunchtime in Hanoi, you can find bun ca anywhere. However, Mark Lowerson, founder of Hanoi Street Tours, recommends a restaurant located west of the Old Quarter called Van, which specializes in bun ca.
In other countries, adding salt to a dish is considered an insult to the chef, but not in Vietnam. "You can use seasoning right at the table. Adding a little lemon juice, vinegar, chili and coriander helps the dish achieve a balance of salty, sour, sweet and spicy flavors," explains Mark Lowerson.
Crab noodle soup
Bun rieu is a dish made from a rich meat or seafood broth with a distinctive deep red color. The red color of the broth comes from tomato sauce and annatto oil. Freshwater crab meat and fresh tomatoes are the highlights of bun rieu cua. Tamarind juice is added to give the broth a sour taste.
Depending on the region, bun rieu can be served with beef, pork, snails or fish. The white noodles create a balance between color and light. Bun rieu is served with lime, chili and herbs such as banana flower and mint, making a perfect meal for visitors.
When asked where to try this dish, CNN suggested a very delicious crab noodle soup restaurant owned by Mrs. Thu located in Tho Xuong alley, near the Great Church.
Egg coffee
Vietnamese egg coffee is one of the must-try specialties in Hanoi. A layer of soft, frothy egg cream is placed on top of a thick, hot cup of coffee. While most cafes in Hanoi now sell egg coffee, Giang Cafe is still known as the birthplace of this dish.
This drink comes in both hot and cold versions. Both the egg and coffee are served in a small cup, topped with a golden egg. Customers use a small spoon to enjoy the egg coffee.
Many people say this is more like coffee ice cream than coffee. Hot egg coffee is served in a bowl with hot water inside to maintain the temperature. The strong coffee flavor permeates from the bottom of the cup and up to the thick, sweet yellow egg layer on top.
