CNTraveller suggests 10 of the best vegetarian dishes in Hanoi.

Vietnamese cuisine offers a diverse range of dishes with many appealing flavors, including vegetarian options. Therefore, Hanoi's cuisine can be enjoyable for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Whether you're a vegetarian or simply looking to cleanse your palate after your usual meals, Hanoi offers a diverse culinary scene to suit everyone's needs.

Here are 10 delicious vegetarian dishes for visitors to Hanoi, as suggested by Condé Nast Traveller India:

1. Tofu in tomato sauce

Enjoy the delicious flavor of tofu in tomato sauce, a familiar dish in most Vietnamese households. The tofu is fried until golden brown and crispy, then marinated in homemade tomato sauce, making it both flavorful and easy to eat. It's best enjoyed with a bowl of white rice; simple yet perfectly balanced. With each bite, diners will appreciate the harmonious blend of ingredients and spices.

2. Stir-fried water spinach with garlic

Stir-fried water spinach with garlic is one of the most popular dishes in Hanoi. The dish is a wonderful combination of fresh water spinach, garlic, and various spices. The water spinach is picked and cleaned, then stir-fried with garlic and spices, creating an incredibly appealing aroma. This dish is often served as an accompaniment to a main course.

3. Banana blossom salad

Banana blossom salad is a dish combining banana blossoms with a sweet and sour dressing, creating a symphony of flavors. Mixed with fresh vegetables such as bean sprouts, green papaya, carrots, and herbs, and topped with a touch of lemon juice or vinegar, the dish offers a refreshing and harmonious taste.

4. Banana dessert

When it comes to Vietnamese desserts, banana sweet soup is one of the most appealing. This dish combines ripe bananas, chewy tapioca pearls, rich coconut milk, and fragrant pandan leaves. It's the perfect snack for a cool day in Hanoi.

5. Green mango and papaya salad

This colorful salad combines green papaya and mango. Shredded green papaya adds crispness and a nutty flavor, while ripe, juicy mango contributes a rich sweetness. The salad is typically garnished with herbs like cilantro and mint, and a squeeze of lime juice adds a pleasant, refreshing aroma. It's a celebration of fresh, delicious Vietnamese ingredients.

6. Vegetarian Bun Cha

Vegetarian bun cha has an alluring aroma and flavor, and is visually appealing. A rich vegetable broth is poured over the rice noodles and served with various herbs and sweet and sour pickled vegetables. This dish has evolved and been modified to become just as delicious as meat bun cha, and is suitable for vegetarians.

7. Banh Xeo (Vietnamese savory pancake)

The batter for Vietnamese savory pancakes (banh xeo) is made from a mixture of rice flour, turmeric powder, and coconut milk. Traditionally, the batter is poured thinly into a cast-iron pan over boiling oil, sizzling and crackling as it touches the hot oil. The filling includes bean sprouts, mushrooms, and other ingredients of choice. Once the crust is perfectly crispy and the filling is cooked through, the pancake is folded in half. The dish is served with fresh vegetables.

8. Sticky rice

Sticky rice is a dish commonly eaten for breakfast, lunch, or as a snack. Its main ingredient is glutinous rice, which has a chewy texture. Sticky rice can be eaten with various fruits such as jackfruit sticky rice, mango sticky rice, durian sticky rice, or with mung beans, peanuts, sesame seeds, etc.

9. Glutinous rice dumplings

The dough for glutinous rice dumplings is made from glutinous rice and usually has a filling of various nuts such as white sesame seeds, black sesame seeds, peanuts mixed with grated coconut. These are then rolled into small, round balls, the size depending on preference. The dumplings are boiled until cooked and eaten with warm ginger syrup.

10. Iced milk coffee

Coffee is not just an ordinary beverage in Hanoi; it's also a symbol of a lifestyle and a form of culinary art. Therefore, this list would be incomplete without the extremely popular iced milk coffee.

The coffee beans are perfectly roasted, creating a rich and distinctive flavor. And what sets Vietnamese iced milk coffee apart is the addition of condensed milk. This sweet and creamy ingredient enhances the deliciousness and creates an irresistible sensation. The rich coffee blended with the creamy condensed milk creates a harmonious balance of bitterness and sweetness.