In 2024, when the global culinary trend lands in Vietnam with minimalist, technological or colorful fusion restaurants, a completely different culinary wave is quietly emerging. That is the rise of popular restaurants imbued with the spirit of Vietnamese culture.
Without the need for flashy spaces, elaborate menus or loud marketing gimmicks, these restaurants gently conquer diners with their own honesty. Here, every dish, every little corner is a story, a memory of an old Vietnam. While modern restaurants are racing to pursue new trends, these traditional restaurants affirm the lasting value of Vietnamese culinary culture.
The unique "aristocratic" vermicelli soup restaurant in Hanoi
Famous on social networks for its special "aristocratic" space, the vermicelli soup shop on Luong Su C street welcomed an unexpectedly large number of customers. Unable to serve in time, the owner closed the shop for 4 days to "hide from customers". Once sold on the sidewalk, now Ms. Yen's "Bun ziu ganh" shop is nestled in a small alley on Quoc Tu Giam street, Hanoi. The sign clearly says "Bun ziu ganh" but the space inside is not like a normal vermicelli soup shop.
Traditional flavors, "aristocratic" space in the heart of the capital
Emerging as a phenomenon on social networking sites and culinary experience groups, this vermicelli soup restaurant impresses diners with its "aristocratic" space, with an antique decoration and unique items crafted by ancient artisans. The dining table at the restaurant is also a sewing machine foot, the table top is wood and tiled. Each chopstick holder and chili pot is also made of beautiful ceramic. The decor items are ceramic, some are baked bricks, some are pianos, some are decorated with antique clocks... but everything is combined in a strange harmony and, importantly, brings a very close and comfortable feeling.
The vermicelli soup restaurant impresses with its unique decoration.
Talking about the decor items in the restaurant, there are 60-year-old hand-painted paintings, souvenirs from a trip, or items given by acquaintances... each item seems to contain its own story, making customers suddenly want to come back many times, not only to enjoy a delicious bowl of vermicelli soup but also to learn about the special space here.
Visiting the restaurant, you will feel like eating at home or going to a friend's house to eat.
Visiting the restaurant, you will have the feeling of eating at home or eating at a friend's house. In such a special space, everyone seems to feel comfortable. Even though during rush hour, you have to wait a bit longer, but no one wants to raise their voice, no one has the heart to break such a pleasant atmosphere.
Eating vermicelli soup at an “exhibition”, when art infiltrates popular food
Stepping into Chay Hang Rao, one feels like one is lost in an art space full of surprises. Unlike traditional restaurants, the space is designed like a miniature exhibition. Rustic wooden tables are arranged among green potted plants, colorful murals and unique decorative items. The soft yellow sunlight shines through the small windows, creating a cozy and romantic space. Thinking that they are walking in an art gallery, diners are surprised to encounter fragrant bowls of vermicelli soup with steaming hot pots. The unique combination of art and cuisine has created an extremely interesting culinary experience.
A unique space to enjoy food
The restaurant's menu includes many dishes and is completely vegetarian, from rice rolls, bread, vermicelli with grilled pork or rice... Among them, the dish that impresses most diners is probably vegetarian vermicelli soup. According to the comments of a few guests, the vegetarian vermicelli soup here is quite delicious, the price is also very cheap, only 35k/bowl. Of course, it cannot be compared with a normal bowl of vermicelli soup, but as a vegetarian dish, vermicelli soup here is also worth trying.
Diverse menu captures the hearts of diners
The pho restaurant with the most "artistic" view in Hanoi is causing a stir on social networks.
Pho Lam Restaurant, located on Nam Ngu Street, a small but surprisingly "cool" street. This pho restaurant has long been famous for its rich flavor, but what makes many diners admire is the experience of eating pho at the restaurant. Because the restaurant space is quite small, diners are often suggested to eat pho at a small, pretty cafe opposite the restaurant.
Still the familiar bowl of pho, glass of iced tea and crispy fried dough sticks next to it, but you will find that no other restaurant has a "artistic" view like this one.
Here, diners only need to order their favorite drink to enjoy pho in a very special space. The space on both sides of the street is filled with old-fashioned shops, creating a perfect setting for extremely cool photos. Every little corner here, from old tables and chairs to time-stained walls, can be turned into an excellent backdrop for virtual life enthusiasts.
Relax and enjoy tea in an old-fashioned space
In the heart of bustling Hanoi, Loc Tai sweet soup shop at 76 Hang Dieu stands out as a peaceful corner, offering diners a culinary experience and a space imbued with ancient culture. With a modest facade, the shop is easily overlooked if not paying attention, but with just a glance, the ancient architecture and the pagoda-roofed sweet soup cabinet with colorful sweets immediately attract the eyes of passersby.
Entering the shop, diners feel like they are transported back to Hanoi in the early 20th century. Every corner of the shop is decorated with carefully restored and crafted antiques, creating a unique and cozy space. From the blue-painted white enamel bowls to the antique decorative items, all contribute to recreating a poetic old Hanoi. Many young people come here not only to enjoy the tea but also to experience this old space.
Loc Tai's menu still retains traditional sweet soups such as black bean sweet soup, red bean sweet soup, fried green rice, shredded coconut, tapioca pearls, grapefruit flowers... Although the restaurant has added some new sweet soups to suit modern tastes, most of the customers who come here choose sweet soups with traditional Hanoian flavors. Each bowl of sweet soup, whether hot or cold, is served in a white enamel bowl painted with blue, adding to the elegance of the dish.
Rewinding memories and old Hanoi on a train during the subsidy period
This train is located at the Ngu Xa - Truc Bach intersection, right at the location of the night food street of Ngoc Dao Ngu Xa (Truc Bach ward, Ba Dinh district). As one of the train cars in this area, the subsidized car, also known as "Train Line No. 6 - Subsidized Car: Kitchen - Cupboard - Tray" has very special features.
The subsidized car, also known as "Train Line No. 6 - Subsidized Car: Kitchen - Cupboard - Tray" has very special features.
Kitchen during the subsidy period
The structure of this train car consists of 2 floors. On the first floor, the outside space is the "subsidized iced tea" location that young people have been spreading on social networks recently. From 3 pm to 10 pm every day, this place is decorated like a subsidized iced tea shop, with newspapers stacked behind. Notably, around the table are many familiar items from the subsidized period such as teapots, kettles, thermoses or jars of fried dough sticks, fried candy, sweet soup... placed on the table to sell to customers who come to drink iced tea... All of this creates an extremely nostalgic feeling. At the same time, this "iced tea shop" also creates "virtual life" photo angles with a strong old-fashioned feel that many young people often look for.
Subsidized iced tea
In addition to the items on display, there are also drinks for sale including iced tea, wormwood, green tea, sour plum juice, apricot juice, tapioca starch and snacks such as peanut candy, stuffed candy, and sweet soup. These are all quite familiar dishes of old-time shops, taking diners "traveling" back to the subsidy period in a very special way.
