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Admire the pristine white blossoms of Hanoi's milk flower.
When autumn arrives in Hanoi, the intoxicating fragrance of milk flower blossoms begins to spread throughout the streets. This flower has become a symbol of autumn, deeply ingrained in the memories of many generations, with its long, gently breezy streets and the delicate scent of milk flowers as if it were a piece of Hanoi's soul. The tiny, pristine white blossoms cluster together, creating a blanket of white. Just one blooming milk flower tree is enough to fill an entire street corner with its delightful fragrance.
These flowers are planted in abundance on familiar streets like Nguyen Du, Le Duan, Quan Thanh... Although not everyone likes the scent, inhaling the fragrance of milk flower blossoms on Hanoi's streets is still an experience worth trying when visiting Hanoi in autumn.
Enjoy the specialty sticky rice flakes from Vong village.
Hanoi in autumn boasts unique specialties, first and foremost being green rice flakes (cốm) and products made from them, such as green rice flake sweet soup and green rice flake cakes. Their delicious, chewy texture captivates many Hanoi food lovers. And when mentioning green rice flakes, people immediately think of Vòng village, the place with the oldest and most famous tradition of making this delicacy. Walking along Hanoi's streets in autumn, you'll easily spot vendors selling green rice flakes wrapped in taro leaves, then wrapped in lotus leaves and tied with straw to prevent them from drying out.
But to properly enjoy green rice flakes, you must savor them slowly to fully appreciate the chewy, fragrant, and sweet flavor in each grain. Additionally, Hanoians often like to dip green rice flakes in ripe bananas or persimmons, creating a unique and irresistibly delicious taste.
Strolling along Phan Dinh Phung Street
Phan Dinh Phung Street is a peaceful street lined with ancient trees providing ample shade, renowned as one of Hanoi's most romantic streets. And somehow, it has become a symbol of Hanoi's autumn.
As autumn arrives, the ancient trees lining the road begin to shed their leaves, covering the path with a breathtakingly beautiful carpet of golden foliage. This already romantic scene becomes even more poetic. Therefore, every year, photographers, both professional and amateur, flock here to capture this once-a-year moment.
A warm and comforting bowl of hot rice cake soup.
When Hanoi's weather turns cool in autumn, it would be a great oversight to forget about hot rice cake (bánh đúc nóng). It's not a gourmet dish, but hot rice cake is a beloved afternoon treat for many Hanoians.
A bowl of hot rice cake soup is incomplete without minced meat, wood ear mushrooms, fried shallots, and cilantro. Typically, the thick, creamy rice cake is scooped into a small, wide-mouthed bowl, then topped with minced meat, wood ear mushrooms, fried shallots, and cilantro, finally drizzled with broth and a little oil. The rich, creamy texture of the rice cake, the savory flavor of the minced meat, the aroma of the fried shallots and cilantro, and the sweet and sour taste of the broth blend together to create a perfect dish. Adding a little black pepper and chili powder makes this rice cake soup even more delicious.
Admiring Long Bien Bridge in autumn
Another experience you shouldn't miss in Hanoi during autumn is strolling and admiring Long Bien Bridge. After more than a century of existence, Long Bien Bridge is not only a great historical witness of Hanoi, but also a familiar spot that evokes memories for many generations of Hanoians.
Walking along the bridge, you'll see lush green alluvial plains with banana groves, vast vegetable fields, and flowering reed forests along the riverbanks and sandbars in the middle of the Red River. On Long Bien Bridge, street vendors sell local produce like starfruit, guava, jicama, or freshly caught shrimp and fish brought onto the bridge. Long Bien Bridge is especially beautiful and romantic in the afternoon sunlight of autumn. All of this creates a stunning scene, inspiring photographers and attracting many tourists visiting Hanoi.
Sip on a glass of sour tamarind juice.
How can one miss a glass of refreshing sour plum juice in Hanoi during autumn? Simply a common fruit soaked in sugar, sour plum juice has become a Hanoi specialty, captivating countless people with its sweet and sour flavor, blended with the fragrant aroma of ginger.
You can find this drink anywhere on the sidewalks and alleyways of Hanoi. On a chilly day, sipping a glass of sour plum juice while chatting with friends in the city streets will make your autumn afternoon more complete and meaningful.
Watching the sunset over West Lake
If asked where the most peaceful place is, Hanoians would undoubtedly answer "West Lake." Because no matter how crowded and bustling the city may be, stopping at any of the streets surrounding the lake, you can enjoy a peaceful beauty that is hard to find anywhere else.
In particular, West Lake is considered the most beautiful place to watch the sunset in Hanoi. Every afternoon, no matter where you stop around the lake, you can admire that romantic scene. Amidst the cool autumn weather of Hanoi, what could be better than a stroll around the lake, stopping to watch the sunset gradually descend over West Lake?
Eating pork rib porridge at night
Pork rib porridge has long been a popular snack enjoyed by many in Hanoi. People eat pork rib porridge at any time of day or in any season, but perhaps it's most suitable on autumn nights when the weather starts to get a little chilly.
Over the years, the flavor and ingredients of pork rib porridge have remained unchanged. The porridge is cooked thoroughly with pork ribs and cartilage, and people often order fried dough sticks and shredded pork floss to go with it. It's a simple, rustic dish, yet its flavor is rich and irresistibly delicious.
