If you’re in Hanoi, here are the ten best dishes that you should experience:

Banh Cuon

Banh Cuon is rice noodle roll is a traditional meal of both Hanoi and Vietnam made from steamed fermented rice batter stretched into a wide, thin sheet. It is then filled with various ingredients such as seasoned ground pork, minced wood ear mushroom and minced shallots.

Bun Cha

Bun Cha means grilled pork noodle soup. It is made of white rice noodle called bun and then accompanied by grilled fatty pork (cha), fish sauce and herbs.

West Lake Shrimp Cake

West Lake Shrimp Cake originated in a restaurant nearby West Lake in the 1970s, thus the name. It is actually patty made of shrimps and dipped in batter. It is then dipped in sweet and sour fish sauce and complemented with green papaya and carrot slices.

Cha Ca La Vong

Cha Ca La Vong is one of the most famous dishes in Hanoi because it is fish grilled deliciously and then completed with bun, peanut, green onions, dills and shrimp paste.

Pho

Pho is also one of the most popular dishes in Hanoi, so good that it has been recognized many times not only in Vietnam but worldwide. It is basically rice noodles prepared in a soup broth and added with either bo (beef) or ga (chicken). The noodles are flash boiled until they become soft, topped with meat (either beef or chicken) and then sprinkled with chopped green onions. A plate of herbs (usually fresh sawtooth, mint and Vietnamese coriander) and homemade chilli sauce completes the meal.

Bun Rieu

Bun Rieu is rice noodles with crabs, specifically freshwater crabs. The dish is tomato soup made of round rice vermicelli with toppings of crab meat, deep-fried tofu and congealed blood. A strong but delicious purple shrimp paste serves as side dish while chilli and fresh herbs finishes the meal. The crab serves as the primary flavouring for the soup dish. TV giant CNN named Bun Rieu as “one of the most delicious street foods in Asia,” which only establishes its reputation as one of the best dishes not only in Hanoi but all over Aisa.

Banh Mi Sandwich

Banh Mi sandwich is actually of French origin but has become a big part of Vietnamese cuisine because of its simple but delectable ingredients. The dish is a baguette stuffed with various meats and vegetables. They can be eaten for breakfast or lunch, or any part of the day as snacks or complete meal. 

Ca Phe Trung

Also recognized by a multi-national online social news and entertainment company Buzzfeed as “one of the worlds’ top 10 drinks,” Ca Phe Trung or Vietnamese egg coffee is a seemingly odd but in fact rich taste of egg yolks, condensed milk, sugar, butter and laughing cow cheese all whisked into a fluffy and thick concoction and served with hot coffee. The result resembles a tiramisu in liquid form which is simply irresistible.

Rolled Noodles

Pho Cuon or Vietnamese Rolling Pho consists of rice paper shell, slightly cooked and has the same thickness as pho noodle. It is then rolled with different kinds of greens and herbs (cilantro, mustard leaf and lettuce) and thinly-sliced beef cooked with garlic and lots of pepper. It is to be served cold witha dipping of a bowl of fish sauce, garlic, carrots, radish, vinegar, boiled water, chilli and sugar.

Xoi Xeo

Xoi xeo or Vietnamese sticky rice and mung bean is a yellow-coloured meal that is inviting all because of its attractive appearance, great taste and low cost. It is so in-demand especially among those with a tight budget that it is sold both in fancy restaurants and cheap markets and street corners. When sold in the streets, it is kept warm in a bamboo basket and either carried on the shoulder or tied behind a bicycle.