Formidable Reputation for Food

The wide array of food available in Hanoi's narrow alleys and tree-lined boulevards is just as much a part of the city as its lakes and old world architecture. Because of the city’s reputation for good food, its cuisine is considered a main strength in its tourism. The indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese people to produce a lively culinary scene, combined with the richness in culture of the city itself, is both diverse and confronting.

The reputation of Pho in offering both comfort and delight to an eager diner have stretched across the globe and Pho houses in Western countries continue to be packed. Though westerners may not be new to the Pho experience, coming to Hanoi and having a taste of the authentic will acquaint them to a brand-new affair to this humble meal. And they get this delight no less than from the modest make-shift kitchens as small as 1 meter by 1 meter on the city’s sidewalks.

People had to queue up in a small joint just to have a taste of the known best Pho in Hanoi. A cooking instructor from California joined the queue to discover if it’s worth the trouble. It doesn’t take long for her to be a convert. David Jackman, another chef from US, concurs how delightful and charming Hanoi Pho is compared to what they have back home. Aside from tastier and thinner noodles used, pho from Hanoi streets come with a wide range of condiments to allow one to adjust the flavor as desired.

Fusion of Cultures, Fusion of Flavors

Because of the city’s history of migration, Hanoi cuisine is enriched by food from other regions and its dishes feature a real melange of flavors. Compared to other regions where each locality has its own traditional dish which it considers as its staple, Hanoi diners are spoilt for choice from its long list of specialties. Even the humble pho can be served in many ways. The city has many famous shops, each offering their own take on the dish, such as pho Bat Dan, pho Ly Quoc Su and pho Thin. Along with pho, there is cha ca (fried fish) La Vong, banh cuon (steamed rolled rice pancake) Thanh Tri, com (green rice flakes) Vong, dau phu (tofu) Mo and many others.

Hanoian Flavor Goes International, World Comes to Hanoi

Vietnamese flavor is so easy to love and there is indeed no doubt about how it can quickly delight even the most discerning foreign diners. Recently, a Vietnamese-American woman, Christina Ha, championed the Master Chef of America 2012 competition with her traditional Vietnamese dishes.

Vietnamese traditional foods are known to hold a strong balance of yin and yang. And foreigners consider the country’s cuisine to be healthy as it contains less oil and fat than Chinese food, less spicy than Thai and South Korean food, plus more vegetables than European food. Vietnamese dishes are known as light and digestible.

Seeing how the country’s cuisine makes undeniable impression on international travelers, travel companies have seen the strong potential of culinary tours. For a long time, tour operators have been aware that, in order to attract international tourists, food is a vital part of the package.

Culinary enthusiasts will not only enjoy the city’s food, but also the experience of shopping for ingredients and cooking. Depending on the requirements of each tourist group, tour companies will arrange culinary tours exploring the Hanoi market and learning how to cook traditional food. Letting tourists experience dining on Hanoi’s street food will make them further understand the daily lives of Hanoians.

Do Thi Hong Xoan, president of the Viet Nam Association of Hotels, believes Viet Nam’s tourism sector should train 1,000 Vietnamese chefs. However he also recognizes that in order to make cuisine a tourism brand name, there should be strategies, solutions and specific programs on food culture.

Travel organizers also acknowledge the need for reorganization of the food stalls to ensure they are clean and welcoming for tourists. At present, the tourism companies that offer culinary tours say they have to find ways to create these tours. Tourists who have been to these culinary tours confirmed that the country’s traditional cuisine made a huge impression on them, and if given the chance, they would indeed revisit.