A Hanoi food tour with love, flavors, stories and connection

Hanoi, December 20th, 2025

Returning to Vietnam for the second time after ten years, Jared and Jen from the US were genuinely excited to eat their way through Vietnam in our food tour, and for Jen to truly reconnect with her homeland again.

They’ve tried many Vietnamese dishes over the years, but today’s food journey was different. Together with Casey, we wandered through Hanoi streets, discovered hidden gems, tasted lesser-known dishes and soaked in the locals’ daily life. “Bánh giò” - pyramid rice dumpling, quickly became a shared favorite. It was so good that they even bought two more to take home. Another highlight? Definitely “bún riêu” - river crab noodle soup at Casey’s favorite place. “I really like it. I really like it” - after the first spoonful, Jared looked up, eyes bright, and couldn’t stop praising.

What made the day special wasn’t just the food, but how each dish carried a story and meaningful connection. Jared laughed while recalling his very first Vietnamese dish years ago: “bánh bột lọc”. Over time, after many dishes, Vietnamese food slowly grew on him, and now, he truly loves it. Later, at the “chè” - Vietnamese sweet soup stop, with the openness of our friendly vendor, Jen smiled, remembering her childhood when her Viet mother used to make “chè” for her at home. Each bite felt like a small bridge between places, cultures, past and present.

What a day to remember with Jared and Jen. Let’s hop on the photos below to join us

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  We kicked off the day with the classic “nộm” - papaya salad with beef jerky. Our friends loved the f

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  Wandering through Hanoi Old Quarter in “nón lá” - conical hats, our couple tried “bánh gối” - fried

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  Next stop: “bánh cuốn” - steamed rolled rice pancakes. Light, silky and dipped into a flavorful fish

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  Sitting on tiny stools, slurping bowls of “bún riêu” - river crab noodle soup with their excellent c

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  And the star of the day? It’s definitely “bánh giò” - pyramid rice dumpling. One bite and in a blink

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  “Bánh giò” was so good that they had to buy two more to take home. Have you ever tried this comforti

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  At the “chè” - sweet soup shop, between bites, Jen shared that it reminds her of her mom making “chè

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  Guess where we are! Our friends were so excited stepping into one of Hanoi’s tiny hidden alleys. Som

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  Tadaa! We ended the day at a hidden cafe, sipping coffee and chatting. Honestly we didn’t want to sa

If you’re looking for a family-friendly food tour in Hanoi, we’d love to show you the city the way locals do. 👉 Check out our Taste of Hanoi walking street food tour

Ngan (Hazel)

Beyond Vietnam