A joyful Hanoi food journey: Flavors and fun with vendors

Hanoi, January 8th, 2026

Some journeys are remembered by the places, but with Sue and Pete from the UK, today’s food tour in Hanoi was more than that, with the people, the laughter and the connection with our locals.

From the very first moment, Casey and our couple instantly clicked and were ready for everything. Among all the dishes they tried, their absolute favorite was” bánh cuốn” – steamed rolled rice pancakes. “I can finish two plates in a row if I wasn’t already full” - it was so delicate and comforting that Sue laughed and said so. “Bún riêu” - river crab noodle soup was another highlight. They enjoyed every bite and could have finished to the last drop of broth. And the sweet ending? A warm bowl of “chè trôi nước” – glutinous rice balls in ginger syrup, the whole bowl was clean as they adored the ginger syrup so much.

Beyond the flavors, it was the connections that made the day special. “Cảm ơn, cảm ơn!” - After every dish, Sue and Pete would say to the vendors, showing gratitude and respect. They had so much fun chatting with our street vendors, listening with curiosity to each story Casey shared like a true local friend. After hearing about the story behind a small “bánh giò” stall, they even asked to take a photo with auntie Mai - the owner: a moment filled with hugs, laughter, and the kind of cross-cultural warmth that needs no translation. Later, along the railway of Hanoi Train Street, conversations flowed naturally, as if we were just a group of friends walking through the neighborhood together.

Every photo became a little memory with bright giggles and the contagious energy of Sue and Pete. Let’s hop on the photos below to join us!

We kicked off the day with “bánh chưng”, a traditional Vietnamese dish consists of rice, mung bean a

Our couple had so much fun chatting with auntie Mai, the friendly street vendor and listening to her

Next stop: “bún riêu cua” - river crab noodle soup. There’s nothing like sitting on tiny stools on a

“Bún riêu” was definitely the star of today, Sue loved it so much that she could finish the whole bo

Imagine walking through Hanoi streets, with scooters rushing by while munching on the flavorful, cri

Guess what stole the show? Definitely the delicate “bánh cuốn” - steamed rolled rice pancakes. One b

And for dessert? Here we are at the “chè” - Vietnamese sweet soup stop. In a blink of an eye, the bo

We ended the day at the iconic Hanoi Train Street. Sue and Pete absolutely loved the lively atmosphe

Our food tour ended, but it was the start of something new: the friendship with Casey, the connecti

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