From strangers to travel buddies, A sweet Taste of Hanoi journey
Updated: 52 minutes ago
⚡ Story Snapshot from Hanoi • Real Moments Around Our Table: A personal look back at the dishes, neighborhood alleys, and conversations we shared with guests exploring Hanoi together. • Local Takeaways Inside: Notice how small adjustments to timing, portion sharing, and hands-on stops make exploring the Old Quarter effortless for every age group.
A Taste of Hanoi Tour, January 15, 2026
Gary from the U.S. had been in touch with us since last year, and we finally met on our Taste of Hanoi tour, together with Jessie from Australia, turning the experience into a shared journey from the very start.
Food quickly became their common language. Casey, as a local companion, guided them through Hanoi's narrow streets, local eateries and shared the stories behind each dish, as well as the culture and daily life of Vietnamese. They enjoyed every dish, especially “bún riêu cua”, river crab noodle soup. But the real highlight? It had to be “chè”, Vietnamese sweet soup. Gary couldn’t get enough of “chè bưởi”, pomelo sweet soup, finishing not one, but two bowls!, while his new companion loved “chè dừa non”, coconut version for its rich coconut flavor.
Beyond the flavors, the day turned into a warm connection between two travelers who had just met. Sitting together, sharing desserts and stories, Gary loves cooking and even knows how to make several Vietnamese dishes, so he happily shared stories about the meals he cooks back home. The conversation flowed so naturally that by the end of the tour they were already talking about meeting again in Ho Chi Minh City for another adventure. We started the evening as strangers, and ended up chatting with Casey like close friends.
Check out the photos and join us on this sweet Taste of Hanoi journey.
We started our food adventure with “nộm”, green papaya salad with beef jerky. Just looking at her, Wandering through Hanoi streets while listening to Casey sharing about food, culture, munching on so Here we are at the “bánh cuốn”, steamed rolled rice pancakes stall. Look at how good they are at us Next stop: “bún riêu cua”, river crab noodle soup. There’s nothing like sitting on tiny stools on a This is one of Casey’s favorite snack: “bánh rán”, Vietnamese donuts. Not just eating, we got to wa The star of the day: “chè”, Vietnamese sweet soup. Look at that slimy texture of “chè bưởi”, sweet Yummy! In a blink of an eye, all the bowls were empty. Everyone absolutely loved it. Have you ever t In the end, we had Vietnamese coffee at a hidden cafe overlooking Hanoi Old Quarter. It might be th
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)
Walking & Eating Through Hanoi With Us
If you would like to explore these neighborhood kitchens with a local friend who knows the families behind the stoves, join us on our daily Taste of Hanoi street food walk (running at 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM for 3 to 3.5 hours across 6 to 8 family-run stops, serving 6 to 7 full dishes plus a local cafe drink, with dedicated Veggie Delight and Off the Beaten Path routes available right on the booking form). Depending on your travel style, you can also combine history and food on Hanoi Eat & Explore or private car-based Hanoi Bites & Sights, bring the kids on our Hanoi Family Quest, or spend two cool hours at our $20 USD Cocoa-Coffee Workshop (9:00 AM and 2:00 PM). Message us anytime on WhatsApp (+84 969 655 521) if you want local tips for your trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do Hanoians spot a great street food stall in the Old Quarter?
Locals look for single-dish stalls that are busy during local meal rushes (breakfast from 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM, lunch from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, and dinner from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM) where broths are kept at a rolling boil and dishes are cooked fresh to order.
2. Do Hanoi street food stalls accept credit cards, or should we carry cash?
Family-run sidewalk stalls and wet-market vendors operate almost exclusively with Vietnamese Dong (VND) cash for visitors. Carrying smaller banknotes (20,000, 50,000, and 100,000 VND notes) makes paying for bowls of noodles and drinks quick and easy.
3. How can vegetarians or travelers with food allergies order safely on the street?
Because clear broths often use pork or chicken bones and dipping sauces use anchovy fish sauce (Nước Mắm), simply saying 'no meat' is often misunderstood. Carrying a short written Vietnamese note on your phone explaining your exact dietary needs or visiting dedicated plant-based (Chay) kitchens is the safest approach.
Keep Exploring Hanoi with Us
Ngân (Hazel) · Beyond Vietnam Xin chào! I am part of the local host and storytelling team at Beyond Vietnam. Here on our blog, I share practical local tips and real guest memories from our daily Hanoi walks and workshops.
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