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Two Countries, Three Friends, One Unforgettable hanoi food tour

Hanoi, October, l5th, 2025


Two Countries, Three Friends, One Unforgettable Day in Hanoi – Food, Stories & Laughter

From the very first “hello,” Diana and Hannah — our friends from the Philippines — brought sunshine to Hanoi’s streets. We guessed each other’s ages (everyone magically got younger 😆) and dove straight into what we all love most: food and stories.


The river crab noodle soup – bún riêu quickly stole their hearts. “Really? It doesn’t even taste fishy!” Diana said, eyes wide, savoring every spoonful and declaring bún riêu even better than phở!


Next came fried pillow dumplings (bánh gối), sweet and crispy Vietnamese donuts (bánh rán), and lots more local street food of Hanoi. Sharing snacks from home, food became a bridge — different yet familiar — connecting cultures like a taste of home.


The last stop of our food tour today was a real highlight. Guided through a hidden entrance down a tiny alley, each step led to surprise after surprise! There, we sipped coffee, chatted about Vietnamese brewing methods, and enjoyed a charming Old Quarter view from the balcony. A playful “language class” followed, mixing Tagalog and Vietnamese: “Một, hai, ba, dzô!” — laughter filling the air.


Ate Diana & Hannah, we can’t wait to see you again for the full Coffee Workshop on your next Hanoi trip!


We started the day with Diana & Hannah, our new friends from the Philippines, enjoying a fresh plate of steamed rice rolls (bánh cuốn) on a street corner of the Old Quarter.
We shared some of the dishes we grew up with with Diana & Hannah, like "bánh giò" (pyramid rice dumplings) made by Auntie Mai, who made it for about 30 years.
The next dish is another one of our favorites: "nộm bò khô” - green papaya salad with beef jerky. It's so crunchy, fresh, and flavorful that you won't be able to resist it!
And tada! Diana’s favorite of the day: River crab noodle soup - rich, flavorful, and she said it's even "better than phở." So, of course, there was no single drop left.
On our way, we discovered many familiar dishes between Vietnam and the Philippines, as well as the stories behind each unique bite.
Our friends in conical hats look like two cute Vietnamese ladies. Do you agree?
Then, we visited a local market to try "chè" - sweet soup. It was refreshing, colorful with many ingredients that are loved by both Vietnamese children and adults alike.
We surprised Diana and Hannah with a hidden café tucked down a tiny alley. Upstairs, a unique balcony view of the Old Quarter, and of course, some great coffee awaited!

Coming to Hanoi with your travel buddies?

Let us help you make it unforgettable. Join our next Taste of Hanoi tour, where every bite tells a story and every corner holds laughter. 💛 click here

Ngân & Dung (Emma)

Beyond Vietnam


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