Hanoi’s local flavors, connections and culture

Hanoi, December 21st, 2025

Meet Beth’s family - an American family living in Korea, travelling through Vietnam with their two boys, hoping they can experience culture in the most local way, and Hanoi was the perfect choice!

With Cihara as our local companion, we started our Hanoi food tour through the Old Quarter, sat on tiny stools while scooters rushed past, and were welcomed by street vendors with the warmest smiles. Both parents were open to every dish, but there was one that stole the show: “bún riêu” - river crab noodle soup! Not just about the flavors, but it was the setting, the aunties there and the story behind that savoring “bún riêu” bowl at Cihara’s favorite spot where neighborhood regulars come everyday. And the boys? Their top pick has to be “bánh rán” - Vietnamese donuts. What an experience to watch the making process right in front of our eyes as we enjoy munching on those sweet balls.

Between bites and sips, Beth’s family and Cihara shared stories, exchanged cultures and tips. “Ha Noi has that special vibe and atmosphere” that they absolutely love, and could find nowhere else like that. The little boys learnt a lot about culture through Cihara’s stories, and were especially interested in offering chopsticks, also called “so đũa” before eating to show respect and care to their parents. And the funny moment? “Hey, I have 2 cats” - that’s how Shawn greets other people - a simple, fun but effective way to break the ice, right?

Let’s scroll through the photos and explore Hanoi’s culture and flavors with Beth's family. 💛

Let’s dive into our Taste of Hanoi food tour with Beth’s family! Here we are at the “bánh gối” - fr

Guess what the star of today is! Yes, definitely “Bún riêu” - river crab noodle soup! Just looking a

Look at our boy practicing “so đũa” - offering chopsticks to mom before having “bánh cuốn” - steamed

While the parents love “bún riêu”, the kids especially adore “bánh rán” - Vietnamese donuts. The cri

With the companion of Cihara, our family explored Hanoi’s hidden alleys with joy and thrill. Guess w

And tada, a hidden cafe with balcony view, outlooking Hanoi Old Quarter. Imagine sipping coffee, wat

Another special part of today was the ultimate salted coffee, which stole our friends’ hearts right

Between bites and sips, Cihara and Beth’s family grew closer and shared about almost everything. We

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