Local tastes, traditional games and lots of laughter with Tracey's family

Hanoi, July 28th, 2025

What’s better than exploring Vietnam? Doing it as one big family reunion! We were delighted to welcome Tracey’s lovely family, all the way from both Australia and Europe, to our Taste of Hanoi tour. A year in the making, this trip was their long-awaited chance to reunite, and two weeks into their Vietnam adventure, Hanoi and us greeted them with flavors, laughter, and cultural gems to treasure.

🥢 The star of today’s table? Without a doubt, steamed rice pancake -”bánh cuốn” and wonton noodles - “mỳ vằn thắn”. The silky rolls and perfectly balanced dipping sauce stole everyone’s hearts, they couldn’t stop praising the delight of Vietnamese fish sauce - “nước mắm”. Even dessert carried a touch of wonder: lotus seed longan sweet soup. The fresh, juicy longans captured our family’s love for Vietnam’s fresh fruits in the sweetest way.

Along with such flavourful lesser-known dishes, it was a great time learning culture, experiencing local life and connecting. Sam, always eager to share stories, became the lively voice of the group, reflecting on flavors and experiences with shining eyes. One of the highlights? A playful round of “ô ăn quan” – Vietnam’s traditional mancala game, where laughter broke out as Cihara introduced them to Vietnamese pronunciation. A single vowel, “ơ,” sparked giggles as it reminded them of a funny-sounding word, proving that joy is found in the smallest details.

But the joy doesn’t stop there… our family can’t get enough of the “Ô ăn quan” game, so we made sure to send them their very own set of “ô ăn quan” all the way to Australia – a little treasure to keep playing, smiling, and remembering Vietnam together. ✨

💛 Dear Tracey’s family, thank you for letting us be part of your reunion journey. May the flavors of bánh cuốn, nước mắm, the sweetness of longan, and the echoes of laughter over ô ăn quan stay with you long after the trip. Hanoi and us will always be here with a table waiting for you!

Ready to explore Hanoi's hidden culinary gems with us? Don't hesitate to hit us up - we’ve got plenty more delicious adventures waiting for you! click here

Ngân (Hazel)

Beyond Vietnam