Taste of Hanoi: Shared moments over good food

Hanoi, December 18th, 2025

Let’s welcome Rachel’s family of 4 from the UK and Eljo from the Netherlands, joining our Taste of Hanoi tour. After a long flight, our friends were so excited and ready to dive into the special flavors of Hanoi with Casey's companion.

From the very first stop, “nộm” – Vietnamese green papaya salad completely won everyone over. “So fresh” - They were surprised that Vietnamese “nộm” was different and even tastier than the one they’d tried in Thailand, especially with the tangy sauce and beef slices. Lesser-known dish like “bánh gối” - fried pillow dumplings also impressed with their crisp bite and comforting fillings, simple yet satisfying. What’s special wasn’t just the food, but the experience of eating on the streets of Hanoi where scooters brushed past and the city moved right beside us.

Our journey was all about trying new dishes, even the ones they’d never thought they’d enjoy and listening to stories behind them. Everyone was all open, adventurous, and willing to experience Hanoi through its rich cuisine. Casey took our family to a “bún riêu” - river crab noodle soup stall that brings back the flavors of her childhood. After the first sniff, despite a little hesitation at first, they bravely tried it with “mắm tôm” - shrimp paste, and it was totally worth it!

Scroll through the photos and relive this gentle, flavorful Taste of Hanoi with us. 💛

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  Here we are at the “nộm” - green papaya salad stop. Not just eating, our family also learnt to offer

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  Everyone especially loved the tangy sauce and flavorful beef slices, all bowls were cleaned to the l

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  “Bánh gối” - fried pillow dumplings were another highlight. There’s nothing like munching on these t

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  Our friends couldn’t get enough of the golden, crispy crust and comforting, flavorful filling inside

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  Our next stop was “bún riêu cua” - river crab noodle soup. Rich broth, noodles and lots of toppings

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  The special part? Our friends were open and willing to try “bún riêu cua” with a secret ingredient:

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  Eating “Bánh cuốn” - steamed rolled rice pancakes on the sidewalk? - A truly local experience! The s

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  What a day full of new flavors and shared moments with Rachel’s family and Eljo. Casey and us can’t

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