How to Eat Like a Local in Hanoi – Why, Feast on Street Food, of course!

 Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam, is a lively city full of attractions to sightsee, malls to shop at, and a diverse range of eateries where you can enjoy delicious food that form a part of cuisines from all over the world. However, if you truly want to enjoy food like a local, the best way to do it is by tasting the mouth-watering savoury and sweet street food delights that Vietnam is known for.

Kham Tran - www.khamtran.com, Pho-Beef-Noodles-2008, CC BY 3.0

Pho

This is one dish that you might have come across before, even if you aren’t familiar with most Vietnamese cuisine. That is because these days it has become somewhat of a trendy menu item across the globe. Pho is basically a soup and is the national dish of Vietnam. At its core is a tasty broth. Inside the broth, a range of ingredients is added. These include things like herbs as well as meat and rice noodles. Sometimes, in addition to meats, poultry such as chicken is added too.

This dish is so beloved by the nation that you can find it everywhere from street stalls to fine dining restaurants that serve local cuisine. In case you don’t have time to try this dish when your out sampling the street food that the capital has to offer, don’t worry. This is one dish that’s made quite authentically, no matter the location. For example, if you are staying at a hotel Hanoi has to offer such as Pan Pacific Hanoi, you will be able to order in Pho as part of the in-room dining service.

Cha Ca

Do you like food that has fish and dill? Then you are going to like Cha Ca. Savour small fillets of marinated fish (the main components of the marinade is usually dill and turmeric) alongside a range of condiments to really take things up a level. The condiments that are usually served as an accompaniment to this dish are things like chilli slices, coriander, and crushed peanuts. Also on the side, in terms of starch, what you are normally served to complement the fish is vermicelli noodles (these are made of rice). Do note that the noodles for this dish are usually served cold, not steaming hot.

Banh Cuon

Banh Cuon is a street food that comes in various renditions since almost everyone in Vietnam who makes it seems to have their own take on the recipe. However, whichever one you try, it is one of those dishes that usually taste delicious no matter how it is made. This is one dish that even the locals always argue over when it comes to deciding just where in Hanoi the best version can be found. So let’s get to it. Just what exactly is Banh Cuon? It is essentially a rice-based pancake that has a meat filling. The filling is generally made of ingredients such as minced pork, onions, and mushroom. Generally, a bit of lime juice is added to the filling to give it an extra punch. The filling components just mentioned are some of the most commonly found ones for this dish. But, as mentioned, there are various takes on it and you will encounter many versions that use additional ingredients. It is a very simple but satisfying snack that’s a great pick when you are out roaming the streets looking for a tasty bite without even having to step outside. So, while it’s a must-try dish, this will be one of the dishes that are easily available to you no matter where you’re staying, letting you easily fit it in your itinerary around your other activities.