Sample authentic local dishes away from the tourist trail with your local guide. Interact with the locals on the street at a variety of atmospheric food stalls on this 2.5-hour food walking tour of Hanoi.
About this activity
- Free cancellation
- Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
- COVID-19 precautions
- Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
- Mobile ticketing
- Use your phone or print your voucher
- Duration 3 hours
- Starting time 5:00 PM
- Instant confirmation
- Live tour guide
- English
Experience
Highlights
- Sample delicious Vietnamese cuisine on the street, just like the locals do
- Stroll through hidden alleyways and bustling markets of Hanoi’s charming old quarter
- Learn more about Hanoi’s unique food culture
- Try local specialties with influences from French and Chinese cuisine
- Take in a spectacular night view of Hoan Kiem Lake from a secret cafe
- Discover a hidden cafe where the owner has been turning plastic bottles into beautiful decorations at his local coffee shop
Full description
Take a food-themed walking tour of Hanoi with a maximum group size of 12 passengers. Begin the evening Hanoi street food tour at a hidden coffee shop with a welcome drink and the chance to fill up your reusable water bottle. Walking into the cafe, you'll see plastic bottles, turned into flowers and dragonflies, hanging from the ceiling. Your expert English-speaking local guide will provide you with insights into the intricacies and traditions of Vietnamese food culture, including details on ingredients and the historical backgrounds of popular northern dishes.
Stroll through hidden alleyways and visit the city's local market, Hang Be. Along the perimeter of the market, dozens of street hawkers sell everything from live seafood to exotic fruits and spices. Eat as you go, sampling seasonal fruits and a delicious local doughnut, hearing about how its made as you taste it. The next stop is a food stall selling bun dau met, or shrimp paste, and nuoc mam fish sauce. Then, proceed to the Lo Ren Street, where you'll stop for some banh mi, a tasty Vietnamese baguette sandwich with many different choices of filling. Head then for a glass of bia hoi, light Vietnamese draft beer, where you'll have a chance to mingle with the locals.
Walk through the maze of bustling streets that make up Hanoi’s Old Quarter, tempt your taste buds with the famed Hanoi dish Banh Cuon at a local eatery. Watch in awe as the skilled chefs demonstrate for you how this tasty dish is put together. Continuing into the atmospheric heart of the Old Quarter, wander past street stalls and quiet residential lanes where you can observe local life that has changed little since Hanoi was founded more than 1,000 years ago.
Your local guide will then take you to one of Hanoi’s best kept secrets, a hidden café with stunning views over the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake. This hard-to-find café is one of the few left in the city that still serves egg coffee, a scrumptious local delicacy that you will sample whilst admiring the hustle and bustle of the city center below. Or, if coffee is not your style, a cold beer awaits. At the end of the trip, you are free to continue exploring the area or your guide will assist you with directions or a taxi back to your hotel.
Includes
- English-speaking guide
- Food and drink samples as per itinerary
- Seasonal fruit samples in the market
- Fruit juice
- Bia Hoi (local light beer) with a local snack
- 1 Vietnamese coffee
- Water bottle refill at the meeting point
- All other drinks
- Extra food portions
- Tips for local guide
COVID-19 precautions
Safety measures in place
- All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
- Customers must keep distance in vehicles
- The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds
Traveler requirements
- Customers are required to bring and wear masks
Select participants and date
Participants
Date
Prepare for the activity
Meeting point
3B Hàng Tre street, Ly Thai To, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi at Hidden Gem Coffee shop (in the alley).
Open in Google Maps ⟶Important information
Know before you go
- Unfortunately, this tour cannot accommodate vegetarians and vegans. If you would like a customized vegetarian or vegan tour, please email the local tour operator to see if a private experience can be created for you
- Please notify the ocal tour operator in advance of any food allergies
- Please note that this tour visits independent, family-owned businesses whose operating schedules and menus may change. Street food venues and local dishes often vary; your local guide will make any final adjustments on the spot
- Children must be 6 years of age to 11 years inclusively. Children below the age of 6 are not permitted on this tour
- It is very important to please email us to confirm your pick-up hotel at least 24 hours prior to departure. This confirmation helps to avoid delays in our departure
