To get a crash course into Vietnamese food we could not turn down Hanoi Street Food Tour (Ranked #21 of 405 Food & Drink in Hanoi on Tripadvisor) . Reservation was made via email and we attended the tour the next day, starting at Kim building we visited many delights around Hanoi all accessible by foot. We were in a group of 8, who have traveled from England, and Australia.
Chicken Noodles @ Phở Gà Thanh Hợp
We started at Phở Gà Thanh Hợp with a bowl of “Phở Gà” (Chicken Noodles), we ate here a few days earlier and enjoyed it. The chilli sauce they have as an extra is powerful, just a few drops transformed this dish. At 39,000₫ (£1.10) this simple dish is cheap and cheerful.
Shrimp Rolls @ Bánh Cuốn Nóng & Mỳ Vằn Thắn
We took a walk around the lake to Bánh Cuốn Nóng & Mỳ Vằn Thắn to try shrimp rolls, the preparation method is impressive - using the steam from a pan to lightly cook a thin rice mixture and peeling it off, fill and present. Not sure how much this cost, was not to my taste.
Refreshing cool drink
We enjoyed refreshing cocktail drink in the shadow of St Joseph Cathedral
Purple mangosteen
I tried Purple mangosteen, my new favourite exotic fruit along with Pitaya not commonly available in the United Kingdom
Spring Rolls @ Quán Bánh Gối
We walked around the corner to Quán Bánh Gối to enjoy the best spring rolls in town. By-far the best Hà Nội Spring Rolls we have tried!. Will defiantly visit again when in the area.
Fresh Fruit @ Shinh Tố Trang TríI
We finished the food section of the tour with Fresh Fruit and Yoghurt at Shinh Tố Trang TríI, a great desert to the food we have tried.
Beer
A Hà Nội visit can not be complete without Bia hơi in the popular Hàng Buồm area, with rice crackers and many loud chants of cheers.
Egg Coffee @ Cafe Giảng
Still able to walk, we wend the tour with Egg Coffee, (yes coffee with egg) at Cafe Giảng. We have nowhere to compare Egg Coffee with, but this place nails it! The egg is not a literal egg dropped into coffee, the egg is beaten with sugar until it is light and airy, then spooned on top of a good coffee blend. Presented like a caffè latte this coffee is a brilliant way to end the Hanoi Food Tour.
Some of the group member called it a night, but we got along with some long-term travellers that well we decided to go for some more drinks. We talked all night about travel, and home life from the countries we are from. It was very refreshing to meet these people.
It was somebody's birthday at the bar we went to and cake was shared with everybody
Places we visited in order:
This food tour cost us 424,000₫ per person, not entirely bad for the amount of places we tried. Would have preferred to try some less popular but still good Vietnamese Street food.
Chicken Noodles @ Phở Gà Thanh Hợp
Shrimp Rolls @ Bánh Cuốn Nóng & Mỳ Vằn Thắn
Purple mangosteen
Refreshing cool drink
Spring Rolls @ Quán Bánh Gối
Cake!
Egg Coffee @ Cafe Giảng
Beer!
Egg Coffee @ Cafe Giảng
Beer!
Fresh Fruit @ Shinh Tố Trang TríI
Phở Gà Thanh Hợp
Bánh Cuốn Nóng & Mỳ Vằn Thắn
Kitchen @ Bánh Cuốn Nóng & Mỳ Vằn Thắn
Preparing cake @ Bánh Cuốn Nóng & Mỳ Vằn Thắn
peeling the cake @ Bánh Cuốn Nóng & Mỳ Vằn Thắn
Cafe Giảng
St Joseph Cathedral
Purple mangosteen and Pitaya
Shinh Tố Trang TríI
Quán Bánh Gối
