Vietnamese food is amazing, some of my favourite foods are from Vietnam, it’s also super cheap, below are some of my favourite dishes and the best places to find them.

Pho Bo - You can’t visit Vietnam and not have Pho.  As traditionally it is a breakfast dish I would highly recommend going in the early morning as it’s guaranteed to be fresh but also you get the whole experience.  Old town Hanoi is pretty lively in the early morning. Head to Pho Suong in the old quarter for Pho, then a quick Caphe no da (Iced coffee) and then walk around the lake and watch the locals do their early morning exercise routines.

Bun Cha - Bun Cha is the best Vietnamese food ever invented.  Grilled pork patties, grilled barbecued pork and a delicious sweet and sour broth, served with rice noodled and herbs and at some places New (Vietnamese mushroom and pork spring rolls.) My favourite place is on Xian Deu just down from the Syrene Mini Mall.  As Bun Cha is a lunch time food go early, around 11.30am, Chi will be standing by her BBQ fanning the meat and shouting out Bun Cha. Grab a table, order your bun cha, 1 nem per person and a Cha Da (Iced Tea), it should cost you about $2.50 - $4 per person, just follow the locals for eating instructions. Another great place is on Hang Man street in the old quarter - make sure you hit the right one, there is an imitation shop next door (The right one has posters on the wall telling you its the real one)…. There are about four floors in the place, the best seats are roadside but inside is good too. Again, bun cha, nem and Cha Da or a Bia Hanoi.

Banh Mi - Banh Mi is another breakfast food, freshly made omelette in a Vietnamese Baguette with pickled vegetables, coriander and chilli sauce.  Some places have Chinese sausage and hot dogs too! You can find Banh Mi everywhere but I would tend to stay away from the old quarter and again, if they’re selling it after 10am it’s not going to be as good or as fresh as the early morning.

There are also Baby Banh Mi which are really skinny mini baguette with pate and chilli sauce inside, again, totally delicious.

Congee, Hot Pot and roasted duck… - Favourite dinner time eats usually accompanied by Bia How which is unpasteurised beer with a fairly low alcohol content, super light and refreshing and icy cold.  All are delicious again, just pull up a seat and follow the locals.

Non Vietnamese Eats

In case the Vietnamese food gets too much and you need to take a break there are a few options worth a stop.

Joma is a great, very small chain of coffee shops, great coffee and okay pastries, their build your own sandwiches are really good too. During November and December they serve the most amazing turkey and stuffing sandwich compete with a side of gravy - you won’t be able to just eat one. There is a great bar called The Republic in West Lake, the beer is good, great outdoor seating overlooking the lake and fantastic food, the same owner Chris, also owns a small craft beer bar called the Local at True Bac lake. A little up the road from Republic is a Burger bar called Chops, the food here is great but it’s definitely a stop, eat, leave kind place.  In the  old quarter there are a few options, the Moose and Roo pub, great food, sports on TV and a huge Whisky selection, the same owners run a the Smoke House, an outdoor BBQ joint in the French quarter during the Summer months which is also worth a visit. 

Goji House is a chain of Korean BBQ style restaurants which is super cheap for what you get and the food is really tasty, it’s very popular with the locals too so I’d highly recommend this.