Top 20 Best Vietnamese Street Food from North to South!

When referring to Vietnam, international friends will not only think about an S-shaped seaside nation with a lot of very-beautiful natural scenery and other natural resources luckily offered by nature but also imagine Vietnamese cuisine, especially Vietnam’s street food cuisine. Vietnamese street food cuisine was complimented by tourists and mentioned as one of the worldwide most-delicious street food cuisines by serious newspapers in the world.

So why did it get so famous that it has been regarded as a typical symbol of Vietnam by tourists? We will find out together now the reason why Vietnamese street food turned so popular with international friends. Here are some best Vietnamese street food if you have the intention of trying Vietnam’s street food on the next trip to Vietnam in the near future.

I. Vietnamese Street Food Culture

Street food in Vietnam is not simply a list of Vietnamese traditional dishes sold on streets, it also expresses a part of the beauty of Vietnamese people’s culture, lifestyle, feelings, thought. Moreover, it is a combination of Vietnamese traditional culture and other nations’ cultures which dominated Vietnam in history especially China.

Throughout more than 4000-year history with many ups and downs, Vietnamese culture, in general, and cuisine, in particular, were affected so strongly by Chinese culture that people have no difficulty in finding some Vietnamese street food quite similar to Chinese food such as baozi, noodles, and so on. However, for anyone who tried Vietnamese street foods will all realize the difference as the Vietnamese changed and created to make our own dishes with unique tastes. 

Vietnamese cuisine focuses on the harmony of ingredients to bring refreshing flavors, keep natural tastes, and be good for our health. In each dish, tourists will find adequate taste including sour, spicy, salty, and sweet, which is very attractive. This is the reason that Vietnamese street food makes a great impression on many tourists.

In addition, there will not be any country that you can find that in any origin all have their own specialty like Vietnam. From the south to the north, each province all has specialties for tourists to enjoy as Banh Da Cua in Haiphong; Com, Cha Ca La Vong, Bun Thang, etc. in Hanoi; Beef noodles in Hue; Coconut candies (Keo Dua) in Soc Trang, and so on.

II. 5 Reasons to Eat Street Food in Vietnam

There are many reasons for tourists to discover and get addicted to street food in Vietnam. However, the mass agree that there are four main reasons to keep their feet, including the taste of street food, the cheap price, the authenticity and freshness of ingredients, and the local way to enjoy street food.

1. The taste of street food: It is completely delicious

Most street food in Vietnam is said to have an unforgettable delicious taste by tourists. Each dish all has its perfect recipe that has been tweaked for many generations before reaching perfection. Besides, there may be some differences in the taste of the same dish between regions in Vietnam such as street food dishes in the south and south-central are sweeter than other regions while in the north and north-central they are saltier and spicier. However, all of them will make a great impression on visitors right from the first time.

2. Cheap price

It is considerably cheap. Normally, it takes you only about 1 – 2 dollars to enjoy a street food dish and no more than 25 dollars to get full. And, you will be surprised when you see a decent portion of street food such as Bun Bo Hue (Hue beef noodle), Bun Cha, Banh Cuon (rolled rice pancake) and so on. It is full of noodles, meat, herb, and tasty soup that are believed to have higher prices at only 1 – 3 dollars depending on stalls. 

3. The authenticity and freshness of ingredients

Street food in Vietnam is similar to fast food in western countries; however, it is fresher and more authentic. Most street food dishes will not be processed in advance, they only processed right after guests order, so the flavor is still authentic. Tourists had better eat them right when they are still hot to feel the most perfect flavor. Moreover, Vietnamese people are accustomed to enjoying almost dishes with herbs to get a fresh flavor. There is no lack of herbs and authentic ingredients you can see at any street food stall to bring the authentic and fresh flavor to guests. 

4. How to enjoy street food in Vietnam

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Street food in Vietnam seems to be not as delicious as it is if you don’t enjoy it in a Vietnamese way. For travel-lovers, when coming to any country, you should do the same way as the locals to understand more about the country you are visiting. Most tourists agree that when exploring Vietnam’s street food, you should enjoy it in a local way! People here are friendly, hospitable and willing to share their culture, customs, life and street food is a wonderful place to experience it.

5. Overcoming the fear of street food

The fear of unfamiliar food or street food seems still popular main anxiety even for the most experienced tourists. Therefore, how to overcome the fear of street food is an important problem for any tourist having the intention of experiencing Vietnamese street food cuisine.

Firstly, most of the anxiety comes from the fact that we don’t know exactly what it is and similarly, a large part of the fear of street food when traveling is simply a fear of the unknown. Therefore, you ought to research street foods you are likely to experience on the trip as much as possible. You can search in reliable sources on the Internet such as professional travel bloggers’ youtube because they usually review the experience such as where to go, what to eat and some notes when they visit countries, Lonely Planet, TripAdvisor, BBC New, and so on.

Secondly, try something similar before coming to Vietnam if there are any Vietnamese food stores or restaurants in your city; however, this way is not truly effective because the chiefs tweaked all recipes of almost dishes a little bit to fit with the taste of the locals.

Thirdly, ask as many of your friends who have visited Vietnam before as possible to get an objective look at Vietnam’s street food and which favorite dishes you had better try or avoid on the trip.

III. 20 Favorite Vietnamese Street Food

III.1. Best Vietnamese Street Food in Hanoi & Northern Vietnam

1. Bun Cha (Vietnamese Grilled Meat Vermicelli)

What is Bun Cha?

Bun Cha originated and remains so popular in Hanoi that for tourists or even for Vietnamese people coming from other provinces when visiting Hanoi, the guide will recommend highly to try this dish.

It is basically a warm broth with minced pork and Vietnamese traditional noodle. You’ll be served by a plate of rice noodles, fresh herbs, and a bowl of warm broth with grilled minced pork. The broth and the pork are the ones making this dish unique. When eating, you will dip rice noodles into the broth, even grilled pork if you like and eat them like western soups. The broth has a naturally-sweet taste from baking pork bones, the grilled pork is very fragrant while the herbs bring the freshness to this dish.

Where to eat?

  You can find Bun Cha at almost any food stalls on any streets in Hanoi. However, I will suggest you some food stalls that are highly recommended by tourists, including:

• Bun Cha Huong Lien (Another name is Bun Cha Obama because Obama president ate this dish here when visiting Vietnam in 2016) 

Address: 24 Le Van Huu, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi

Price: 40.000 VND – 60.000 VND (~ 2$ – 3$)

Opening time: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm

• Bun Cha Cua Dong

Address: 41 Cua Dong, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Price: 50.000 VND (~ 2,5$)

Opening time: 11:00 am – 03:00 pm

• Bun Cha Dac Kim 

Address: 1 Hang Manh, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Price: 20.000 VND – 150.000 VND (~ 1$ – 8$)

Opening hour: 08:30 am – 09:00 pm

• Bun Cha 34 

Address: 34 Hang Than, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Price: 35.000 VND – 55.000 VND (~ 1,5$ – 3$)

Opening hour: 07:00 am – 05:00 pm

• Bun Cha Sinh Tu

Address:  57 Nguyen Khuyen, Dong Da district, Hanoi

Price: 40.000 VND – 60.000 VND (~ 2$ – 3$)

Opening hour: 07:00 am – 08:00 pm

2. Pho (Rice Noodle Soup)

What to eat?

Pho is one of the two most famous Vietnamese traditional dishes having included in Oxford Dictionary because of its popularity not only in Vietnam but also in many other countries. This is a Vietnamese soup consisting of broth, rice noodles (bánh phở), herbs, and meat – usually beef, sometimes chicken, duck, goose according to the guests. The rice noodle used in this dish is not similar to the one used in Bun Cha. It is flatter and larger while the one in Bun Cha has a very small shape of white rope. 

Pho originated in the early 20th century in northern Vietnam and was popularized throughout the world by refugees after the Vietnam War. There is some difference between Hanoi (northern) and Saigon (southern) styles of Pho in the sweetness of broth and the taste of pork, beef, chicken, duck or goose and something eaten with.

Where to eat?

Pho is such a popular dish in Vietnamese cuisine that it is possible for you to find a restaurant serving Pho on any streets in any province. However, to enjoy the most authentic delicious traditional flavor of this dish for the first time coming to Vietnam, I will suggest to you some very-well-known trademarks of heirloom Pho in Hanoi you may not miss.

• Pho Bat Dan (more than 70 years old)

Address: 49 Bat Dan street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 06:00 am – 10:00 am and 06:00 pm – 08:30 pm

Price: 30.000 VND – 55.000 VND (~1,5 – 2,5$)

• Pho Thin 

Address: 13 Lo Duc street, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 06:00 am – 08:30 pm

Price: 40.000 VND – 60.000 VND (~2 – 3$)

• Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su

Address: 10 Ly Quoc Su street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 06:30 am – 10:30 pm

Price: 50.000 VND – 70.000 VND (~ 2 – 3$)

• Pho Suong

Address: 36B Mai Hac De street, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi 

Opening hour: 06:30 am – 10:00 pm

Price: 30.000 VND – 100.000 VND (~2 – 5$)

• Pho Vui

Address: 25 Hang Giay street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 07:00 am – 10:00 pm

Price: 20.000 VND – 50.000 VND (~1 – 2$)

• Pho Bung Hang Trong

Address: 1 Hang Trong street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 03:00 pm – 08:00 pm

Price: 30.000 VND – 60.000 VND (~1 – 3$)

3. Banh Mi (Vietnamese sandwich)

What to eat?

Banh Mi is not simply a dish, it is a feature, a typical image that makes tourists remember Vietnam. Like Pho, Banh Mi (Vietnamese sandwich) has become so popular with more and more people in more and more countries that the name of this dish was added into Oxford and even many designers took inspiration from Banh Mi to design national costumes for the beauty in international beauty contests.

Originally, Banh Mi doesn’t come from Vietnam, it is a daily dish of the French which they brought into Vietnam in the nineteenth century. However, the locals in Saigon changed this dish by clamping other ingredients like egg, pork, cucumber, herbs and so on inside a loaf of bread at breakfast and it gradually became popular street food in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) then became popular both in the north and the central of Vietnam.

Normally, the main ingredients to make a Banh Mi are bread, egg, pate, pork, cucumber, tomato, carrot, herb, and anything else you want to clamp. The delicious flavor of Banh Mi doesn’t need to describe more since its popularity has demonstrated all. The fragrance from warm loaves of bread, grilled pork or sometimes grilled beef, the freshness from herbs, tomato, cucumber, and other vegetables create an unforgettable attractive taste of Banh Mi.

Where to eat?

Maybe, Banh Mi is the most popular street food in Vietnam in any province. You can find Banh Mi served in restaurants, small eating stores, and food carts anywhere. However, I want to recommend to you some famous addresses in Hanoi where you may enjoy the most delicious Banh Mi

• Banh Mi Nguyen Sinh

Banh Mi Nguyen Sinh is one of the oldest stores opened in Hanoi since 1942. The most attractive type of Banh Mi in Banh Mi Nguyen Sinh is Banh Mi with foie gras pate made by following the heirloom recipe with a little smell of cinnamon.

Address: No. 17 – 19 Ly Quoc Su street, 201 AB Doi Can ward, Hanoi 

Opening hour: 07:00 am – 10:00 pm

Price: 30.000 VND – 100.000 VND (~1,5 – 5$)

• Banh Mi Dinh Ngang (Banh My Tram)

There are two ways to enjoy Banh Mi, the first or the most popular way is almost everything stuffed into bread, the second is when eating you cut bread into small pieces and eat with sauce and pork or beef and herbs. And if you want to try Banh Mi in a second way, don’t miss this address.

Address: 252 Hang Bong street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 03:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Price: 30.000 VND – 70.000 VND (~1,5 – 3,5$)

• Banh Mi Lo Su (Banh Mi Ba Dan)

One of the oldest stores opened in 1979 in Hanoi.

Address: 34 Lo Su street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 06:00 am – 10:00 pm

Price: 15.000 VND – 25.000 VND (~ 2$)

4. Banh Cuon (Stuffed pancake)

What to eat?

Another very delicious street food in Vietnam is Banh Cuon, which the locals can eat in three meals in a day as the main dish. Banh Cuon is a dish made from rice flour into very-thin slides like a paper before stuffing with finely-chopped pork and stir-fried finely-chopped wood ear like the spring roll, sprinkling golden brown dried onion dusted on top, and eating with typical sauce. The batter of Banh Cuon is made by husking rice until smooth, then blending with water. The most important part of this dish is sauce having both spicy and sweet flavor. Besides, people usually eat with Cha (Vietnamese pork sausage) to improve the flavor to the dish.

Where to eat?

Banh Cuon is one of the oldest traditional dishes in Vietnamese cuisine; therefore, there are many heirloom brands in Hanoi and even they extend to open store chase in other provinces. I will introduce you to some of the oldest brands in Hanoi to choose from if you have a chance to try this dish.

• Banh Cuon Ba Hoanh (nearly 100-year-old)

Address: 66 To Hien Thanh street, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 08:00 am – 08:00 pm

Price: 30.000 VND – 60.000 VND (~2 – 3$)

• Banh Cuon Thanh Van

Address: 12-14 Hang Ga street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 06:30 am – 02:00 pm and 05:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Price: 15.000 VND – 30.000 VND (~ 2$)

• Banh Cuon Ba Hanh

Address: 26B Tho Xuong street, Phu Doan ward, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi 

Opening hour: 06:00 am – 02:00 pm and 04:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Price: 25.000 VND – 40.000 VND (~1 – 2$)

• Banh Cuon Phu Ly

Address: 39 Dao Duy Tu street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 06:00 am – 03:00 pm and 05:00 pm – 09:00 pm

Price: 25.000 VND – 50.000 VND (~1 – 2$)

• Banh Cuon Cao Bang

Address: 12/9 Hoang Cau street, Dong Da district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 07:00 am – 02:00 pm

Price: 20.000 VND – 35.000 VND (~1 – 2$)

5. Banh Goi (Fried Pillow Cake)

What to eat?

An ideal option for cold days in Vietnam, Banh Goi attracts guests at first sight for its lovely baby pillow shape and its colorful delicious sauce. Like most other cakes in Vietnam, we don’t use oven mitts to bake cakes, Banh Goi is deep-fried to create a yellow skin that is delicious, crispy, and fragrant. The skin of Banh Goi is made by mixing water and rice flour at a perfect ratio. The inside is a mixture of chopped ingredients including glass noodles, wood ears, minced pork, and mushroom. Not less important is dipping sauce with a fine proportion of garlic, chili, sugar, lime juice, fish sauce, and water. Banh Goi is also served with some fresh herbs such as lettuce, coriander to reduce its oily taste.  

Where to eat?

Below are some addresses which are popular with the locals in Hanoi for you to try if having a chance to try this dish.

• Banh Goi Ly Quoc Su

It may be the oldest one in Hanoi which is well-liked by the locals and the foreign, located near Saint Joseph Cathedral Hanoi so it is easy to find. 

Address: 52 Ly Quoc Su street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 09:00 am – 04:00 pm

Price: 7.000 VND – 17.000 VND (~1$)

• Banh Goi Hang Chieu

Address: 49 Hang Chieu street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 01:00 pm – 07:00 pm

Price: 3.000 VND – 8.000 VND 

• Banh Goi Le Dai Hanh

Address: 25 Le Dai Hanh street, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 05:00 pm – 10:30 pm

Price: 20.000 VND – 55.000 VND

• Banh Goi Co Mai

Address: 91 Nguyen Van Troi street, Ha Dong district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 01:00 pm – 07:00 pm

Price: 5.000 VND – 15.000 VND (~1$)

• Banh Goi Hoang Tich Tri

Address: In front of Kim Lien Kindergarten, Dong Da district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 01:00 pm – 05:00 pm

Price: 8.000 VND – 20.000 VND (~1$)

6. Nem Ran – Cha Gio (Fried Spring Rolls)

What to eat?

A very-favorite dish in Vietnam well-liked by most of the Vietnamese people in both regions that must be reminded is Nem Ran or Cha Gio (Fried Spring Rolls). So famous the dish is that it has appeared in many restaurants in a lot of countries in the world. 

There are three important parts in Nem Ran including the wrapper, the stuffing, and the dipping sauce. The wrapper is made of rice flour rolled flat into the shape of the circle or square. The stuffing is normally a mixture of minced pork, egg, carrot, mien (a Vietnamese traditional noodle), wood ear mushroom, and herbs. Sometimes, people may replace minced pork with seafood such as shrimp or sea snail or beef, the difference in ingredients depends on the habit of the locals in each region. However, whichever they are, all ingredients are mixed thoroughly before being wrapped with rice paper into small rolls. These rolls are then deep-fried in boiling oil. The dipping sauce for this dish must meet the demand on the harmony of the combination of flavors including lemon juice, sugar, chili, pepper, and the fish sauce. 

The attractive point of the dish is the fragrant smell and crunchy wrapper after deep-frying in oil and the sweet and fresh flavor of pork, herbs, and vegetable in the stuffing. Vietnamese people usually eat with rice or noodles (Bún) and salad in our casual meals or on special days as the lunar new year. 

Where to eat?

It is not difficult to make it by yourself at home but to try some of the best flavors of this dish, I will introduce you someplace you can try in Hanoi.

• Viet Spring Rolls

A very popular restaurant with the foreign specializes in serving Vietnamese spring rolls, where guests may find many delicious spring rolls in each region in Vietnam such as traditional spring rolls, sea crab spring rolls, chicken spring rolls, and so on. This is a suitable place for anyone who wants to try Vietnamese traditional cuisine. 

Address: 65A Bat Dan street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 08:00 am – 10:00 pm

• Bun Cha Ta

Address: 21 Nguyen Huu Huan street, Ly Thai To ward, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 08:00 am – 10:00 pm

• Noodle & Roll

Address: 39C Ly Quoc Su street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm

7. Pho Cuon (Rolled Noodle)

What to eat?

Rolled Noodle has just appeared for about 20 years first in Hanoi. Although it just appeared, it becomes a specialty fastly in Hanoi and other regions. About this dish’s origin, it an exciting story. According to the story, it is said that there was one small restaurant at the corner of Ngu Xa street in Hanoi, where Pho (a type of Vietnamese traditional noodle) is served till late for those watching football in the evening. One day, the broth ran out and there were only some uncut noodles left; therefore, to satisfy the hunger of guests, the chef invented a new dish. He used uncut noodles with the shape of paper made of rice flour as a wrapper and stuff it with beef, salad, and herbs before rolling. When served, the rolls were dipped in dipping sauce with sugar, vinegar or lemon juice, water, garlic, and fish sauce. Surprisingly, guests were interested in this new food. After that, the restaurant changed to a new style of Pho. 

Nowadays, besides beef, people also put eggs, carrots, cucumbers, even pineapples, tofu or shrimps according to each one’s interest. Gradually, rolled noodles have become more and more popular because of the fresh flavor with a lot of salad and herbs in each roll. It is not only renowned in the North but also introduced to the menu in restaurants in both regions in Vietnam now.

Where to eat?

Below are some restaurants well-liked and highly recommended by the foreign where you can find the authentic flavor of this dish in Hanoi

• Pho Cuon Huong Mai

Address: 25 Ngu Xa street, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 09:00 am – 11:00 pm

Price: 65.000 VND (~3$)

• Pho Cuon Ngu Xa

Address: 66 Duy Tan street, Cau Giay district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 08:00 am – 02:00 pm and 05:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Price: 30.000 VND – 45.000 VND (~1 – 2$)

• Quan Choen – Pho Cuon Ngu Sac 

In place of the white color of rice flour, the rolls in the restaurant have five other colors including green, red, yellow, blue, and violet according to each flavor. 

Address: 121 O Cho Dua street, Dong Da district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 08:00 am – 10:00 pm

Price: 50.000 VND – 100.000 VND (~2 – 5$)

• Pho Cuon Hung Ben

Address: 33 Ngu Xa street, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 07:00 am – 10:00 am

Price: 20.000 VND – 55.000 VND (~1 – 3$)

• Pho Cuon Thanh Hang

Address: 29B Ngu Xa street, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 06:00 am – 10:30 pm

Price: 25.000 VND – 55.000 VND (~1 – 3$)

8. Bun dau mam tom (Vermicelli Served with Tofu and Shrimp Paste)

What to eat?

Vermicelli served with Tofu and Shrimp Paste is a popular dish in Vietnam that you can find anywhere from markets to street corners or luxurious restaurants. This dish is favored by all people of all ages because of its great taste and cheap price. The normal price for a full set of the dish is from about 30.000 VND – 60.000 VND (~1 – 3$). All ingredients including noodles (Bún), fried tofu, trotter, Vietnamese sausage, and herbs are laid on banana leaves before serving to guests. You can ask the chef to add or not to add any ingredients if you want more or can’t eat them. The special point of this dish is shrimp paste which has a so hard smell that not everybody even the locals can smell it. If you can’t bear it, you can use fish sauce instead since the taste won’t change more.

When eating, you will dip noodles on shrimp paste and eat with other ingredients and herbs. The taste is so great that it has made an impression on many guests at first sight when trying the dish and gradually becomes a typical feature in Hanoi’s cuisine.

Where to eat?

• Bun Dau Co Tuyen

Address: No.31 Lane 29, Hang Khay street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 10:30 am – 07:00 pm

Price: 45.000 VND (~ 2$)

• Bun Dau Ngo Gach

Address: 4 Ngo Gach, Hang Buom street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm

Price: 50.000 VND (~ 2$)

• Bun Dau Trung Huong

Address: 49 Phat Loc lane, Hang Bac street, Hanoi

Opening hour: 07:00 am – 09:00 pm

Price: 20.000 VND – 50.000 VND (~1 – 2$)

• Bun Dau Ngo Tram

Address: 1B – Ngo Tram, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 07:30 am – 03:00 pm

Price: 50.000 VND (~ 2$)

• Bun Dau Cay Da

Address: 235B Thuy Khue street, Tay Ho district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 10:00 am – 09:00 pm

Price: 30.000 VND – 80.000 VND (~1 – 4$)

9. Ca Phe Trung (Egg Coffee)

What to eat?

Egg Coffee is widely regarded as the most typical Vietnamese coffee style and it has its origin from Hanoi. Only by hearing the name of this dish can you know the main ingredients, they are coffee and egg. It is the name of this dish that makes tourists so curious that many said that they must try this dish when visiting Hanoi. 

The taste of the dish has the greasy taste of the egg and the fragrant smell of coffee especially on trying at warm. Hanoi is said to be the first place to appear this dish and now there are still some old heirloom coffee shops serving this type of coffee where there are always crowded with tourists and the locals in Hanoi.

Where to eat?

Below are three of the most famous and oldest coffee shops in Hanoi specializing in serving the best egg coffee highly recommended by tourists and the locals. All of them were opened so long ago from the previous century in Hanoi and still remain the authentic taste of this dish till now.

• Giang Cafe

Address: 39 Nguyen Huu Huan street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 07:00 am – 11:00 pm

Price: 15.000 VND – 33.000 VND  (~ 2$)

• Dinh Cafe

Address: 13 Dinh Tien Hoang street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 07:00 am – 10:30 pm

Price: 30.000 VND – 70.000 VND (~ 2 – 3$)

• Tho Cafe

Address: 117 Trieu Viet Vuong street, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 09:00 am – 11:00 pm

Price: 15.000 VND – 40.000 VND (~ 1 – 2$)

10. Bun Bo Hue (Hue-styled beef noodles)

What to eat?

Hue-style beef noodle is regarded as one of the most popular Vietnamese street food that has its origin from Hue (the old capital of Vietnam in the Nguyen dynasty). At present, this noodle is not only found in Hue but also in every province and city in Vietnam, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city; therefore, it is unnecessary for you to come to Hue to try the best authentic taste of this dish.

The main ingredients of Hue-style beef noodles are beef, trotter, frozen blood, minced pork with pepper (Mọc), and some herbs such as bean sprouts, lemon, coriander, and so on. The broth is a decisive factor playing an important part in making the dish to perfection. The broth of the dish is sweeter than any other noodles, the naturally sweet flavor comes from baking pork bone for hours. Besides, there are some differences between the noodle used in Hue-style beef noodles and the others, the noodle in this dish is bigger than any other so guests will feel a bowl of the noodles full of noodles and you can try it as the main dish in all three meals in a day.

Where to eat?

Now, even in Hanoi, you can find it easy to try this dish in many places from street corners to luxurious restaurants. Below are restaurants and street corners with ole brands highly recommended by the locals and tourists.

• Bun Bo Hue O Uong

The owner of this street corner is a person born and growing in Hue so the flavor of this dish served here is similar to one in Hue most.

Address: 546 Lac Long Quan street, Tay Ho district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 06:00 am – 02:00 pm and 05:00 pm – 10:30 pm

Price: 30.000 VND – 50.000 VND (~2$)

• Bun Bo Hue O Xuan

Address: 5D Quang Trung street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 07:00 am – 09:00 pm

Price: 40.000 VND (~2$)

• Bun Bo Hue 65

Address: 65 Duong Lang street, Dong Da district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 07:00 am – 10:00 pm

Price: 30.000 VND – 60.000 VND (~2 – 3$)

• Bun Bo Hue Thu Thuy

Address: 18 Dai Co Viet street, Le Dai Hanh ward, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 07:00 am – 03:00 pm

Price: 40.000 VND (~2$)

• Bun Bo Hue Huyen Anh

Address: 169 Truong Dinh street, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi

Opening hour: 07:00 am – 10:00 pm

Price: 30.000 VND – 60.000 VND (~2 – 3$)

III.2. Vietnamese Street Food in Saigon & Southern Vietnam

Not only in Hanoi & Northern Vietnam but Saigon & Southern Vietnam also has diverse street food cuisine with many specialties for tourists to try when they visit the biggest and most developing city in Vietnam.

1. Hu Tieu Go (Chinning noodle)

What to eat?

Hu Tieu Go or Chinning noodle is not only a popular street food in Saigon but it also expresses a typical feature or a familiar image of Saigon. Hu Tieu Go is sold in small food carts that you can find easily on pavements at streets crowded with people till late. There are not instant locations for food carts, all are only carts, some plastic stools and the staff of each cart will walk around streets, knock a bamboo tocsin to invite guests so it is the reason why people named it Hu Tieu Go, “Gõ – Go” means knock. People in Saigon choose this dish as a snack in a day to get full when feeling hungry. 

Hu Tieu Go is similar to Hu Tieu (Chinning noodles) with main ingredients including noodles (Chinese noodles), pork, Vietnamese sausage, onion, bean sprouts, coriander, egg, herbs, etc. The broth is always kept warm to make each bowl of noodles to perfection on serving guests.

Where to eat?

• Hu Tieu Nam Vang Campo

Address: 84 Ho Thi Ky street, Ward 14, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 05:00 am – 12:00 am

Price: 30.000 VND – 40.000 VND (~2$)

• Hu Tieu Nam Vang Ty Lum

Address: 93 Huynh Man Dat street, Ward 7, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 07:00 am – 10:00 pm

Price: 45.000 VND – 55.000 VND (~2 – 3$)

• Hu Tieu Go Pham Van Hai

Address: 154/56 Pham Van Hai Street, Ward 3, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 03:00 pm – 09:00 pm

Price: 20.000 VND – 25.000 VND (~ 1$)

• Hu Tieu My Tho Thanh Xuan

Address: 62 Ton That Thiep street, Ben Nghe ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city

Opening hour: 06:00 am – 03:00 pm

Price: 30.000 VND – 60.000 VND (~1 – 3$)

• Hu Tieu My Tho Xua

Address: 476 Le Quang Dinh street, Ward 11, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 06:30 am – 01:00 pm and 04:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Price: 20.000  VND – 30.000 VND (~1 – 2$)

2. Che (Sweet Soup)

What to eat?

Another dish is widely regarded as one of the most well-liked street food by the locals in Saigon. There are a lot of types of Che you can find everywhere from markets to restaurants; however, in common, Che is a mixture of types of bean with colorful color and has a sweet taste.

Coming to Saigon, you will have a chance to try many types of Che from every region in Vietnam and other countries that are Vietnam’s neighbor countries such as Laos, Thailand, or Campuchia. 

Where to eat?

• Che Mam Khanh Vy

This street corner is more than 40 years old and serves more than 16 types of Che in a full set including a lot of tastes of Che. It is so popular that every night this store welcomes more than one hundred guests.

Address: 242B Su Van Hanh street, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 05:00 pm – 10:30 pm

Price: 5.000 VND – 30.000 VND (~ 1$)

• Quan Che Ma (more than 70 years old)

Address: 476 – 478 Tran Hung Dao street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 04:00 pm – 11:59 pm

Price: 15.000 VND – 33.000 VND (~ 1 – 2$)

• Quan Che Chanh 

Address: 142 Nguyen Phi Khanh street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 09:00 am – 09:00 pm

Price: 10.000 VND – 20.000 VND (~ 1$)

• Quan Che Co Huoi

Address: 57/21A Ho Thi Ky street, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 02:30 pm – 09:00 pm

Price: 10.000 VND – 22.000 VND (~ 1$)

• Quan Che Hieu Khanh

Address: 718 Nguyen Dinh Chieu street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 09:00 am – 12:30 am and 02:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Price: 10.000 VND – 33.000 VND (~1 – 2$)

3. Bun Mam (Vietnamese Fermented Fish & Seafood Vermicelli Soup)

What to eat?

Bun Mam is a specialty of the southwest region in Vietnam, which has its origin from Campuchia. Because the southwest region of Vietnam is adjacent to Campuchia so there are some similarities between the southwest cuisine and Campuchia’s one. In the past, people ate it at breakfast, not in main meals (for Vietnamese people, lunch and dinner are regarded as two main important meals in a day).

Bun Mam is far spicier than Pho in the north of Vietnam. A typical bowl of Bun Mam includes rice vermicelli noodles, eggplant, shrimp, squid, pork belly and flaky white fish. It is often served with a plentiful platter of crunchy vegetables and Vietnamese herbs, limes, and fresh chilies. It is not surprising that this dish is served in many Vietnamese restaurants especially in Saigon and the southern region because of its delicious flavor. Besides, the smell of this dish is so incredibly pungent that not all tourists can bear its smell but it is really worth trying Bun Mam once if you have an opportunity.

Where to Eat?

• Bun Mam 444

Address: 375 Le Quang Dinh street, Ward 5, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 09:00 am – 09:00 pm

Price: 35.000 VND – 55.000 VND (~ 2$)

• Bun Mam Phan Boi Chau

Address: 22 Phan Boi Chau street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 08:00 am – 07:00 pm

Price: 10.000 VND – 65.000 VND (~ 1 – 3$)

• Bun Mam 47

Address: 91 Le Quang Sung, Ward 2, District 6, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 11:30 am – 10:00 pm

Price: 35.000 VND – 55.000 VND (~ 2$)

• Bun Mam 144 Khanh Hoi

Address: 144 Khanh Hoi street, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 09:00 am – 09:00 pm

Price:  45.000 VND – 60.000 VND (~ 2 – 3$)

• Bun Mam Co Ba

Address: 451 Phan Huy Ich street, Ward 14, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 11:00 am – 09:00 pm

Price: 35.000 VND – 55.000 VND (~ 2$)

4. Banh Xeo (Pancake)

What to eat?

Bánh xèo – also known as crispy Vietnamese pancake – is a famous street food that is widely believed to originate from France during their occupation in Vietnam. The word “xèo” describes the sizzling sound when pouring the rice batter into the hot oil. This dish has a yellow outer layer and is filled with boiled pork, shrimp, bean sprouts and spring onion. Even though some people might prefer to use chopsticks to eat Banh Xeo, the best way to enjoy it is by eating with your hands. 

Where to eat?

• Banh Xeo Sammy

Address: 14 Truong Son street, Ward 2, Tan Binh district, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 07:00 am – 10:00 pm

Price: 20.000 VND – 25.000 VND (~ 1$)

• Banh Xeo An La Ghien

Address: 74 Suong Nguyet Anh street, Ben Thanh ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 09:00 am – 11:00 pm

Price: 25.000 VND – 110.000 VND (~ 1 – 5$)

• Banh Xeo Ba Hai

Address: 49 Nguyen Trong Tuyen street, Ward 15, Phu Nhuan district, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm

Price: 35.000 VND – 66.000 VND (~ 2 – 3$)

• Banh Xeo Co Them

Address: 154 Song Hanh street, Hoc Mon district, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 10:00 am – 09:00 pm

Price: 30.000 VND – 72.000 VND (~ 2 – 3$)

• Banh Xeo Muoi Xiem

Address: 54 Nguyen Van Troi street, Phu Nhuan district, Hanoi 

Opening hour: 09:00 am – 09:00 pm

Price: 15.000 VND – 20.000 VND (~ 1$)

5. Com Tam (Broken Rice)

What to eat?

Com Tam or Broken Rice is a Vietnamese dish made of rice but not normal rice, it is fractured rice grain. It originates from Saigon and is the most popular dish the locals choose for their breakfast. Nowadays, you can find Com Tam in restaurants in almost provinces in Vietnam.

Com Tam is usually served with grilled pork (either ribs or shredded), egg meatloaf, cucumber, carrot, spring onion, and other vegetables according to guests’ interests and a small bowl of fish sauce, a bowl of soup. Although chopsticks are commonly used, for Com Tam, fork and spoon are used to fully enjoy the flavor of this dish.

Where to eat?

• Com Tam Ba Ghien

Address: 84 Dang Van Ngu street, Ward 10, Phu Nhuan district, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 07:30 am – 09:30 pm

Price: 40.000 VND – 66.000 VND (~2 – 3$)

• Com Tam Bui Sai Gon

Address: 100 Thach Thi Thanh street, Tan Dinh ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 06:30 am – 11:00 pm

Price: 30.000 VND – 55.000 VND (~ 2$)

• Com Tam Moc

Address: 85 Ly Tu Trong street, Ben Thanh ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 08:00 am – 10:30 pm

Price: 30.000 VND – 70.000 VND (~ 2 – 3$)

• Com Tam Kieu Giang

Address: 192E Tran Quang Khai street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 07:00 am – 09:00 pm

Price: 50.000 VND – 60.000 VND (~ 2 – 3$)

• Com Tam Pha Lau

Address: 459B Hai Ba Trung street, Ward 8, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 06:00 am – 07:00 pm

Price: 50.000 VND (~ 2$)

6. Ca Phe Sua Da (Vietnamese Iced Coffee)

What to eat?

Ca Phe Sua Da or Vietnamese Iced Coffee is not simply a well-liked street food in Vietnam, it is also a typical symbol of the prosperity of Saigon, a magnificent city in the last century, regarded as the Pearl of the Far East in the 19th and 20th century. 

Ca Phe Sua Da is simply made of Vietnamese coffee filter, a little milk, ice, and people can drink it anywhere from coffee shops to street corners or coffee carts on streets or even small shops in pavements. It is simply like that but like “Cha Da” – iced tea in Hanoi, it is very popular with the locals and tourists. They usually enjoy a cup of iced coffee in the early morning to wake up themselves or at the weekend on gathering with friends or colleagues. 

Where to eat?

• Ca Phe Lao Hac

Address: 299B Hoanh Sa street, Tan Dinh ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 07:00 am – 11:00 pm

Price: 49.000 VND – 189.000 VND (~ 2 – 9$)

• Thuc Coffee

Address: 182 Pasteur, Ben Nghe ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City 

Opening hour: all-day 

Price: 20.000 VND – 44.000 VND (~ 2$)

• Nap Sai Gon – Egg Coffee

Address: 3/5 Nguyen Van Thu street, Kao Dao ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 07:00 am – 09:00 pm

Price: 40.000 VND – 65.000 VND (~ 2 – 3$)

• Ca Phe 81

Address: 28 Nguyen Huu Cau street, Tan Dinh ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 07:00 am – 10:30 pm 

Price: 10.000 VND – 30.000 VND (~ 2$)

• Nam Muoi Muoi Lam Coffee

Address: 29 Ngo Thoi Nhiem street, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 09:00 am – 10:00 pm

Price: 30.000 VND – 50.000 VND (~ 2$)

7. Cao Lau (Hoi An Noodles)

What to eat?

Cao Lau or Hoi An noodles is a very famous Vietnamese traditional noodle, which originates from the old town of Hoi An – a well-known beautiful ancient town of Vietnam, in Quang Nam province. 

The main ingredients of Cao Lau are rice noodles, meat, greens, bean sprouts, and herbs, most commonly served with a small amount of broth. The meat used is typically pork, either shredded or sliced char siu-style pork, but shrimp can also be used. The color of noodles in Cao Lau is yellow or gray, not white as the noodles in Pho. Besides, the taste of Cao Lau is sweeter than Pho or other noodles in the northern province because people in the southern and central have interests in sweet flavor.

Where to eat?

• Cao Lau Lien

Address: 9 Thai Phien street, Minh An ward, Hoi An

Opening hour: 02:30 pm – 09:00 pm

Price: 30.000 VND – 66.000 VND (~ 2 – 3$)

• Cao Lau Ba Be

Address: 19 Tran Phu street, Cam Chau district, Hoi An

Opening hour: 02:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Price: 20.000 VND – 44.000 VND (~ 2$)

• Quan Cao Lau Thanh 

Address: 26 Thai Phien street, Minh An ward, Hoi An

Opening hour: 07:00 am – 07:00 pm

Price: 15.000 VND – 33.000 VND (~ 2$)

• Trung Bac Restaurant

Address: 87 Tran Phu street, Minh An district, Hoi An

Opening hour: 08:00 am – 10:00 pm

Price: 50.000 VND – 110.000 VND (~ 2 – 5$)

• Cao Lau – Khong Gian Xanh

Address: 687 Hai Ba Trung street, Minh An ward, Hoi An

Opening hour: 09:30 am – 09:00 pm

Price: 20.000 VND – 100.000 VND (~ 1 – 5$)

8. Banh Trang Nuong (Grilled Girdle Cake)

What to eat?

Banh Trang Nuong – Grilled Girdle Cake or Vietnamese Pizza is a very renowned street food in Da Lat. This dish is made from rice paper and sprinkled on the top with onion, shrimp, sausage, quail egg, chili sauce. When eating, you will break into small pieces like eating pizza. Each piece is crunchy, fragrant and warm, which attracts guests most.

Where to eat?

• Banh Trang Nuong Phuong

Address: 69C Nguyen Van Troi street, Da Lat city, Lam Dong province

Opening hour: 03:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Price: 10.000 VND – 20.000 VND (~ 1$)

• Banh Trang Nuong Di Dinh

Address: 26 Hoang Dieu street, Da Lat city, Lam Dong province

Opening hour: 02:00 pm – 06:30

Price: 5.000 VND – 18.000 VND (~ 1$)

• Banh Trang Nuong 61

Address: 61 Nguyen Van Troi street, Da Lat city, Lam Dong province

Opening hour: 04:00 pm – 09:00 pm

Price: 5.000 VND – 11.000 VND (~ 1$)

• Banh Trang Minh Chau

Address: 34 Bui Thi Xuan street, Da Lat city, Lam Dong province

Opening hour: 02:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Price: 5.000 VND – 21.000 VND (~ 1$)

• Banh Trang Nuong 112

Address: 112 Nguyen Van Troi street, Da Lat city, Lam Dong province

Opening hour: 02:00 pm – 10:00 pm 

Price: 8.000 VND (~ 0.5$)

9. Trung Vit Lon (Balut)

What to eat?

Trung Vit Lon – Hot Vit Lon – Balut is a special dish that you can only find in some eastern countries like Vietnam and China. In Vietnam, Balut is a favorite street food dish for many people because it is really yummy and rich in nutrients. Balut is a duck egg but when the embryo has developed into the shape of a duck. This is the reason making some tourists feel scared when trying this dish. However, I highly recommend you should try it once in your life.

Balut is boiled in about 15 – 20 minutes to serve guests. Normally, Vietnamese people eat balut with laksa leaves and ginger since according to oriental medicine, Balut brings cold air while Laska leaf and ginger bring hot air so eating them together creates balance to be good for their health.

Where to eat?

• Hot Vit Lon Kim Thao

Address: 104 Xuan Thuy street, District 2, Ho Chi Minh city

Opening hour: 03:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Price: 8.000 VND per egg (~ 0.5$)

• Hot Vit Lon Thu Hien

Address: 418/44 Le Hong Phong street, Ward 1, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 03:30 pm – 11:00 pm

Price: 7.000 VND per egg (~ 0.5$)

• Quan Phuong – Hot Vit Lon

Address: Market 200, Xom Chieu street, Ward 14, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 04:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Price: 10.000 VND per egg (~ 0.5$)

• Hot Vit Lon Le Quang Sung

Address: 219C Le Quang Sung street, Ward 6, District 6, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 03:00 pm – 10:30 pm

Price: 20.000 VND – 30.000 VND per dish (~ 1$)

• An Vat Hem Ho Ba Kien

Address: 130/20 Ho Ba Kien street, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 01:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Price: 5.000 VND – 25.000 VND (~ 1$)

10. Bun Thit Nuong (Vermicelli with marinated char-grilled pork/beef/shrimp)

What to eat?

Bun Thit Nuong is another noodle in Vietnam and especially famous in Ho Chi Minh City. It is a little bit different from other noodles. It is a dry noodle, not a wet one. Dry noodle means there is not broth or soup served with this dish. Although there is not broth or soup, it really tastes fresh because you will eat with many Vietnamese herbs such as salad, coriander, perilla, and so on.

The main ingredients of this dish include rice noodles, grill pork, carrot, cucumber, and Vietnamese herbs with sauce to make the flavor tastier. In Ho Chi Minh City, people usually choose Bun Thit Nuong as a dish at breakfast or brunch.

Where to eat?

• Quan Hai Dang

Address: 157 Chan Hung street, Tan Binh district, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm

Price: 25.000 VND per bowl (~ 1$)

• Bun Thit Nuong Chi Tuyen

Address: 195 Co Giang street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 06:00 am – 10:00 pm

Price: 45.000 VND – 60.000 VND (~ 2 – 3$)

• Bun Thit Nuong Anh Ba

Address: 126 Le Van Sy street, Phu Nhuan district, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 07:00 am – 11:00 pm

Price: 45.000 VND – 55.000 VND (~ 2$)

• Quan Co Ba

Address: 287/68 Nguyen Dinh Chieu street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 12:30 am – 09:00 pm

Price: 24.000 VND – 35.000 VND (~ 1$)

• Bun Thit Nuong 120

Address: 120 Tran Hung Dao street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening hour: 03:00 pm – 06:00 pm

Price: 25.000 VND – 45.000 VND (~ 1 – 2$)

IV. How to Choose a Street Food Vendor?

In Vietnam, street food dishes are not only served in restaurants but also at street corners, food carts, or even burden streets. All of them make typical features of Vietnamese cuisine and make an impression on foreign tourists. 

The truth is that the best and most authentic food is served from street vendors – heirloom store, not 5-star restaurants! However, not all ensure food safety so there are a lot of cases foreign tourists get ill after trying some Vietnamese street food without knowing the sources. Therefore, below are some tips for you to choose a safe street food vendor when visiting Vietnam.

1. Don’t drink water from unknown sources

Almost street foods in Vietnam are served with free glasses of water; however, you should not drink it. Instead of this, remember to bring a bottle of refresh water when going out in Vietnam.

2. Avoid raw fruits and vegetables

Although almost street food dishes in Vietnam are eaten with herbs such as salad, coriander, etc, if you don’t have a strong digestive, you had better avoid raw fruits and vegetables.

3. Watch the food preparation

This way will ease you more that this food is safe. You can see how this food is cooked, what is laid on your plate, and how long it takes to complete your dish.

4. Choose busy street vendors

If the place you are just about to dine out at is busy, that means it’s safe and really delicious. Busy food stands are a good sign that the food is not going to make you sick. Moreover, that also shows the food served is tasty and affordable.