Hanoi Recommendations by Sunnyhomes
Hanoi Experiences
8 spots
Ninh Binh Train Tour with Boat Ride and Lunch
Take a scenic train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, cycle past rice fields, climb Mua Peak, enjoy a sampan boat ride through caves, savor lunch and visit Bich Dong Pagoda
Take a scenic train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, cycle past rice fields, climb Mua Peak, enjoy a sampan boat ride through caves, savor lunch and visit Bich Dong Pagoda
Hanoi French Quarter w History, Coffee and Architecture
How has French Influences affected Vietnam through times?
You will learn so much about how Vietnamese society changed under French rule and explore the bad and the good of this period. Make sure you ask your guide plenty of questions for the host!
How has French Influences affected Vietnam through times?
Hanoi First Day
Start a Hanoi adventure with a bike tour covering Hoa Lo Prison, Ba Dinh Square and West Lake while learning Vietnamese phrases and enjoying tasty street food along the way
First thing to do in Hanoi
Start a Hanoi adventure with a bike tour covering Hoa Lo Prison, Ba Dinh Square and West Lake while learning Vietnamese phrases and enjoying tasty street food along the way
Morning Run Through Historic Hanoi
Wake before dawn for a 12‑kilometre run through historic Hanoi, jogging past ancient temples, lakes and streets while listening to stories.
Wake before dawn for a 12‑kilometre run through historic Hanoi, jogging past ancient temples, lakes and streets while listening to stories.
Hidden Hanoi Old Quarter
Experience Hanoi’s Old Quarter like a local insider. Walk through narrow alleys, visit family homes, taste unique snacks, and hear generations of stories that rarely make it into guidebooks today
Experience Hanoi’s Old Quarter like a local insider. Walk through narrow alleys, visit family homes, taste unique snacks, and hear generations of stories that rarely make it into guidebooks today
Hanoi Food Tour with Local Stories
Join a local to explore Hanoi’s Old Quarter, wandering down hidden alleys and tasting delicious street dishes you won’t find alone. Feel like a friend, not a tourist, when eating
Join a local to explore Hanoi’s Old Quarter, wandering down hidden alleys and tasting delicious street dishes you won’t find alone. Feel like a friend, not a tourist, when eating
Hanoi Untold War Stories from the Vietnam War
Hanoi during the Vietnam War: the dark side of its most famous monuments. Discover life under the planned economy, the fate(s) of the local people from both sides (the North and the South; and the story of the unification of Vietnam, a country once divided between the communist and anti-communist, on the brink of the COLD WAR)
Must do
Hanoi during the Vietnam War: the dark side of its most famous monuments. Discover life under the planned economy, the fate(s) of the local people from both sides (the North and the South; and the story of the unification of Vietnam, a country once divided between the communist and anti-communist, on the brink of the COLD WAR)
Streetfood
3 spots
Bánh mỳ
Bánh mì is the perfect marriage of French colonial influence and Vietnamese creativity. It’s a light, airy baguette packed with a complex layering of meats, fats, and fresh garden greens.
"Không cay, cám ơn": If you aren't a fan of fire, say this. Vietnamese chilies are tiny but pack a massive punch.
Bánh mì is the perfect marriage of French colonial influence and Vietnamese creativity. It’s a light, airy baguette packed with a complex layering of meats, fats, and fresh garden greens.
Chè
Chè is the ultimate Vietnamese dessert category. It ranges from warm, ginger-infused bean soups to refreshing iced cups filled with coconut milk, colorful jellies, and exotic fruits.
Adjust the Ice: In the summer, the ice is usually served crushed. Let it melt for 30 seconds to perfectly dilute the sweetness of the syrups.
Chè is the ultimate Vietnamese dessert category. It ranges from warm, ginger-infused bean soups to refreshing iced cups filled with coconut milk, colorful jellies, and exotic fruits.
Bánh rán
Bánh rán are addictive, deep-fried glutinous rice balls. They come in two main personalities: sweet (filled with mung bean) or savory (filled with minced meat and glass noodles).
Morning vs. Afternoon: These are best enjoyed fresh from the fryer. Sweet ones are a common morning snack, while savory ones (bánh rán mặn) are the king of afternoon street food.
Bánh rán are addictive, deep-fried glutinous rice balls. They come in two main personalities: sweet (filled with mung bean) or savory (filled with minced meat and glass noodles).
Drinks
2 spots
Egg coffee - Đinh Cafe
Located on the second floor of an old French-style villa overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake, Đinh Café is where the locals go. It doesn’t need a big sign because its reputation does all the talking.
Finding the Entrance: Look for 13 Dinh Tien Hoang. Don't look for a grand door; look for a narrow gap between shops. If it looks like you’re walking into someone’s private hallway, you’re exactly where you need to be.
Located on the second floor of an old French-style villa overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake, Đinh Café is where the locals go. It doesn’t need a big sign because its reputation does all the talking.
Hanoi Specialty
8 spots
Bánh Cuốn
Bánh cuốn is a masterclass in texture. These delicate, translucent rice rolls are steamed over a stretched cloth, filled with savory minced pork and wood-ear mushrooms, and served with a side of chả lụa (Vietnamese ham).
Eat it Hot: Bánh cuốn loses its silky charm once it cools down. For the best experience, eat it immediately as each plate is served fresh off the steamer.
Bánh cuốn is a masterclass in texture. These delicate, translucent rice rolls are steamed over a stretched cloth, filled with savory minced pork and wood-ear mushrooms, and served with a side of chả lụa (Vietnamese ham).
Phở Cuốn
Phở cuốn features silky rice noodle sheets wrapped around stir-fried beef and fresh herbs. Served with a tangy dipping sauce, it is a refreshing, light, and flavorful Vietnamese classic.
Try other speciality like stir fried deep fried ;pan fried pho too
Phở cuốn features silky rice noodle sheets wrapped around stir-fried beef and fresh herbs. Served with a tangy dipping sauce, it is a refreshing, light, and flavorful Vietnamese classic.
Chả Cá Thăng Long
Chả cá is not just a meal; it’s a legendary Hanoi experience. This dish features firm chunks of fish (usually Hemibagrus) marinated in turmeric and galangal, then sizzled at your table in a pan filled with an unbelievable amount of fresh dill and spring onions.
The "Foaming" Sauce: When your shrimp paste arrives, add a squeeze of lime and a few drops of rice wine, then whisk it vigorously with your chopsticks until it foams up. This mellows the intensity and creates a light, airy dip.
Chả cá is not just a meal; it’s a legendary Hanoi experience. This dish features firm chunks of fish (usually Hemibagrus) marinated in turmeric and galangal, then sizzled at your table in a pan filled with an unbelievable amount of fresh dill and spring onions.
Bún Chả
The "Obama" Effect: It gained global fame after Anthony Bourdain and President Obama shared a meal in Hanoi. Since then, it’s become a "must-try" pilgrimage for foodies worldwide.
Eating Like a Pro: Don't dip the noodles individually. Instead, drop a small nest of noodles into the sauce bowl, let them soak up the smoky flavor, and eat them together with a piece of pork.
The "Obama" Effect: It gained global fame after Anthony Bourdain and President Obama shared a meal in Hanoi. Since then, it’s become a "must-try" pilgrimage for foodies worldwide.
Phở Gà
Connoisseurs always look for "Gà Ta" (free-range chicken), known for its firm texture and rich, yellow skin.
Unlike beef phở, Phở gà is incomplete without finely sliced lime leaves, which provide a refreshing citrus aroma that perfectly balances the savory soup.
Connoisseurs always look for "Gà Ta" (free-range chicken), known for its firm texture and rich, yellow skin.
Bún bò Huế
If Phở is gentle and soothing, Bún Bò Huế is its bold, rebellious cousin. Originating from the former royal capital of Hue, this soup is a complex masterpiece of spicy, salty, and sweet flavors, powered by lemongrass and chili oil.
The Royal Heritage: This isn't just "beef soup"—it’s a dish fit for royalty. The presentation and complexity of the broth reflect the sophisticated culinary tradition of Hue’s imperial past.
If Phở is gentle and soothing, Bún Bò Huế is its bold, rebellious cousin. Originating from the former royal capital of Hue, this soup is a complex masterpiece of spicy, salty, and sweet flavors, powered by lemongrass and chili oil.
Vegan & Vegetarian
4 spots
Vegetarian Bun Cha
If you think being vegan means missing out on Hanoi’s most famous lunch, think again. Bún chả chay is a culinary feat that manages to capture the smoky, soul-warming essence of the original dish using only the gifts of the earth.
The Garlic/Onion Factor: Many traditional Buddhist "Chay" restaurants avoid garlic and leeks (ngũ vị tân). If you feel the broth is missing a "kick," ask if they have chili and lime on the side to brighten up the flavors.
If you think being vegan means missing out on Hanoi’s most famous lunch, think again. Bún chả chay is a culinary feat that manages to capture the smoky, soul-warming essence of the original dish using only the gifts of the earth.
Vegan Bánh Mỳ
For a long time, the soul of Bánh mì was thought to be its pâté and cold cuts. But Bánh mì chay (Vegan/Vegetarian Bánh Mì) has proven that you don't need meat to create a flavor explosion. It’s a vibrant, guilt-free masterpiece that uses the earth's bounty to mimic the rich textures of the original.
Sauce Awareness: Regular Bánh mì often gets a dash of Maggi seasoning or fish sauce. In a vegan version, they use soy sauce or a house-made pineapple-based sauce. It’s lighter, saltier, and perfectly complements the fried tofu.
For a long time, the soul of Bánh mì was thought to be its pâté and cold cuts. But Bánh mì chay (Vegan/Vegetarian Bánh Mì) has proven that you don't need meat to create a flavor explosion. It’s a vibrant, guilt-free masterpiece that uses the earth's bounty to mimic the rich textures of the original.
Vegetarian Pho
While the world raves about beef and chicken Phở, Phở Chay (Vegetarian Phở) is the unsung hero of Vietnamese cuisine. It’s not just "soup without meat"—it is a complex, aromatic masterpiece that relies on the natural sweetness of earth and forest.
Look for the "Chay" Sign: You won't usually find good Phở Chay at a regular beef Phở stall. Look for dedicated "Quán Chay" (Vegetarian restaurants). They are often tucked away near pagodas or in quiet alleys, offering a peaceful escape from the city noise.
While the world raves about beef and chicken Phở, Phở Chay (Vegetarian Phở) is the unsung hero of Vietnamese cuisine. It’s not just "soup without meat"—it is a complex, aromatic masterpiece that relies on the natural sweetness of earth and forest.