First-time visitors to Hanoi may find it challenging to navigate the vast array of street food options, as the city boasts countless dishes and eateries. Exploring with a guide can enhance the experience and allow newcomers to fully appreciate the unique aspects of Hanoi's food scene.

Foreigners visiting Hanoi enjoy eating on the streets. Photo: Friends Travel Vietnam

In just three hours, the guide would take the tourists on a five- to seven-kilometer walk, visiting six to eight eateries to sample Vietnamese cuisine while introducing them to the architecture of Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

Hanoi’s delicacies captivate foreigners

At 6 PM, Do Minh, a 25-year-old tour guide, arrived at the meeting point to pick up seven tourists for a culinary tour of Hanoi's Old Quarter. Hailing from countries such as the Netherlands, Finland, Belgium and Australia, these visitors were experiencing this kind of tour for the first time.

Minh meticulously planned the itinerary and checked out eateries before their arrival, making sure the trip would end near their hotel. Over the course of three hours, he led them to small alleyway shops serving sandwiches, papaya salad, fried pillow cakes, rice stick noodles with fried fish, and mixed rice noodles with chicken, among a myriad of other dishes. Each dish was served in small portions so that everyone could try a little of everything.

In addition to sharing information about food, Minh introduced the tourists to Vietnamese culture and traditions. He also struck up a conversation with them by learning about the unique characteristics of their nation.

A dish of fried rice with seafood, a delicious Hanoi street food. Photo: Thao Thao

The tourists were ecstatic to try Vietnamese street food for the first time, and their favorite was the egg coffee. "I make sure to give them a choice between street food stalls and restaurants, so they can enjoy authentic experiences while also trying special dishes in more upscale places," he explained.

At the end of the tour, all the tourists left in high spirits, according to Minh. Samantha Kurma, a tourist from India, shared her impressions: “I’m impressed by the egg coffee because I’ve never tried such a special drink. Many dishes are truly unique and reflect Vietnamese identity- not just pho or bun cha.”

Just like hanging out

Besides food tours, the company Minh works for also offers various other experiences, such as exploring Hanoi by motorbike or visiting markets in the Old Quarter in the morning.

There are two types of culinary excursions, Minh says: one for groups of four to six people, and another for those who want more individual attention. "I see each tour as an opportunity to meet and interact with new people from different backgrounds. I can converse comfortably with the tourists and enjoy the cuisine. It's really exciting for me because it feels like hanging out with friends," he said.

Minh has led tours focused on coffee, Vietnamese pagodas, and museums, but he still considers the food tours to be the most special.

Foreign travelers in Hanoi. Photo: Vo My Xuan

A graduate in International Languages and Cultures from the Hanoi University of Culture, Minh finds that the knowledge and skills he acquired in school are highly applicable to his work. He has always been keen to improve his English communication skills and takes language tests, recognizing that these are crucial when leading tours for foreign visitors.

"Vietnamese cuisine provides nutritional balance, so my clients always leave the tour in a happy mood," he said.

Nguyen Ngoc Ha, founder of Ha Food Tours, began his career in the hospitality industry at a hotel, driven by his passion for food. After five years of managing the hotel, he transitioned to becoming a foodie tour guide.

Together with some friends, he embarked on a mission to create unique tourism experiences around Hanoi's street food. Their success has been instrumental in introducing Vietnamese cuisine to foreign visitors and making street food tours a renowned attraction in Hanoi.

As a veteran guide, Ha says his company currently offers short culinary tours. He recognizes that, alongside the  scenic spots, local cuisine is a major  draw for tourists. As the first person to design a food tour in Hanoi's Old Quarter, Ha actively seeks out young tour guides, training them to specialize in leading food tours with enhanced skills and knowledge. 

Pho bo is a beloved specialty of Hanoi, enjoyed by locals and Western visitors alike. Photo: Le Phong

"Everyone in our group of food tour guides has a solid foreign language background, with an average IELTS score of 6.5. The nature of the food tour requires locals with a good understanding of the area. Before the pandemic, we had about 10 members, but now we are down to four or five," he said.

According to Ha, among the many tour operators offering food tours, his tour stands out for its thorough planning and unique highlights for tourists in Vietnam. "Instead of a standard street tour, we focus on small groups of four to six guests, allowing them to choose their pick-up points, and we are constantly looking for new dishes for first-timers as well as variations for returning customers," he added.

In addition to the food, the guide shares cultural, architectural, and historical insights based on the visitor's interests. This personalized approach is the selling point of their service: creating value tailored to the customer, with the guide becoming a friend with whom to eat and chat along the way.

Most of Ha's customers come from the Australian and American markets, with the walking tours being the most popular at a price of $25.

Delicious dishes served at small roadside restaurants in Hanoi are a favorite among foreign diners. Photo: Vo My Xuan

Vietnamese cuisine, especially in Hanoi, is very varied and readily adapts to the preferences of its guests. As seasoned tour guides, we know which dishes are best enjoyed after several tries, which offer new sensations, and which appeal to first-time tourists. I'm happy to see that egg coffee has gained so much popularity and helped our culinary tours to be successful, as I was one of the first guides to incorporate it into our itineraries," said Ha.

According to the General Statistics Office, the number of international visitors exceeded 12.7 million in the first nine months of this year, an increase of 43% over the same period last year. In September, the Republic of Korea remained the largest source market with over 355,000 visitors to Vietnam, followed by China with over 257,000 visitors. Other top markets were Taiwan, Japan, and the United States.

India is also one of Vietnam's fastest-growing markets, thanks to high-profile events attended by India's elite and numerous promotional campaigns in the South Asian country.

The country's tourism sector is targeting 17-18 million international visitors this year, as the last three months of the year are the peak season for arrivals. "Considering these factors, the target of 18 million international visitors this year is achievable," said Nguyen Le Phuc, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Authority.