“I am a housewife lacking cooking skills and also time,” Lee Chae-Young, a Korean mother who lives in a luxury apartment in the west of Hanoi, told The Hanoi Times.

“We all know cooking at home proves inefficient at the best of times, especially when you have toddlers running around your kitchen table,” she added.

Covid-19 has changed the habit of dining out of Lee’s family. Her children’s favorite Korean restaurant located on the first floor of the apartment building had to close last year due to a lack of diners, meanwhile, the food and beverage outlets at the nearby hotel were shuttered.

Thus, for Lee, choose a meal that is home-delivered would help to satisfy her family’s hunger for food variety and professionally prepared dishes.

Food for thought

The dish of Whole French Roasted Chicken with Himalayan Salt and Phu Quoc Pepper is prepared by Hotel Metropole Hanoi.  Photo courtesy of the hotel

“No need to get out for a luxurious meal, people now can experience a gourmet dinner with delicious dishes that are handcrafted by hotel’s talented chefs at their own homes,” a representative of Hotel Metropole Hanoi claimed.

In fact, Covid has left lasting wounds on the hospitality sector, but hotels in Hanoi are pulling out all stops and soldiering on. According to a survey conducted by Hanoitimes, almost all renowned hotels in town are now offering food delivery services to the homes of their loyal customers.

Metropole offers a wide selection of cuisine, from 12-hour Wagyu beef short rib and seared Scottish salmon to pasta, soups, salads as well as a range of Vietnamese favorites. All are prepared by the hotel’s legendary culinary team, some of whom are awarded Michelin stars. It also applies free home delivery within five kilometers for minimum orders of VND1,500,000 (US$65).

People can also order takeaway and pick up items of prime cuts of meat, poultry, seafood, sausages or cheeses, and other luxury artisanal products at L’Epicerie du Metropole via the hotel’s hotline or website. 

The Grilled Cod Fish dish by Melia Hanoi Hotel. Photo courtesy of the hotel

“We offer two menus at the same time, the Weekly set menu for office workers and the Delivery Menu for hearty dinners or weekend meals,” Khanh Van, PR Manager of Melia Hanoi Hotel said.

The hotel’s Weekly set menu is changed weekly, featuring mainly Vietnamese dishes, and is priced at VND179,000 ($7.8). Meanwhile, the Delivery Menu is fixed, offering the hotel’s specific dishes, delivered to the home at any time during the week. Delicious dishes include Grilled Salmon with dried fruits accompanied with asparagus and special sauce; Grilled marinated lamb rack and grilled Vacio Steak.

Sheraton Hanoi Club Sandwich. Photo: Sheraton Hanoi Hotel

Sheraton Hanoi Hotel suggests its clients should start a new day at home with the hotel’s signature Croissant (at VND55,000 or $2.4), a Smoked Salmon Bagel (VND135,000 or $5.9), or a Japanese Chicken Ramen (VND150,000 or $6.5).

In order to spice up the dining adventures, clients can order the Vietnamese dish of Chao tom hum Nha Trang or Nha Trang Lobster Congee at VND250,000 ($10.9) per portion or the Western dish of Penne Carbonara with Parmesan Cheese at VND170,000 ($7.4). The hotel also offers a complimentary soft drink for every pizza ordered or a local beer bottle for every steak ordered.

The set of Chinese scrumptious dishes for four people is provided by Pan Pacific Hanoi. Photo courtesy of the hotel

Pan Pacific Hanoi has launched its special delivery menu featuring a wide range of favorite delicacies that ensure 5-star feasts at diners’ places.

The hotel's Chinese restaurant serves a delicious set with scrumptious dishes for four people. Priced at VND1,298,000 ($56.5) it includes Steamed Shrimp Dumplings, Fresh Jellyfish Salad, Abalone with Crab Meat Soup, Roasted Duck, Sauteed Beef with Black Paper, among others. 

The Steak Sandwich by JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi. Photo courtesy of the hotel

Particularly, TripAdvisor’s awarded five-star hotel in Hanoi, the JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi has recently announced the comeback of its JW Dining at Home culinary program. Guests can experience and savor JW specialties at their homes or place orders at the hotel and being delivered at door.

The hotel’s distinctive delivery menu features a wide range of ‘all over the world’ dishes such as Japanese Wagyu Don (VND790,000 or $34.4), Vietnamese Bun Cha – Grilled Pork with Vermicelli (VND250,000 or $10.9), Fried-rice in Yangzhou Style (VND300,000 or $13) to L.A. Galbi - Korean BBQ Short-ribs (VND360,000 or $15) and a Western dish of Black Angus Rib Eye Steak (VND700,000 or $30.5).