Arriving in Hanoi, Vietnam for the first time? The best way to get your bearings in the city is with a Hanoi Street Food Tour. This street food tour Hanoi combines a walking tour Hanoi with being introduced to all the incredible Vietnamese food.
Which is the best Hanoi street food tour?
Food is such a vital part of immersing yourself in a new culture. The combined city and food tour of Hanoi is the perfect start to your trip to Vietnam. We found a highly recommended tour guide called Kevin Tinh on Trip Advisor and booked a tour with him. The best decision we made for our short time in Hanoi. Although we have nothing else to compare it to, we would certainly say Kevin’s Hanoi Tour is the best Hanoi street food tour. Especially if you are travelling to Hanoi with kids, he was patient, kind, knowledgeable and interesting.
Booking.comWhat is included in a Hanoi Street Food Tour?
Everything! You pay in advance and then all your food will be included on the day. As well as the tour guide’s knowledge and wisdom of Hanoi. We always love to go on a walking tour of every new city we visit so combining this with a Hanoi food tour was perfect.
As we were in Hanoi in August it rained a lot but Kevin ushered us into cabs and tuk tuks along the way too.
Hanoi Street Food Tour Itinerary
Kevin will adapt the tour according to your dietary requirements and preferences. We are very flexible and open so will try everything. We can always find something for the kids to eat too.
Kevin arrived at our hotel – Hanoi Avatar Hotel – at 8am and took us on a culinary adventure. Starting with some Eel soup, tasting just like crispy beef. Not something we would ever have tried but anything goes on a street food tour Hanoi.
French Quarter Hanoi
After the breakfast of eel soup we continued on the Hanoi street food tour to the French Quarter. No Hanoi foodie tour is complete without a visit to Bún Chả Hương Liên, a little noodle shop made famous by a visit from the late Anthony Bourdain and Barack Obama. Kevin got us the ‘Combo Obama’ (served with a beer at 9:30am!) and it truly was some of the best BBQ pork we have ever eaten. The kids included!
Some tired, grumpy jet-lag kids enforced a stop for ice-cream and a run around which Kevin was only too happy to orchestrate. He wasn’t phased at all by the kids tantrums and was incredibly kind and patient with helping us deal with them.
Old Quarter Hanoi
In the Old Quarter we were treated to the best Banh Mi we have ever had. Banh Mi is probably the most famous Hanoi street food and even in Vietnam.
If you have not had banh mi before it is a simple sliced baguette filled with lettuce, pate and grilled pork. A staple lunch eaten most days throughout our 3 weeks in Vietnam, the boys loved them too.
Full bellies by this point, but no chance of stopping. We wandered the Old Quarter Hanoi down through some market stalls and back alleys. We stopped for pork crepes. Another big hit with all 4 of us, they let the kids have a try of making them as well.
Walking through this area of Hanoi is not to be missed. We adored the market stalls, vendors and tiny cafes with people sat on small plastic stools everywhere. Expect to see flower stalls, fruit and vegetables, toy shops and cafes galore. A true glimpse into real Vietnam life, hustle and bustle.
Food Market Hanoi
As we emerged from the crepe shop in the alleyway we spotted an old woman perched on a plastic stool cooking crabs, the boys were mesmerised. We were encouraged to sit down and try some crabs and they both just started eating and eating and eating, crabs after crabs! The women highly encouraging them, laughing, letting them try on Vietnamese hats and thoroughly enjoying the boys being around them.
By this point we were full! Kevin had walked us all round the Old Quarter in the humidity, dodging the motorbikes and street sellers. It was a sensory experience for us with the colours, sights and smells and the kids were in need of a break. However, Kevin was insistent that we couldn’t finish without trying the famous Vietnamese Egg Coffee, I was sceptical. At first sip it is more like a sweet custard and I was sold. Maybe only as a one off, but had to be tried during a Hanoi Street Food tour.
Kevin picked us up at 8am and we didn’t get back to the hotel until 3:30pm. A whole day out on a walking tour Hanoi and food tour Hanoi. What a fantastic introduction to Hanoi and Vietnam.
You can book Kevin’s tour here through Trip Advisor.
If you have enjoyed reading this post about a Hanoi Street Food Tour then check out our 3 Weeks in Vietnam itinerary. Also our Halong Bay Cruise overnight post for all the details on visiting this magical place. If you’re looking for any Thailand inspiration check out our Where to Go in Thailand Page including 3 weeks in Thailand itinerary post. For other family travel inspiration check out our Destination Page.
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