Food Tours in Hanoi

It’s easy to see why food tours in Hanoi remain one of the most popular choices for travelers — almost every street is lined with food stalls and little eateries offering a host of delectable dishes.

Delicious aromas emanate from these establishments, steam billowing from pots and pans while cooks and assistants shout out orders.

Truth be told, navigating this strange new world of scrumptious noodle soups, crispy fried spring rolls and silky rice pancakes can be a bit intimidating.

This is exactly what makes a Hanoi food tour such a valuable experience — not only will you scour these ancient city streets in search of something yummy, you’ll gain valuable insight into how the cuisine shapes Hanoi.

Here's all you need to know about food tours, which are among the most captivating gastronomic experiences in Hanoi.

What are the best food tours in Hanoi?

Finding the best food tour in Hanoi entirely depends on what you want to taste and how you want to navigate Hanoi’s streets. When it comes to tastes, Hanoi street food tours include a variety of different dishes catering to a variety of tastes.

And you can choose to explore Hanoi on foot, by motorbike or on a bicycle-powered rickshaw called a “cyclo.”

Guided small group Hanoi food tour

A guided Hanoi food tour is a great way to discover the city’s most popular dishes in an authentic manner. This 3-hour walking tour is led by a knowledgeable guide that knows exactly where all of Hanoi’s best spots are.

Together, you’ll weave your way through Hanoi’s busy streets, ever on the prowl for your next course.

But food isn’t the only thing on the menu — you’ll also learn about Hanoi’s history and culture while visiting sights like the French Quarter, Hanoi Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake and the iconic Hanoi Opera House.

A small group food tour in Hanoi usually consists of 6-15 participants, with an extra guide joining for the larger groups.

Private Hanoi food tour

The path less traveled is best when accompanied by a guide, especially when that guide knows the path like the back of their hands. A private Hanoi food tour is the best way to experience some of Hanoi’s delicacies, while avoiding the crowds.

Your group will be the only persons on this private Hanoi food tour, making it perfect for couples, families or a group of friends. Your guide will be at your beck and call for the entirety of this 3-hour tour, as you amble your way from one delicious dish to the other.

Hanoi’s cuisine is famous for its fresh ingredients — and nowhere is this as evident as when an unassuming food stall transforms something simple into something sublime.

Guided Hanoi food tour with a cyclo ride

If wandering Hanoi’s streets isn’t your idea of building up an appetite, you can always opt for a guided Hanoi food tour with a cyclo ride.

The cyclo — a uniquely Vietnamese invention — is a combination of bicycle and rickshaw that allows you to sit back and relax on your way to the next mouthwatering morsel.

A cyclo-powered Hanoi food tour also has the added advantage of covering more ground faster, meaning more time to enjoy delicious dishes!

You’ll start this food tour on the edge of Hanoi’s Dong Xuan market, a culinary hotbed and home to a myriad of food stalls and small eateries. The intricacies of this massive market will be explained to you by your guide, and they’ll always be close at hand to answer any questions you may have.

Hanoi food tour on vintage motorbikes

The mere mention of Hanoi conjures up images of scooter-filled streets and busy intersections. This is why scooter tours have become so popular in Hanoi — but why go on a normal scooter tour when you can experience a Hanoi food odyssey on the back of a vintage motorbike?

This Hanoi food tour on vintage bikes uses Soviet-era Minsk motorbikes to zip and zoom through Hanoi’s streets in the quest for something scrumptious.

Don’t worry about navigating Hanoi’s busy streets, you’ll be driven by a qualified driver — allowing you to hop on and off as soon as you encounter something that fits your palate.

This Hanoi vintage motorbike food tour also has the advantage of visiting destinations that are further away — like the imposing Long Bien Bridge and the secluded Banana Island.

Vegan and vegetarian Hanoi street food tour

This Hanoi food tour is perfect if you have a specific set of dietary requirements. Buddhism has a long and important history in Vietnam, and the religion has shaped Vietnamese cuisine.

This means, owing to the karmic nature of Buddhism, there are a number of dishes suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

A vegan and vegetarian street food tour in Hanoi combines all of these dishes into one memorable (and delicious!) experience. Your tour guide will also help bring Hanoi’s history and culture to life around you, helping you make sense of this vibrant city.

Which places are visited?

Although the main attraction on a Hanoi food tour is the mouthwatering dishes, you’ll also pass by some of Hanoi’s impressive sights along the way.

Hanoi Old Quarter

Hanoi Old Quarter is a popular stop on most of the food tours in Hanoi. The area dates back to the 11th century, when the then-emperor created a trade district to attract the best artisans and merchants.

To this day, it remains a maze of bustling streets packed with some of the best eateries that Hanoi has to offer. The Old Quarter is also the birthplace of iconic Vietnamese dishes like Bun Cha (a grilled pork noodle dish) and the ever-popular Pho (a fragrant broth with either chicken or beef and rice noodles).

French Quarter

Hanoi’s French Quarter is where the French set up shop, so to speak, in their endeavor to govern Indochina. Today, the area houses some of Hanoi’s best restaurants, as well as examples of beautiful French-Vietnamese architecture.

A jaunt through its tree-lined streets provides ample opportunity for a stunning picture and a sampling of some delicious dishes.

Long Bien Bridge

Long Bien Bridge, the bridge connecting the districts of Long Bien and Hoan Kiem, is often called “the horizontal Eiffel Tower” due to the similarities in their designs. This bridge spans the Red River and is an absolute must for any food tour of Hanoi.

The bridge features small food stalls selling specialties like deep-fried bananas and coconut ice cream. Some tours also visit Banana Island, an island only accessible via boat or the bridge, where you’ll find delicious fruit desserts and fragrant teas.

How much do food tours in Hanoi cost?

The cost of a Hanoi food tour mainly depends on the number of dishes the tour includes and the type of tour it is. A scooter tour, for example, will cost more than a standard walking tour.

The guided Hanoi small group food tour costs around US$30 per person, as does the vegan and vegetarian Hanoi street food tour.

A private Hanoi food tour will cost US$40 per person — marginally less than the Hanoi guided cyclo food tour that comes in at US$45 per person.

Understandably, the Hanoi food tour on vintage motorbikes is the most expensive option listed, coming in at US$50 per person.

What is included?

Most food tours in Hanoi will feature around 8 dishes, but these tend to differ depending on availability. While some food tours in Hanoi offer pickup from hotels in the Old Quarter, it’s not the case for all food tours.

All Hanoi food tours include the cost of the dishes, as well as a couple of refreshments.

Where does it start?

Most Hanoi food tours either start at the offices of the tour provider or in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Tours starting in the Old Quarter tend to depart from either the Hanoi Opera House or the area surrounding Hoan Kiem Lake.

How long does it last?

Hanoi food tours usually last around 3 hours, depending on the main mode of transport and the number of restaurants and sights visited.

A walking tour will last a bit longer than a scooter tour, while a tour incorporating an activity like a water puppet show will last even longer.

When is the best time for a food tour in Hanoi?

The best time to visit Hanoi is from September to early December, and again from late March to early May.

During these times, the weather is quite agreeable, although it tends to get a little bit nippy during late November and early December. These periods are also less busy.

It’s a great idea to take a Hanoi food tour, as soon as you arrive in Hanoi, helping you become comfortable with the city’s food scene and the ins and outs of ordering.

Which other gastronomic experiences can be done in Hanoi?

• Cooking Classes
• Dinners
• Beer Tastings
• Wine Tours and Tastings

Travel tips

• Always ensure that your valuables are secured when on a Hanoi food tour.
• Certain Vietnamese dishes are only served at a specific time of the day — confirm with your tour provider when booking.
• Have an umbrella at hand for unpredictable showers.
• Wear comfortable shoes when on a walking tour.