Hanoi street food tour: Old Quarter small group with local guide
Taste Hanoi's street food the way locals do, one neighborhood at a time
A 3-hour street food tour through Hanoi's Old Quarter led by a local guide, with groups capped at 5 people and a customized menu built around your preferences. You'll taste eight to ten dishes (from Bun Cha and Nem Ran to Egg Coffee and Banh Mi) at family-run eateries and hidden cafés off the main streets, learning the history and daily life behind each one. Hotel pickup is included if you're staying in the Old Quarter, or you can meet at Craft Viet Shop on Luong Van Can Street. The tour runs at lunch (11:30–14:30) or dinner (18:00–21:00), and water, coffee and beer are included.
Options for this experience
4 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Hanoi Old Quarter street food tour
- Meet at hotel or Craft Viet Shop
- Explore Old Quarter streets
- Try Green Papaya Salad with Dried Beef
- Eat Bun Cha grilled pork with noodles
- Enjoy Fried Spring Rolls snack
- Taste Hanoi’s famous Egg Coffee
- Sample Steamed Rice Pancake Banh Cuon
- Try Pho Cuon rolled pho noodles
- Savor freshly made Banh Mi bread
- Visit Ta Hiện Street drink corner
- Finish with Vietnamese dessert and sweet rice donut
What’s included
- A local guide who specializes in Hanoi's food scene.
- eight to ten tastings at family-run eateries and hidden cafés throughout the Old Quarter.
- a bottle of water, coffee and beer.
- hotel pickup if you're staying in the Old Quarter (or the option to arrange pickup outside the Old Quarter at checkout).
Times
- Every day 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00
Before you book
Operated by Vietnam Creative Travel
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Traveler reviews
The experience
You arrive in Hanoi with a free afternoon or evening and no plan for dinner, or you've been here a day and the restaurant guides all blur together. A street food tour cuts through that. Instead of wandering and guessing, you walk with someone who knows which family-run stall has been making the same dish for thirty years, which hidden café serves Egg Coffee the way it was invented, and why a particular corner of the Old Quarter tastes different from the one three blocks over. The guide shapes the route around what you want to eat, so if you're curious about pork dishes or vegetarian options, the stops change.
The tour moves through the Old Quarter for three hours, stopping at eight to ten places. You'll taste Bun Cha (grilled pork patties with fresh herbs and vermicelli) at a family eatery; Nem Ran, crispy spring rolls with a sweet-sour dip; Banh Cuon, steamed rice pancakes filled with pork and mushrooms; and Pho Cuon, a fresh rolled version of the classic noodle dish. Between the savory courses, you break at a hidden café for Hanoi's famous Egg Coffee, a creamy, whipped-egg-topped brew that tastes nothing like what you expect. By the end you'll have tried Nom Bo Kho (green papaya salad with dried beef), Banh Mi (Vietnamese sandwich), and a Vietnamese dessert: either Che, a refreshing mix of beans and coconut milk, or Banh Ran Ngot, a chewy sweet rice donut. Water, coffee and beer come with the tour.
The group stays under five people, which means you're not herding through a crowd and the guide has time to answer questions about the ingredients, the neighborhood's history, or why a particular dish matters to Hanoi's food culture. If you're staying in the Old Quarter, pickup happens at your hotel. If you're elsewhere in the city, you meet at Craft Viet Shop on Luong Van Can Street. The tour runs at lunch (11:30 to 14:30) or dinner (18:00 to 21:00), so you can fit it into whatever your day looks like. Vegetarian and vegan options are available if you book one of those versions at checkout.
Is this one for you?Book the small-group tour if you want a guide who knows the neighborhood and time to ask questions without rushing through a crowd. Choose the private option if you're traveling with people who have specific tastes or dietary needs and want the route entirely your own. The customized menu means the tour adapts to what you actually want to eat, rather than following a fixed list of stops.
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Top questions
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What's the difference between the regular tour and the vegetarian or vegan options?
The vegetarian and vegan tours follow the same route through the Old Quarter with the same local guide and small group size, but the dishes change to match your diet. You'll taste plant-based versions of the classics and dishes built entirely around vegetables, legumes and tofu instead of meat and seafood.
Can I book a private tour instead of the small group?
Yes, the Private tour-Flexible Explore option is available at checkout, which gives you the guide and the customized menu to yourself or your travel companions, with the same 3-hour format and Old Quarter route.
What is Egg Coffee and why is it famous in Hanoi?
Egg Coffee is a Hanoi invention: strong dark coffee topped with a layer of whipped egg yolk and condensed milk, creating a creamy, sweet, custard-like drink that's completely different from any coffee you've had before. It became a local favorite in the 1950s and is now served at hidden cafés throughout the city.
Do I need to arrange my own pickup, or is it included?
Pickup is included if your hotel is in the Old Quarter. If you're staying outside the Old Quarter, you can arrange pickup at checkout for an additional fee, or meet the guide at Craft Viet Shop on Luong Van Can Street in the Hoan Kiem District.
How many dishes will I taste on this tour?
You'll taste eight to ten dishes across the 3-hour tour, moving between family-run eateries and hidden cafés: the exact stops depend on your preferences and what the guide recommends that day, so the menu is customized rather than fixed.
Is this tour suitable if I'm traveling with young children?
Yes, infants can ride in a pram or stroller and small children can sit on an adult's lap. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though the pace is set by the group and involves walking through the Old Quarter streets between stops.
Hanoi street food tour: Old Quarter small group with local guide
3h · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 28 per person
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