MY HANOI STREET FOOD TOUR WITH VIETNAM ECO TRAVEL – COME HUNGRY, LEAVE SATISFIED!

MY HANOI STREET FOOD TOUR WITH VIETNAM ECO TRAVEL – COME HUNGRY, LEAVE SATISFIED!

     It’s the first time I visited Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city. It’s a chaotic, buzzing and hungry city that is a lot of interesting things to do. Before visiting Hanoi, my friend recommended me to try street food in Hanoi, especially in Hanoi Old Quarter which is a paradise of hanoi street food and the tastiest food place in the capital. Honestly, all my knowledge of Vietnamese food barely stretched beyond “pho” (Vietnamese noodle soup) and  “banh mi” (Vietnamese sandwich) before I visited Vietnam. Therefore with a food lover, I am so curious and excited with trying Vietnamese cuisine. So, what is the best way to try as much as possible authentic and local dishes in best places in Hanoi Old Quarter?, I decided to book a private Hanoi street food tour with a tour company names: Vietnam Eco Travel to make my stomach happily. I booked it online and confirmed quickly by them. So, let’s explore what how happy my stomach was through this tour!

   My tour started at 5:00 pm and they would pick me up from my hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter. My tour guide, Ha, came on time and introduced herself and wasted no time taking me to our first stop: Nom bo kho (dried beef and salad). Ha said that through this tour, each dish she just ordered a small dish to help me no feel full quickly. That’s true, I wanted to eat all this old quarter.LOL.

    “Nom bo kho” is very tasty. It includes papaya, peanut, dried beef, herb and an awesome sauce made from soya. I love dried beef which was made by this small restaurant, it tasted different from dried beef that I tried before at home. Especially I ate on the sidewalk with a small plastic chair. I could see everyone, lifestyle from outside. Oh god, I love this moment!. Ha told me that with local restaurants in Hanoi Old Quarter, they don’t need to hire much staff because their members in their family will work with their family, from grandparents to their children. They live in their restaurant, each family has from 3 to 4 generations in a small space. I was surprised that a house or apartment in here are very small and still have a lot of people can live together in a small house. After that Ha guided me to a small long lane which has about 100 apartments. They even have to share restrooms together. Ha said that in here each 1m2 has 4 people. That’s crazy but I understood that it’s very expensive to buy space here and Hanoi Old quarter is a good place to earn money because it’s a touristic place!.

    We continue on the tour and visited Dong Xuan market which is the oldest and biggest market in Hanoi. Inside the market, it’s really large. There are numerous kinds of goods and products selling in this market such as clothes, household goods, dried foods, etc. Go out of the market, we visited the fresh market behind Dong Xuan market. They was selling fish, frogs, eels, small birds, and even turtle, etc which that are kept in large bubbling pans. Ha said that Vietnamese people can eat almost of animals: Any animal can move, we can eat it. That was funny. Vietnamese also eat dog meat, cat meat, rat, worm, insects, etc. It sounds creepy but I know it’s their culture for centuries. It will be a big problem if you eat dog meat or cat meat in Germany. And yes, dog and cat are members in my family so I never want to eat them.

   Ha showed me some special foods which are favorite foods of Vietnamese people but they’re weird and creepy with foreigners, especially westerners like me. They were duck egg fetus, I even could see a baby duck inside, maybe they will become a cute duck soon, they just boiled them and ate with ginger and vegetables; fresh pig blood pudding and fresh coconut worm. They really made me scared. I saw the coconut worm still moved inside fish sauce which was served in a small bowl. Yeah, I couldn’t try it although locals tried to motivate me that they’re delicious. Oh my god!, “No, thank you”!. If you have a brave heart and strong stomach, try them!.

    Anyway it’s really interesting to chat with locals although they don’t speak much English but they’re super friendly and always smile. I think Vietnam is one of happiest countries in the world.
My next stop for food is a small restaurant where I tried “Bun cha”. Ha said that this restaurant serving the best “bun cha” in the city. Delicately crispy spring rolls and herbs such as shiso, holy basil, lettuce accompany the main event: a bowl of warm broth containing “cha” (grilled pork) into which you add white nice noodles. Oh my god! I love the dipping sauce which is made from fish sauce, vinegar, papaya, carrot, etc. It was awesome. This dish is the best Vietnamese food I have ever tried. I couldn’t help to eat all of it for some minutes.  Ha lead me around the Hoan Kiem Lake (Returned sword lake) and told me the story of Le Loi King, the turtle god and the magical sword. It was interesting story and I respected this holy place. Ha also told me about Vietnamese religion and spiritual life. I feel like I love Vietnam more and more right now. :D On the way to try “Banh cuon”, we tried “bia hoi”, the fresh beer inVietnam. It was very light and it’s a favorite beer of local, especially in summer. Now I know how to say “cheer” in Vietnamese: 1,2,3 zo!. It’s funny!.Hahaa.

     Next stop, I tried “banh cuon” (Steamed rice pancake rolls). It fiiled with minced pork, and vegetables, including shallots and mushrooms. The pancake sheets are incrediblely thin, so attempting to peel my our off the hot surface with a stick didn’t quite go to plan – but it’s fun all the same!. Again, the sauce of this dish made made me addicted. This dish is easy to eat so I think you absolutely love it!. While we ate “Banh cuon”, Ha spoke about her life, her small village before moving to Hanoi for studying. She kept talking about ancestor veneration, which can be seen across all of Vietnam. She explained the reason why people burn fake money in a small stove on the side of the road or on the street, as an offering to their ancestors in the another world where death people live. In their religion, when they burn something for their ancestor, they can receive it and use it in their world. I think this habit is interesting but I think they shouldn’t waist too much money to buy things and burn it because Ha said that some people even buy a big fake house, car, iphone, motorbike, etc and then burn them for their ancestors. Anyway I respect Vietnamese culture and their spiritual life!.

    After that, we didn’t go too far for the next stop. Appearing in front of my eyes, this was a nondescript street cart selling small loaves of “banh mi” (Vietnamese sandwich) lathered. I tried “banh mi” before at home but when I took one first bite of this “banh mi”, I think I was in heaven. It was much more better than the “banh mi” in Germany. The bread is crunchy, Vietnamese ham, liver paste, pickle papaya and carrot, herbs were perfect combination. How could I express my feeling after trying it. I just ate and ate until the last piece. “So yummy”. There is only one cart in the city open from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. I think I will absolutely come back here again because I think I am addicted with “banh mi” now. Ha told me about the difference between the regional differences in Vietnamese cuisine: Southern Vietnamese food is sweet because they put sugar in every dishes, Central Vietnamese cuisine is spicy because of their favorite flavor, they put a lot of chili into their dishes, and northern Vietnamese is all about balance. So I think northern cuisine is my favorite choice because I don’t eat spicy and sweet  much. Otherwise, it’s not the reason for a food lover like me to stop trying Vietnamese cuisine in another parts of Vietnam.

     I was a little fun after that. I thought I just could eat 1 dish more, I had a beer belly right now and I wish my stomach was bigger at that moment. Ha guided me to try “bun rieu cua” (crab noodle soup). I just had beef noodle soup so it’s my first time to try this dish. It’s my favorite savoury dish of the night. It was served with a light vermicelli, tasty freshwater crab and a clear tomato broth. I really love the broth. Maybe I’ll try to make it at home, my family will be absolutely like it. Ha told me that the owner of this restaurant starts cooking at 5:30 am every day, after buying fresh tomatoes and crabs from the market and then create this rich and awesome dish. With her restaurant, she doesn’t hire any staff. All of the staff here are members of her family: her daughter, her husband and her grandmother. They live in the restaurant together. I noticed that in every restaurants and hotels in here, they have a small altar in the corner of their restaurant or hotel with small statues of 2 men. I asked Ha and she said that they were “than tai” (fortune god) and “tho dia” (god of land). Everyday people will put fruits, food, burn incense sticks and pray to have more customers. They even burn cigarettes because the fortune god like cigarettes. It’s interesting to hear that.

    I was so full. Yeah, I didn’t want to say that because I still wish to try more but my stomach will be angry with me if I eat more. LOL. I couldn’t eat any food more so last stop, Ha guided me to try egg coffee in a best place of this city. Egg coffee is a special coffee in Hanoi, it only have in Vietnam, nowhere in the world. I love coffee so was so excited to try it. We went to a secret place which is hard for tourists to find it. Go inside with a small lane, I smelt coffee flavor already. Ha told me about the history of the man who created egg coffee from 1946. It was interesting because egg coffee now becomes more and more popular and attracts tourists when they visit Hanoi. An egg coffee is made from chicken egg yolks, sugar, condensed milk and Vietnamese coffee. Vietnam is one of top exporting country for coffee. When the egg coffee is served, it was beautiful. A cup of egg coffee is small, cute inside a bowl of hot water to retain its temperature. The marriage of egg’s rich taste and aromatic coffee waiting through the air makes up specific flavor. It tasted yummy with perfect combination. First it has 2 parts: whipped egg with stuffs on the top and the coffee below so you should mix them well before drinking. The whipped egg is thick, look like scream. I drank until the last drop. It’s awesome, I was thinking about how could I drink it again when I am back home. Maybe I should learn the recipe to make egg coffee and then I can open my own egg coffee shop at home. I will be rich. LOL.

    When I was drinking egg coffee, Ha told me a lot a lot about Vietnamese ethnic groups and the special culture of some ethnics which are very interesting. We chatted about many things and I laughed a lot.

    After 4 hours of munching on the streets of Hanoi Old Quarter, I was set to bust. Ha guided me back to my hotel. I had a memorable tour with a lot of fun and my stomach was absolutely satisfied now. LOL. With this street food tour, I not only could try delicious Vietnamese foods but also I know more about Vietnamese culture, lifestyle, spiritual life, etc via introduction of my lovely guide – Ha. I love Vietnam more and more now. And I am eager to continue my journey to southern of Vietnam tomorrow to have more incredible experiences in this “S country”!.

    You can visit Vietnam Eco Travel’s website and follow them on Facebook and Youtube

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WHY “VIETNAMESE PHO BO” (BEEF NOODLE SOUP) IS LISTED ON TOP BEST FOODS IN THE WORLD?

WHY “VIETNAMESE PHO BO” (BEEF NOODLE SOUP) IS LISTED ON TOP BEST FOODS IN THE WORLD?

   Vietnamese people are very proud because “Pho bo” is listed on top 1 in top 40 best street food in the world which you should try before you die. Let’s find out the reason with Vietnam Eco Travel !
Business Insider listed top 40 bes foods in the world which you should try before you die and it’s amazing that  “pho bo ” is on top 1.

   It’s not random when “pho bo” is voted to be the best food in the world by a foreign prestige website. Behind a delicious “pho bo”, it’s the best combination of spices to make perfect flavor and secret recipe. “Pho bo” is a traditional dish in Vietnamese cuisine. “Pho” appears everywhere, from small villages to every corner of streets, from street vendors, small restaurants to luxury restaurants. “Pho bo” can be your breakfast, lunch or dinner. You never get bored with its delicious flavor.
It’s said that “Pho” first appeared in Nam Dinh province but Ha Noi capital made it become more popular. Nowadays “Pho” is not only a favorite food of Vietnamese people but also foreigners are addicted with it.  Everyone love “pho” by the perfect combination of special broth, soft beef and flat rice noodles. The smell of “Pho” is so attractive that you will never forget.

   From summer to winter, people also can eat “pho”. Enjoy “Pho” in each season or each meal has its own interesting that only “Pho” lover can understand. A famous Vietnamese writer, Thach Lam said that “Pho” is a special gift of Hanoi, Hanoi is not only place which have “Pho” but Hanoi is the best place to try “Pho”. A best “Pho” should be a original one which is cooked from beef and cow bone, the broth must be clear and tasty; flat rice noodles are not too soft and doughy; fatty beef should be crispy, no tough; enough spices such as onion, herb, lime, chili, etc.

   In 1940s, “Pho” was popular in Hanoi: “It is a special food that everyone can eat, from farmer, worker to intellectual or business in every meals. Although “Pho” is easy to cook but not much people can make a good one. The most important to make a best “Pho” is the broth. The broth is stewed from cow bone. Beef must be soft, no tough and fresh. Rice noodles must be thin, neither tough nor soft. Eating “Pho” with green onion, pepper, vinegar, chili, lime and herbs.  Each restaurant has its own secret recipe to make delicious “Pho”. However the main spices to make “Pho” is black cardamom, ginger, star anise, clove, cinnamon, dried onion, dried shrimp, archives and cow tales.

   Visiting Hanoi, you shouldn’t miss to try “Pho bo” which is the best Hanoi street food. You bet that you absolutely fall in love with it!

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TOP 6 WEIRDEST AND CREEPIEST FOOD IN VIETNAM WITH FOREIGHNERS

TOP 6 WEIRDEST AND CREEPIEST FOOD IN VIETNAM WITH FOREIGHNERS

   Vietnam is a paradise of cuisine as well as street food in the world. More and more tourists visit Vietnam to not only explore the incredible landscapes but also enjoy unique and delicious Vietnamese street food such as “pho”, “bun cha”, “banh cuon”, etc. However there are many Vietnamese street food make foreign tourists feel scary or creepy for the first time they see it or some tourists are even “scared to death”. Vietnam Eco Travel will introduce you top weirdest and creepiest food in Vietnam in foreign tourists’s eyes.

1. Thit cho (Dog meat), thit meo (cat meat) 

           Dog meat and cat meat are the scariest meats in foreigner’s eyes. With Vietnamese people, especially Vietnamese men, dog meat and cat meat are must- have dishes to drink with beer or rice wine. However foreigners think that dog meat and cat meat are really creepy   because dog and cat are considered as members in their family. Therefore eating dog or cat are unacceptable.

2. Thit chuot (Rat meat)

    Many people feel scared of rat. Rat always live in dirty places and they can spread a lot of diseases so they’re the reason why foreigners are afraid of them. However in Vietnam rat meat is a special and expensive food. Rats live in rice fields or mountains have better taste so Vietnamese are mainly eat rat meat which live in those places. There are a lot of dishes which made from rat meat such as: steamed rat meat with lime leaves; stirred fried rat meat with garlic and onions; Roasted rat with salt, etc.

3. Tiet canh (Fresh blood pudding)

    Fresh blood pudding from duck, pig, goose, goat, etc is a daily food of Vietnamese people. But with foreigners, this dish is the creepiest food that they just see in horror films. They will mix peanut, herbs, pork and lime with fresh blood. After the blood curdling, you can eat it. However this fresh dish has lots of dangerous viruses, Vietnamese people now don’t eat it often.

4. Nội Tạng ( Animal innards )

    In many countries in the world, they don’t eat animal innards. They use animal innards to make food for another animals and they just eat meat. Therefore when foreigners visit Vietnam, almost of them are surprised by many dishes which are made from animal innards. Vietnamese people use: heart, brain, feet, tale, neck, head, gastric, etc to make different dishes. So we don’t waist anything of an animal. Nowadays many tourists feel interested in exploring this food when they have a vacation in Vietnam.

5. Trung vit lon (duck fetus)

     Duck fetus is listed one of the creepiest food in Vietnam as well as in the world. It is not only a favorite food of Vietnamese people but also a special food of Vietnamese cuisine. However with foreigners, they feel guilty when they eat a baby duck which will be given birth soon.
Duck fetus is boiled and served with ginger, Vietnamese cilantro. Duck fetus is also popular in Cambodia, Philippines, etc.

6. Insects

     Cicadas, stinkbugs, silkworm pupa, larva of bees, belostomatids, grasshoppers, crickets, etc are favorite food of Vietnamese people especially Vietnamese man because they are awesome food to combine with beer or rice wine. Insects are rich of protein and healthy but with some western countries, especially France, insects are a challenge for food lover.

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THINGS TO DO IN HANOI OLD QUARTER IN ONE DAY

THINGS TO DO IN HANOI OLD QUARTER IN ONE DAY

        As the oldest continuously developed area of Vietnam, Hanoi's Old Quarter has a history that spans 2,000 years and represents the eternal soul of the city. Located between the Lake of the Restored Sword, the Long Bien Bridge, a former city rampart, and a citadel wall, the Old Quarter started as a snake and alligator-infested swamp. Hanoi’s Old Quarter is a destination that you shouldn’t miss when you visit Hanoi. Being here, you will have chance to know more about Hanoians’s typical lifestyle, culture, Hanoians. Moreover you also can try Hanoi cuisine with mouth – watering dishes. In this article, Vietnam Eco Travel will guide you how to travel around the old quarter in one day and explore tourist attractions in this old quarter.

    Hanoi has 36 streets and guilds – Silver Street, Jam Street, Peach Street, etc. each bears the name of the goods that was specifically traded there such as Hang Bac (Silver Product), Hang Ma (Paper Product), Hang Go (Wood Product), just to name a few. Inside a modern and dynamic city, there appears an antique quarter, the Hanoi Old Quarter – the represented eternal soul of the city. These days, most Vietnamese and Westerners are familiar with the phrase “Ha Noi - Ba mươi sáu phố phường” (translated as “Hanoi – 36 Old Streets”), or “Phố cổ Hà Nội” (translated as “Hanoi’s Old Quarter”), the top special historical vestige and sight-seeing of the capital, luring international visitors thanks to their mostly original state. As a result, many of the streets were named after the crafts sold at that individual street. Pho Hang Bun (Rice noodles product), Pho Hang Ma (Paper Product), Pho Hang Bac (Silver), etc. are examples of the streets carrying the name of the products sold there. The old quarter is a highlight destination in Hanoi. So how to travel around the old quarter in one day, what should you eat and where to go?.

How to get to Hanoi Old Quarter 

You can walk from your hotel or go by bus to go to there. If you go there by foot, you can take a look in this map:

If you go there by bus, we will recommend for you some buses from other bus stop and they’ll get you to a street in the old quarter:
- Take the bus: 09, 14, 36 to go to Hoan Kiem lake and then start to visit Hanoi old quarter from here
- Take the bus: 03, 11, 14, 22, 18, 34, 40 and stop in the bus stop in 81 Tran Nhat Duat. Starting to visit the old quarter from Quan Chuong gate.
- Take the bus 31 and stop in the bus stop in 22C Comb street (Hang luoc).
Hotel and hostel in the old quarter: There is many hotels and hostels in the old quarter from cheap hotel to luxury hotel. It depends on your requirement and your choice to choose a suitable hostel or hotel here. You should book online a hotel before visiting here in some trustful booking websites such as agoda.com or booking.com, etc to see the price or the quality of rooms in each hotel or hostel.
We will recommend for you some hostels and hotels in Hanoi old quarter:
- Highlight hostels in the old quarter:
• Hanoi Rock Hostel in 54-56, Hang Duong street (Sugar street), Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi. The price from 3,45 USD.
• Hanoi Youth Hostel in 05 Luong Ngoc Quyen street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi. The price from 3,52 USD.
• Hanoi Blue Sky 2 hostel in 34 Hang Ga street (Chicken street), Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi. The price from 4,54 USD.
- Highlight cheap hotels in the old quarter:
• Camellia 5 Hotel in 81 Thuoc Bac street (Chinese medicine street), Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi. The price from 10,6 USD.
• Hotel du Centre ville in 47 Luong Ngoc Quyen street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi. The price from 11,56 USD.
• Hanoi Hoa Duong hotel: 01 Hang Mam street (Fish sauce street), Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi. The price from 12,76 USD.
- Highlight luxury hotels in the old quarter:
• Apricot Hotel in 136 Hang Trong street (Drum street), Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi. The price from 113,45 USD.
• Hanoi Romance Hotel in 19 Trung Yen, Dinh Liet street, Hoan Kiem district Hanoi. The price from 87,38 USD.
• Centre Point Hanoi in 25 Hang Manh street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi. The price from 86,69 USD.

Tourist attractions in Hanoi old quarter

   Ngoc Son Temple : Located in a small island in Hoan Kiem lake (Returned Sword Lake). To reach Ngoc Son temple, you have to go across a red bridge, its name’s The Huc bridge. Visiting Ngoc Son temple, you will know about Hoan Kiem Lake’s legend and see Hoan Kiem lake and Turtle Towel. They’re destinations which you shouldn’t miss when you travel to Hanoi old quarter.

   Hoan Kiem Lake (Returned Sword Lake): Located in the center of Hanoi capital. In the middle of Hoan Kiem lake, there is Turtle Tower which stands on a small island and be a sacred symbol of Hanoi. Nearby Hoan Kiem lake, there is Pen Tower, Ink Slab, The Huc bridge, etc.

   Dong Xuan market : Dong Xuan Market, or Cho Dong Xuan, is the oldest and largest market in Hanoi. It is located at Dong Xuan Street, at the end of Hang Dao Street, on the northern part of the Old Quarters. This large multi- storied market sells anything and everything. From fresh foods to home appliances, you will have it all here. But, what is more fascinating about this market is its historical significance which you still can experience if you visit this place. It witnessed fierce battle between the Vietnamese resistance units and the French. Dong Xuan Market is also a historical place where there was a combat of soldiers of “Quyết tử quân” (“Deciding to die”) against the French attack to the heroic zone I, in February 1947. Being the biggest market and locating in the downtown, Dong Xuan Market is a crowded and bustling exchanging, tracsaction, business place of the capital.

   Vietnamese Traditional house in Ma May street: Located within Hanoi Old Quarter, the ancient house at 87 Ma May street which was built at the late of the 20th century, is quite intact with typical architecture of ancient houses. The house consists of two main blocks linked together by a square yard in the middle on the ground floor, and a small balcony on the 1st floor. The yard is included at the centre of the building to moderate the air, provide the house with sunlight and cool winds. The balcony above is an ideal place to put small plants, flower pots for the owner’s interest and relaxation. All of the walls in this house were painted with typical yellow color like other ancient Hanoi houses, and all furniture, decoration items are reserved in good condition. Though being restored in 1999, this house still remains real and ancient beauty of itself. The price is 20.000 VND per person. Another historical sites such as Quan Chuong gate, Bach Ma temple, etc. Hanoi cuisine in the old quarter

   Besides tourist attractions, Hanoi old quarter is considered as the heaven of Hanoi cuisine. Tourists shouldn’t miss delicious feature dishes and addresses for food here.
• Dong Xuan alley cuisine: Enjoy famous and good dishes here such as musk duck noodles soup, snail noodles soup, crab noodles soup, Ma Thay “Che” (Vietnamese dessert), etc.
• Beef noodles soup: Pho Bat Dan in 49 Bat Dan street, Pho Suong in Trung Yen, Dinh Liet street, Pho Ly Quoc Su in Ly Quoc Su street,etc
• Grilled pork with rice noodles in Hang Buom street, Dac Kim restaurant in No.1 Hang Manh street, Hang Quat street
• Lemon Tea in Cho Gao street, Nha Tho street near St.Joseph’s Cathedral,   “Che” (Vietnamese dessert) in Dong Thai street
• Egg coffee:  Giang coffee (39 Nguyen Huu Huan street), Ca phe pho co (old quarter coffee) in 11 Hang Gia street
• Beer in Luong Ngoc Quyen street, Ta Hien street
• Salted dry apricot and sugared dry apricot in Hong Lam shop, no.1 Hang Duong street
• Bolted snails in Dinh Liet street
• Stir fried noodles and crab noodles soup in Nguyen Sieu street
• Banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich): Banh mi 25 in 25 Cha Ca street, Banh mi Pi in 12 Hang Buom street, banh mi pho co in Dinh Liet street, etc

How to travel around Hanoi old quarter ?

You can walk or take a cyclo or an electric car to travel around here.
Recommendation to visit Hanoi old quarter in one day by foot or a vehicle.

Morning: 

• Walk to Dong Xuan area to have breakfast
• Visit Dong Xuan market and Quan Chuong gate
• Visit Bach Ma temple and have grilled pork and rice noodles in Hang Buom street

Afternoon: 

• Visit Vietnamese traditional house in 87 Ma May street
• Visit Kim Ngan dinh in 42-44 Hang Bac street
• Enjoy local food such as fried tofu with rice noodles and shrimp sauce in Phat Loc street.
• Take a rest in Giang Coffee to try egg coffee

Late afternoon :

• Visit Ngoc Son temple and Hoan Kiem lake
• Watch Water Puppet Show in  Thang Long water puppet theatre in 57B Dinh Tien Hoan street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi
• Buying some souvenirs, eat boil snail in Dinh Liet street or drink beer in Luong Ngoc Quyen street or Ta Hien street

Evening :

• Try stir fried noodles in Nguyen Sieu street
• Drink lemon tea in Cho Gao street or Nha Tho street near St.Joseph’s Cathedral.

We hope these advices can help you to make a good itinerary when you travel to Hanoi old quarter. Have a nice trip!

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TOP TOURIST ATTRATIONS IN THE CENTRAL OF HANOI

TOP TOURIST ATTRATIONS IN THE CENTRAL OF HANOI

1. Hanoi Old Quarter

            The Old Quarter has a rich religious heritage. When the craftsmen moved from outlying villages into the capital, they brought with them their religious practices. They transferred their temples, pagodas and communal houses to their new location. Each guild has one or two religious structures and honors its own patron saint or founder. Therefore, on each street in the Old Quarter there is at least one temple. Now, many of the old temples in the Old Quarter have been transformed into shops and living quarters, but some of the old buildings' religious roots can still be recognized by the architecture of their roofs.

   The Old Quarter is located between the Lake of the Restored Sword, the Long Bien Bridge, a former city rampart, and a citadel wall, the Old Quarter (consisting of 36 old streets inside) started as a snake and alligator-infested swamp. It later evolved into a cluster of villages made up of houses on stilts, and was unified by Chinese administrators who built ramparts around their headquarters. The area was named "Dominated Annam" or "Protected South" by the Chinese.

   It would be a big surprise should you know that Hanoi's Old Quarter came into being at the time King Ly Thai To selected Thang Long as the country’s capital in 1010, he moved the capital from Hoa Lu which is in Ninh Binh province, far away from Hanoi about 100 km, that is, the streets have a nearly 1,000-year old history and became crowded & lively in 15th century. What makes them unique is that many of them remain in their very ancient architecture of the 15th century. Until now, it has been the oldest continuously developed area of Vietnam.
Visiting this unique historical vestige comfortably lying around Hoan Kiem Lake, tourists get lost in a totally different world from the rest of the city and have the chance to explore the modest but energetic life of the local a hundred years ago, where there were no high-rise buildings, too much traffic or fancy stores; things will get a little bit smaller, as visitors may have used to those skyscrapers and shopping centers in other parts of the city, but not at all less lively and vigorous.
The cuisine in Hanoi Old Quarter also attracts tourists by mouth watering dishes from Vietnam cuisine to western cuisine. Visiting the Old Quarter, tourists should try “Pho bo” (beef noodles soup), “bun cha” (grilled pork with rice noodles and fish sauce), “Xoi” (steamed sticky rice), “nem” (spring roll), “banh mi” (Vietnamese sandwich), etc.

You can book Hanoi Street Food Tour to try Vietnamese Food

2. Hoan Kiem lake (Returned Sword lake or Sword lake) and Ngoc Son temple

         Hoan Kiem lake was once part of the Red river. Located in the centre of Hanoi, near Hanoi Old Quarter, it is considered as a heart of Hanoi, a beautiful basket of flowers, a mirror-like green lake, a place of love. Throughout thousands of years of geographical changes, the lake moved eastward to its present position kilometers from the river. In legendary, during the war against the Minh aggressors, Le Thai To King was given a precious fairy Sword by the Golden Turtle God. After 10 years of continuous struggling, the King finally defeated the Chinese and reclaimed the nation’s independence. After that, on a nice day, while boating on Lục Thuy Lake, a large turtle came towards him. It immediately grabbed the sword with its mouth and submerged. The king mourned the loss of such a valuable sword, yet could not find either the turtle or the sword. He realized that the God must have lent him the sword to drive back the enemy, but then that his nation was free, the sword must be returned. Hence, King Le Thai To name the Sword Lake or Lake of the Restore Sword after this episode.  The Turtle Tower (Thap Rua) standing on a small island near the centre of lake is linked to the legend. The water in Hoa Kiem lake always be green and have many turtles, some turtles here are hundreds years old.

   The lake surrounds Ngoc Son Temple, a temple sitting in the centre on a small island. Go across The Huc bridge (Welcoming morning sunlight bridge), you will reach Ngoc Son temple. The temple attracts many visitors and was built in commemoration of the 13th century military leader Tran Hung Dao who was renowned for his bravery in the battle against the Yuan Dynasty. Homage is also paid to scholar Van Xuong and Confucian master Nguyen Van Sieu. The island on which the temple is built is known as Jade Island and is accessible by the iconic Huc Bridge or Rising Sun Bridge which is a charming scarlet-painted wooden bridge of classical Vietnamese design. The pagoda is also guarded by two towering posts decorated with Chinese writing. The lake and temple are probably the most famous places in Hanoi city in which to rest and enjoy the view and are a great place to sit back and watch the locals.

3. Ho Chi Minh complex

        Ho Chi Minh complex is a must see destination when you visit Hanoi. Being one of special places among Vietnamese, to the west of the Old Quarter, Ho Chi Minh complex is an important place of pilgrimage. Ho Chi Minh (or Uncle Ho), the very first president of Vietnam, the National Liberation Hero. He devoted his whole life to the national liberation of Vietnamese people. In order to honor and show the gratitude to Uncle Ho, the government decided to build the Ho Chi Minh complex in Hanoi after he was gone. The complex includes Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, Uncle Ho’s House on stilt, One Pillar pagoda, Ho Chi Minh museum and Ba Dinh square. Visiting Ho Chi Minh complex, visitors will know more about the life of Ho Chi Minh president and his dedication in Vietnam war. Especially you will have a chance to see his body which was served from he passed away and express your admiration for him.

4. Hoa Lo Prison

         The Hoa Lo Prison, later known to American prisoners of war as the "Hanoi Hilton", was a prison used by the French colonists in Vietnam for political prisoners and later by North Vietnam for prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. Located in downtown Hanoi, the infamous Hoa Lo Prison or the Hanoi Hilton was built by the French administration in 1896 when Vietnam was still part of French Indochina. The French called the prison Maison Centrale - a traditional euphemism to denote prisons in France. Most exhibits relate to the prison’s use up to the mid-1950s, focusing on the Vietnamese struggle for independence from France. A gruesome relic is the ominous French guillotine, used to behead Vietnamese revolutionaries. There are also displays focusing on the American pilots who were incarcerated at Hoa Lo during the American War.

   The majority of the exhibits here include a horrifying array of shackles, whips, and other instruments of torture, as well as tiny solitary confinement cells, which date from the French-colonial period. Also on display is part of the old, narrow more than 100 prisoners escaped in August 1945. A smaller section of the museum is devoted to the American period and, predictably enough, contrives to show how well US prisoners fared in contrast to the brutality shown to the Vietnamese by the French. At the back of the museum is the guillotine. A surprisingly small, simple yet terrifyingly.

5. Vietnam Museum Of  Ethnology

         This is the most recent yet probably the largest and undoubtedly the most interesting Museums in Hanoi and Vietnam.  Vietnam Museum Of  Ethnology focuses on the 54 officially recognized ethnic groups in Vietnam. It is located on a 3.27-acre (13,200 m2) property in the Cầu Giấy District, about 8 km from the city center. This fabulous collection relating to Vietnam's ethnic minorities features well-presented tribal art, artefacts and everyday objects gathered from across the nation, and examples of traditional village houses.

    The museum is packed full of information detailing traditional Vietnamese ways of life, from religious events to the symbolic rituals of all the Vietnamese ethnic groups, providing a rich tapestry of the culture melting pot existing in Vietnam. The exhibition hall features everyday objects representing each group, a research centre, library and auditorium. The outdoor display area exhibits a variety of Vietnamese homes as full-scale replicas, with great attention paid to the varying architectural styles set within the authentic and tranquil gardens. In addition, there are also leisure pursuits on display including traditional water puppet theatre and calligraphy. The future aim of the museum is to also showcase the many cultural practices and civilizations across southeast Asia.
One of the main features of the museum is to present the artefacts in a simple manner so that visitors can enjoy them without being overwhelmed by detail.

6. Vietnamese Women’s Museum

          Despite being a patriarchal society, Viet Nam still reserves a special, if not sacred, place to honour Vietnamese women. Not only is October 20th is made Vietnam’s Women day but there also exists a museum dedicated to women.
The museum has three main galleries and these present three main themes: Women in Family, Women in History and Women’s Fashion. Visitors have the opportunity to learn and understand traditional culture, marriage customs, childbirth and family life, traditional women’s clothing and the role of women in the defense of the nation.
Inside the museum there is lots of narrative as women of the rice paddy fields, service workers, street vendors, female business leaders, academics and mothers are all well represented. Additionally there is plenty of information on everyday life including marriage, family life, fashion and life changing rituals. Interestingly, there are also exhibits on the part women played in Vietnam’s wars. Displays are very well presented in a storytelling format with signs also in English and French. Historic documentation including Taoist books of the Dao people and wedding cards from the Kinh community will give visitors an in-depth insight into better understanding the women of Vietnam. Photographs and film footage documenting the life of heroic mothers during wartime are moving exhibits that shouldn’t be missed. The Vietnam Women’s Museum is definitely worth a few hour visit, especially for those keen on learning about culture and gender.

7. National Museum of Vietnamese History

         The National Museum of Vietnamese History is housed in a magnificent example of Indochinese architecture, which was, until 1910, the French consulate and residence of the governor general. Although the museum is only 2,000m2 in total, it provides a great overview of the history of Vietnam thanks to chronological sequence. The site has two floors, among which Vietnam’s history is divided into 10 different sections, from the prehistoric era to the day when President Ho Chi Minh read out the Declaration of Independence giving birth to Vietnam.
In here preserving more than 7,000 precious objects, some aged thousand years old which represent the cultural diversity of the country. Historic objects exhibited here are not only Vietnamese origin but also consists other culture like China, Japan, Thailand and especially Champ with more than 50 stone-engraved back to 7th-13th centuries.

Book : Hanoi Free local tour for exploring attractions in the central Hanoi

8. Quoc Tu Giam (Hanoi Temple of Literature)

          Hanoi Temple of Literature is situated at the south of Thang Long citadel, is on top of the historical and beautiful sightseeings of the beautiful capital of Vietnam.   was constructed in 1070 under Ly Thanh Tong’s dynasty, first to honor Confucius and nowadays to celebrate the doctorates and high rank scholars of Vietnam. In 1076, King Ly Nhan Tong continued the work and built Quoc Tu Giam as the first university of Vietnam.
The size of Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam is 54,331m2 including: Van Lake, Giam garden, inner self surrounded by brick walls. The inner self is divided into 5 zones. The first zone begins with the main entrance to the Great Chinese ports. The port gate has unique architecture of two storeys with stylized double dragon Le; inside it has a double dragon of the Nguyen dynasty. The second zone features with Khue Van Cac - a unique architecture built in 1085 (Nguyen dynasty), including 2 floors, 8 roots. Khue Van Cac usually organizes the poetic competition. Today, Khue Van Cac is taken as the symbol of Hanoi capital. The third zone has a square lake called Thien Quang Tinh. Two sides along the lake is two stele garden which store 82 stelae established from 1484 to 1780 in which name, hometown of the doctorate of 82 examination were sculpted. Step through the door into the Great to the Fourth named Bai Duong Van Mieu which has name of outstanding pupils of Confucius along with other famous culture of VietNam.  The fifth zone is the old Temple of Literature - the location for the talent selection competitions in the past.
If you are keen on architecture, Temple of literature has one of the most typical architecture style for centuries in Vietnam, composed of wood and tiles. Along the pass way is hundred-year-old trees that have witnessed ups and downs of history.

9. Ho Tay (West lake)

          Hanoi’s largest freshwater lake, West Lake has a circumference of 17km and houses many of the city’s historic places of interest around its perimeter – including Vietnam’s oldest pagoda and one of Vietnam’s four sacred temples. The lake attracts many locals and tourists seeking respite from the busy city, providing a sanctuary of great natural beauty with plenty of quiet spots in the sizeable lush gardens surrounding the lake.

   Visiting West Lake, tourists should visit some old and beautiful pagodas here:

   Tran Quoc Pagoda :  Located on a island in the south of Ho Tay (West lake), Tran Quoc pagoda is one of the best destinations of Thang Long citadel (the old name of Hanoi capital) under Le dynasty. In the past, it is the place Vietnamese Kings usually visit to relax and pray on lunar new year or on 1st and 15th of lunar month. Tran Quoc pagoda is the oldest pagoda in Hanoi and considered one of 16 the most beautiful pagodas in the world. Tran Quoc Pagoda is not only worth visiting as a sacred sanctuary of Buddhism attracting countless Buddhist believers; but also an indispensible destination for cultural explorers to Vietnam.

   Quan Thanh temple : Located in Thanh Nien street, near West lake. Quan Thanh Temple was built during the reign of King Ly Thai To (1010-1028) and renovated many times, the temple is also called Tran Vu temple, since it is dedicated to Huyen Thien Tran Vu (Guardian of the North of the Country) whose symbols of power are the serpent and turtle. It is one of the Four Sacred Temples that were built in four directions to protect the capital from malevolent spirits. . During its long history, Quan Thanh Temple has been renovated several times, most recently in 1893 when the principal gate and the shrine were redone, so the architecture is a mixture of the many different styles of the imperial era. The main features of Quan Thanh Temple are a large yard shaded by a giant banyan tree and a shrine that contains the famous bronze statue of Tran Vu built in 1677. Quan Thanh temple attracts visitors for its famous special and beautiful structure and religious cultural place.

Kim Liem Temple : Located in Quang An Village, near Ho Tay, Hanoi. According to history fact, the Ly Than Tong King had a daughter called Princess Tu Hoa. He commanded to build a place which was named his own daughter, Tu Hoa and let Tu Hoa and her imperial maids stay in this palace in order to give her a lesson of understanding and respecting their social positions. Kim Lien was designed with the combination of three pavilions, each of which has 2 roof layers. These pavilions were also built in the slight curved shapes. In addition of its nice disposition, the gate of Kim Lien Pagoda is also a symbol of the sophisticated and Elegant architecture.
Among the temples and pagodas in Hanoi, Kim Lien Pagoda is considered one of the magnificent pagoda retaining intact the ancient architecture.

   Tay Ho Temple : Located near West lake, in Quang An village, Tay Ho district, Hanoi. The temple worships Ms. Princess Lieu Hanh, one of the immortality quartet of Vietnam (Son Tinh, Thanh Giong, Chu Dong Tu, Lieu Hanh). Legend has it that she is Quynh Hoa - second daughter of the Jade Emperor, banished to earth for the crime of breaking glass jewel. Down to earth, she traveled, exploring all parts. Across the island of West Lake, she discovered this holy land. She decided to open up shop and lived here. She helped people to settle, eradicate evil, and punish bribery. Under the Nguyen dynasty, she was named ‘Mau Nghi Thien Ha” (Mother of the whole world), being one of the four gods "Immortals Quartet" of Vietnam.

   Many people come here, not only to worship Thanh Mau in the hope that she will offer them good things and good luck, but also to admire the beautiful landscape of the capital city.

10. Long Bien bridge

         Long Bien bridge is seen as the symbol of courageous capital in wars. Though the bridge was designed by French, it was built directly by Vietnamese workers with indigenous construction materials like woods from Phu Tho, Yen Bai, Thanh Hoa province, cement from Hai Phong, Long Tho lime from Hue.
More than 100 years with decades of war, Long Bien Bridge was bombed many times by air attacks by American army in 1967, 1972; and many spans of the bridge were destroyed. The left spans still remaining today remind us of an unforgettable past. The bridge, hence, is not only a traffic construction, a nice architecture, but also a living historical relic.
Today, Long Bien is only one of the five bridges crossing the Red river of Hanoi. However, it may be the most special bridge with unique historic, architectural, and cultural value. It is the only bridge in Hanoi where all the riders have to go in the left hand side, where tourists can take a walk and taste mouthwatering desserts offered by vendors (see 5 street vendors you should not miss out in Hanoi), where Hanoians can buy fresh vegetable or fish for the dinner from the small afternoon market on the bridge.
Many people living and visiting Hanoi said that Long Bien Bridge is the best place to look at the sunrise or the sunset and taking nice photos of alluvial patch.

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RECOMMENDATION FOR BEST STREET FOOD TOURS IN HANOI

RECOMMENDATION FOR BEST STREET FOOD TOURS IN HANOI

               Hanoi capital always be a must see destination in your travel list when  you spend your vacation in Vietnam. Visiting Hanoi, you will feel first surprised with the crazy traffic in rush hour, too much motorbikes and they honk a lot. Besides that you will impress with vietnamese people because they always look happy and friendly. Hanoi capital is beautiful and peaceful with many tourist attractions such as historical places, pagodas, temples, entertainment places, shopping malls, etc. Especially you won’t definitely miss to try Hanoi street food here with many delicious dishes, Hanoi was voted to be one of the street food paradise in the world. Be careful with street food here because you may get addicted with them. Try as much as possible Vietnamese food in best places when you stay in Hanoi. The best way to enjoy Hanoi street food is travel with locals, they will guide you to best places for delicious Vietnamese food with chep price. You can join with a Hanoi street food tour. There are a lot of tour operators celebrated Hanoi street food tour to choose so you may get confused to find a best one to join. I will recommend you some best food tour operators in Hanoi if you would like to book a street food tour in Hanoi.

1. Vietnam Eco Travel  ( Highlight recommend )

   Vietnam Eco Travel is a prestige tour operator in Vietnam. They provide many tours in Vietnam, includes Hanoi street food tours. You can book this tour in the morning, afternoon or in the evening. The tour guide will guide to local small restaurant to try Vietnamese cuisine as well as Hanoi cuisine. Moreover you will know about the ingredient, recipe, source and how to eat like a local each dish. Via the introduction of the tour guide, you also know about Vietnamese culture, lifestyle and some historical places in Hanoi Old Quarter.

     This company mainly provides walking tour so you will walk around Hanoi Old Quarter, try food and drinks around here. They have 2 kind of street food tour: A tour for Vietnamese food lover who would like to try as much as possible Vietnamese food and drinks through the tour in local small restaurants. Another tour is the combination between Vietnamese cuisine and Vietnamese culture: You will enjoy delicious Vietnamese food in good restaurants, made some Vietnamese food by yourself via the introduction of the tour guide and enjoy “ ca tru ” which is one of traditional folk song in the north of Vietnam by good Vietnamese singers; You also visit some pagodas, historical places through this tour. The tour will last about 3.5 hours – 4 hours.

The highlight: 

- Good price and highly appreciated by tourists in Tripadvisors.
- You can try best Vietnamese food until you’re full.
- Professional and knowledgeable tour guide
- With street food tour which combines with “ ca tru ”, you will have chance to enjoy one of traditional folk songs in the north of Vietnam
- Small group (Maximum 8 people)

2. Kim tours

            Kim tours is a Local Tour Operator company in Old quarter of Hanoi,Vietnam for many years, They offer,Hanoi Street Food Walking Tour, Scooter Food Tour,Hanoi Street food Veteran Tour,Hanoi Adventure Food Tour, Street Food Water Puppet Show, Cyclo Street Food Tour , Hanoi Cooking Class Tours so you will have more choices to book your favorite food tour in Hanoi. With those tours, you will know more about Vietnamese cuisine via the introduction of tour guides and try mouth – watering dishes.

Highlight:

- You have more choice for food tours
- Good price with small group (maximum 10 people)
- Friendly and knowledgeable tour guide
- Many excellent reviews on Tripadvisor by their customers
You will have a chance to try Hanoi street food in local small restaurants in Hanoi Old Quarter and try from 8 to 10 vietnamese dishes and drinks.

3. Vietnam Awesome Travel

       Vietnam Awesome Travel is one of a good tour company in Hanoi, Vietnam. They’re also famous for Hanoi food on foot tour. This tour will guide to small family restaurant in Hanoi Old Quarter to try Vietnamese food as well as Hanoi cuisine. You can try from 8 to 10 dishes and drinks through the tour. They offer 3 kind of Hanoi food tour: Standard tour, superior tour and deluxe tour.
With the superior tour, beside enjoy Vietnamese food, you will have 1 hour with cyclo or watch water puppet show.
With the deluxe tour, beside enjoy Vietnamese food, you will have 1 hour with body massage.

Highlight:

- You can choose standard, superior or deluxe food tour.
- Knowledgeable tour guide
- Many excellent reviews on Tripadvisor by their customers

           There are many tour operators which provide Hanoi food tour but those are 3 of best tour companies in Hanoi. I hope you will have great tour in Hanoi and wonderful experiences!

Source : Vietnam Eco Travel

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TOP 7 “PHO” RESTAURANTS YOU MUST-TRY IN HA NOI

TOP 7 “PHO” RESTAURANTS YOU MUST-TRY IN HA NOI

   Hanoi cuisine has many mouth – watering dishes and “Pho” (Noodle soup) is a must try dish of Hanoi food when you have a chance to visit Hanoi, Vietnam. It is said that if you visited Hanoi and you hadn’t tried “Pho”, it meant you hadn’t visited Hanoi. I would like to introduce you top 7 “pho” restaurants in Hanoi Old Quarter which shouldn’t be missed!.

1. Pho Suong

   “Suong” means very happy. Its name can tell you about how delicious this “pho” restaurant is. The broth of “pho” here is really tasty, fresh beef and taste exactly “pho Hanoi” flavor. Trying “pho Suong”, you will definitely feel satisfied and happy as its name.
The address: No.24 Trung Yen lane , Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi. It opens from 5:30 am to 11:00 am, and from 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

2. Pho Bat Dan

   Located in No.49 Bat Dan street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi. This local restaurant has been heresince the 1960s. It just sells beef noodles and they still keep the original taste when it was introduced. The broth here is clear and delicious with reduced goodness of bone marrow but not fatty. The beef is tender and soft with glowing pink hue. When you come to this restaurant, you will be surprised because it always be crowded, small space and you have to make a line, self-served at the counter instead of waiting for the waiters come to you. But it’s worth to wait for some minutes to have a “pho” here, you won’t feel disappointed with this dish.
The address: No. 49 Bat Dan street in Hanoi Old Quarter. It opens from 6:30 am to 8:30 am.

3. Pho Thin

   Pho Thin is a small restaurant but always full of people, it’s the first thing that you may realize as soon as you take the first step to this place. Pho Thin just serves beef noodle soup. It is known for its special way of frying its beef before adding it to the soup. The chief will put rice noodles, beef, broth and green onion into a bowl to make you have unforgettable dish!
The address: No.13 Lo Duc street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi. It opens from 6:00 am to 8:30 pm.

You can book Hanoi Street food tour to try more special food in Hanoi

4. Pho Ly Quoc Supecial

   Located near the Joseph’s Cathedral, “Pho Ly Quoc Su” is a famous restaurant and familiar with Hanoi people. It means the ultimate stamp of quality. If you have a chance to eat “Pho”, it is always recommend to eat here. The broth, rice noodles, and beef are cooked perfectly. There are a lot of different type of beef choice to be served in your bowl. Be careful when you eat “pho” here because you may get addicted with it and always want to come back here again.
The address: No.11 Ly quoc Su street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi. It opens from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm and from 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm.

5. Pho Vui

   “Vui” means happy. The name of this restaurant is meaningful and easy to remember. The owner here would like to make their customers feel happy after they try “pho” here.
“Pho” consists of flat rice noodles, meat-based broth. The dish is accompanied by basil, lime, chili and other extras on the side so you can season the soup to your own taste. The balanced tastes of sweet, salty, spicy, and citrus are highly contagious.
The address: No.25 Hang Giay street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi. It opens from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm.

6. Pho Nho

   “Nho” means miss or remember. So when you try “pho” here, you will always miss this place and want to come back again. It’s the target of the owner here. They will serve you best “pho” and you never forget its taste. The combination of flat rice noodles, broth and beef is perfect. The broth is made by simmering beef bones, oxtails, flank steak, charred onion, charred ginger and spices and it takes several hours to make. Each restaurant of pho will have different recipes to make delicious broth. “Pho Nho” always be a good place to try “pho” for eaters. The address: No.27A Huynh Thuc Khang street, Dong Da district, Hanoi. It opens from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm.

7. Pho 65 Lan Ong

   While the traditional “Pho” is with beef, there are also a lot of another version of “Pho” with chicken, fish, snail, etc. Visiting No. 65 Lan Ong street in Hanoi Old Quarter to try “Pho” with chicken. This shop only opens at night and all the tables and chairs are set up on the pavement. You can  have the traditional soup type but this place is more famous for its dry “Pho”. It will be served with the broth is separated from the rice noodles. They have a special sauce is secretly hidden under the noodle and chicken. This dish is a good experience for you instead of beef noodle soup.
The address: No. 65 Lan Ong street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi.
       

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