Hanoi is not only famous for being the capital city with a long history, and architectural beauty mixed with the ancient and modern, political and economic center, but also known as a place with many traditional, delicious, unique, and highly eye-catching dishes that can’t be missed.
“What are typical and traditional Hanoi foods?” is one of the most common questions that we often receive from our customers. In this episode, we’ve listed 3 typical, traditional foods that you must try when visiting Hanoi.
Let’s learn about some of the delicious and famous dishes that visitors must try when coming here with us!

#1. Pho

There are many assumptions about the origin of Pho, one of which is the explanation that: Pho originated in China, then gradually penetrated into Van Cu Giao Cu village in Nam Dinh province, Vietnam. Initially, Vietnamese called Pho is Nguu Nhuc Phan, sold for sale on the street. But over time, the name has changed a lot and there is only one word left: Pho.

Pho is an extremely delicious blend of many different spices and ingredients, requiring meticulousness, feats and perseverance of the cook. The main ingredients in Pho include onion, ginger, cinnamon, star anise, beef bone, chili, fresh noodle soup, bean sprouts, and coriander,… There was a special kind of ingredient in Pho in the past. Sa Sung, a mollusk, which helps to make Pho water sweet and creates uniqueness for Pho at that time. However, due to the scarcity as well as the price, people gradually stopped using it.

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Pho can be eaten at any time of the day, soft chewy noodle soup, rich broth often eaten with quark has become an indispensable spiritual traditional food of Hanoians, evoking the curiosity of those who have not tried it and leaving a mark in the mind of the person who has tried this special dish.

#2. Com (Vietnamese Green Sticky Rice)

Com is a specialty dish of Hanoi, a long-standing cultural beauty of the Hanoi people. When it comes to Com, people think of a cool and gentle snack for many generations.

Com originated from Vong village, also known as Com Lang Vong, thousands of years ago. The day before it rained a lot, the rice milk began to form, the rice bent, it rained, and the flood broke the dyke, submerging the field in deep water. Loss of crops and famine lurks, and farmers do not want to let their hard work disappear, so they went to the fields to search for young, dry-roasted rice to avoid being hungry. Unexpectedly, that “fire-fighting” finished product not only has a sweet, flexible, and fragrant taste but can also save the whole village. So every year when the rice starts to round, people in Vong village go out to the fields to collect rice and bring it back to eat hybrid rai for fun.

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Com is light green, slightly yellow, the seeds are thin, flexible and have the aroma of young rice. It is usually wrapped in lotus leaves, and the smell of lotus leaves has blended to create a faint, sweet scent. Com is a precious gift that nature bestows, a familiar dish with the flavor of Hanoi’s human culture.

#3. Cha ca La Vong (La Vong Grilled Fish Cakes)

Following Pho and Com, La Vong Cha Ca is one of the next names for typical and traditional foods mentioned when arriving in Hanoi because of its unique name and rich taste. In 2016, La Vong fish cake was broadcast on CNN as one of the best Vietnamese dishes in the world.

Cha Ca La Vong dates back to about 200 years ago, during the French colonial period, at house number 14, Hang Son Street (now Cha Ca Street), the owner adopted and helped Hoang Hoa Tham insurgent army in uprising activities. Here, the owner opened a shop to make patties with the family heirloom, so that the insurgents could meet and earn money for their own living. But because of the culinary talent as well as the uniqueness and deliciousness, Cha Ca La Vong became famous and attracted a lot of guests.

The reason for the name Cha Ca La Vong is that in the Cha Ca restaurant, there is a statue of Mr. La Vong – Khuong Tu Nha sitting fishing. La Vong grilled fish became a name passed down from generation to generation.
The type of fish used to make Cha Ca La Vong is usually trout because of its sweetness, less bone, and delicious taste. Besides, it also includes other ingredients: shrimp paste, ginger, turmeric, and batch. People cut the fish into slices, marinate it in spices for 2 hours, and grill it on a charcoal stove. Vietnamese usually eat Cha ca with shrimp paste in a pan, not on a plate or bowl.

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Over time, La Vong Cha Ca has become a brand, a very special dish, attracting food and history lovers. It is a dish that people cannot miss and will remember forever when coming to Hanoi.

Summary

That’s our list of 3 typical, traditional foods you must try when visiting Hanoi: Pho, Com and Cha ca La Vong. Hope it can give you some idea about the food tour in Hanoi! If you are looking for a tour to discover Hanoi and try traditional foods with real local buddies, don’t hesitate to contact us!

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The previous episode: Episode 2: Welcome to the empire of grilled and steamed winter snacks