Lemon Tea at the Hanoi cathedral

The cup of lemon tea with the fragrancy of jasmine accompany two slices of lemon, with sweet, sour, bitter..all became the popular drink of Hanoi people

Despite the popular drink with the simple material, it has an unique attraction to people. If anyone been to Hanoi and having the opportunity to enjoy lemon tea at the Cathedral on Nha Chung Street make probably your Hanoi stay unforgettable

With the same beverage, but if you enjoy at another location, you will not probably have the special experience like this at anywhere. Sitting on a small plastic stool and savouring a cup of lemon tea and biting sunflower seeds or eating peanut candy bars combine catch the old and beautiful landscape surround the Cathedral are an interesting experience during your stay in Hanoi.

The Hanoi street food – a story from the names

Hanoi with the old streets, with the beauty of a thousand - year old land in the minds of many people. I am lucky to be live here for a long time to go on many old streets and enjoy hanoi street foodwhich cooked by original residents here. And one day, I was surprised, excited to know that a lot of Hanoi street names starting with "Hang" that is related to food.

Culinary Hanoi is diverse and plentiful from the streets named dishes such “noodle street”, “rice street”, “banana street”, “fish street”, “chicken street”, ‘sugar street”... to streets named with utensils serving for eating such as “ bowl street”, “chopstick street”… Over the past years, some old streets still remain looks like the beginning, some have changed their name, and each city no longer specializes a commodity anymore.

Pass many years, many street names disappear with old names such as Hàng Cau (areca street), Hàng Chè ( tea street), Hàng Trứng (egg street), Hàng Dừa (coconut street) ... Some others still retaining its original names bring a fresher aspect such as Hàng Mắm(fish sauce street) now no longer sell fish sauce anymore which is sold mainly tombstone, pottery; Hang Chao ( rice street) now sells screws, drill and mechanical tools, electric motors; Hang Dieu ( tobaco street) did not sell cigarettes and pipe tobacco and sells lotus seeds, Thai Nguyen tea, Phu Tho tea.

Hang Ca street now is familiar with many cafes address is known to the young generation. The most famous thing is coffee , especially Bar Corner (means simply as the "corner" of Hanoi). On this corner, feeling "frozen" the best of the person's Hang in there. In this place, time likes a stop, the sound of horns becomes quieter. Only yourself with a "corner" Hanoi real is nice, very charming and very loving.

"Neighbors" of Hang ca is Hang son street. A very special street creates the characteristic of Hanoi. Hang Son has now been renamed Cha Ca street because the street has a dish is considered "cream culinary northen dish"- Fried Fish La Vong (Cha Ca La Vong). Here only sells this dish that visitors and foreigners to Hanoi can not be miss.

One of the streets have contributed to specific aspects of Hanoi is Hang Than street. Hang Than street used to be a bustling place with charcoal services serving for living and productive activities of the people. Now Hang Than street specializes in green rice cake serving weddings. Here,there is the famous traditional cake shops for a long time.

A small alley with lots of coffee shops or crowed people, I would like to invite you to visit. It is Hang Hanh lane. Start from Hoan Kiem lake throughout Hang Trong and Bao Khanh lane. This alley has various cuisines not less than Tong Duy Tan food street.

Vietnam on the embroidery paintings of the girl loves traveling

As a singapore designer, Teresa enjoys traveling and wants to keep the beautiful images by embroidery painting that she has seen during her travel.
Most people bring a camera when traveling to capture any image that they like. But the Singapore designer, Teresa Lim did not want to be like the other ordinary tourists. So she had a very unique idea to keep memories from her trips.

Anywhere Teresa has been to, she would take the time to embroider a picture of the landscape that she has seen in person. Up to now, Teresa has got about ten embroidery paintings about places like Hanoi, Ha Long Bay (Vietnam), Tokyo (Japan), Prague (Czech Republic), Perth (Australia), Berlin (Germany) and Amsterdam (Netherlands).

On her personal page social network, explain her actions, Teresa wrote: "I start this hobby in late 2014 after I recognize that nowadays, the technologies make taking pictures becomes so easy. I want something more unique from my trip to be able to keep beautiful memories about places where I’ve been to. Every time embroidered a picture I feel like I really understand that place and this brings a great sensation as motivation for me to continue. "





Halong Bay, Vietnam.



Rice fields in the outskirts of Hanoi, Vietnam.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands.



Berlin, Germany.



Big Ben Tower, London, UK.



The sheep in the countryside, Germany



Serpentine Falls, Perth, Australia.


Prague, Czech Republic.



Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic.

Golden autumn in Tokyo, Japan.

Enjoy breakfast in the Hanoi Old Quarter just a few thousand dongs

Do not claim that everything in the old quarter is always expensive. With a few thousand dongs and you can also find a delicious breakfast, even savour draught beer at this beautiful old quarter

Sticky rice: 5.000 vnd

At Hang Hom street, where sticky rice is said to be both pretty cheap and great breakfast here. Only 5 thousand dongs, you can have breakfast for a day experience at the Old Quarter.

This stall has been here for a long time because of both low price and delicious sticky rice with the variety of kinds such as peanut sticky rice, bean sticky rice… so the early morning, everyone already sealed-off line at a corner. From 6am people gather to buy very much. In addition, to about 8 am, baskets of sticky rice has been sold out.

Many people buy the large quantity of sticky rice by some kilograms for the whole family, but only thirty thousand dongs

Noodle Soup costs....7000 vnd

For the past years, Noodle soup with crabin the morning sold at Lane Phat Loc has become a well known place as many people want to eat a delicious and cheap bowl of noodle soup.

Normally, the average price of noodle soup with crab in Hanoi costs more than 25 thousand dongs but at Loc Phat Lane, a small alley in the Old Quarter, the price of a bowl of noodle soup only cost ... 7000 dongs – a very low price which makes many people impressed.

In addition, consistent with beef, pork, chicken to meet customers’ request, the price for noodle soup with "mixed stuff" often costs about 20 thousand dongs.

The stall located in a small alley has only a few plastic chairs and tables, parking is difficult to find, sometimes the seats are not comfortable, but due to cheap and quality, the stalss is always crowded.

The stall owner confirms that despite a simple stall, the ingredients are very little industrial additives such as preservative substance so your noodle soup here is naturally sweet. The stall opens from 5 am to 10 am which is a cheap and delicious breakfast place for the people around the area.

Local beer

If you want to drink beer and catch the daily life in the Old Quarter in every afternoon or evening, do not hesitate just 5 thousand / draught. You can sit on a small plastic stool at the international corner –Ta Hien and look the ancient roof covered moss in this neighborhood

Draught beer at Ta Hien is famous because of not the most delicious, here customers can meet and hang out with friends. Because of spacious space, unique seats just small stools, the beers stall in the street are always very crowded, including foreigners.

Ta Hien Street is considered the gold point of the local beer traders . Beer price here only VND5,000 / draught. A few years ago, only 2,000 -3000 dongs each draught.

The local beer bartenders here compete highly to lead to the price of 5,000 VND / draught beer which is considered as a general price, can not sell more expensive. While other popular pubs in Hanoi are more expensive in summer, at this site they serve all days in the year.

Seat here has wooden stools and plastic chairs for customers. The narrow space, but according to customers’ feedbacks, especially foreign customers, once they’ve drunk local beer here, the atmosphere is unforgetable.

My walking full day around the Hanoi Old Quarter

This article is being written after finishing a full walking full day around the Hanoi Old Quarter. This wandering helps you can discover Hanoi the way you like. You can either explore by this following itinerary or dicover yourself.

Where is Hanoi Old Quarter located?

This area focuses almost in Hoan Kiem district, located in the northern and southern of Hoan Kiem lake. There are many original residents focus on living in 36 guild streets where each street sells specialized products and these streets were named by those ones. When visting Hanoi, you’d better stay somewhere nearby this area. Everything is comfortable when having sightseeing or shopping.

Attractive spots in Hanoi Old Quarter

These are not all in the Old Quarter scale where the area is pretty large and lots of for sightseeings. Below destinations that you should visit and taste Hanoi cuisine.

Dong Xuan market: The largest market in Hanoi constructed in 1889, on the site of one of Hanoi's lakes. It is a street market spreading over a surface of 600 square meters, occupying half of the street. Dong Xuan is mostly reserved for bulk sale and distribution points for many retailers in Hanoi. Main products include electronic devices, household equipments and clothing. Suppliers for the market come mainly from North Vietnam with many Chinese blends.

Quan Chuong gate: one of five remaining old gates with renovated gate for more stable.

Ice tea and sunflower seeds: There are many places to hang out with friends but there are famous places where Vietnames young generation often visit are Cho Gao and Ly Quoc Su street-in front of the Cathedral.

Bach Ma temple (White house temple): This temple was built in Ly Dynasty relating Thang Long citadel story. If you like to find out about histories, you shouldn’t miss this place.

87 Ma may street traditional house: This house was built at the end of the 19th century, It is typical of the traditional architecture in the Old Quarter. It was the first restoration of this kind in the Old Quarter. Since then, the house helps to promote at local and international levels the cooperation projects, and more specifically to present the Vietnamese architecture and building techniques (facade, inner house organization). It was recognized as Vietnamese National Heritage in 2004.

Local beer at Ta Hien – Luong Ngoc Quyen corner: as the cheapest beer in the world. You’ll be amazed about its flavour and the atmostphere here as well. This corner is where many native of Hanoi or tourists often come.

Eating snails: At Dinh Liet street, they serve every afternoon and night. This shop is well known about boiled snails that attracts people.

Café Giang: Giang café is considered as the most famous café shop about Egg coffee. Giang Café is humbly hidden on a small lane on Nguyen Huu Huan Street in the city’s old quarter. It may be difficult to find for visitors, but it is well worth the effort.

The coffee is brewed in a small cup with a filter before the addition of a well-whisked mixture of the yolk and other ingredients such as butter, sugar, condensed milk or cheese.

Hotels in the Old Quarter

The Old Quarter is the center of Hanoi, heart of the capital. Here often takes place many trade and tourism activities. Thus, The number of hotels are pretty large and diverse. You can choose many kinds of hotels from Dorms to 5 star hotels.

Introduction about Hanoi street food organized tour

Hey guys, We say greetings to tourists visting Vietnam. We welcome with a warm hug and our hospitality. We are young crew working as local guides with enthusiasm and passion leading visitors around Hanoi. What to expect in Hanoi street food tour
Join this tour, you'll have a chance to find you and discover the capital of Vietnam-Hanoi or Hanoi Old Quarter. Cultures, histories, architecture of landmarks about Hanoi. Especially, Vietnamese cuisine which is one of highlights of the tour. All in these tours.

Hanoi street food tours is a way to get familiar with the capital of Vietnam for tourists. We emphasize customized tours along with knowledgeable, enthusiastic young crew. We provide a "non-touristy" experience so you feel like a native of Hanoi! Each tour includes food tastings from the best specialty food shops. Besides, you’ll have a chance to discover unique architectures or historical stories at the tourist attractions around Hanoi. A truly unique way to discover Hanoi and the Old Quarter.

About Food into the itinerary, we emphasize Vietnamese traditional food. They've almost from rice or glutious rice by many different recipes. Each stops where you can taste different flavours and experience unique food culture

These tours have been carefully planned to give visitors to Vietnam an authentic taste of a country very attuned to the rhythms of food through the day and through the seasons.

These tours are the best choice to discover reality ancient Hanoi Old Quarter while tasting amazing authentic Hanoi street food.