In the summer, Hanoi combines the typical heat of the North with the winds blowing through the tree-lined streets, especially the liveliness of street food. If Hanoi is famous for Com (green rice flakes) Lang Vong in the fall, fried Banh Chung, or grilled corn in the winter, then summer brings a rich, gentle, yet equally delicate culinary palette. Summer foods in Hanoi are not only a great way to avoid the heat but also an indispensable part of the capital’s culinary culture.
When the heat of the burning sun covers every corner, Hanoians do not look for dishes that are too rich or greasy. They prefer dishes that are refreshing, easy to eat, and easy to digest, creating a perfect balance between flavor and comfort. From main meals such as bun cha, pho cuon, and crab noodles to snacks such as banana blossom salad, tofu pudding, and Hanoi sweet soup, all carry their own stories, associated with the streets, itinerant vendors, and memories of many generations.
Here are 10 of the most typical summer foods in Hanoi, dishes that not only help cool down but also contain the culinary essence of this thousand-year-old land of culture:
Bun Cha
Pho Cuon
La Vong Fish Cake
Crab Noodles
Banana Blossom Salad
Trang Tien Ice Cream
Tofu Pudding
Red Jellyfish
Mixed Red Noodles
Hanoi Sweet Soup
Bun Cha – Charcoal-Grilled Flavor Blends with the Summer Sun
When strolling around the streets of Hanoi at noon, it is hard to resist the fragrant aroma of bun cha emanating from street food stalls. In the blazing heat of summer, the red-hot charcoal stoves are still burning, and golden grilled pork and meatballs gradually give off an alluring aroma. That is the flavor of Hanoi, a scent that evokes cravings and cherished memories.
Bun cha is not only attractive because of the smoky aroma of grilled meat but also because of the harmony of the ingredients. The grilled pork is charred on the edges yet remains tender and juicy inside, eaten with fresh vermicelli and cooling raw vegetables. But the most important part is the bowl of sweet and sour dipping sauce – the soul that connects all the ingredients, creating a perfect balance between the sweetness of sugar, the mild sourness of vinegar, a little spiciness from garlic and chili, and the umami of fish sauce.
If you’re looking for an authentic Hanoi-style bun cha restaurant where the grilled meat is fragrant and served with a perfectly balanced sweet and sour dipping sauce, visit:
Bun Cha Huong Lien – 24 Le Van Huu, Hai Ba Trung District. This restaurant once welcomed former US President Obama, but the bun cha here retains its simple, traditional Hanoi flavor despite its fame.
Bun Cha Dac Kim – 1 Hang Manh, Hoan Kiem District. A generous portion of bun cha with thick, flavorful grilled meat, perfectly paired with a skillfully mixed fish sauce, creates a rich and unforgettable culinary experience.
Pho Cuon – When the Essence of Hanoi Pho Becomes a Refreshing Dish
If Hanoi’s winter cannot be without a bowl of steaming hot pho, then summer has a lighter, cooler variation – pho cuon. This dish is a testament to the creativity of Hanoians: it is still made with pho noodles, but instead of being cut into strands and served with broth, the noodles are left whole, rolled with fragrant stir-fried beef and fresh green vegetables.
Uncomplicated yet full of sophistication, pho cuon is a refreshing sensation perfect for hot days. When dipped in a bowl of sweet and sour fish sauce, each soft pho roll gently melts in the mouth, blending the sweetness of beef, the crunchiness of fresh herbs, and the slight spiciness of chili.
If you want to enjoy delicious pho cuon, where the rolls are soft and smooth, the stir-fried beef is fragrant, and the dipping sauce has just the right balance of sweet and sour, visit:
Pho Cuon Huong Mai – 25 Ngu Xa, Ba Dinh District. Besides pho cuon, this restaurant is also famous for its crispy fried pho, which is worth a try.
Pho Cuon 31 – 31 Ngu Xa, Ba Dinh District. It is known for its soft but firm pho rolls, well-seasoned beef filling, and signature dipping sauce, which perfectly balances sweet and salty.
La Vong Fish Cake – The Golden Flavor of Fish Marinated with Turmeric
No dish represents the thoroughness of Hanoi cuisine better than La Vong Fish Cake. More than just a dish, it is a part of history – a symbol of Hanoi’s culinary legacy for over 100 years.
This dish is a perfect combination of color and flavor. Fresh catfish is marinated in turmeric until golden brown, grilled over charcoal, and then fried in a hot pan with dill and green onions. When the fish is plated, the golden hue of the turmeric, the fresh green of the herbs, and the brown of the roasted peanuts blend, creating an artistic culinary masterpiece.
Enjoying La Vong Fish Cake is an experience in itself. The fish is served on fresh rice noodles, accompanied by roasted peanuts, herbs, and, most importantly, a spoonful of whipped shrimp paste. This unique combination is rich yet not greasy.
Hanoi’s famous grilled fish cake is not only known for its rich, turmeric-marinated catfish but also for its sophisticated way of enjoying it. To experience the authentic flavors of cha ca, visit:
Cha Ca Thang Long – 6B Duong Thanh, Hoan Kiem District. A spacious restaurant with professional service, offering fresh, firm fish served with vermicelli and roasted peanuts—a must-try.
Cha Ca Anh Vu – 120-K1 Giang Vo, Dong Da District. The fish here is fatty but not greasy. It is perfectly marinated and fried until golden brown, filling the entire restaurant with a tempting aroma.
Crab Noodles – The Coolness from the Fields of the North
Every early morning, as the first rays of sunlight creep through the small alleys, crab noodle shops are ready to welcome customers. Not as smoky as bun cha nor as visually appealing as pho cuon, crab noodles have their own charm – a gentle yet profound flavor deeply rooted in Hanoi’s culinary culture.
The highlight of crab noodles is the broth, shimmering with the red hue of tomatoes, crab fat, and a touch of annatto oil. Field crabs are crushed, filtered to extract their essence, and cooked until they form soft, floating pieces of crab paste on the surface. A well-rounded bowl of crab noodles cannot lack golden fried tofu, lolot leaf sausage, soft, ripe tomatoes, and sometimes even fatty snails or crispy pig’s ear.
A bowl of crab noodle soup, rich with the tangy aroma of vinegar, fatty crab paste, crispy fried tofu, and fresh vegetables, is perfect for hot summer days. You can visit:
Bun Rieu Nguyen Sieu – 32 Nguyen Sieu, Hoan Kiem District. The broth is light and clear, the crab paste is smooth and flavorful, and a touch of shrimp paste enhances the overall taste.
Bun Rieu Cua Hoang Ky – 122BC5 To Hieu, Cau Giay District. One of Hanoi’s long-standing bun rieu restaurants, well known for its deep, rich flavors and generous toppings.
Banana Blossom Salad – Rustic Yet Delicate, Sour and Crunchy Taste
In the blazing summer, there is nothing more refreshing than a plate of fresh banana blossom salad. This dish has no broth, no smoky charcoal stove, only white-pink banana flower fibers, soft and crunchy, soaked in the flavor of herbs, sweet and sour fish sauce, and rich roasted peanuts.
Banana blossom, a familiar ingredient of the Northern countryside, becomes an elegant, artistic dish in the hands of Hanoi chefs. The banana blossom is sliced thinly, soaked in water to reduce bitterness, and mixed with shredded chicken breast, crushed peanuts, basil, coriander, and a little fragrant fried garlic. When mixed well, each banana blossom strand seems to be surrounded by the harmonious flavor of fish sauce, the light sourness of fresh lemon, and the slight spiciness of red chili – all creating a symphony of crunchy, sour, rich, and spicy flavors that leave a lasting impression.
Not too fancy yet incredibly flavorful, banana blossom salad offers a refreshing combination of mild sourness, crunchiness, and nutty richness. If you want to try this delightful dish, visit:
Nom Bo Gia – 1 Nguyen Trung Truc, Ba Dinh District. This popular sidewalk spot is always packed with diners and serves a balanced mix of sour, spicy, salty, and sweet flavors.
Nom Long Vi Dung – 23 Ho Hoan Kiem, Hoan Kiem District. This restaurant is also famous for beef jerky salad and shredded papaya salad with rich, flavorful beef liver.
Trang Tien Ice Cream – The Taste of Childhood on Trang Tien Street
If you had to choose a type of food that could transport people back to their childhood days in just one bite, it would be Trang Tien Ice Cream. Trang Tien Ice Cream is not just a simple cooling treat but also a part of the soul of Hanoi, preserving the most beautiful memories of many generations.
The image of people lining up in front of the ice cream counter, holding cool green rice ice cream, rich coconut milk ice cream, or fragrant green bean ice cream, has become a signature sight on Trang Tien Street. Not too sweet or fatty, Trang Tien Ice Cream offers a cool, pure sensation, helping to dispel the torching summer heat of Hanoi.
When talking about Hanoi’s iconic ice cream, these are the must-visit spots every summer:
Trang Tien Ice Cream – 35 Trang Tien, Hoan Kiem District. This long-standing brand offers traditional flavors such as young green rice, mung beans, and coconut milk, which evoke a nostalgic taste of Hanoi.
Thuy Ta Ice Cream – 1 Le Thai To, Hoan Kiem District, is another excellent choice for ice cream lovers. Its airy seating area overlooks Hoan Kiem Lake.
Tofu Pudding – The Purest Gift of Hanoi’s Summer
Some dishes are neither flashy nor complicated, yet they quietly capture the hearts of those who love Hanoi. Tofu pudding is one such dish – light, rustic, yet sophisticated. It carries the flavor of memories and clear summer afternoons.
Tofu pudding appears all over Hanoi’s streets, from street vendors to small shops hidden in deep alleys. Every summer, the sight of vendors carrying tofu pudding baskets, one side holding a pot of shimmering brown sugar syrup and the other side a pot of pure white tofu pudding, becomes a familiar image. Tofu pudding, also known as tofu in sugar water, is inherently simple, but in Hanoi’s scorching summer, it becomes a refreshing “savior.”
The thin, soft slices of tofu pudding are like flower petals floating in a bowl of sweet sugar water lightly scented with jasmine. Just one spoonful and the cool sensation spreads immediately as if washing away the city’s heat. While modern variations include pearl tofu, caramel tofu, or red bean tofu, the original version, which consists of tofu with ginger-infused sugar syrup and sometimes topped with rich coconut milk, remains the most beloved.
Light, refreshing, and subtly sweet, tofu pudding is a beloved summer treat in Hanoi. If you’re looking for the best places to try it, visit:
Tao Pho Nghia Tan – 106 C2 Nghia Tan, Cau Giay District. A small but always busy shop serving silky-smooth tofu pudding with fragrant jasmine syrup.
Tao Pho Doi Can – 192 Doi Can, Ba Dinh District. Known for creative variations such as caramel tofu and black sugar pearl tofu – worth a try.
Red Jellyfish – A Gift from the Sea in the Heart of Hanoi
The sea does not border Hanoi, but in the heart of the old quarter, there is a dish with the taste of the sea – red jellyfish. This unique delicacy stands out among the summer foods of Hanoi.
Red jellyfish is simply prepared: washed, cut into bite-sized pieces, and served on bamboo plates with perilla leaves, sliced cucumbers, grated coconut, and a bowl of shrimp paste mixed with garlic and chili. When eaten, the jellyfish’s crunchy, cool texture, the aroma of perilla, and the rich flavor of shrimp paste create an unforgettable taste experience.
A rare summer delicacy that brings the taste of the ocean to Hanoi’s streets. If you want to enjoy authentic red jellyfish, visit:
Sua Do Cu Gai – 70 Hang Chieu, Hoan Kiem District. This dish features fresh jellyfish, a decadent dipping sauce, and a combination of herbs and shredded coconut. It is an unforgettable experience.
Sua Do Ba Tuyet – 1B Thanh Ha, Hoan Kiem District. A small but well-known seasonal shop – come early before it sells out.
Mixed Red Noodles – A New Variation of Northern Specialties
If you are looking for a filling and refreshing dish yet not too heavy, mixed red noodles are the perfect choice. This dish does not have a hot broth like pho, nor is it as elaborate as bun cha, but it stands out with its harmonious flavors and delicate combination of ingredients.
Originating from Hai Phong, mixed red noodles have been adapted to suit Hanoi’s taste. The thick, chewy red rice noodles are blanched briefly to retain their texture, then mixed with fragrant stir-fried beef, delicious fish cakes, crispy fried onions, and fresh chopped water spinach. A sprinkle of crushed peanuts adds a rich, nutty flavor, blending perfectly with the sweet and sour dressing.
If you’re seeking a different flavor for a summer dish, head to these eateries and order a bowl of red noodles for yourself:
Banh Da Cua Co Hue – 162 Chua Lang, Dong Da District. A satisfying bowl of mixed red noodles with a flavorful sauce, topped with crispy pork rinds for extra crunch.
Banh Da Cua Co Hang – 64 Nguyen Van Tuyet, Dong Da District. It is famous for its Hai Phong-style red noodles, but the taste has been adjusted to suit Hanoians.
Hanoi Sweet Soup – A Blend of Elegance and Sweetness
Nothing brings a fresher and more relaxing feeling on hot summer days than a cup of Hanoi sweet soup. Unlike the rich and intensely sweet Southern variations, Hanoi’s sweet soup is delicate, refined, and elegant – just like the people of the capital.
A cup of Hanoi sweet soup can be made from mung beans, lotus seeds, white jelly, or a colorful mix of ingredients. Each type has its own distinct flavor, but they all share a common trait: meticulous preparation, balanced sweetness, and a gentle, cooling effect when enjoyed.
To end your summer food journey with a refreshing and elegant dessert, visit these long-established sweet soup shops:
Che Bon Mua – 4 Hang Can, Hoan Kiem District. Known for its traditional, refreshing, sweet soups, especially the lotus seed and longan variety, which is a crowd favorite.
Xoi Che Ba Thin – 1 Bat Dan, Hoan Kiem District. This old-fashioned dessert shop is famous for its warm, sticky rice, and sweet soup, but its mung bean and lotus seed desserts are also delicious and worth trying.
From Hanoi’s Flavors to Elegance in Style
Summer foods in Hanoi are not only a way to beat the heat but also a cultural and historical experience filled with unforgettable memories. Just as cuisine reflects sophistication, so does Hanoi’s fashion – meticulously crafted, elegant, and refined.
If you want to return to a part of Hanoi, visit Tailor Bros. There, bespoke suits are tailored to perfection, enhancing the wearer’s elegance. Like a delicious dish, a well-fitted suit is flawless in every detail, exuding confidence and class.
Let Hanoi summer be more than just a trip – make it a memorable experience, from cuisine to style!
