Hanoi (VNA) - Not only renowned as a millennia-old cultural capital, Hanoi is also a haven for food enthusiasts at home and abroad. Recently, certain areas in the Old Quarter and suburban districts have been developed to offer enticing night food tours.
This initiative aims to boost tourism and the nighttime economy in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of Hanoi (October 10, 1954 - 2024).
For generations, Hanoi residents have created famous dishes like pho (beef/chicken noodle), bun cha (rice vermicelli with grilled pork and fresh herbs), bun oc (snail noodle), and other specialties, contributing to a distinct culinary tradition of the ancient capital. Notably, in recent years, the Hanoi night food tours have attracted a large number of young people and tourists.
The Tong Duy Tan - Cam Chi night food street, located at the corner of Hang Bong street, has long been famous for dishes such as my ga tan (noodle soup with chicken stewed with herbs), chan ga sa ot (pickled chicken feet with lemongrass and chili) and com ga (fried rice with chicken. With dozens of eateries and a diverse menu, this small street has become a popular destination for youngsters and foreign tourists.
Tung Pham, a visitor from central province of Quang Binh, said that he chose fried rice with chicken for his first day in Hanoi.
"I find the rice here delicious with the chicken being tender and fresh”, he said.
Whenever he visited the capital city of Hanoi, he ate at this food street, adding that he loved the vibrant atmosphere here.
Phan Linh, who lives in Ba Dinh district of Hanoi, recounted a memorable night food tour she and her friends had last weekend. Their first stop was Tong Duy Tan street, where they met at 6:30pm and chose the famous noodle soup with chicken stewed with herbs for dinner, then walked around exploring the food street and trying various snacks.
After leaving food street, they enjoyed ca phe trung (egg coffee) at a shop on Nguyen Huu Huan street—a place known for its delicious egg coffee and nostalgic, old-style Hanoi atmosphere. Their “food tour” concluded at Ta Hien street with street snacks and cold beer.
According to Linh, Ta Hien street is a must-visit spot for visitors when experiencing Hanoi's night food tour as it will offer you a vibrant and lively atmosphere.
Last year, Hanoi’s tourism sector launched 15 night tourism products, marking a breakthrough in the development of the capital’s nighttime economy. The Thang Long – Hanoi night cycling tour which starts at the Vietnam National Museum of History is a notable one. The participants visit the Opera House, Tonkin Palace, North Gate Citadel, Hanoi Flag Pole, Thang Long Citadel Complex, Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, National Assembly Hall, the Presidential Palace, Quan Thanh Temple, and Tran Quoc Pagoda. They then wind up at the Ngu Xa night food area where then can enjoy delicacies like pho cuon (fresh rice noodle rolls with fried beef and salad) and pho chien phong - unique Hanoian dish, made of saucy stir-fried beef, tomatoes, choy sum and crispy rice-flour puffs.
Besides the Tong Duy Tan food street and Ngoc Island-Ngu Xa, a food tour at the ancient village of Duong Lam in the suburban Son Tay district is also attracting tourist interest.
Initiated in May this year, the tour has gained popularity among both locals and tourists at the weekend. The main venue is the village gate where local products such as che lam (sticky rice ginger peanut bars), banh gai (sticky rice cake with mung bean fillings), keo doi (sweet peanut sausages cassava cake) and roasted pork are displayed, catering to visitors’ desire to explore local cuisine.
These delicacies seem easy to make but in fact meticulous preparation is needed, requiring skilled local artisans to preserve the authentic taste. Besides local cuisine, visitors can also enjoy traditional folk art performance and experience craft of making to he – toy figurines that are made of rice dough - and woodblock prints.
According to the management board of Duong Lam Ancient Village, the board and the local People’s Committee have contacted nearby resorts and lodging facilities to bring tourists to experience this new product, adding that it creates livelihoods for more than 50 local households./.
