Hanoi in Autumn is renowned for its picturesque beauty and distinctive culinary offerings. Some of the iconic dishes that allow readers to explore the charm of Hanoi during this enchanting season include:
Vong Village’s Com
Autumn in Hanoi is synonymous with com, or green rice flakes, which have become a signature of Hanoi cuisine. Com is made from meticulously selected, roasted, and husk-free young glutinous rice grains. Vong Village in Dich Vong Hau Ward, Cau Giay District, is the birthplace of Hanoi’s com. Over time, Hanoi locals have developed various delectable variations of the traditional com, including com sweet dessert soup, fried com, roasted com, sticky com rice, com cakes, com bologna, and bananas dipped in com.
Chili-salted toast
Chili-salted toast is a popular dish among young Hanoians. Made with simple ingredients such as baguette, sausage, meat floss, and chili sauce, this combination offers a strong and addictive flavor.
Ripe Sau
Ripe Sau, also known as Indochinese dragon plums, are a delicacy that is only available in Hanoi during the fall. They are usually peeled and dipped in salt or mixed with a bit of sugar and chili powder to enhance their exquisite taste. Hanoi locals, particularly young girls, enjoy this snack while indulging in leisure activities like reading comics, books, watching movies, or chatting with friends.
Nom bo kho
Nom bo kho, also known as dried beef salad, is a popular snack in Hanoi and is often recommended as a must-try specialty for tourists. Despite its origins being unknown, this dish captivates taste buds with its unique blend of flavors, combining sour, sweet, salty, and spicy elements.
Old Quarter Donuts
If you visit Hanoi’s Old Quarter during the crisp fall season, don’t miss out on the opportunity to indulge in the sweet, crunchy, and aromatic donuts that are a beloved local snack. These donuts, which can be flavored with sugar and honey, add a delightful touch to your stroll.
Pho ganh
There’s nothing quite as pleasurable as savoring a steaming bowl of pho, or beef noodle soup, on a crisp autumn day in Hanoi. As you explore the city, make sure to try pho ganh, which is shoulder-pole beef noodle soup. Failure to do so would mean missing out on a unique gastronomic experience in Hanoi.
Banh mi Dan to
Banh mi Dan to, a stir-fried version of the traditional banh mi (Vietnamese baguette), is a popular late-night snack in Hanoi. Usually, pork, pâté, and omelets are stir-fried together, resulting in a fragrant and appetizing filling that sets it apart from regular banh mi.
Cha com
Hanoi’s Cha com, or fried bologna with green rice flakes, is a delightful combination of golden, spongy texture, rich sweetness from the pork, and the fragrant and chewy green rice flakes. This dish has long been synonymous with Hanoi’s autumn.
Chao Suon
For many Hanoi locals, indulging in a bowl of hot chao suon, or pork rib congee, at a sidewalk stall on a crisp autumn day is pure culinary pleasure. The sweet taste mixed with crunchy cartilage offers a unique experience that can only be found in Hanoi during the fall season.
Bun rieu cua with fried lard
A freshly made bowl of bun rieu cua, or crab paste vermicelli soup, captures attention with its sweet soup, fatty fried lard, and subtle sour taste from tomatoes and thickened vinegar. Like pho and chao suon, this dish offers warmth and comfort on the chilly autumn days.
Mixed noodles
Mixed noodles, a popular fast food among young people, offer convenience and endless creative possibilities compared to traditional noodles. Toppings can include chicken feet, sausage, beef, or quail eggs.
Bun ca
Hanoi Bun ca, or fish vermicelli soup, is a quintessential traditional dish that attracts locals and international tourists alike. It represents the essence of Vietnamese culinary culture, offering not only food but also a unique work of art. Don’t miss the opportunity to savor this dish and experience the authentic flavors of Hanoi.
Mooncakes with com filling and coconut shavings
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, don’t forget to enjoy the traditional mooncakes with com filling and coconut shavings. This delightful combination adds a new flavor to the mooncakes and allows you to immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere and rich traditions.
Trang Tien ice cream
Trang Tien ice cream is an everlasting Hanoi specialty that dwells in the childhood memories of many Hanoians, regardless of how many foreign brands enter the market. A visit to Hoan Kiem Lake would be incomplete without savoring the flavors of a Trang Tien cone or popsicle, available in various flavors such as chocolate, vanilla, coconut milk, mung bean, green tea, and durian.
Egg coffee
Enjoying egg coffee around Hoan Kiem Lake is a quintessential Hanoi street food experience. The aromatic coffee powder combined with the rich and fatty egg yolk awakens dormant taste buds and leaves visitors fully content.
Making ‘com’: A way for Tay ethnic people to well spend spare time on rainy days
Every year in the new crop season, Tay ethnic people in the northern mountainous communes of Na Lo, Ta Chai, Na Hoi and Ban Lien in Bac Ha District, Lao Cai Province, make ‘com’ (young sticky rice flakes) as an offering for their ancestors.