Eating sticky rice in the morning
Sticky rice is an indispensable breakfast dish for Hanoians. The image of people waiting around a basket of hot, yellow sticky rice is seen all over the streets. Sticky rice is a delicious, convenient, and nutritious dish. There are many variations such as yellow sticky rice, corn sticky rice, meat sticky rice, and sausage sticky rice. Diners have many options to suit their dining preferences.
A single bowl of hot sticky rice can give people enough energy to work and study for an entire morning. Famous sticky rice shops such as May’s sticky rice at the corner of Hang Bai street, Thao Hang Ma’s sticky rice, and Thu Tho Nhuom’s sticky rice are always crowded with customers
If tourists want to enjoy a delicious bowl of sticky rice, they should eat early, from about 7-8 hours, because sticky rice shops often run out of food very quickly. The price of a full bowl of sticky rice ranges from VND 30,000 (USD 1.27) – VND 40,000 (USD 1.69).
 |
| Photo: Travel.vn |
Ngoc Tu (Bach Dang) share their breakfast routine.
“I usually have breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at a familiar sticky rice shop. I’ve been eating here since I was young, it’s been almost twenty years, but the taste hasn’t changed much. I just love eating sticky rice. Stir-fried with a little bit of fat and fried onions. This is probably the ‘national’ breakfast dish of Hanoians.”
 |
| Photo: Pinterest |
Dishes with broth for lunch
Hanoi has many delicious dishes, suitable for cold weather, typically beef pho, chicken pho, eel vermicelli, snail vermicelli, and goose vermicelli. Just a spoonful of broth with a bit of garlic vinegar, chili sauce, and lemon can make all our taste buds explode with excitement.
The above dishes should be served with a “combo” of fried doughnuts and iced tea. Although the weather is cold, the diners will feel extremely warm.
Old-fashioned restaurants that diners should check out include Phu Doan eel vermicelli, Thuy sprout vermicelli, Nguyen Sieu vermicelli, and Khoi Hoi beef noodle soup. These restaurants are always crowded in winter. The feeling of sitting in a small alley and eating a piping hot dish is also an unforgettable experience for Hanoians.
Thuy Anh (Doi Can) is a big fan of vermicelli.
“I usually eat vermicelli at Nhan restaurant. It’s very crowded here, I have to queue every time, but I’m used to it. I like to eat here because the broth is rich in flavor and the meat is firm and fatty. It is different from any other place I’ve eaten at before.”
 |
| Photo: Foody.vn |
Boiled snail – simple dish
Snail is a famous snack in Vietnam. Each place has different cooking methods and unique flavors. Unlike Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi does not have fried snails, fried snails with tamarind, or snails with salted egg sauce.
In Hanoi, people often eat rock snails and boiled jackfruit. Eaters need to use sharp iron tongs to remove the snail. Delicious snails need to be eaten when hot, crunchy and greasy. This dish needs to be served with fish sauce with a little ginger, lime leaves, lemongrass, and chopped chili. The prices of different snail restaurants are usually not too different. It is only from VND 80,000 (USD 3.38) – VND 100,000 (USD 4.22) /person.
Thu Huyen (Lin Nam) enjoys eating snails with her friends.
“Every time I think of snacks, my group will immediately choose to eat snails. We have a familiar restaurant on Tran Phu street. There is a very delicious boiled snail dish, served with sweet and sour mango pickle. In addition, we often eat fried spring rolls, quail eggs, and steamed clams. That’s enough for a gathering that is both fun and warm.”
 |
| Photo: Solsoft |
Sidewalk grilled hot pot
It is paradoxical that when it is cold, many diners do not choose an indoor restaurant but prefer to eat on the sidewalk. Grilled hot pot is the top dish chosen by young people in the winter. There are many hot pot restaurants in student dormitories such as Trung Hoa, Nga Tu So, and Thanh Xuan.
“When it’s cold like this, I just want someone to eat hot pot with me. I prefer to eat on the sidewalk than at a luxury restaurant because it feels warm and friendly. The feeling of sitting in front of a delicious, smoky hot pot while watching the flow of people passing by makes me feel better,” shared Hoang Linh (Tan Mai).
Sidewalk restaurants have the advantages of affordable prices, fast food because it is prepared in advance, a pleasant atmosphere, and diners can chat freely. But they should also choose clean shops, and ingredients of clear origin, as well as ensure food hygiene and safety.
 |
| Photo: Pinterest |
Xoi Xeo – a popular sticky rice in Hanoi
There is nowhere in Vietnam that so many types of sticky rice- or “xoi” present like they do in Hanoi. But standing out among the various kinds, “xoi xeo” is not only creative art with a sophisticated combination of ingredients and color but the sophistication even leaks out to its odd name.
Steam glutinous rice with ant egg: A speciality of Tay ethnic people
‘Xoi trung kien’ (steam glutinous rice with ant egg) is one of specialities and traditional dishes of Tay people in the northern mountains of Vietnam. The crispy sounds of ant eggs seem to melt in the mouth and bring eaters the unforgettable taste of sticky rice and dried onions blended with ant eggs.
Com lam in Tay Bac
Visiting Tay Bac (the northwestern region of Vietnam), one will have a chance to not only discover the colorful life and distinctive culture of ethnic groups, like the Thai, Muong, Nung, Tay, La Ha and Mang, but also enjoy Com lam (steamed sticky rice in bamboo tubes) – a local popular dish.
Vietnamese Chicken with Noodles
Summer is coming, and the heat usually makes people lose their appetite, especially for hot or spicy food. VNP introduces a light and fresh dish which is really suitable for the hot weather – Pho ga tron, or the Vietnamese chicken with noodles. The light and fresh dish is prepared based on the traditional dish of Pho ga (Noodles and chicken soup).
Festival offers a taste of Vietnamese cuisine to Russians
NDO – A festival showcasing the diversity of Vietnamese cuisine took place in Moscow, Russia, from December 14 to 16, offering an opportunity for Vietnamese cooks and restaurants in Russia to introduce the best of Vietnamese taste to people in the host country and international friends.
