| Type | When | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| All-you-can-eat lẩu buffet | evening, with friends | groups, varied small appetites |
| Specialised lẩu restaurant (one broth) | evening, cool season | fans of the dish |
| Food tour | evening, no booking | a first time in Hanoi |
How it works
You choose a broth (sour-spicy, beef, mushroom, fish or vegetable depending on the menu), then plates of sliced meat, seafood, tofu, greens and noodles that you dip into the pot yourself. You eat as you go, topping up the broth if the service offers it. It is a convivial dish, meant for at least two people.
Where to go
- All-you-can-eat buffet in the Old Quarter: you will find them on Ma May, Hang Buom, Binh Liet streets and around. Read recent reviews and check the price on entering: some buffets charge extras.
- Specialised restaurant: more expensive, with a crafted broth.
- Off the tourist trail: a few streets from Hoan Kiem Lake, places used by locals often have a Vietnamese-only menu: a Grab and a translation app help.
When to eat it
Lẩu is eaten all year in the evening, but mostly in the cool season, roughly November to March, when Hanoi is cool and damp (see the best time to visit Hanoi).
If you prefer street dishes
For a first contact with Hanoi cuisine, a walking food tour avoids choosing at random: see the Hanoi food tour. For the classics, see bún chả, phở and Vietnamese dishes to try. For vegetarians, see vegetarian in Hanoi.
FAQ
What is lẩu? A Vietnamese hot pot: a pot of broth where you cook the food at the table.
How much does it cost? Depending on sources, from 100,000-200,000 VND per person (mid-range) to 300,000-500,000 VND and more.
Can I go alone? It is a group dish: better to come with two or more.
