| Option | Duration | Indicative price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small-group walking tour | 2 to 3 h | about $10 to $25 per person | first visit, budget |
| Fuller walking tour | 3 to 4 h | about $50 and more | those who want to taste a lot |
| Private tour with a guide | 3.5 to 4 h | about $60 to $100 per person depending on the group | couples, families, special diets |
| Eating on your own in the Old Quarter | at your own pace | a street dish for a few tens of thousands of VND | independent travellers, tight budget |
Prices seen in October 2026 on resellers' listings; they vary with the date, the group and the drinks included.
What to try in Hanoi
- Pho: rice noodle soup with beef or chicken (pho bo, pho ga), clear broth with herbs, often served for breakfast.
- Bun cha: pork patties and slices grilled over charcoal in a mild, sour broth, with rice vermicelli and herbs; it is the lunch dish par excellence.
- Banh cuon: thin stuffed rice crepes, served with a fish sauce.
- Bun thang and cha ca: Hanoi specialities that are rarer on short tours, to ask for if you want them.
- Egg coffee (cà phê trứng): strong coffee topped with a sweet egg-yolk cream, a classic of the city.
- Banh mi: a filled baguette sandwich, for a quick break.
A guided tour or on your own?
A guided tour is worth it if you have little time, if you cannot read Vietnamese menus or if you want a guide who explains the dishes. Eating on your own is cheaper, and possible if you follow a few rules: choose the stalls where local customers queue, look at where the dishes are prepared and stick to cooked, hot dishes. The Old Quarter is the centre: see our Old Quarter guide.
How to choose a tour
- Group size: a small group lets you sit together and ask questions.
- Number of dishes: count 6 to 10 tastings for a 3-hour tour; ask for the list.
- Drinks: water, beer or coffee are sometimes extra (one listing shows optional drinks at about $10).
- Diets: vegetarian or allergies to be mentioned when booking.
- Meeting point: in the Old Quarter, near Hoan Kiem Lake, to combine with Hoan Kiem Lake.
- Cancellation: some offers are refundable up to 24 hours before.
Hygiene and precautions
Choose dishes that are cooked and served hot, avoid ice of doubtful origin and wash your hands before eating. If you have a delicate stomach, start with a soup.
When to eat what
Pho is eaten mostly in the morning, bun cha at noon, banh cuon at breakfast, and skewers or grills in the evening. At weekends, the pedestrian streets of the Old Quarter and the weekend night market offer many food stalls.
Further reading
Complete it with the Old Quarter guide, the weekend night market and the water puppet theatre, a few minutes from Hoan Kiem Lake.
