The 7 Best Food Tours in Hanoi For Street Food (2024)

Hanoi was the first city in Vietnam we visited, and we found the local food scene overwhelming.

Taking food tours in Hanoi with local guides helped us understand the cuisine and local food culture.

Northern Vietnamese food is distinctive from the rest of the country, and it is influenced by China, its northern neighbor.

After spending several weeks in Hanoi and eating our way through northern Vietnam, we’re sharing our recommended 7 best Hanoi food tours.

Offering immersive experiences, eat like a local in Hanoi on any of these best food tours.

Comparison Table Of The Hanoi Food Tours To Choose From

Hanoi Food Tours	Price ($ USD)	Group Size	Start Time	Duration (hours)	Best For
Hanoi Dawn Food Tour	$75	Private	4:00 am	4h	Best overall
Old Quarter Walking Street Food Tour	$23	Max 15	Every hour from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm	3h	Best value
Private Hanoi Street Food Walking Tour	$36.93	Private	11:30 am or 6:00 pm	3h	Best for tailored experience
Hanoi by Night Foodie Motorbike Tour	$69	Max 15	1:00 pm and 6:00 pm	4h	Best for motorbike experience
Hanoi Walking Street Food & Cyclo Tour	$34	Max 16	Every half hour from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm	3.5h	Best for Cyclo experience
Hanoi Food Lovers Walking Tour	$40	Max 12	9:00 am or 5:00 pm	3h	Best for street food focus
The 10 Tastings of Hanoi With Locals	$59.57	Private	Every half hours, from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm	3.5h	Best for cultural visits

Top Food Tours in Hanoi

1. Hanoi Dawn Morning Food Tour – Best Overall Street Food Tour

Nothing is more exciting than having a local chef who has cooked with the legendary Gordon Ramsey as your guide.

This 4-hour Hanoi dawn tour starts at 4:00 am, and you’ll visit four different food markets and see a side of Hanoi tourists never see.

Chef Duyên will guide you through the markets, introduce you to the traditional dishes, and share the origins of the food.

Along the way, you’ll taste 6 different local street foods, along with drinks, for a mouthwatering experience. 

In Vietnam, the days start really early. While exploring the local food specialties in Vietnam, we were surprised to find local breakfast specialties unavailable after 7:00 am.

On this Hanoi dawn tour, you’ll watch the city come alive, see parts of Hanoi you wouldn’t find on your own, and taste unique local specialties.

What You’ll Love About This Hanoi Dawn Tour

• Enjoy a private chef-guided tour.
• Savor the unique experience of tasting Hanoi early in the morning.
• Explore off-the-beaten path and experience an authentic slice of Hanoi.

2. Hanoi Old Quarter Street Food Tour – Best Value

One of the best ways to unlock Hanoi’s hidden culinary gems is to take a street food tour of the city’s Old Quarter.

This 3-hour Hanoi Old Quarter walking street tour takes you off the tourist path to local and popular food stalls for amazing Vietnamese cuisine.

While meandering through the streets, you’ll indulge in an array of iconic Vietnamese dishes.  

You’ll make stops for traditional specialties like banh cuon or steamed rice rolls and pho noodle soup, Bánh Mì sandwiches, and an exciting array of Vietnamese desserts.

As you sample more than 10 local bites, your local expert guide will share the rich history and traditions of Hanoi food.

For cultural context about Hanoi’s Old Quarter, you’ll visit iconic streets that bear the names of the artisanal goods and products produced. 

For example, Hang Bac Street stands for the silver products made by silversmiths. Hand Ma Street is for paper products, Hang Go Street, for wood products, and others.

This Old Quarter walking tour is a delicious combination of food and history.

What You’ll Love About This Old Quarter Street Food Tour

• Visiting food stalls and eateries known only by locals.
• Exploring and learning the stories of iconic streets in the quarter.
• Savoring a range of Hanoi foods from dishes, desserts, and drinks.

3. Private Hanoi Street Food Walking Tour – Best For Tailored Experience

Hanoi has an impressive culinary and cultural scene. Diving into the sights and food specialties on a private tour ensures you don’t miss the highlights.

Created by a knowledgeable guide with over ten years of experience, this 3-hour private Hanoi street food experience is an immersive experience.

As this is a private tour, the menu and tastings can be tailored to suit your needs. This food tour in Hanoi generally consists of 10 different dishes at local food stands, family eateries, and cafes.

While the tasting menu changes regularly depending on the season, you can expect to try noodle soups, grilled pork, snails, and more. 

Beverages like local beer, coffee, and various desserts are also sampled.

You’ll explore the culinary delights in the Old Quarter, stop at important local monuments, and hear enthralling stories about Hoan Kiem Lake.

This is one of the best culinary Hanoi tours for visitors to Hanoi looking for a tailored private food tour experience.

What You’ll Love About This Private Hanoi Street Food Walking Tour

• Savor Hanoi delicacies on a customized food experience.
• The undivided attention of your local guide while exploring at your own pace.
• Learning the legends and stories behind important monuments and foods.

4. Hanoi by Night Foodie Motorbike Tour – Best For Motorbike Experience

Have you ever wanted to try riding a motorcycle in Vietnam? 

This 4-hour Hanoi motorbike tour led by women, takes you on a thrilling adventure through the city.

You’ll get off the beaten path with your female driving crew and stop for the best banh cuon, according to the locals. 

This motorbike culinary adventure also takes you to Ngu Xa village for freshly grilled seafood and other local Vietnamese delights.  

You’ll ride by the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and watch the guards perform their nightly ceremonies. 

While the glow of colorful lanterns in the Old Quarter will mesmerize you as you head out to the Red River.

The final sweet treats on this motorbike tour range from mango pudding to caramel desserts, and exceptional Vietnamese egg coffee.

This nighttime motorbike tour is a unique experience, allowing you to eat your way through the streets of Hanoi while visiting iconic places. 

What You’ll Love About This Hanoi By Night Motorbike Tour

• An experience of a lifetime exploring Hanoi on a motorbike.
• A unique motorbike food tour led by women.
• Ability to cover a lot of ground and explore different parts of Hanoi in a short time. 

5. Hanoi Walking Street Food Tour and Cyclo Tour – Best For Cyclo Experience

Experience Hanoi via Cyclo in a traditional rickshaw vehicle invented by the French in the late 1930s.

On this 3.5-hour Hanoi Cyclo food tour, you’ll cycle around the Old Quarter, which dates back to the 11th century, to get an overview of this historic district.

After exploring Hanoi for about ½ hour on a cyclo, you’ll begin the walking part of this tour at the local Dong Xuan market.

As you stroll through the Dong Xuan market alleys, you’ll stop for Banh Cuon at a local eatery and watch how this tasty dish is prepared.

Grilled meats are another popular dish, and you’ll try delicious meat on a stick as you eat at various barbecue stalls.

At a vendor down a narrow alley, you’ll also sample Vietnamese che desserts. 

A brief exploration of the ancient buildings and temples around Hoan Kiem Lake is where the tour ends. 

After which, you’ll enjoy a delicious egg coffee treat to close this sumptuous Hanoi walking street food and cyclo tour

What You’ll Love About This Hanoi Street Food Tour and Cyclo Tour

• An unforgettable Cyclo and culinary adventure.
• A mix of walking and a Cyclo tour allowing you to cover more ground.
• Visiting historic and cultural landmarks not easily accessible on foot.

6. Hanoi Food Lovers Walking Tour – Best for Street Food Focus

The name, Hanoi food lovers walking tour, could not more accurately describe this Hanoi street food tour experience.  

Accompanied by a local passionate gastronomy guide, this 3-hour Hanoi food lovers tour dives right into the local foods at Dong Xuan, the largest covered market in Hanoi.

This local market can be quite overwhelming, and having a local guide makes all the difference. 

You’ll meander through the live seafood area and exotic fruits and vegetable stands and try seasonal street foods.

In Hanoi’s Old Quarter, you’ll savor delicious foods like bun cha, grilled nem chua fermented pork rolls, and other delicacies. 

Not to be forgotten will be a stop for banh mi, the most famous Vietnamese sandwich and icon of Hanoi cuisine.

To end your Hanoi food tour experience, you’ll visit Hoan Kiem Lake, a symbol of Hanoi, also known as Sword Lake.

What You’ll Love About This Hanoi Food Lovers Street Food Experience

• Tour dedicated exclusively to Hanoi street food.
• Visiting off-the-beaten-path street food vendors and market stalls.
• Local insights from a fun and knowledgeable local expert guide.

RELATED: The Best 7 Food Tours In Saigon

7. The 10 Tastings of Hanoi With Locals – Best for Cultural Visits

With a history of over 1000 years as the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, translated to “between rivers,” hosts over 600 pagodas and temples.

This 3-hour private 10 tastings of Hanoi tour takes you to the best spots for traditional eats.

Your culinary journey starts in one of Hanoi’s four biggest temples. This ancient Chua Ba Da is one of the most important Buddhist temples in the city. 

You’ll discover the best places to have local favorites like Bun Cha, pho rolls, fried shrimp pancakes, and more.

Right after sampling banh mi sandwiches, you take a journey into traditional Vietnamese medicine on the oldest streets known for traditional medicine.

You’ll head to the Old Quarter for unique specialty desserts while making cultural stops in between.

We love the combination of street food, culture, and history. This delicious 10 tastings with locals tour is a great way to get an authentic taste of Hanoi.

What You’ll Love About This 10 Tastings Of Hanoi Private Food Tour

• Enjoy multiple and diverse traditional tastings.
• A cultural immersion with visits to several important temples in Hanoi.
• The dedicated attention of a knowledgeable private guide.

What Is Your Budget for Your Hanoi Food Tours

The kind of experience you are looking for will play largely into your budget considerations.

The best Hanoi food tours range in price from about $23.00 USD to $75 USD.

However, depending on the size of your group, you may be able to negotiate discounted rates.

On a positive note, all these tours have a free booking cancellation policy up to 24 to 72 hours before the event.

More Local Food Experiences and Recipes

10 of the Best Authentic Food in Hanoi You Must Eat

The 6 Best Cooking Classes In Hoi An To Take

Best Danang Food Tour To Take For An Authentic Experience

The 10 Best Vietnamese Cookbooks You Want To Have in Your Kitchen

Bun Bo Hue Recipe: How To Make Authentic Hue Spicy Noodle Soup

Love These Hanoi Food Tours? Pin It!