Hanoi is famous for its street vendors, not only flowers but also food stalls with the taste of Ha Thanh cuisine, attracting a large number of people and tourists to enjoy.
Among the many colors of Hanoi’s streets, perhaps the simple, close and impressive beauty in many people’s hearts is the street vendors with rustic gifts. It can be a load of sticky rice in the early morning or a load of vermicelli or noodle soup in the late afternoon. Although it is simple and rustic, there is nothing but a few chairs, yet many vendors are always busy with buyers.
Sticky Rice
For those who love the taste of traditional sticky rice in Hanoi, it is no longer strange with the name May sticky rice. Even though it’s just a stall selling goods in a small corner of the sidewalk, every morning is filled with customers.
Photo: @Quy Nguyen
Xoi Xeo May is located at the intersection of Hang Bai and Ly Thuong Kiet. At about 6:30 a.m., on the intersection of Hang Bai and Ly Thuong Kiet, anyone passing by will see a row of sticky rice on the sidewalk crowded with buyers. There are days when there are many customers, the sticky rice is sold out early, so people who come later can’t buy it anymore.
May’s sticky rice impresses diners by the blend of sticky sticky rice, greasy water, green beans and fragrant fried onions. Delicious sticky rice packages are only from 10k – 30k, the price of each pack of sticky rice is not fixed because it depends on the requirements of the customer. Some people add more rice, some people less sticky rice, some leave out onions, etc. Although each person has a request, the shop owner is still brave, especially not confused.
Photo: @Quy Nguyen
Although it is just a sidewalk restaurant selling rustic breakfast foods, May’s sticky rice is always a familiar and quality address to many Hanoians.
Address: Hang Bai – Ly Thuong Kiet intersection
Opening hours: 06:30 – 10:00
Price: 10,000 VND – 30,000 VND($1=24,000 VND)
Miss La’s Rib Porridge
Hot rib porridge has long been a favorite dish of Hanoians. That porridge can be a light breakfast, a delicious late-afternoon snack or a warm night’s meal. In the heart of the capital, there is no shortage of delicious porridge shops, but the 20-year-old porridge burden in Ly Quoc Su attracts diners the most.
Photo: @kanawa
For those who love this dish, Co La porridge shop is a familiar address. Previously, she sold at Huyen Lane, later moved to Ly Quoc Su – Hang Bong intersection. The bowl of porridge is always hot, cooked with bone broth, so it has a natural aroma and sweetness.
Co La restaurant is just a small pile of porridge located on the sidewalk on the corner of the old town. Every day, she sells from early morning until late at night. In the afternoon, the elderly and children sat in a long line, each carrying a small bowl of porridge with enough toppings and sauces.
Photo: @linhlinh0112, @thegioidiadiem
Ms. La once shared that she wakes up every morning at 4am to cook 3-4 large pots of 20kg/pot porridge. On a hot day, she sold out 70-80kg of porridge, every 5-6 pm is off. Every time the winter comes or the weather gets a little chilly, her shop is full of people going in and out, customers eating at the restaurant, and then the shipper coming in line to get porridge.
Address: 2A Ly Quoc Su, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Opening hours: 06:30 – 11:00 & 14:00 – 18:00
Selling price: 25,000 VND – 30,000 VND
De To Hoang floating cake
Referring to the hot steamed rice cake, the people of Ha Thanh are not too unfamiliar with famous and delicious cake shops such as Ba Thin sticky rice cake or Bach Mai street cake. In addition, there is still a row of floating cakes that are passed on by gourmets, which is the row of rice cakes in De To Hoang Lane.
With no spacious shops, no sparkling signs, the floating cake shop in De To Hoang is actually a very simple load of floating cakes, but it has made many diners love it over the years.
Photo: @Quy Nguyen
Existing for nearly 30 years, although the cake burden is located deep in a small alley, it has never been carried away, dear customers. Every day around 3-4 pm, De To Hoang alley starts to get congested. For those who do not like crowded places or having to wait, this place can make them bored, because every 16:30 is the peak of the shop. Customers came to eat floating cakes, customers bought them to take home, even when she didn’t get out early, there were people waiting to buy in time.
Photo: @Quy Nguyen
Every day, she prepares 3-4 boxes of Dumpling cake (medium-sized warm foam box), a box of granny’s tea, a box of black bean tea, and a box of cassava tea. Yet every day, she sold out, and soon, it took only more than 2 hours for the guests to come later to have the opportunity to enjoy this delicious dish.
Address: section number 98 – 100 De To Hoang Street, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi
Opening time: 16:00 – 18:30
Price: 20,000 VND – 30,000 VND
West Lake beef
Watching the sunset of West Lake, enjoying together, sipping sweet beef is one of the pleasures of many young people in Hanoi. Although this dish is not too new, it is still one of the snacks that are extremely loved by young people.
Photo: @tungboo0107, @dothibichhanh, @callmemay, @tieudida
It is not difficult to see bullock carts wandering around the streets of Hanoi. Along Thanh Nien Street (West Lake) every evening, every 10 meters, you will see a stall of bovines. Among them, the most popular among young people is the ox cart with the word “Thank You” at the beginning of Truc Bach Lake. That unique name was passed on by young people to make it easy to identify with other stores.
Photo: @tungboo0107
It is still a beef citadel consisting of simple ingredients such as rice paper rolls, malt candy and fresh grated coconut. It all blends together to form a very mouth-watering sweet taste. The special feature that makes many people love this cart is the owner’s very enthusiastic sales style. If you want to add coconut, add candies, you can add more. In addition, there are times when he adds coconut, customers are also given free coconut water. That comfort makes this “Thank you” bullock cart visited by young people.
Address: 1-3 Truc Bach, Tay Ho, Hanoi
Opening hours: 17:00 – 21:00
Price: 5,000 VND – 10,000 VND
Photo: Internet (Vinlove.net)