Vietnam Package Tours: Street Food Adventures by Region

What Makes Vietnamese street food tours Unique

What is so remarkable about Vietnamese street food tours is the exquisite combination of flavors: sweet, salty, sour, spicy, and umami, all condensed in unassuming bowls and bites. These are brought to life by iconic ingredients such as fresh herbs, rice noodles, grilled meat, and Vietnam’s famous fish sauce. Whether in the smoky pho in Hanoi or the crunchy banh mi in Ho Chi Minh City, each is a tale of place and tradition. Sizzling woks and scented broths waft from every street corner, enticing visitors to try the heart of Vietnam.

But aside from the food, Vietnamese street food tours are all about the culture that surrounds them. There, you’ll sit on low plastic stools, sip iced tea, and share tables with welcoming locals. Food is often eaten communally, and one delightful custom is to eat first, pay later, a show of faith and kindness in Vietnamese daily life. Tours like these don’t stop short of eating, they soak in the pace of the streets. For those planning to create the ultimate trip, observe how our Vietnam itinerary 3 weeks incorporates memorable meals with unmissable Vietnam attractions.

How to Eat Like a Local (Vietnamese street food tours Etiquette)

When & Where Locals Eat Vietnamese street food tours

To truly experience Vietnamese street food tours, follow the locals’ daily rhythm:

• Early morning: Go to morning markets to enjoy hot bowls of pho, sticky rice (xoi), or warm soy milk.
• Midday (11:30-1PM): Have com binh dan – self-service plates of rice with local specialties, which are standard features of working-class workday lunches.
• Evening (after 6PM): Wander through night markets with steaming street food vendors, plastic stools, and the din of laughter from plates of banh mi, banh xeo, and fresh fish.

This is the pulse of each local’s daily routine and the golden moments of every Vietnamese street food tour.

How to Choose the Right Street Food Stall with Vietnamese street food tours

When engaging in Vietnamese street food tours, always seek:

• Clean setup: Utensils, tables, and workstations need to be clean.
• Fresh ingredients: Vibrant herbs, colorful produce, searing meats = a good sign!
• Local crowd: Why don’t we queue up with the locals?

Get to Know Vietnamese Condiments with Vietnamese street food tours

You’ll always find:

• Nuoc mam: the iconic fish sauce, salty, rich in um
• Tuong ot: chili sauce or paste, either sweet or hot.
• Add fresh herbs – mint, cilantro, and basil- to your dish!
• Pickled veg: used to offset richness, particularly in banh mi.

Speak Like a Local – Must-Know Phrases Vietnamese street food tours

Even a few Vietnamese words will elevate your experience:

• “Ngon qua!” – So delicious!
• “Mot suat” – One portion.
• “An chay” – Vegetarian.
• “Tinh tien” – The bill, please.

Address vendors or servers politely with “Em oi!" – the way the locals say it.

Street Food Guide by Region with Vietnamese street food tours

Northern Vietnam – Hanoi & Surroundings

Must-try dishes:

• Pho Thin: beef noodle soup with beef slices sautéed in aromatics
• Bun cha: grilled pork and vermicelli with dipping sauce
• Egg coffee: A rich, creamy Hanoi specialty
• Xoi (sticky rice): a staple local breakfast dish, either savory or sweet

Where to eat:

• Old Quarter – the epicenter of street food culture
• Dong Xuan Market is Hanoi’s most famous food market.
• Train Street – relish a bowl of phở while watching a train roar by mere meters in the distance.

Local experience: Early morning wake-up, sitting on a low plastic stool, slurping down soup, and bathing in the steam of fresh broth, Vietnamese street food tours in the north are simple, comforting, and deeply traditional.

Central Vietnam – Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An

Hue specialties:

• Banh beo, banh nam, nem lui – dainty plates with strong flavors
• Royal-style dinners: refined, vibrant, and once presented to emperors

Hoi An delights:

• Cao lau: chewy noodles topped with pork, herbs, and rich broth
• Banh mi Phuong: the iconic banh mi shop that all travelers and chefs adore
• White rose dumplings: tender steamed dumplings exclusive to Hoi An

Don’t miss: Take a local cooking class in Hoi An, explore the market, choose fresh produce, and learn how to prepare goi cuon, pho, or banh xeo from the ground up!

Why it matters: Vietnamese street food tours in the central part of the country are where royal heritage meets rural charm, with centuries of history in every bite.

Southern Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City & Mekong Delta

Signature dishes in the South:

• Com tam: grilled pork, pickled turnover, and fried or poached egg.
• Banh xeo: crispy savoury pancakes made from
• Goi cuon, pha lau, che: classic street foods from morning to midnight

Where to go:

• Ben Thanh Market – a one-stop destination for classic Vietnamese cuisine
• District 5 (Chinatown) – delicious Chinese-Vietnamese street foods
• Bui Vien – Saigon’s nightlife street is filled with street food stalls

Extra flavor: Mekong Delta day trip

• Experience the taste of lau mam (fermented fish hotpot) and ca tai tuong chien xu (crispy elephant-ear
• Tour the coconut candy workshops and take wooden boat rides along the rivers.

Don’t skip the café culture: Enjoy a strong ca phe sua da or look for a retro-style cafe vot in a hidden alleyway, stops that are not to be missed on Vietnamese street food tours of Ho Chi Minh City.

Suggested 10-Day Street Food Route (North to South)

Day 1 – Arrival in Hanoi

Focus: Arrival & Relaxation

Morning:

• Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport.
• Private transportation to your hotel in the Old Quarter (our suggestion is to stay in Hanoi Pearl Hotel 4-star centrally located, quaint, and ideal for first timers).

Afternoon:

• Welcome beverage and free time to rest or walk freely along Hoan Kiem Lake.

Evening:

• Slow down. Have dinner in your hotel or eat a light dish (chao or mien ga) close to your place of stay.
• Recharge in anticipation of thrilling Vietnamese street food tour adventures ahead!

Day 2 – Street Food Walking Tour in Hanoi

Morning:

• Start your day with a steaming dish of Pho Thin (13 Lo Duc), known for its beef stir-fry and flavorful broth.
• Wander through the narrow streets of the Old Quarter, filled with street vendors and markets.

Afternoon:

• Spend your noon break having Bun cha Hang Manh – grilled pork with noodles, herbs, and dipping sauce on the side.
• Find out how this dish impressed President Obama and Anthony Bourdain!

Evening:

• Wander along Ta Hien Street, Hanoi’s lively beer and food street.
• Sample the banh goi, nem chua ran, and have a local bia hoi.
• Top off the evening with silky-smooth egg coffee from Giang Café, one of Hanoi’s most beloved icons.

Day 3 – Markets & Train Street Experience

Morning:

• Head to Dong Xuan Market, Hanoi’s biggest food wholesale market.
• Sample xoi lac and xoi ngo, and crunchy banh cuon Thanh Tri.

Afternoon:

• Go to the renowned Train Street.
• Get yourself a cup of coffee (egg coffee or coconut coffee), sit on the rails, and observe the train pass by inches from you, a thrilling local adventure.

Evening:

• Early dinner at one of the local restaurants (bun thang or cha ca La Vong’s) and off to the railway station.
• Take the overnight sleeper train to Hue – a soft-bed 4-berth cabin with air conditioning.

Day 4 – Royal Cuisine in Hue

Morning:

• Arrive at Hue Railway Station, Private Transfer to EMM Hotel Hue 4-star.
• Rest and refresh yourself, and prepare yourself for a royal banquet!

Afternoon:

• Tour the Imperial City (Dai Noi).
• Discover ancient food traditions and visit where emperors used to eat.
• Royal-style lunch: nem cong, cha phuong, banh phu the.

Evening:

• Stroll along the Perfume River, relish the popular street foods of Hue: banh beo, banh nam, banh khoai.
• Dine at Quan Ba Do, the local popular restaurant with central-style flavors.

Day 5 – Hai Van Pass to Hoi An

Morning:

• Leave Hue and journey along the stunning Hai Van Pass.
• Make photo stops and enjoy fresh coconut juice at Lang Co Beach.

Afternoon:

• Arrive in Hoi An, and check into Little Riverside Hoi An 4-star stunning riverside hideaway.
• Take a light rest or have a brief walk in the ancient city.

Evening:

• Start your Hoi An tasting tour!
• Trying cao lau, hoanh thanh chien, and the banh mi Phuong, widely recognized as the most well-known banh mi in Vietnam.
• Close the night with Nguyen Hoang Night Market and sua ngo, and some local souvenirs.

Day 6 – Cooking Class & River Night in Hoi An

Morning:

• Enroll in a Red Bridge Cooking School cooking class.
• Go shopping at the market to hand-select ingredients before learning how to prepare banh xeo, goi cuon, and pho.

Afternoon:

• Eating off your work is tasty and satisfying!
• Spare time touring a traditional workshop that makes sesame candies or unwind in your hotel.

Evening:

• Walk along the Hoai River, lights glimmering on the surface.
• Indulge in light snacks such as tao pho, banh trang nuong, and coconut ice cream.

Day 7 – Fly to Ho Chi Minh City

Morning:

• Depart from Hoi An, transfer to Da Nang Airport.
• Travel by flight to Ho Chi Minh City (about 1.5 hours).

Afternoon:

• Arrival and exclusive transfers to the Silverland Jolie Hotel 4-star hotel in District 1 – the city centre.
• Light meal in the hotel or try bun thit nuong in one of the local eateries nearby.

Evening:

• Experience the lively nightlife by taking a stroll along Bui Vien Street.
• Give banh trang nuong (Vietnamese pizza), pha lau (braised offal), and the very refreshing nuoc mia sau rieng (sugarcane juice with durian) a try. 
• Observe the city throb under neon lights, Vietnamese street food tours reach new energy heights here!

Day 8 – Saigon Street Food Safari

Morning:

• Begin at Ben Thanh Market.
• Try banh xeo mien Nam, goi cuon, and fresh tropical fruits like mango with chili salt.
• Visit the dried food and spice aisles, perfect for food souvenirs.

Afternoon:

• Take a break to eat at Ba Ghien’s or Bui Thi Xuan’s Com Tam, known for caramelized grilled pork, egg loaf, and pickles.
• Drop by one of the classic-style vot cafes on Phan Dinh Phung Street to taste the old-fashioned way of brewing coffee using cloth filters.

Evening:

• Go to District 5 (Cho Lon – Chinatown) to try Chinese-Vietnamese food
• Try wonton soup (sui cao), roast duck (vit quay), and warm black sesame dessert (che me den).
• Delicious conclusion to a rich, multicultural day filled with Vietnamese street food tours.

Day 9 – Mekong Delta Day Trip

Morning:

• Early departure to My Tho, entrance to the Mekong Delta (about 1.5–2 hours by car).
• Take a wooden boat and ride along the Tien River.
• Tour coconut candy workshops, orchards, and honey tea farms in Thoi Son Islet.

Afternoon:

• Indulge in a riverside lunch of ca tai tuong chien xu (elephant ear fish), lau mam (fermented hotpot), and spring rolls.
• Bike ride or sampan tour along serpentine canals fringed with nipa palms.

Evening:

• Back to Ho Chi Minh City.
• Farewell dinner at Secret Garden Rooftop Restaurant, an oasis with refined local cuisine in serene, outdoor surroundings.
• Cheers to what will always be a memorable taste tour of Vietnam.

Day 10 – Departure from Ho Chi Minh City

Morning:

• Light morning breakfast in the hotel.
• Optional last-minute shopping: coffee, dried mango, lotus seeds, or spices.

Afternoon:

• Private airport transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your onward flight home.
• Goodbye with a full heart and a satisfied stomach!

Book Your Vietnam Adventure with Impress Travel Today!

Ready to taste, feel, and fall in love with Vietnam? Looking to slurp pho in Hanoi, cruise the Mekong with a filled belly of banh xeo, or discover hidden streets in Ho Chi Minh City? Let Impress Travel help turn your dream of visiting Vietnam into delicious, memory-filled experiences. With more than 15 years of proven history, a heart and passion-driven local crew, and highly-rated custom-made holidays, we don’t merely provide tours, we develop real connections.

Call us today at (+84) 912 379 189 or book your Vietnamese adventure now at info@impresstravel.com. Your adventure begins with one bite, and we’re serving it up for you!

Discover more, stress less with Impress Travel, the most trustworthy travel friend in Vietnam.

Conclusion

Starved of more than what the eyes alone can see? Have Vietnamese street food tours be your taste-bud-filled entry into authentic Vietnamese culture. Starting from banh mi in Ho Chi Minh City and finishing with egg coffee in Hanoi, with every mouthful, you’re getting closer to the heart of this lively country. Want to dig deeper? Don’t miss our complete Vietnam itinerary 3 weeks filled with unmissable Vietnam attractions and local gems!