The Vietnamese people have a phrase “Eating Northern and Wearing Southern”, this phrase indicates the sophistication in the culinary taste of the Northern people. When talking about the convergence of the elite Northern culinary it would be a big omission if Hanoi’s food courses are not mentioned. For a Hanoi people like me, each dish in this city seems to be associated to a specific street or corner; and I am very proud to show you those small but joyful stores, guide you to the addresses for eating and drinking in this place.
In the 90s of the previous century, the country began to transform. At that time, everything was so simple, Hanoi people invited each other to hang out meaning that they invite their friends to go out for food and drink. There are quite many small restaurants on the street, indeed most of them are setup along the road, on the pavement. That seems to be a traditional trend till now. Their owners are so chastity that they call their own store with very catchy names. While walking along “Hang Be” street you can cross by the roadside noodle restaurants named “Pho Vui”, “Pho Suong” (Pho is the famous dish here in Hanoi, and Vui, Suong mean Joyful, Cheerful). A “Trang Tien ice cream” is enough to please every child in town. There are many more addresses that have been identified by food courses such as Cha Ca La Vong, Pho Bat Dan, Thanh Tri rolls …
On these days, Hanoi is flooded with fast-food chains or luxurious coffee shop which are embraced by young people. It is not difficult to encounter a KFC or a Starbucks in Hanoi but traditional restaurants such as “Pho Tu Lun”, “Bun Thang Cau Go” have never been uncrowded. Many shops that locate in the corners of Hanoi are easily searched on the map with clear position (thanks for the Hanoi people to keep updating them). One can find an egg-cafe cup after diving through the tiny and long alleys, or weaving with thrill in the Dong Xuan street market - the main market of Thang Long capital in the feudal period and the result for that is always sweet and interesting, you can smell each breath of Hanoi. I can tell you all about “Pho” restaurants downtown, where I often joke about myself as a living map here for this ancient city. I hope that I can bring Hanoi street food closer to friends all over the world, so that more people would love Hanoi and Hanoi’s culinary like I do.
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