Hanoi Street Food Tour by Night: Bún Đậu, Bún Ốc & Bia Hơi on Ta Hien
Day tour
Food tour
Standard
Departure point
→
Destination
Hanoi, Vietnam
Hanoi
1N (Participation Duration)
Walking (Transportation)
English (Language)
Number of participants 0/10
0 booked
Tour description
Hanoi has two culinary cities within one. There is the morning Hanoi with pho and banh cuon, and there is Hanoi by night — smokier, louder, more pungent, and revolving around beer. This walking tour is that second version.
We start in a narrow alley beside St. Joseph's Cathedral, where a family has been frying nem chua for decades, served with green chilies and garlic, washed down with iced tea. From there, we seek out the flavors Hanoians are proudest of and visitors most often avoid: bun dau mam tom, cold rice noodles and fried tofu served with fermented shrimp paste, which your guide will teach you to season properly rather than politely skip; bun oc, snail broth with a tangy sourness eaten from metal bowls on plastic stools; and pho tron, a tossed, brothless version of pho that only appears in the evening.
The middle portion of the tour stops on Ta Hien, the beer street, where you drink bia hoi — unpasteurized draft beer brewed that morning and sold that day — alongside grilled dried squid and crisp rice crackers. Your guide explains how the bia hoi system works, why it must be consumed within 24 hours, and how the low plastic stools on the pavement became a symbol of the city. We finish with a bowl of rib congee in the alleys behind Dong Xuan Market and, for those who still have room, an egg coffee.
Small group, maximum 10 guests, walking approximately 2.5 km on flat terrain. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, we adjust the route to take in the Old Quarter night market.
We start in a narrow alley beside St. Joseph's Cathedral, where a family has been frying nem chua for decades, served with green chilies and garlic, washed down with iced tea. From there, we seek out the flavors Hanoians are proudest of and visitors most often avoid: bun dau mam tom, cold rice noodles and fried tofu served with fermented shrimp paste, which your guide will teach you to season properly rather than politely skip; bun oc, snail broth with a tangy sourness eaten from metal bowls on plastic stools; and pho tron, a tossed, brothless version of pho that only appears in the evening.
The middle portion of the tour stops on Ta Hien, the beer street, where you drink bia hoi — unpasteurized draft beer brewed that morning and sold that day — alongside grilled dried squid and crisp rice crackers. Your guide explains how the bia hoi system works, why it must be consumed within 24 hours, and how the low plastic stools on the pavement became a symbol of the city. We finish with a bowl of rib congee in the alleys behind Dong Xuan Market and, for those who still have room, an egg coffee.
Small group, maximum 10 guests, walking approximately 2.5 km on flat terrain. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, we adjust the route to take in the Old Quarter night market.
Meeting point:
View on map
10 Au Trieu Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
We meet in the lane beside St Joseph's Cathedral, outside the fried nem chua stall at 10 Au Trieu. Look for your guide with a small sign. Five minutes' walk from Hoan Kiem Lake.
Detailed itinerary
Stop 1 - Nem chua ran (fried fermented pork rolls), Au Trieu Alley: Fermented pork rolls fried piping hot to order in an alley beside St. Joseph's Cathedral, served with raw garlic and chili. A favorite drinking snack among locals.
Stop 2 - Bun dau mam tom, Dong Thai: The dish Hanoians often challenge travelers to try—cold rice noodles, fried tofu, boiled pork, fresh herbs, and fermented shrimp paste. Your guide will show you how to mix the dipping sauce and eat it properly.
Stop 3 - Bun oc (snail noodle soup), Luong Ngoc Quyen: Freshwater snails in a tangy broth made from tomatoes and rice vinegar, one of the city's oldest street foods and still almost exclusively enjoyed by locals.
Stop 4 - Ta Hien Beer Street: Fresh draft beer (bia hoi), brewed in the morning and sold throughout the day, served with charcoal-grilled squid and sesame rice crackers. Your guide will explain the bia hoi system and why the beer doesn't last past a single day.
Stop 5 - Pho tron (mixed pho), Lan Ong: A dry pho dish served only in the evening—the same rice noodles and poached chicken, but tossed with peanuts, herbs, and a light, tangy sauce instead of broth. Rarely featured on mainstream tourist itineraries.
Stop 6 - Chao suon (pork rib porridge), Dong Xuan alleys: Silky-smooth pork rib porridge served with fried dough sticks and quail eggs, enjoyed in the market alleys where local vendors grab their late-night meals.
Stop 7 - Egg coffee or warm sweet soup: We finish with the city's famous egg coffee or a bowl of warm sweet dessert soup (che), depending on the season and how full you are.
Stop 2 - Bun dau mam tom, Dong Thai: The dish Hanoians often challenge travelers to try—cold rice noodles, fried tofu, boiled pork, fresh herbs, and fermented shrimp paste. Your guide will show you how to mix the dipping sauce and eat it properly.
Stop 3 - Bun oc (snail noodle soup), Luong Ngoc Quyen: Freshwater snails in a tangy broth made from tomatoes and rice vinegar, one of the city's oldest street foods and still almost exclusively enjoyed by locals.
Stop 4 - Ta Hien Beer Street: Fresh draft beer (bia hoi), brewed in the morning and sold throughout the day, served with charcoal-grilled squid and sesame rice crackers. Your guide will explain the bia hoi system and why the beer doesn't last past a single day.
Stop 5 - Pho tron (mixed pho), Lan Ong: A dry pho dish served only in the evening—the same rice noodles and poached chicken, but tossed with peanuts, herbs, and a light, tangy sauce instead of broth. Rarely featured on mainstream tourist itineraries.
Stop 6 - Chao suon (pork rib porridge), Dong Xuan alleys: Silky-smooth pork rib porridge served with fried dough sticks and quail eggs, enjoyed in the market alleys where local vendors grab their late-night meals.
Stop 7 - Egg coffee or warm sweet soup: We finish with the city's famous egg coffee or a bowl of warm sweet dessert soup (che), depending on the season and how full you are.
Tour price includes
• English-speaking local food guide for small groups (maximum 10 guests)
• All 7 food and drink tastings listed in the itinerary
• One glass of fresh bia hoi (or a soft drink if preferred)
• Bottled water and wet wipes throughout the walking tour
• All taxes and service charges
• All 7 food and drink tastings listed in the itinerary
• One glass of fresh bia hoi (or a soft drink if preferred)
• Bottled water and wet wipes throughout the walking tour
• All taxes and service charges
Tour price excludes
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off
• Additional beer or spirits beyond the included drink
• Personal travel insurance
• Tips for the guide (appreciated, but not required)
• Meals outside the itinerary
• Additional beer or spirits beyond the included drink
• Personal travel insurance
• Tips for the guide (appreciated, but not required)
• Meals outside the itinerary
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours are non-refundable. If you arrive late, text your guide and we will try to meet you at stop 2; we cannot hold the group for more than 15 minutes. The tour runs rain or shine. If we cancel the tour, you will receive a full refund or a free transfer to another date.
Other notes
Departures daily, two time slots (17:30 and 18:30). From Friday to Sunday, the route takes in the Old Quarter night market, which operates only on these three nights; Monday through Thursday is quieter and better suited for conversation.
Minimum age is 12 for this tour due to the beer stop and late finish. Guests under 18 will be served soft drinks.
This tour features bold fermented flavors, particularly shrimp paste (mam tom). If you are certain you cannot eat it, let us know at booking and we will substitute a milder stop — though our morning tour is likely a better fit.
Dietary requirements: please notify us at least 48 hours in advance. Pork-free and pescatarian/no-meat adaptations are possible. A fully vegan version is not practical on this route.
Please note that under Hanoi's 2025 sidewalk regulations, street seating has moved indoors at some spots and police clear tables on Ta Hien later in the evening. We confirm seating with each vendor during the week of the tour and have alternatives prepared for every stop.
We do not visit Hanoi Train Street — guided groups have been prohibited from the area since March 2025.
Minimum age is 12 for this tour due to the beer stop and late finish. Guests under 18 will be served soft drinks.
This tour features bold fermented flavors, particularly shrimp paste (mam tom). If you are certain you cannot eat it, let us know at booking and we will substitute a milder stop — though our morning tour is likely a better fit.
Dietary requirements: please notify us at least 48 hours in advance. Pork-free and pescatarian/no-meat adaptations are possible. A fully vegan version is not practical on this route.
Please note that under Hanoi's 2025 sidewalk regulations, street seating has moved indoors at some spots and police clear tables on Ta Hien later in the evening. We confirm seating with each vendor during the week of the tour and have alternatives prepared for every stop.
We do not visit Hanoi Train Street — guided groups have been prohibited from the area since March 2025.
Detailed price list
| Guest type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | $45 |
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