Fancy one of the world’s greatest food experiences? Try Hanoi

Many people are drawn to a destination just because of how well it triggers their appetite, and for that reason, Hanoi is one of the world’s greatest cities to visit, The Telegraph recommends.

The U.K. newspaper published a list of “the world’s 17 greatest cities for food” on February 26 and the Vietnamese capital grabbed second spot, after Tokyo.

“Hanoi’s compact old center is arguably the better place to sample the balance of salt, sweet, sour and spice in Vietnamese cuisine,” it said, comparing the city with the popular southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City, which is “more international”.

"Pho tiu" in Hanoi. Photos by Ngoi Sao/Shironeko
"Pho tiu" in Hanoi. Photos by Ngoi Sao/Shironeko

Hanoi is where one can take to the streets and eat like a local, it said.

The city offers some of the most popular Vietnamese dishes such as "banh mi", a baguette usually filled with grilled pork, meatballs or cold cuts, cucumber, cilantro, pickled carrots, liver pâté and a swipe of mayonnaise, or "com tam", which is broken rice with grilled pork, pig skin, egg and fish sauce.

But tourists can also jump into more exotic dishes like "pho tiu", a sweet and sour noodle dish originating in China and arriving in Hanoi via Ho Chi Minh City. 

It is an assortment of roasted pork slices, bean shoots, herbs, crushed nuts and dried shallots on a bed of noodles, topped off with fish sauce, vinegar, thickened pork bone broth and light brown oil.

For dessert, the newspaper recommended egg coffee, an unlikely beverage favored particularly on cold days. It is a blend of coffee and egg whites, folded with sugar and drunk hot or cold. Say “café trung” and you will be served.\

The Telegraph did not mention "pho" or "bun cha", although both are among tourists’ favorite things to try in Hanoi.

US news site Business Insider last October published a bucket list with 50 attractions, foods and experiences one must try in Asia, and among them was “a steamy bowl of pho in Hanoi”.

In May last year, a plastic stool restaurant near Hanoi’s Old Quarter also earned global fame after serving "bun cha", a combination of grilled pork patties, cold dipping sauce, fresh vegetables and rice vermicelli, to Barrack Obama, which made him “so happy,” according to his companion celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain.

The Telegraph list mostly focuses on Europe and America. Other Asian cities that made the list are Jaipur in India, Bangkok in Thailand, Singapore and Chengdu in China.

VnExpress

Other News

Ta Xua named Asia's leading emerging tourism destination 2026

Ta Xua named Asia's leading emerging tourism destination 2026

In recent years, Ta Xua, dubbed "the paradise of clouds", has emerged as one of the mountainous destinations attracting strong interest from young travellers, particularly for its spectacular sea of clouds stretching across the mountains in the northwestern region.

Digital transformation key to preserving, promoting ethnic cultural values

Digital transformation key to preserving, promoting ethnic cultural values

Training local young people in filming, audio recording, digital storytelling, data preservation and responsible use of AI can help build a new generation of cultural custodians. This, in turn, can help transform cultural heritage into a resource for economic development while contributing to the country’s broader development.

Indigenous culture becomes tourism asset in northern highlands

Indigenous culture becomes tourism asset in northern highlands

With growing recognition of indigenous knowledge, customs and cultural values as unique assets, ethnic communities in the northern mountainous region are shifting from simply providing tourism services to becoming creators and owners of tourism products, confidently telling their own cultural stories

UNESCO ready to work with Vietnam to implement International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development initiative: Representative

UNESCO ready to work with Vietnam to implement International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development initiative: Representative

Jonathan Wallace Baker, UNESCO Representative to Vietnam, noted that the official proclamation of the 2027–2036 period as the "International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development" comes at a particularly important moment. As the international community works to accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda while beginning to consider what comes after 2030, the Decade provides a ten-year framework to strengthen the place of culture in development.

Traditional culture finds new life in contemporary Vietnam

Traditional culture finds new life in contemporary Vietnam

Under Resolution 80-NQ/TW, dated January 7, 2026, November 24 was designated Vietnam Culture Day, to be observed annually. The occasion aims to give the public opportunities to participate in, create and enjoy cultural activities, helping spread positive values and foster pride in Vietnamese culture.

Vietnam prioritises MICE tourism as strategic product

Vietnam prioritises MICE tourism as strategic product

For the MICE tourism sector in both Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam, growth can no longer be driven merely by increasing the number of events; instead, the focus must shift to enhancing the value of each event and the competitiveness of each destination.

Potential of ethnic minority women's football

Potential of ethnic minority women's football

Women’s football movements in local communities have been quietly growing, but they’ve now built up enough momentum to inspire organisers to launch the first Vietnam Ethnic Minority Women’s Football – VTV Cup in 2026.

Phong Nha - Ke Bang named among Vietnam's 11 most beautiful destinations

Phong Nha - Ke Bang named among Vietnam's 11 most beautiful destinations

According to the magazine, boat trips into Phong Nha Cave and strolls through Paradise Cave (both family-friendly) offer a tantalising glimpse of their astonishing scale, but the real adventure lies deeper within the park, where cavers wade through underground rivers and weave among stalagmites.

Tourism seeks new growth momentum under Resolution 26

Tourism seeks new growth momentum under Resolution 26

Tourism effectiveness should be measured not only by visitor numbers and revenue, but also by spending, length of stay, repeat visits, job quality, visitor satisfaction and environmental carrying capacity, said experts.

Vietnam welcomes nearly 2 million international visitors in August, up 19.7% from July and 18.4% year-on-year. (Illustrative photo: VNA)

Vietnam tourism maintains strong growth, expands international markets

The National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance reported that Vietnam welcomed nearly 2 million international visitors in August, up 19.7% from July and 18.4% year-on-year. The figure represented 63.6% of the tourism sector’s full-year target of 25 million arrivals.

First ladies of Vietnam, Myanmar visit Van Phuc silk village

First ladies of Vietnam, Myanmar visit Van Phuc silk village

Ngo Phuong Ly, the spouse of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam, said the two countries share similarities in silk weaving and can enrich their cultural heritage through exchanges and experience sharing.