10 Dining Experiences in Hanoi to Build a Day Around

1.Buffet on Paradise Delight Dining Cruise Halong Bay Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,034 reviews · from $38Our pick

Spend about four hours aboard Paradise Delight, a modern dining ship in Halong Bay. You get a buffet lunch or dinner, canapés, scenic cruising, cave visits with illuminated stalactites and stalagmites, and an entertainment program. The activity starts and ends at Halong Bay.

“great, tasty food and very funny staff , everything was simple but luxurious, a great experience, I like everything here, reasonable prices, anyone who hasn't been here should come and experience it once, it's worth it.”

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2.Halong Bay Luxury Dinner Cruise – Ambassador

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 374 reviews · from $105

Spend three hours aboard Ambassador Cruise II, sailing beside Ha Long City after dark. You’ll enjoy an Asian-European dinner, live band, DJ and dancers, plus a fireworks show at 8:30 pm. The cruise begins and ends at Ha Long International Cruise Port.

“The entertainment was fantastic.The food was great and the ship is huge and amazing. A really great vibe.Totally worth it, Halong Bay is simply breathtaking at night and is must!”

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3.Hanoi Old Quarter Private Daily Street Food Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 91 reviews · from $75

Spend about three hours walking Hanoi’s Old Quarter with a private English-speaking guide such as Minh, Arthur, Duyen, or Shaun. Sample banh mi, bun cha, banh cuon, bun bo Nam Bo, and dessert, with dishes adjusted to your preferences and local conditions.

“Darcy took really good care of us during our fabulous food walking tour. She brought us to great places that we would not have been able to find ourselves. As it was a private tour, she could really cater to our taste and appetite.”

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4.Street Food Experience with 5 Food Stops

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 63 reviews · 3 hours · from $29Best value

Meet an English-speaking local guide near Dong Xuan Market for three hours of Hanoi street food. Try banh mi, banh cuon, bun cha, nem chua, fruit salad and egg coffee, then look over Hoan Kiem Lake from Cafe Phố Cổ. Groups are limited to 12, with private tours available.

“The guide showed us some interesting places and we discovered local food”

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5.2D1N Halong Bay 6-Star Cruise: Fine Dining, Cave & Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 41 reviews · from $239

Spend one night aboard a 6-star Ha Long Bay cruise with a private balcony, bathtub, fine Vietnamese and international meals, and visits to Sung Sot Cave, Titop Island, and Luon Cave. Cruise manager Dan and the onboard crew keep the schedule moving, while kayaking, cooking, Tai Chi, and sunset views fill the trip.

“Great trip! We all enjoyed the cruise. The cruise manager Dan and his crew were very accommodating, the activities were all on time and the food was very nice! I would recommend.”

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6.Hanoi Street Food Experience by Walking

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · from $50

Meet at 6:00 pm in Hanoi’s Old Quarter for a three-hour private food walk with an English-speaking local student. Sample Hanoi favorites such as Pho, Bun Cha, Banh Cuon, Banh Goi, and Banh Mi while learning about ingredients, food customs, and local traditions. Food costs extra.

“The best way to start your time in Hanoi is through a food tour. Lily our guide asked us in advance what foods we wanted to try and she was prepared. We made it through 3 different mains and one dessert, all very delicious and filling. Lily gave us some good advice for navigating Hanoi with roads and bartering too.”

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7.Guided 2-Day Tour of Sa Pa with Lunch & Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 30 reviews · from $84

Travel by overnight sleeper bus from Hanoi to Sa Pa, then trek through Muong Hoa Valley, Ly Chai, Ta Van, and Giang Ta Chai. You’ll sleep in a Dzay family homestay, share meals, and may join a cooking class. English guide Xin has earned warm praise for her humor and care.

“I’m traveling around the world and this was one of the Top Ten things I’ve done in my seven months so far. I had an amazing time”

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8.Hanoi’s Old Quarter Street Food Experience and Train Street

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · from $35

Join an English-speaking guide such as Jenna or Messi for a three-hour Hanoi food walk. Expect seven or more local dishes, egg coffee, Old Quarter sights, and a Train Street visit. Hotel pickup is available in the Old Quarter, with groups capped at 20.

“It was a great tour! We very much enjoyed the food and Messi was very knowledgable! We highly recommend it to anyone that’s looking for authentic cuisine”

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9.Hanoi The Best Street Food Experience | VEGETARIAN OPTION

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $32

Walk Hanoi’s Old Quarter with an English-speaking guide, learning simple Vietnamese phrases, local food customs, and Hanoian culture while sampling at least eight dishes. Choose a regular, vegetarian, or vegan menu, with Old Quarter pickup and drop-off included.

“Thank you to the team of this travel company for a wonderful trip! The staff are friendly and professional, helping you feel comfortable and excited. Excellent customer service and thoughtfully designed tour. Will definitely recommend to friends and family!”

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10.Hanoi Street Food Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $50

Join a private 2 to 3 hour evening walk through Hanoi’s Old Quarter with a local English-speaking guide. Taste pho, bun cha, banh mi, banh cuon, spring rolls, che, and egg coffee. Guides such as Dieu Linh, Apple, and Hai add local food and cultural context.

“Our guide was great and answered all our questions about the local cuisine. This tour was even better than we expected, and we highly recommend it! Thank you for choosing such amazing food stops.”

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