From Bún Chả to Buffalo Soup: 6 Vietnamese Dishes To Try

Tucked inside Hanoi’s Old Quarter, Quiri Hostel is surrounded by alot of delicious Vietnamese dishes. You don’t need to search for it—just step outside and let your nose guide you. By the time most backpackers check in and drop their bags, they’re already on the hunt for something local, hot, and unforgettable. Hanoi delivers fast.

But after a few days of slurping noodles and sipping bia hơi, something changes. Guests start talking about other flavors—about strange porridges, stews that smell like campfire and horse, and BBQ you won’t find anywhere else in the country. That’s when Ha Giang enters the conversation.

Before we head north, here are some must-try dishes every traveler falls for in Hanoi first.

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1. First Vietnamese dishes: Bún Chả – Grilled Pork and Dipping Sauce

It’s smoky. It’s sweet. It’s everywhere. Bún chả is Hanoi’s signature dish—grilled pork belly and pork patties served with vermicelli noodles, a bowl of fish sauce with pickled papaya, and a plate of fresh herbs.

Locals eat it for lunch. Backpackers eat it at any hour. Most Quiri guests find a favorite spot within two blocks of the hostel and swear it’s the best one in town.

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2. Second Vietnamese dishes: Bánh Cuốn – Delicate Rolls for a Slow Morning

A quiet breakfast dish that doesn’t scream for attention but earns your respect. Thin rice paper is steamed and rolled with minced pork and wood ear mushrooms, then topped with crispy shallots. Dip it into sweetened fish sauce and thank yourself for waking up early.

Some of the best bánh cuốn stalls don’t even have a name, but they’re easy to spot—just look for the uncles and aunties huddled over hot steam trays.

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3. Third Vietnamese dishes: Bún Riêu – Crab Soup With a Kick

This tomato-based noodle soup is a savior after a late night out. Topped with tofu, sometimes crab meat or even congealed blood, bún riêu brings together sweet, sour, and salty all in one loud, comforting bowl.

It’s the dish most travelers never planned to try, but always remember. Especially when they find a street cart with tiny plastic stools and a steady crowd of locals.

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By this point, you’ll be full—but you’ll also hear stories from other travelers. Stories of smoky kitchens in wooden homes. Of nighttime soups with bitter roots. Of barbecued pigs that once ran wild in the northern hills.

These aren’t dishes you’ll find in the Old Quarter. They live up north—in the mountains of Ha Giang. And the only real way to try them is to go.

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4. Fourth Vietnamese dishes: Cháo Ấu Tẩu – Ha Giang’s Bitter Midnight Porridge

Made from a poisonous root that must be boiled for hours to be edible, cháo ấu tẩu is Ha Giang’s late-night specialty. The sticky rice porridge is cooked with pork, glutinous rice, and the infamous ấu tẩu root, giving it a deep, slightly bitter taste. Locals swear it helps with sleep and body aches.

You’ll only find it in Ha Giang City after dark—usually in small roadside kitchens with just a few chairs and a giant pot. It’s warm, intense, and totally unlike anything else in Vietnam.

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5. Fifth Vietnamese dishes: Thắng Cố – The Market Stew That Divides Travelers

This isn’t a dish you “sort of like.” It’s either love or nope. Originally a Hmong dish, thắng cố is made from horse meat, bones, and offal, slow-cooked with native herbs in massive iron pots. It’s a common sight at Sunday markets like Dong Van and Meo Vac.

The smell is strong. The texture is unpredictable. But when eaten with a shot of local corn wine and shared with laughing locals, it becomes more than just food—it becomes part of the Loop experience.

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6. Sixth Vietnamese dishes: Lợn Cắp Nách – Mountain Pig, Grilled With Fire and Salt

Lợn cắp nách translates roughly to “armpit pig,” named after the small native pigs that locals carry under one arm. These pigs roam free in the northern hills, and when cooked, their meat is fatty, crispy, and packed with flavor.

Usually grilled whole over open flames or chopped and fried with herbs, it’s often served with salt, pepper, lime, and foraged greens. You’ll eat it sitting outside, in a mountain village, surrounded by riders and the sound of nothing but wind.

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Hanoi’s street food will win your heart. But Ha Giang’s food? That stays in your bones.

At Quiri Hostel, we make it easy to get there. You can book your Ha Giang Vision Loop Tour right at the front desk. We’ll handle the transport, motorbike, helmet, gear, and all the food—yes, even the weird ones.

Go beyond the Old Quarter. Ride north. Eat wild.

Book your Ha Giang Loop adventure here