1. Overview
Hoi An, Vietnam, is a culinary paradise that should be on every food lover’s travel itinerary. This ancient port town is a melting pot of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese cultures, and this rich history is reflected in its cuisine. From street food stalls to high-end restaurants, Hoi An has something for every tastebud.
A culinary tour in Hoi An is a must for any traveler looking to explore the city’s vibrant culinary scene. Hoi An food tours give visitors the opportunity to sample many local delicacies, learn about the region’s culinary traditions, and experience the city’s vibrant culture. Hoi An food tours also give visitors the opportunity to try traditional Vietnamese cooking techniques such as making rice paper, making vermicelli, and fishing by basket boat. You can even visit local farms to see how fresh herbs and vegetables are grown and harvested.
2. Hoi An food tour types
Currently in Hoi An, there are two main forms of food tours: following a tour organized by a travel company or self-sufficient food tours according to personal plans.
Food tour of travel companies: In this form, there will be a tour guide accompanying you, who will make a list of a culinary exploration itinerary with many delicious dishes at different locations. The tourist’s job is to learn about regional cuisine through guidance without wasting time researching. However, this form has the disadvantage of lacking initiative; you need to go on a food tour with many other people.
Hoi An food tours you can experience include: Hoi An Street Food Walking Tour, Hoi An Food Adventure at Sunset, Old Quarter Street Food Tour at Night, Hoi An Food Tour by Motorbike with Tasting and Dinner, Hoi An Evening Food Bike Tour, Hoi An Vegetarian Tour, Half Day Cooking Class at Hoi An Cinnamon Tra Vegetable Village, etc.
Self-guided food tour: You can make your own schedule to explore any favorite place and stop to experience any favorite food. In this form, you will be more proactive in going out to eat, but you will have to spend a lot of time planning, and it will be difficult to estimate costs in advance.
3. The top 10 best foods you should experience on Hoi An food tours
Although Hoi An cuisine is very rich, with many famous dishes, perhaps the nine delicious dishes below are ones that you should not miss when participating in a Hoi An food tour:
3.1. Cao Lau
When talking about Hoi An, it is impossible not to mention Cao Lau specialties. This special dish is greatly influenced by Chinese merchants and cold Udon noodles from Japan. A dish associated with Hoi An has a very strange name and a unique flavor. Cao Lau is essentially a noodle dish mixed with flour and melaleuca wood ash, so the noodles are bright yellow, large, and soft. Soft noodles combined with shrimp, pork, char siu, raw vegetables… bring a typical Cao Lau dish only found in Hoi An. A bowl of Cao Lau costs from 0.62 USD – 2.05 USD. Some of the best Cao Lau restaurants suggested for you in Hoi An are:
- Thanh Cao Lau Restaurant is at 26 Thai Phien Street, Minh An Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
- Cao Lau Lien restaurant is at 120 Tran Cao Van street, Minh An ward, Hoi An city, Quang Nam province.
- Cao Lau Ba Le Restaurant at 49/3 Tran Hung Dao, Minh An Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province
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3.2. Tra Mot Hoi An
Tra Mot is a famous drink in Hoi An with a cool, sweet flavor and a faint herbal scent. A cup of tea will be brewed according to a separate recipe, adding a little ginger and lemongrass along with some herbs such as chrysanthemum, dried lotus leaves, green tea leaves, honey, etc., which are very good for health. It is certainly not only delicious but also very beautiful and unique. The Tra Mot address you can refer to is 150 Tran Phu, Minh An Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam. The price of 1 cup of tea ranges from 0.41 USD to 1.03 USD per cup.
3.3. Hoi An Quang Noodles
Mi Quang is a delicious Quang dish typical of the central region. Quang noodles are compared to cao lau because these two dishes are quite similar in the way they are prepared; however, quang noodles are a pure Vietnamese dish of the people of Quang. When traveling to Hoi An, you definitely cannot miss this dish. The noodles are made from finely ground rice flour, coated thinly, and cut into strips. The broth is stewed from sweet bones and is often added with boiled eggs and chicken. Some Quang Hoi An noodles shops with the best reviews:
- Quang Noodles Ong Hai Hoi An at 6A Truong Minh Luong Street, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province with prices from 0.62 USD – 1.64 USD/bowl. Open: 07:30 a.m. – 21:00 p.m.
- Noodles Quang Di Hat: 4 Phan Chau Trinh Street, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, priced from only 0.62 USD – 1.03 USD/bowl. Open: 08:00 a.m – 22:00 p.m.
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3.4. Hoi An chicken rice
Among the dishes in Hoi An, chicken rice is probably the most special dish. Although nowadays, you can eat this dish anywhere, really only chicken in Hoi An offers such an unforgettable taste. Golden, fragrant rice with golden pieces of chicken is served with salad and vegetables. Just a plate of chicken rice will fill you up all day and keep the flavor of Hoi An cuisine alive when you return home. A plate of chicken rice costs between 0.82 and 2.05 USD. Some original chicken rice restaurants sold by Hoi An people you can refer to are: Ba Buoi Chicken Rice, Hoi An Chicken Rice, Ba Thuan Chicken Rice, etc.
3.5. Banh mi Hoi An
Banh Mi is a dish in Vietnam that is no longer unfamiliar to many people. However, in Hoi An, banh mi has its own unique and most attractive taste. Hoi An banh mi has been commented on by famous BBC reporter David Farley, who specializes in writing about travel and cuisine, as “the best sandwich in the world”. One of the famous banh mi shops in Hoi An that cannot be missed is Phuong banh mi shop; Madam Khanh bread, etc., with prices ranging from only 1.03 USD to 2.05 USD for a genuine Hoi An bread.
3.6. Banh Dap
Banh Dap is one of the most familiar dishes among people in the Central region and in Hoi An as well. Banh Dap has two layers: the outer layer is crispy grilled rice paper, and the inner layer is a thin layer of cake coated like a roll and then spread with onion fat, shrimp powder, or meat on top. Banh Dap is served with a dipping sauce made from fish sauce with a little sugar, minced pineapple, fried onions, garlic, and green chili from Quang. Banh Dap, also eaten with stir-fried mussels, is a famous snack that you must try when traveling to Hoi An.
The price of banh dap is very cheap, ranging from 0.29 USD to 0.62 USD per cake, depending on the type of filling. Some places to eat Banh Dam in the old town: Cam Nam Banh Dam at 679 Hai Ba Trung, Hoi An; Hoi An old lady’s cake in Cam Nam commune.
3.7. Cauldron cake Hoi An
When traveling to Hoi An, you certainly will not miss cauldron cake, one of the typical Hoi An delicacies in the old town. Cauldron cake looks simple and rustic at first glance; however, this is a cake whose preparation requires meticulousness from the bakers. Each pure, white cake is skillfully shaped, truly worthy of the nickname “white rose cake”. Cauldron cake attracts many tourists to visit and enjoy Hoi An, especially foreign tourists.
There are many places to eat delicious cauldron cakes in Hoi An, but you should visit the White Rose restaurant at 533 Hai Ba Trung to enjoy this dish to the fullest! Opening hours: 7:30 a.m –20:30 p.m. Reference price: 2.05 USD to 4.11 USD per plate
3.8. Hoi An pancakes
Unlike Southern banh xeo, Hoi An banh xeo, or Quang banh xeo, is about the size of a hand. The filling is made from bean sprouts, shrimp, and meat, rich in seafood flavor, surrounded by a crispy golden crust. The cook will pour the pancakes while diners are eating to ensure the hotness and deliciousness of the pancakes. Banh xeo will be rolled in raw vegetables and enjoyed with a sweet and sour dipping sauce. If you want to enjoy delicious banh xeo, you can visit some of these places:
- Hoai River Banh Xeo at 59/32 August 18 Street, prices from 0.41 USD – 1.23 USD and open from 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
- Ms. Anh’s banh xeo on Thoai Ngoc Hau street costs from 0.82 USD – 2.05 USD VND and is open from 9:00 a.m – 22:00 p.m
3.9. Moist cake rolled with grilled meat
Wet cake rolled with grilled meat is also one of the favorite dishes in Hoi An. Soft, wet cake eaten with grilled meat is extremely delicious and easy to eat. Take the wet cake, add raw vegetables and meat, roll it up, and dip it in fish sauce, and you’re done. The cake is very soft; combined with the chewy meat rich in fragrant spices, dipped in rich dipping sauce, and enjoyed, it is extremely wonderful. If you travel to Hoi An for a long time and want to change your taste, this is the right choice. To enjoy this dish at its best, you can refer to the following restaurants:
- Ms. Vien’s grilled meat skewer restaurant at 138 Tran Phu, Hoi An city has prices ranging from 0.21 USD – 2.05 USD; The shop is usually open from 3:00 p.m – 9:00 p.m.
- Gieng Ba Le Restaurant at 51 Tran Hung Dao, Minh An Ward, Hoi An City; Prices range from 0.62 USD – 1.85 USD and are open from 10:00 a.m – 22:00 p.m.
3.10. Che Hoi An
When traveling to Hoi An ancient town, you must definitely enjoy a bowl of Hoi An che. Che Hoi An has a naturally delicious yet extremely simple taste and is sold by many street vendors or small sidewalk shops in the old town. There are many types of che such: che me den , che hat sen, che bap, che com, che dau van, etc. Some sweet soup shops in Hoi An suggest, for your reference:
- Quan che Ba Muoi at 4 Hoang Dieu, prices from 0.33 USD – 0.62 USD and open from 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- Mr. Thieu’s che me den is located opposite 118 Nguyen Truong To street, prices from 0.21 USD – 0.33 USD and open from 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
4. Conclusion
Above are the top 10 best foods you should experience on Hoi An food tours that Metta Voyage shares with you and hope you have the best trip. You can contact us immediately to register for the Hoi An food tour or some other trips in Hoi An that you want to experience.
5. Contact us
Website: www.mettavoyage.com
Email: [email protected]
Hotline 24/7: + 84 989 383 572
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