It's Rafael Carneiro of Brazil's first time visiting Vietnam. He hasmostly eaten noodle soups since he arrived – which has given him theimpression that all Vietnamese food is the same. But a street food tourhe took in Hanoi proved him entirely wrong.
Foodtours are expanding in the capital city. Most tourism companies offerthem to travellers, and many are highly recommended on sites likeTripAdvisor.com and Travelfish.org.
Instead ofjetting out of Hanoi as soon as possible to get to destinations like HaLong Bay or Sa Pa, more tourists are now spending quality time in thecapital wandering the streets of the Old Quarter and enjoying itsvarious signature dishes, including pho and bun cha (fresh noodle withcharcoal grilled pork).
Food tours stemmed fromwalking tours in which tourists enjoy the city on foot, learning aboutits history and culture. Firms now offer a wide range of tours thatallow visitors to see the streets on bicycles and motorbikes. Besides,tourists can also buy ingredients at markets and cook at a Vietnamesehome, or visit villages in the suburbs for lunch.
Out of all these options, street food tours are most popular. Food tourshelp visitors understand more about the city and its food, and bringthem an unforgettable experience.
Like many other visitors toVietnam, Carneiro knows little about Vietnamese cuisine, and had neverbeen to any Vietnamese restaurants in his hometown of Rio de Janeiro.
"I booked the tour because it is interesting to try the food here," Carneiro said.
"My favourite dish is banh cuon (rolled pan cake) because I think it is different from others in the way they cook it," he said.
AnnelieneMagen of the Netherlands, also quite new to Vietnam, said she's hadsome experience with food in the south and centre of the country. Shesaid she went on a food tour to try places she wouldn't be able to findon her own.
"I heard that food is really great in Hanoi," shesays. "I think joining a tour is a good way to find the best places.That way I don't need to try a bunch to find a good one," she said.
Magen added all she knew about the cuisine before arriving was that there's a lot of rice and nem (spring rolls).
"Ithink Hanoi and Hoi An are the best places to taste Vietnamese food,"she said. "I prefer pho bo (beef noodle soup), banh goi (pillow-shapedcake) and bun rieu cua (crab noodle soup). I want to eat as much localfood as possible."
Nguyen Ngoc Ha was one of the first tourguides to set up a food tour in Hanoi. His company, Hanoi Food TastingTours, has drawn in an average of 180 guests per month, while he alonehas given tours to more than 3,000 tourists since April 2012.
Hafocuses on introducing visitors to Vietnamese culture through tastingits food. He chooses food stores and restaurants on old streets ofHanoi, showing architectural characteristics of old houses and tellingstories about the forming of small alleys.
He said that most food tours showcase only street food, but that's not the only way meals are served in Vietnam.
"Eatingin street stalls is cheap and convenient for people," Ha said."However, they also go to restaurants where some owners offer secretfamily recipes. I want tourists to understand how Vietnamese peopleeat."
The tour guide often brings visitors to some fixedlocations such as Giang Cafe on Nguyen Huu Huan Street, where the firstca phe trung (egg coffee) was made. Other dishes always on the listinclude pho, bun cha, nem and cha ca (grilled fish). He also takestourists to try new dishes like PappaRoti (Mexico buns) to let them knowthat Vietnam welcomes delicious food from abroad while keeping itstraditions intact.
In their first visit to Vietnam,couple Debrah and Robert Braunschweig from Switzerland joined a foodtour recommended by their daughter.
"We used tovisit Vietnamese restaurants in Zurich, but it is difficult todifferentiate Asian foods because they mix them," Debrah said. "The foodtastes different here. Vietnamese food is very fresh while in Zurich,people often buy packaged foods at supermarkets. I will try to cookVietnamese food when I go back home."
A bun chastall in Hang Chi Alley in Hoan Kiem District is a popular stop for thetours. Seller Nguyen Kim Chi said that individual foreigners also comethere to enjoy the food.
"Pho and bun cha are foreigners'favourite dishes," she said, adding "tourists often take photos of howwe cook it while tour guides explain the method of cooking. Some of themgo back in the following days with their friends."-VNA
Foodtours are expanding in the capital city. Most tourism companies offerthem to travellers, and many are highly recommended on sites likeTripAdvisor.com and Travelfish.org.
Instead ofjetting out of Hanoi as soon as possible to get to destinations like HaLong Bay or Sa Pa, more tourists are now spending quality time in thecapital wandering the streets of the Old Quarter and enjoying itsvarious signature dishes, including pho and bun cha (fresh noodle withcharcoal grilled pork).
Food tours stemmed fromwalking tours in which tourists enjoy the city on foot, learning aboutits history and culture. Firms now offer a wide range of tours thatallow visitors to see the streets on bicycles and motorbikes. Besides,tourists can also buy ingredients at markets and cook at a Vietnamesehome, or visit villages in the suburbs for lunch.
Out of all these options, street food tours are most popular. Food tourshelp visitors understand more about the city and its food, and bringthem an unforgettable experience.
Like many other visitors toVietnam, Carneiro knows little about Vietnamese cuisine, and had neverbeen to any Vietnamese restaurants in his hometown of Rio de Janeiro.
"I booked the tour because it is interesting to try the food here," Carneiro said.
"My favourite dish is banh cuon (rolled pan cake) because I think it is different from others in the way they cook it," he said.
AnnelieneMagen of the Netherlands, also quite new to Vietnam, said she's hadsome experience with food in the south and centre of the country. Shesaid she went on a food tour to try places she wouldn't be able to findon her own.
"I heard that food is really great in Hanoi," shesays. "I think joining a tour is a good way to find the best places.That way I don't need to try a bunch to find a good one," she said.
Magen added all she knew about the cuisine before arriving was that there's a lot of rice and nem (spring rolls).
"Ithink Hanoi and Hoi An are the best places to taste Vietnamese food,"she said. "I prefer pho bo (beef noodle soup), banh goi (pillow-shapedcake) and bun rieu cua (crab noodle soup). I want to eat as much localfood as possible."
Nguyen Ngoc Ha was one of the first tourguides to set up a food tour in Hanoi. His company, Hanoi Food TastingTours, has drawn in an average of 180 guests per month, while he alonehas given tours to more than 3,000 tourists since April 2012.
Hafocuses on introducing visitors to Vietnamese culture through tastingits food. He chooses food stores and restaurants on old streets ofHanoi, showing architectural characteristics of old houses and tellingstories about the forming of small alleys.
He said that most food tours showcase only street food, but that's not the only way meals are served in Vietnam.
"Eatingin street stalls is cheap and convenient for people," Ha said."However, they also go to restaurants where some owners offer secretfamily recipes. I want tourists to understand how Vietnamese peopleeat."
The tour guide often brings visitors to some fixedlocations such as Giang Cafe on Nguyen Huu Huan Street, where the firstca phe trung (egg coffee) was made. Other dishes always on the listinclude pho, bun cha, nem and cha ca (grilled fish). He also takestourists to try new dishes like PappaRoti (Mexico buns) to let them knowthat Vietnam welcomes delicious food from abroad while keeping itstraditions intact.
In their first visit to Vietnam,couple Debrah and Robert Braunschweig from Switzerland joined a foodtour recommended by their daughter.
"We used tovisit Vietnamese restaurants in Zurich, but it is difficult todifferentiate Asian foods because they mix them," Debrah said. "The foodtastes different here. Vietnamese food is very fresh while in Zurich,people often buy packaged foods at supermarkets. I will try to cookVietnamese food when I go back home."
A bun chastall in Hang Chi Alley in Hoan Kiem District is a popular stop for thetours. Seller Nguyen Kim Chi said that individual foreigners also comethere to enjoy the food.
"Pho and bun cha are foreigners'favourite dishes," she said, adding "tourists often take photos of howwe cook it while tour guides explain the method of cooking. Some of themgo back in the following days with their friends."-VNA
