Canadian World Traveller Spring 2018 Issue

A day exploring the city will expose you to
the sights and scents of some of the freshest,
most flavorful, and most varied dishes
in Southeast Asia.
Vietnamese cuisine’s complex and irresistible
flavors win over many a hungry
traveler—especially those who value
authenticity. Most meals consist of a rice or
noodle base, a few fresh greens, and either
meat or tofu. Portions tend to be smaller
here than in Western countries, but don’t let
that stop you from getting seconds: with the
low cost of meals here, there’s usually
room in the budget.
What Hanoi does, it does well: the capital
city is regarded by many as having the best
pho in Vietnam, and Hanoi collectively
enjoys thousands of helpings each morning
(it is considered a breakfast food). Other
Hanoian specialties earn equal notoriety
for their flavors and textures. The unsung
hero—made famous by Barack Obama
and Anthony Bourdain—is bun cha, a delicious
northern version of grilled meat and
rice noodles doused in nuoc cham, a diluted
fish sauce that comes with pickled veggies,
fresh greens, and the occasional fried
spring roll. You’ll find this mouthwatering
specialty on just about every street corner,
and will likely smell it from a few blocks
away, as the scent of barbecue floats up
from street stalls to entice an entire city. A
couple other can’t-miss delicacies are nem
cua be (mouthwatering, square-shaped
seafood spring rolls) and cha ca (pan-fried
fish).
Hanoi’s also offers plenty of quality non-
Vietnamese fare, from Indian and
Malaysian meals to Thai, French, and
American. Upscale eateries make a greater
effort in the service department, opting for
a Western approach, and there are more
than a few foreign chefs and owners
behind some of the city’s well-known
restaurants.
In fact, the need for reservations is greater
here, as the limited space in the Old
Quarter means that dining rooms fill up
fast. In this part of town, one of Hanoi’s
best-known venues, Green Tangerine
www.greentangerinehanoi.com, specializes
in French and Vietnamese fusion, pairing
unlikely ingredients to create unique and
memorable dishes. The restaurant’s 1928
colonial villa makes a worthy setting for a
fancy meal. Prices run high, but the set
menus offer decent value, with two-course
lunches beginning at VND265,000.
The streets of Hanoi are also a great place
to find authentic dining experiences in
Vietnam. Crammed onto already-busy
sidewalks and hidden down narrow alleys,
chefs serve everything from tasty
Vietnamese sandwiches to piping hot
soups, rice porridge, barbecue, and local
specialties, often at lower prices but not
skipping out on flavor or quality.
Safe street food is easy to find, provided
you stick to clean outdoor kitchens. When
in doubt, look for hot meals, such as soups
or grilled meats. High temperatures tend to
eliminate some of the risk and allow you to
enjoy your meals with much more ease.
Hanoi is more than just a city to sightsee;
it’s a city to savor. After diving into its history,
culture, and cuisine, there’s a good
chance you’ll leave asking yourself, “why
didn’t we come here sooner?”
15
Pho
Adapted from Moon Hanoi by Dana Filek-
Gibson. Copyright © 2017. Available from
Avalon Travel, an imprint of Perseus Books,
a Hachette Book Group company.
Canadian World Traveller Spring 2018