Hanoi is famed for their street food. Walking through old town,I was drooling at all the fried foods and pots of boiling broth. The vendors were also serious, sometimes packing their entire setup on a bicycle to get around.
Setup including the normal plastic stools and tables, but also stoves, pots and pails of ingredients. Another regional difference was just how much lime juice they use, and the little wedges were so fragrant. Adding the sharp acidity to the broth really made the flavours pop. The first bowl of pho we had was topped with hand-shredded chicken and fresh chives.
Despite the sweltering weather, The Hubby and I both slurped up the hot broth, wiping sweat in between bites. Banh Mi β Banh Mi sandwich stalls were located on almost every block. Our tour guide brought us to one setup in an alleyway with a long line and we split a sandwich filled with pickled vegetables and various meats. That sandwich was filled with 6 different kinds of meat including pate, terrine and pork floss. Locals picked up sandwiches by the dozen and some were even dropped off by taxi to wait in line.
Beef Pho β We did try the beef pho in Hanoi and the chicken was far superior. Our guide explained that chicken was much more accessible in Vietnam than beef, but many North American tourists are only used to beed. The bowl was served with a plate of fried dough fritters and sliced chili peppers. Again, our guide recommended generous squeeze of lime juice and then to dip the fritters in the broth. Broth soaked fritters were the best part of the meal. Wormwood Egg Omelette β Made with fresh wormwood leaves and eggs, a lady fried up the omelette for us using a propane camper stove.
The eggs had a strong natural taste that heavy in yolk. Vietnamese Egg Coffee β Made with whipped egg yolks, sugar, condensed milk and coffee, the espresso cup sized drink was a creamy dream.
