Before the motorbikes get busy, Hanoi’s sidewalks are already full of low plastic stools, steaming pots and locals slurping their first meal of the day. Breakfast in Hanoi is a daily ritual, and it is often the tastiest, cheapest meal you will have in Vietnam. Many of our Vietnam tours begin in the capital, so this guide covers the 10 best breakfasts to try, where to find them, what they cost and when to go. The list is ordered by how iconic and easy to find each dish is, not as a strict ranking, because taste is personal.
What does a typical breakfast in Hanoi look like?
Breakfast usually runs from about 6:00 to 9:00 AM. Most dishes are freshly made in small family shops or at street stalls, and many places sell out and close once the morning crowd has eaten. The meal is quick and filling rather than a long sit-down affair, and coffee usually comes afterward, not with the food. Expect plastic stools, shared tables and very short menus, which is a good sign.
Curious about Hanoi’s food beyond breakfast? Read more about the top 6 dishes to try in the city.
The 10 best breakfasts in Hanoi
1. Pho bo/pho ga (beef or chicken noodle soup)
Pho is Hanoi’s most famous dish and a natural breakfast: light, warming and ready in seconds. Northern-style pho has a clear, delicate broth and wide rice noodles, usually served with herbs, lime and chili rather than the bean sprouts and hoisin common in the south.
- Where to try: Pho Thin, 13 Lo Duc, Hai Ba Trung (the beef is stir-fried with garlic before it goes into the broth), and Pho Khoi Hoi, 50C Hang Vai, Hoan Kiem (a no-frills local favorite)
- Typical price: VND 45,000-70,000
- Good to know: go before 8:00 AM, when the broth is at its best
2. Banh cuon (steamed rice rolls)
Banh cuon are delicate rice-flour sheets, steamed to order and filled with minced pork and wood ear mushrooms. They come with fried shallots, fresh herbs and a sweet-sour dipping sauce. They are light enough for an early start but still satisfying.
- Where to try: Banh cuon Ba Xuan, 16 Hoe Nhai, Ba Dinh
- Typical price: VND 30,000-50,000
- Good to know: add a side of cha (Vietnamese pork sausage) for a bigger meal
3. Banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich)
A crisp baguette, pate, cold cuts, pickled vegetables, herbs and chili sauce: this is the quickest breakfast in the city and easy to eat while walking. Hanoi versions tend to be a little less sweet and less crowded with fillings than those in the south.
- Where to try: Banh Mi 25, 25 Hang Ca, Hoan Kiem (the queue moves quickly)
- Typical price: VND 15,000-30,000
- Good to know: say “khong cay” (no chili) if you don’t like spice
4. Bun cha (grilled pork with rice noodles)
Bun cha is one of Hanoi’s signature dishes: smoky grilled pork patties and slices in a sweet-savory broth, served with cold rice noodles and a basket of fresh herbs. It’s traditionally a lunch dish, but most shops open by about 10:00-10:30 AM, so it works well as a late breakfast or early brunch if you start your day slowly.
- Where to try: Bun Cha Huong Lien, 24 Le Van Huu, Hai Ba Trung, or Bun Cha Dac Kim, 1 Hang Manh, Hoan Kiem
- Typical price: VND 50,000-80,000
- Good to know: add nem cua be (fried crab spring rolls) for a full meal
>>>> Want more shop ideas? This guide lists places to enjoy bun cha in Hanoi.
5. Xoi (sticky rice)
Xoi is the grab-and-go breakfast of office workers, served in a bowl or wrapped in paper. Choose toppings such as fried shallots, braised pork, Chinese sausage, egg, mung bean or pate. It is very filling, which makes it a good fuel stop before a day of sightseeing.
- Where to try: Xoi Yen, 35B Nguyen Huu Huan, Hoan Kiem
- Typical price: VND 20,000-45,000
- Good to know: popular toppings sell out first, so go early
6. Banh bao (steamed buns)
These fluffy steamed buns are filled with pork, quail eggs, mushrooms and glass noodles. They are the easiest takeaway breakfast, ideal if you have an early start or want to eat with a coffee at a nearby café.
- Where to try: Banh Bao Ba Mau, 8 Nguyen Huu Huan Alley, Hoan Kiem, a small sidewalk shop that has been selling banh bao for decades
- Typical price: VND 15,000-25,000
- Good to know: mostly takeaway, so bring cash
7. Bun rieu (crab noodle soup)
A tangy, tomato-based broth with crab paste, fried tofu, fresh herbs and sometimes snails or blood pudding. It’s a good second soup once you’ve had your fill of pho, and brighter and more sour in flavor.
- Where to try: small family shops in the Old Quarter, usually recognizable by the big pot of broth at the front
- Typical price: VND 40,000-60,000
- Good to know: if you’re unsure about toppings, ask for it “without snails”
8. Chao suon (rice porridge with pork ribs)
A comforting bowl of smooth rice porridge with tender pork ribs, ginger and scallions, often served with quay (fried dough sticks) for dipping. It’s the dish of choice on cool, damp mornings, which Hanoi has plenty of from November to March.
- Where to try: local porridge shops around the Old Quarter and Hai Ba Trung, which are busiest early in the morning
- Typical price: VND 30,000-50,000
- Good to know: dip the quay into the porridge just before eating so it stays crisp
9. Bo bit tet (Vietnamese-style steak and eggs)
Sizzling beef served on a hot plate with a fried egg, pate and crusty bread. It’s heavier than most local breakfasts and a good option if you want something closer to a Western breakfast, but with a Vietnamese twist.
- Where to try: Bit Tet Hai Ty, 51 Hang Buom, Hoan Kiem
- Typical price: VND 70,000-100,000
- Good to know: dip the bread into the juices on the plate
10. Pho cuon (fresh pho rolls)
Instead of a soup, pho cuon wraps stir-fried beef and herbs in sheets of fresh pho noodles, served with a sweet-sour dipping sauce. Ngu Xa Street in Ba Dinh is the area most associated with it. It’s light, a little different from the usual lineup, and a good way to end the list on something local that most visitors miss.
- Where to try: the small shops along Ngu Xa Street, Ba Dinh
- Typical price: VND 40,000-70,000
- Good to know: best as a light second breakfast alongside another dish
Best Hanoi breakfast spots by area
| Area | Best for | Try from the top 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Hoan Kiem and Old Quarter | First-time visitors, walking from your hotel | Banh mi, banh bao, xoi, bo bit tet, pho |
| Ba Dinh and Tay Ho | Sights near the Mausoleum and West Lake, relaxed mornings | Banh cuon, pho cuon |
| Hai Ba Trung | Travelers staying south of Hoan Kiem | Pho Thin, bun cha |
Not sure where to base yourself? Indochina Voyages can help you choose a hotel in the right neighborhood for your plans.
Hanoi breakfast and coffee: how to finish your morning
Locals usually have coffee after breakfast, not with it. Order ca phe den (strong black coffee) or ca phe sua da (iced coffee with condensed milk), both made with robusta beans. Visitors often want to try egg coffee, but it’s a rich, dessert-like drink rather than a meal, so pair it with a banh mi or banh bao.
If you prefer a Western-style morning, Xofa Cafe (14 Tong Duy Tan, Hoan Kiem) serves Vietnamese and Western breakfast options in a stylish setting, with egg coffee on the menu.
Hanoi breakfast prices and timing
What it costs per person:
- Budget local breakfast: VND 25,000-50,000
- Mid-range breakfast: VND 50,000-100,000
- Café or Western-style breakfast: VND 80,000-180,000+
Prices vary by shop and change over time.
When to go:
- 6:00-7:00 AM: quiet streets and the freshest food
- 7:00-8:30 AM: the busiest period, with the best atmosphere
- After 9:00 AM: some traditional shops sell out or close, though cafés stay open and bun cha shops start opening
Have questions about timing around your flights or sightseeing? Our team is happy to help.
How to eat breakfast like a local in Hanoi
- Start early. Many breakfast shops only operate around the morning rush.
- Follow the locals. A small shop full of Hanoians is a better sign than a polished tourist restaurant.
- Sit, eat, move on. Breakfast is quick; the lingering is saved for coffee.
- Coffee afterward. Make it a two-part morning: local food, then a café.
- Carry small cash. Street stalls rarely take cards, and big notes can be hard to change.
Planning more than a food stop? Browse our Indochina tours to see how Hanoi fits into a longer trip.
Three sample Hanoi breakfast mornings
- Classic local: 7:00 AM pho, 8:00 AM Vietnamese coffee, then a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter
- Quick street-food: a banh mi or banh bao on the go, a coffee, then straight on to sightseeing
- Slow and comfortable: banh cuon, then a café breakfast, then explore the Old Quarter at a relaxed pace
>>>>Want a guide to take you to the right stalls? See this page for our Hanoi walking tour.
Ready to go beyond the Old Quarter? Our guide to Hanoi off the beaten path has ideas for after breakfast.
Which Hanoi breakfast should you try first?
| If you want… | Try… |
|---|---|
| Hanoi’s most iconic breakfast | Pho |
| Something quick | Banh mi |
| A lighter meal | Banh cuon or pho cuon |
| Something filling | Xoi or bun cha |
| A comforting soup | Bun rieu or chao suon |
| A grab-and-go option | Banh bao |
| Something familiar | Bo bit tet |
Wondering how a Hanoi stay fits into the rest of Vietnam? See sample itineraries here.
Start your Hanoi morning with a local breakfast
The best way to enjoy Hanoi’s food is to eat it with someone who knows where to go. If you want a full trip built around the city’s food, culture and countryside, our Indochina travel packages and Vietnam travel packages are a good place to start.
Popular ways to start in Hanoi:
Contact Indochina Voyages or write to info@indochinavoyages.com to create your own taste experience.
FAQs about breakfast in Hanoi
What time do people eat breakfast in Hanoi?
Most traditional shops are busiest between 6:00 and 9:00 AM, with the peak around 7:00 to 8:30.
What is the most popular breakfast in Hanoi?
Pho is the most iconic, though locals also eat banh cuon, xoi, banh mi, bun rieu and many other dishes.
How much does breakfast cost in Hanoi?
A local breakfast usually costs VND 25,000-100,000, while café and Western-style breakfasts can cost more.
Is Hanoi breakfast suitable for vegetarians?
Often, yes, but many broths and sauces contain meat or fish sauce, so ask before ordering. Xoi with plain toppings and some banh mi fillings are easier options.
Can I find breakfast in Hanoi after 9 AM?
Yes. Cafés and restaurants serve breakfast later, though some traditional street-food shops close once their food sells out.
Is bun cha a breakfast dish?
It’s traditionally a lunch dish, but many shops open by about 10:00-10:30 AM, so it works well as a late breakfast.
