Green Tangerine

If you have a sweet tooth, this dessert will be deeply satisfying. Banh Flan, or creme caramel, is a dish that originated from France and is common in Hanoi today. 

When it was brought over to Vietnam, a local twist was added—the creamy dessert is typically served with black coffee. In some places, coconut milk is added to the custard base, resulting in a richer flavour.

But wait, there is more. 

On top of coffee and coconut, caramel sauce may be further added to the black coffee, enhancing the dessert with multiple layers of flavour. 

Keen to sample this calorie-rich concoction? Green Tangerine in Hanoi offers a refreshing variation of this dessert. Instead of serving it with coffee, it serves Banh flan with lemongrass flavour, along with fruits and yoghurt ice cream.  

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Purple Cherry

Meat lovers, sink your canines into this rich and intensely flavoured dish of sauteed beef with cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, pepper and soy sauce. When translated, the name of this French-inspired dish literally means ‘shaking beef’, derived from how it is prepared—by literally shaking the skillet back and forth to sear the beef cubes evenly over an open flame. 

As beef was formerly a luxury ingredient in Vietnamese cuisine, Bò lúc lắc used to be served only at formal events. Today, however, it is a common meal item served in Vietnamese eateries. The dish is best paired with an ice-cold Hanoi beer. 

One of the best spots to try Bò lúc lắc is Purple Cherry, where the beef is reputed to be fresh and juicy. To top it off, the restaurant has a great roof terrace which allows diners to admire the view of the Hanoi old town. 

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Bun Oc Co Them

Prefer something heartier? Fans of the Vietnamese Pho would find the Bún Ốc a worthy alternative. This noodle soup dish contains vermicelli, and is very similar to Pho, but with a twist—it uses a traditional French style of cooking. 

The core ingredient of this dish is sea snail, which is tastier than it sounds. (Well, the French are famed for their escargots after all.) The seafood item is added as a seasoning to the noodle soup, which is a rich tomato-based broth. To provide a refreshing crunch, fresh Vietnamese herbs are sprinkled on the broth. Typical garnishes included with the dish are fish cakes, sliced scallions, fried shallots or fried tofu. This makes the Bún Ốc the perfect blend of French and Vietnamese tastes. 

To try this savoury dish, head to Bún Ốc Co Them, a heritage culinary establishment which has been passed down for three generations. Please your palate with the Bún Ốc’s special broth—a taste that is slightly sour, sweet, and mixed with just the right amount of spice. Add an order of beef to boost your bowl with extra nutritional value and flavour. As the restaurant opens only until the afternoon, do visit in the morning to avoid missing out on a piping hot bowl of Bún Ốc noodle soup.

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Bánh Mì Tram

Imagine all the rich flavours of Vietnamese food packed in a French baguette. Needing little introduction, the Bánh mì, commonly known as the Vietnamese baguette, is a popular local delicacy sold by Vietnamese bakeries and street vendors. It usually comprises grilled meat, seasoned sausages, sprigs of coriander, and pickled carrots. 

What you may not know about this popular Hanoi street eat is this—instead of the usual French loaf, which tends to be on the heavier side, Bánh mì uses rice flour, which gives the crust a thinner, crunchier texture. Bánh mì also has a vegetarian option, which includes tofu or seitan, a meat substitute. 

One of the city’s most popular sandwich spots, Bánh Mì Tram serves deconstructed Bánh mì that has consistently delighted its customers. The baguette and filings are presented separately, leaving customers to assemble their own sandwiches or even enjoy them on their own. Bánh Mì Tram’s baguettes also stand out with its signature sauce, which is renowned in the city. 

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Take a break from your Hanoi gastronomical journey at Pan Pacific Hanoi, located in central Hanoi. You can work off the food at the hotel’s fitness centre or go for a dip at the swimming pool, illuminated by natural daylight. If you book in advance, you can enjoy 15% savings on the best available rates.