Chinese tourists wander through crowded alleys in Hanoi to find vermicelli soup and snail noodle shops.

The Chinese female tourist was very surprised when the three noodle shops in Hanoi, namely Bun Oc (snail noodle soup), Bun Rieu (crab noodle soup) and Bun Cha (grilled pork noodle soup), were located deep in a small, narrow alley with no signs but were still packed with customers.

Thien Hue, a female tourist from Taiwan (China) shared many videos of her culinary experiences in Hanoi's Old Quarter.

Not long ago, a female tourist and her friends went on a journey to discover “hidden” eateries in small alleys in Hanoi. Although there were no flashy signs or elaborate decorations, these eateries were always crowded with customers, arousing her curiosity and urging her to come and enjoy.

The first place Thien Hue visited was Ms. Hoan's vermicelli soup shop on Hang Luoc Street. The sign was small, simple, hidden among many shops on the street.

The restaurant is located deep in an alley that is only wide enough for one person to pass through. However, when she stepped through the small alley, the female tourist was surprised to see a space behind with dozens of tables packed with diners.

The road to the restaurant is very small and narrow.

Inside the restaurant was packed with diners.

She ordered a bowl of vermicelli soup with crab soup and all the toppings: crab soup, beef, pig's ear sausage, tofu, and duck eggs. She was a little disappointed when the restaurant ran out of mantis shrimp.

"This noodle dish is completely different from any other noodle dish I have ever eaten. The broth has a red-orange color from tomatoes, with a rich, intense flavor. The side dishes are all fresh and delicious. The pig's ear is crispy and has a fragrant smell of mushrooms. The duck eggs are skillfully boiled so I no longer feel shy," commented the female customer.

Female tourist satisfied with the restaurant's vermicelli soup

This is one of the famous and crowded vermicelli soup shops in Hanoi . The broth is said to have the aroma of field crab, with a light sour taste of vinegar and tomatoes. The beef is sliced ​​into thick, bite-sized pieces, not crumbly, and blanched just right to keep its softness and sweetness. A full bowl of vermicelli soup costs 60,000 VND, adding mantis shrimp is 75,000 VND.

The restaurant opens at 6am every day and usually sells out very early, around 10am-10:30am. During peak hours, customers have to wait in line to order.

Continuing her journey, the Chinese female tourist arrived at Dong Xuan alley, where there is a famous and crowded food market. She weaved through the stalls in the market to find the famous Thuy snail noodle shop.

When Thien Hue arrived, the entire first floor was full of guests. She was invited to go up to the second floor, through a narrow, spiral staircase.

Bun Oc Thuy is one of the busiest eateries in the market alley. Even in the hot summer, this 15m2 eatery is packed with customers, one person stands up, another immediately takes their place.

The restaurant only serves two dishes: traditional snail noodle soup and banana and bean noodle soup. The bowl of noodles does not come with ham, beef or sausage like many other places. It is the preservation of traditional flavors that makes the restaurant always crowded.

Bun Oc Thuy is a famous and crowded restaurant.

The female tourist ordered a bowl of vermicelli with snails, bananas, and tofu. The bowl contained snails, tofu, bananas, and a fragrant red-orange broth. Thien Hue tasted the broth, nodded repeatedly, and praised it as "so delicious."

She enjoyed it and praised the snail meat for being chewy and crunchy, with no fishy smell. She found it strange that there was banana in the dish. "It seemed to be green banana. When I ate it with the broth, I found it a bit sour," she said.

The female tourist said that a bowl of noodles costs between 40,000 and 50,000 VND per bowl depending on the type of snail, and whether banana or bean is added. The restaurant opens from 7:30 to 17:30, with 11am to 1pm being the busiest time.

Thien Hue continuously praised the broth of the banana and bean vermicelli dish as being so delicious.

The "hidden" noodle shop in the third alley that the female tourist visited was Hang Quat noodle shop. Located in a small alley 20-30m deep, about a 10-minute walk from Hoan Kiem Lake, the noodle shop at 74 Hang Quat has become a familiar place for the people of the old town and tourists. All stages of preparation are "open air".

Entering the alley, Thien Hue could smell the delicious aroma of the meatloaf. Deep inside the alley, rows of plastic tables and chairs were already crowded with customers.

The female tourist ordered a full bowl of bun cha, with fried spring rolls. Both types of meatloaf and meatballs are grilled twice. The first time, the chef grills them lightly. The next time, the chef grills them until golden brown and slightly charred, so that the meat is fragrant and the fat sizzles before serving.

Thien Hue found the pork belly patty soft and delicious, the meatball patty thick and very satisfying. Everything smelled fragrant. The crispy spring roll crust also pleased the female diner.

"The dipping sauce looks simple but is very delicious, with harmonious flavors," the female tourist shared.

Thien Hue is satisfied with all 3 noodle shops located in the alleys of Hanoi. She hopes that everyone can refer to these 3 addresses in the list of places to explore when coming to Hanoi.

Photo: Travelandrice

The 19-year-old bun cha restaurant 'hidden' in a small alley in Hanoi, sells out 200 servings every noon . Hidden in a small alley, just wide enough for a motorbike to pass in Thinh Hao 1 lane (Ton Duc Thang street, Hanoi), the bun cha restaurant of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thoa (Bao Thoa, 54 years old) attracts hundreds of diners every noon.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/khach-trung-quoc-len-loi-ngo-ngach-tim-quan-bun-rieu-bun-oc-dong-nghit-o-ha-noi-2447129.html