Hanoi Street Food WalkBun Cha, Pho, Banh Mi, Bia Hoi

Hanoi's food is the heart of northern Vietnamese cooking, lighter and less sweet than that of the south, and built around fresh herbs, clear broths and grilled meats. This evening walk through the Old Quarter and the area around Hoan Kiem Lake introduces the city's most famous dishes, each eaten at a place that specialises in it.

The walk begins at 6:30 PM at the north gate of Hoan Kiem Lake. The first stop is pho, the rice noodle soup that is thought to have originated in northern Vietnam in the early twentieth century. Hanoi's version is simpler than the southern one, with a clear, fragrant beef broth scented with star anise, cinnamon and charred ginger, served with fewer garnishes. Your guide explains the difference between pho bo, with beef, and pho ga, with chicken, and the art of the broth.

Next comes bun cha, grilled pork patties and slices of pork belly served in a bowl of sweet and sour dipping sauce with rice vermicelli and fresh herbs. It is a Hanoi speciality, usually eaten at lunchtime, and some stalls serve it into the evening. In May 2016, Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain shared a meal of bun cha at Bun Cha Huong Lien, which has since become one of the most famous restaurants in the city. The table where they sat is preserved in a glass case.

Along the way, you try banh mi, a baguette filled with pâté, cold cuts, pickled vegetables, herbs and chilli, a dish that reflects the influence of French bread on Vietnamese cooking.

For dessert, the tour stops for egg coffee, ca phe trung, a Hanoi invention dating from the 1940s, when milk was scarce and a bartender at the Metropole hotel created a substitute by whisking egg yolks with sugar and condensed milk. The rich, creamy foam is served on top of strong Vietnamese coffee.

The walk ends at a bia hoi corner, where fresh draught beer, brewed daily and delivered in kegs, is served by the glass on low plastic stools on the pavement. It costs very little, and the atmosphere, with locals chatting as the motorbikes pass, is the essence of Hanoi evenings.

Your guide explains the history of each dish and the etiquette of eating on the street, from choosing a busy stall to adding condiments.

The tour runs year-round. Please tell us about dietary requirements in advance; vegetarian versions of some dishes can be arranged.

The walk lasts around three hours. A food guide, all tastings, including pho, bun cha, banh mi and bia hoi, and an egg coffee are included.