Spending 3 days in Hanoi and not knowing which specialty to eat and where to find the best restaurants can be a challenge. In fact, Hanoi’s culinary heritage is one of Vietnam’s most treasured cultural signatures. Every corner of the capital carries the fragrance of simmering broths, sizzling street-side grills, and the artistry of chefs who preserve tradition while daring to innovate. If you are visiting Hanoi and want to taste the city truly, 3 days are enough to enjoy a rich journey through its dining landscape — from humble street food to Michelin restaurants. Follow the Chapter Food Guide “3 days itinerary Hanoi” that brings you a carefully curated path across authentic local eateries, historic dishes, and restaurants celebrated for both flavor and cultural storytelling.
Table of Contents
Day 1: An introduction to Hanoi – Capital of timeless traditions
Breakfast: Pho – Traditional dish can be found on every street corner
There is no better way to begin your Hanoi 3 days food itinerary than with a steaming bowl of pho. From as early as 4 a.m., you will find Hanoians already awake, exercising around Hoan Kiem Lake before gathering at their favorite pho stalls. For them, pho is more than breakfast — it is a daily ritual, a tradition woven into the rhythm of the capital.
The broth of pho is light but deeply aromatic, cooked slowly with beef bones and a delicate blend of spices. The slices of beef — whether rare, brisket, or flank — are tender and layered with flavor.
And of course, there is no shortage of choices when it comes to good pho spots. Step into almost any local restaurant, and you’ll be served a steaming, fragrant bowl that captures the essence of authentic Hanoi pho. Starting your morning here means more than just eating noodles; it is about tasting a dish that defines Vietnam’s national identity.
Chapter Guide Address:
- Pho Suong: 24B Trung Yen Alley, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
- Pho Tu Lun: 34 Au Trieu, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
- Pho Bo Ho Loi: 28/ 209 An Duong Vuong Alley, Tay Ho, Hanoi
- Pho Gia Truyen: 49 Bat Dan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
- Pho Khoi Hoi: 50 Hang Vai, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Lunch: Cay Cau Restaurant – Vietnamese Cuisine
For lunch, step into Cay Cau Restaurant, where the focus is on authentic Northern Vietnamese cuisine. The setting is cozy yet refined, a balance between homely comfort and a curated dining experience.
The menu offers an array of regional dishes: fried pork belly with shrimp paste, braised fish in a clay pot, and stir-fried morning glory with garlic.
Cay Cau’s philosophy is rooted in showcasing family-style cooking, prepared with the care and warmth you would expect in a traditional Hanoi household. It’s the perfect midday stop for travelers seeking authenticity without compromising comfort.
Chapter Guide Address: Cay Cau Restaurant – 17 Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Dinner: A Ban – Mountain Dew, Northwest Vietnamese Cuisine
This dinner will take you away from Hanoi’s Old Quarter and into the mountainous flavors of Vietnam’s Northwest. A Ban – Mountain Dew presents cuisine inspired by ethnic minority groups, offering a distinct perspective on Vietnamese food.
Expect dishes like smoked buffalo meat from Lao Cao, Ha Giang five-color sticky rice, and Moc Chau veal — recipes tied to the highlands and forests of Northern Vietnam. A Ban combines rustic ingredients with creative plating, allowing diners to experience regional diversity within an urban setting. Dining here broadens your understanding of Vietnamese gastronomy beyond the classics. Recognized by the Michelin Guide, A Bản is truly a must-visit stop in any 3-day food itinerary in Hanoi.
Chapter Guide Address: A Ban – Mountain Dew – 76 Tran Phu, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
Day 2: Street food and Michelin Bib Gourmand treasures
Breakfast: Banh Mi & Vietnamese Egg Coffee
Hanoi mornings are often fast-paced, and nothing captures that spirit like banh mi Vietnam. For breakfast, head to one of the city’s iconic stalls: Banh Mi 25 — lively and always busy, or Banh Mi Lan Ong — fewer crowds but still authentic. Inside the crusty baguette lies a harmony of local ingredients: signature pate, pickled vegetables, fresh herbs, and your choice of meat or egg.
After your banh mi, the next step is an unforgettable cup of Vietnamese egg coffee at Cafe Giang, the birthplace of this iconic drink. Invented in the 1940s, egg coffee blends whisked egg yolk with strong robusta, creating a creamy foam that tastes almost like tiramisu. Sitting in the café’s historic, dimly lit interior connects you to decades of Hanoi’s coffee culture.
Chapter Guide Address:
- Banh Mi 25: 25 Hang Ca, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
- Banh Mi Lan Ong: 08A Cha Ca, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
- Cafe Giang: 39 Nguyen Huu Huan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Lunch: Ha Thanh Mansion – Vietnamese Restaurant, Michelin Bib Gourmand
At lunchtime, explore the flavors of Ha Thanh Mansion, awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand for its consistency and quality. The restaurant is designed like a traditional villa, creating an atmosphere of nostalgia. The menu reflects Hanoi’s elegance — caramelized pork and eggs, grilled fish with dill, and freshwater crab soup.
Each dish feels both familiar and elevated, respecting the roots of Vietnamese cuisine while appealing to contemporary diners. The Bib Gourmand recognition assures that you’re not only eating well but also experiencing food at international standards of value during your 3-day food trip in Hanoi.
Chapter Guide Address: Ha Thanh Mansion – 14 Ngo Van So, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Traditional Vietnamese dishes you should try at Ha Thanh Mansion during your 3 days in Hanoi
Dinner: Habakuk Fine Coffee & Bistro – Michelin Bib Gourmand
For dinner, change the tempo and try a modern interpretation of dining at Habakuk Fine Coffee & Bistro, another Michelin Bib Gourmand spot. Here, the culinary concept bridges Western techniques with Vietnamese ingredients. You might find a perfectly seared steak paired with pickled vegetables, or pasta infused with aromatic herbs native to Vietnam.
The bistro atmosphere is warm, casual, and stylish — ideal for travelers who want a break from traditional dishes without losing the sense of place. It’s also a wonderful example of how Hanoi is evolving: blending global dining culture with local ingredients.
Chapter Guide Address: Habakuk Fine Coffee & Bistro – 4 Phan Huy Chu Alley, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Day 3: Northern culinary journey summed up in a fine dining
Breakfast: Banh Cuon – Vietnamese rice roll restaurants listed in the Michelin Guide
On the final morning of your 3-day Hanoi food trip, head to Banh Cuon Ba Xuan or Banh Cuon Ba Hoanh, recognized by the Michelin Guide. “Bánh cuốn” — Vietnamese rice rolls filled with minced pork and mushrooms — is a breakfast staple in Hanoi. What makes this street food stand out is the paper-thin texture of the rice sheet and the delicate balance of the dipping sauce.
Watching the vendor spread batter over a cloth and lift the translucent sheet is a performance in itself. This dish embodies Hanoi’s charm: simple, elegant, and deeply satisfying.
Chapter Guide Address:
- Banh Cuon Ba Xuan – 16 Hoe Nhai, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
- Banh Cuon Ba Hoanh – 66 To Hien Thanh, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Lunch: Cha Ca Thăng Long – Michelin Bib Gourmand
For lunch, indulge in one of Hanoi’s most iconic dishes: “chả cá”, Vietnamese grilled fish served with dill and turmeric. Cha Ca Thang Long has earned the Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction for perfecting this recipe. The fish is sizzling at your table, served with rice noodles, fresh herbs, and roasted peanuts.
This dish tells the story of Hanoi’s culinary inventiveness, blending fresh river fish with vibrant spices to create a dining experience both interactive and flavorful. Eating at Cha Ca Thang Long is more than just a meal; it’s a taste of a tradition that has been passed down for over a century.
Chapter Guide Address: Cha Ca Thang Long – 6B Duong Thanh, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
Dinner: Chapter Dining – Michelin Guide fine dining experience
End your 3-day Hanoi food journey with a culinary crescendo at Chapter Dining, honored by the Michelin Guide for 3 years in a row. Unlike anywhere else in the city, Chapter offers a fine dining interpretation of Northern Vietnamese cuisine, weaving together heritage, storytelling, and sustainability.
The experience begins with the farm-to-table philosophy. Ingredients are sourced directly from local farms, ensuring freshness and transparency. Chefs at Chapter take pride in traditional cooking methods such as fermentation and modern techniques such as nose-to-tail and root-to-stem cooking, transforming every element of an ingredient into something meaningful.
Chapter Menus change seasonally, but expect dishes that reinterpret Hanoi’s culinary traditions through a contemporary lens. A delicate appetizer, a main course that layers flavors of the mountains and rivers, or a dessert that recalls childhood sweets — all plated with artistry and intention.
Dining at Chapter is more than eating ; it is a narrative of Hanoi’s identity, past and future. It’s the ideal way to conclude your 3 days itinerary Hanoi food exploration — an evening that leaves you with not just flavors, but lasting memories.
Take the Flourish autumn menu as an example: a 12-course tasting journey that reimagines the harvest season in Northern Vietnam. The experience moves like a gentle breeze, guiding diners through soulful flavors — from wild duck with fermented purple rice to local river fish and myoga served with Vietnamese coriander.
Hanoi is a city that reveals itself through its food. In the 3 days Hanoi food tour, you can sip broth in a hidden alley, taste heritage recipes recognized by Michelin, and end at a fine dining restaurant that represents Vietnam’s culinary heritage. This Chapter Food Guide proves that whether you’re sitting on a plastic stool at a street stall or enjoying a multi-course tasting menu, each meal contributes to a greater understanding of the city’s soul. Your 3 days itinerary Hanoi food journey is not only about feeding your appetite but about connecting with the culture, history, and creativity that make Hanoi one of the world’s great culinary capitals.
Find out: Hanoi street food guide: What to eat?
