The food in Hoi An is incredible, and while you’re visiting this ancient town and exploring the Thu Bon River, the lanterns and old shop houses and swimming at An Bang beach, you must try these Hoi An dishes. Read on to learn about what to eat in Hoi An and the Hoi An street food you must try while you’re there.
When eating in Hoi An you should try everything from restaurants, street carts and the tiny local stalls where you sit propped up on little plastic stools. It’s the best way to experience Hoi An’s signature dishes and be part of the local world around you. Get up early and eat a breakfast pho with locals, grab a banh mi from a seller just outside the ancient town, or pick up some roasted coconut from a vendor at the markets. There is so much to smell, taste and savour in this beautiful part of Vietnam.
Before you go:
What to pack.
Here’s a handy packing guide for Hoi An
Get your travel insurance.
Make sure you have your travel insurance especially for medical – we use Covermore
Protect your data with a VPN
Get a VPN to protect your data before you go, it only costs around $12 a month and it keeps your data safe from possible hackers (it also lets you stream shows from around the world without regional restrictions). You can read about why you need a VPN here.
If you haven’t booked your accommodation yet here is a guide to where to stay in Hoi An.
Here’s everything you should eat in Hoi An.
Delicious Bahn Mi
I’ve never had a banh mi in Hoi An that I didn’t like! The mini French baguettes are so crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, the fillings are just so delish – pork with corriander and cucumber plus pickled carrots and daikon and French pate and a creamy mayo too. I always ask for chilli on mine and omg they’re so good. You can get them at stalls all during the day and in the night time too. You can always find a banh mi in Hoi An.
Cau Lau
This dish is unique to Hoi An due to the water used to make the delicious, plump rice noodles. Succulent yellow noodles are served in a bowl topped with strips of marinated roast pork, squares of crispy crackling and green vegetables like basil and mint, Vietnamese fish leaves and lettuce, and a piece of lime. Within the noodles you’ll find beansprouts and the juice of the spiced pork. You’ll find this dish all over Hoi An, from the roadside sellers to restaurants like Mrs Ly’s – add some chilli for extra spice and flavour.
Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese crispy Pancake)
My second favourite dish are these stuffed pancakes – so crispy, with prawns, pork and bean sprouts inside the pancake. yOu use your hands to roll them and me lettuce into a rice paper roll and dip not a sauce. OMG the best!
Pho Bo – beef noodle soup
My favourite dish to eat in Hoi An and I love it for breakfast to start the day with the delicious broth, slices of meat and a good hit of chill.
Pho Bo is a beef noodle soup in a fragrant broth of cinnamon, cardamom and star anise among other scents. The broth can vary from chef to chef – my all time favourite is made by a woman who cooks it at home for workers who are heading out fo for the day. She is open from 6am to 10am and I hot foot there any time I am in Hoi An.
Top the soup with slices of ginger, chilli, lime and lots of herbs like mint, coriander and basil. It is the best.
Banh Bao Banh Vac – the White Rose Dumpling
This is another famous Hoi An dish that is so simple and so deliciously delicate. These simple steamed dumplings are made with fine rice powder and are so thin they’re translucent. They’re filled with minced prawns and shallot and topped with deep fried shallots. You must try these in Hoi An.
Mi Quang – seafood noodles
Another unique dish from the Quang Nam province, Mi Quang includes turmeric rice noodles, prawns pork, chicken, fish, or beef – depending on the cook, a bunch of herbs, and a broth of turmeric fish sauce, black pepper, shallots and garlic, . Pork and prawns are the most popular combos of this dish – mix it all together and enjoy!
Gỏi cuốn – fresh spring rolls
Fresh spring rolls are the best and to be honest the fried ones are so good too. Pork, prawns and veggies like carrot cucumber and herbs are all rolled up in soft rice paper and are delicious. You can get vegetarian another cheap and great for dipping.
Cơm Gà Hoi An (Hoi An Chicken Rice)
Another delicious Hoi An speciality to chow down, Com Ga is shredded chicken combined with onions, Vietnamese coriander and beautiful yellow turmeric rice cooked in chicken stock. It is so good!
Bae Xiu – Vietnamese coffee
Everyone loves Vietnamese cold drop coffee. It’s a way of life in Hoi An and there are a few varieties – this is cold drop coffee with condensed milk and coconut milk. So, so good.
Plus any seafood dishes you see on the menu! This was delicious squid from a little resto just down the street from where we were staying in An Bang.
