Hoi An Street Food: The Dishes to Eat and Where to Find Them

Hoi An street food is built around a few dishes you will not find done the same way anywhere else: cao lau noodles, white rose dumplings, Hoi An chicken rice and a famous banh mi. This guide from our Vietnam travel blog explains each, adds more dishes to try, says where to eat, and plans a day of eating with tips for doing it safely.

Hoi An's food is part of what makes the old trading port, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, worth a few days. If you still need a visa for the trip, apply for a Vietnam e-visa online and choose Da Nang as your entry airport.

Hoi An's signature dishes

Four dishes define Hoi An's food: cao lau, white rose dumplings, banh mi and com ga. Try all four in your first two days.

Cao lau

Cao lau is Hoi An's signature noodle dish: thick, chewy noodles with slices of pork, crispy croutons, fresh herbs and a little rich broth. Local tradition says the noodles must be made with water from the Ba Le well in the old town, which is why cooks say real cao lau exists only here.

White rose dumplings

White rose dumplings (banh bao banh vac) are delicate shrimp dumplings shaped like small roses, topped with crispy shallots and a light dipping sauce. One family workshop makes most of them and supplies restaurants across town, so the taste is consistent wherever you order them.

Banh mi

Banh mi in Hoi An has a reputation of its own, with a crisp baguette, pate, meats, herbs and a sauce each shop guards. Banh Mi Phuong became famous after the late chef Anthony Bourdain praised it and has long queues; Madam Khanh is the other well-known name. Our banh mi guide covers the sandwich across Vietnam.

Com ga

Com ga Hoi An is chicken rice: rice cooked in chicken stock and turmeric, topped with shredded chicken, herbs, onion and chili. It is a simple, filling lunch, sold at many small restaurants around the old town.

More dishes to try

Hoi An's food goes beyond the famous four. Mi Quang, the region's turmeric noodles with a small amount of broth, peanuts and rice crackers, is everywhere in central Vietnam.

Also try banh xeo, crispy rice pancakes you wrap in rice paper with herbs, and hoanh thanh, fried wontons topped with a sweet and sour sauce. Finish with che, sweet bean and fruit desserts sold from carts in the evening. Our Vietnamese food guide explains dishes from the rest of the country.

Where to eat

The best Hoi An street food is in the Central Market, on small streets just outside the old town, and at the night market. Choose busy stalls with high turnover.

The Central Market food hall, by the river, is good for cao lau, mi Quang and com ga at lunchtime. In the evening, stalls along the river and on An Hoi island sell grilled skewers, banh xeo and desserts. Our Hoi An travel guide shows how the town is laid out.

A day of eating in Hoi An

A day of eating in Hoi An follows the heat: bread and coffee early, noodles at midday, light snacks in the afternoon and grilled food at night.

Two choices help you eat better: joining a tour or class, and eating safely in the heat.

Hoi An street food tips

Hoi An is one of the easiest places in Vietnam to try street food, but a little guidance helps. These two tips make the difference.

Food tours and cooking classes

A Hoi An food tour with a local guide takes you to stalls you would not find alone, and explains what to order. Cooking classes, often with a market visit or herb garden in Tra Que village, teach you to make cao lau, banh xeo and spring rolls at home.

Eating safely

Eat at busy stalls that cook to order, and drink bottled or filtered water. Fresh herbs are part of almost every dish; if your stomach is sensitive, start slowly. Carry small notes, as most street stalls take cash only.

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