Foreign tourists try crispy snacks in Hanoi's Old Quarter and rave about how cheap and delicious they are.

Although the exact ingredients weren't known, the foreign visitor found the food in Hanoi impressively flavorful, praised the affordable prices, and enjoyed the feeling of eating while admiring the bustling Old Quarter at night.

Ariane Cruz, a tourist from Brazil, recently visited Hanoi and spent time experiencing the culinary delights of the Old Quarter.

While strolling along Ta Hien Street, Ariane was intrigued by the sight of people comfortably sitting and eating on the sidewalk, so she decided to stop at a crowded beer quán.

"Although this restaurant is small, all the tables are occupied. I find it very interesting. With so many customers, the food must be delicious," Ariane said excitedly.

Ariane Cruz enjoys fried spring rolls in Hanoi's Old Quarter.

Here, after being suggested by the staff, she chose to have beer and ordered an additional plate of fried spring rolls (nem rán) to go with it. The foreign tourist revealed that she really liked this dish, praising it as suitable for enjoying at dinner.

Spring rolls (nem rán/chả giò) are a Vietnamese dish that was once included in the list of "100 best fried foods in the world ," according to a ranking published in early 2025 by the prestigious food website TasteAtlas.

Previously, Vietnamese spring rolls were also included in Taste Atlas's list of "100 best appetizers in the world" and were once ranked among the "50 best dishes in the world" by CNN.

A generous serving of fried spring rolls costs around 80,000 VND.

When the piping hot fried spring rolls were served, Ariane exclaimed how appealing the dish looked. Besides the spring rolls, the restaurant also served sweet and sour dipping sauce and fresh herbs. The Brazilian customer couldn't hide her excitement and immediately took her first bite.

"It's delicious. The spring rolls are crispy, and the more you chew, the more impressive it becomes," she commented.

According to Ariane's observation, the fried spring rolls had a crispy outer layer, and the filling contained various ingredients. Although she didn't know exactly how the dish was prepared, she recognized some vegetables in it, such as onions, scallions, and carrots.

"The ingredients are perfectly combined, and it tastes even better with the fish sauce. This fish sauce has a sour taste, similar to vinegar," Ariane speculated.

A female foreign tourist enjoyed fried spring rolls, repeatedly praising them for being cheap and delicious.

The Western visitor also commented that, in her personal opinion, the fried spring rolls in Hanoi are not only delicious and to her liking, but also very affordable.

"The food is delicious and incredibly cheap. A plate of fried spring rolls like this only costs 16 Real (about 80,000 VND)," she added.

Besides the taste and price, the friendly and enthusiastic attitude of the staff and owner was also a plus point that impressed Ariane about her culinary experience in Hanoi's Old Quarter.

She also said that she was very happy to be able to enjoy delicious food while watching the vibrant streets and immersing herself in the authentic local atmosphere.

Reportedly, during this short trip, Ariane also took the opportunity to sample some other delicious street food and drinks in Hanoi such as fried donuts, sticky rice cakes, tapioca dumplings, egg coffee, Trang Tien ice cream, etc.

Photo: Ariane Cruz

Western tourists try a 70,000 VND street food noodle dish and praise it as "the best I've ever eaten in Ho Chi Minh City." The diverse combination of ingredients and flavors in Ho Chi Minh City's street food led two Western tourists to admit it was "the best they've ever eaten" and they want to return to enjoy it again.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/khach-nuoc-ngoai-thu-mon-gion-rum-o-pho-co-ha-noi-nuc-no-khen-vua-re-vua-ngon-2455603.html