Western tourists sit "on the sidewalk indoors," enjoying self-service vegetarian meals in Hanoi's Old Quarter.

Guests carry their own food and clean up after themselves.

One evening in Hanoi , Christoph Eder and Marie-Luis Dulig (tourists from Germany) chose to end their long day with a very Vietnamese meal, sitting on low plastic chairs, choosing dishes from the counters, and enjoying traditional Vietnamese flavors in a vegan version.

After glancing over the neatly arranged dishes, Marie chose bun cha, a familiar name in Vietnamese cuisine . She skillfully prepared the dipping sauce, picked out the accompanying vegetables, and returned to her seat to begin her dinner.

Hanoi: Self-service vegetarian meals and cleaning up after oneself in the Old Quarter delight Western tourists ( Video : Cam Tien).

Serving themselves, choosing their seats, and cleaning up after meals are no longer a problem for Marie, as this is the third time they've returned to this model. For them, vegetarian meals while traveling sometimes mean a lot of time spent searching and choosing.

But here, everything is arranged quite conveniently, and more importantly, you get to fully enjoy authentic Vietnamese dishes, in the true spirit of the local cuisine, while still ensuring they are vegan.

Marie said she has been a vegetarian for many years and always takes precautions before every meal when traveling abroad.

"For a vegetarian like me, finding delicious Vietnamese food with many vegetarian options is very important. Here, everything is vegan and suits my taste, the locals are friendly, and it's conveniently located near our hotel," she shared.

She added that when she first came, she was a little surprised because she wasn't familiar with the self-service model, didn't know the operating procedures, and wasn't sure if she needed assistance from the staff. After being guided, everything became simple, easy to understand, and quickly adapted to her dining habits.

As for Christoph, who visited Hanoi 12 years ago, he was surprised to find that Hanoi now offers more vegetarian options than before.

“The change surprised me. Finding vegan restaurants is much easier now. Not only in Hanoi but also in the cities we’ve visited. It’s great to see so many options available,” he said.

According to the reporter's observations, despite being self-service, everything ran smoothly, from customers choosing their dishes to staff assisting with preparation. Most notably, there was a constant stream of international customers coming and going. At many times, they accounted for over 80% of the people present.

Authentic Vietnamese vegetarian dishes

Upon entering, each person is given a menu (in Vietnamese or English) and a pen. This menu is not used to order food but serves as a "record" of the amount of food the customer has eaten.

Meanwhile, the dishes are attractively displayed on the table with many options such as pho, bun rieu, bun bo Hue, bun cha, bun tron, banh cuon, banh mi, porridge, hot pot…

Alongside these are side dishes such as fermented pork rolls, grilled skewers, dried mushrooms, etc. The names of the dishes remain traditional, but all the ingredients are 100% plant-based.

Khách Tây ngồi “vỉa hè trong nhà”, ăn chay tự phục vụ giữa phố cổ Hà Nội - 3 — With side dishes like fried dough sticks, dried mushrooms, and seasoned spring rolls, customers can take them to their table and write down the names on a piece of paper to remember when paying the bill (Photo: Cam Tien).

Besides the main course menu, they also offer a variety of nut milks. The most popular drink among customers is cashew milk, made from fresh nuts blended with water and natural sugar.

Guests simply choose their dishes, and someone will assist in preparing them on the spot. Afterwards, guests carry their trays to their tables themselves, and when finished, they also take their bowls and chopsticks back to the designated area.

According to Ms. Vu Ngoc Diem (representative of the street food stall), the two most outstanding dishes here are bun rieu and bun bo Hue. Bun rieu is inspired by bun oc (snail noodle soup), using fermented rice vinegar and tomatoes to create a mild sour taste.

Meanwhile, Hue-style beef noodle soup was developed from a traditional recipe in Hue, and then completely transformed into a plant-based version.

The space is designed with an indoor sidewalk vibe, featuring low plastic chairs, rustic wooden tables, and characteristic low seating areas. On the veranda, the walls are decorated with a few dried corn cobs, buffalo bells, and some abstract paintings, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.

Vedeesh Koonjal Mauritian (a tourist from the UK) returned for a second time because of a bowl of bun rieu (Vietnamese noodle soup). “My friend recommended this place and brought me here yesterday. We ordered quite a few dishes, but our favorites were the banh mi and bun rieu,” he said.

He described the vegan bun rieu here as a combination of rich tomato broth, tofu, herbs, lettuce, mushrooms, and various fresh vegetables. He said he liked the rich flavor of the broth and the freshness of the ingredients.

Accompanying him was Giorgia Fantaguzzi (from Italy), who was fascinated by the feeling of watching the food being prepared right in front of her. "Being able to see the process before choosing food makes it easier for tourists like me to make a choice," she shared.

Located in the heart of Hanoi's Old Quarter, the parking space for motorbikes is limited and quickly fills up during peak hours, so diners should consider their transportation options. Additionally, the number of tables and chairs is limited, so seating may be unavailable during peak hours.

Guests carry their own food and clean up after themselves.

Authentic Vietnamese vegetarian dishes

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