Typical Hanoi snacks when winter arrives.

Each dish carries a story, a flavor that makes anyone who has tasted it want to return, as if to fully embrace the atmosphere of Hanoi on cold days.

As the first monsoon winds sweep through the streets, Hanoi suddenly transforms into a uniquely cool city unlike anywhere else. In this sweet chill of winter, people find a special joy: wandering along familiar streets, stopping by small stalls to enjoy simple snacks brimming with the warmth of the city.

Hanoi's winter snacks are not just warm treats; they represent memories, a way of life, and a connection between people. Each dish carries a story, a flavor that makes anyone who has tasted it want to return, as if to fully embrace the atmosphere of Hanoi during the cold days.

Steamed rice cake

When talking about Hanoi's winter snacks, you can't overlook banh gio (pork sausage rolls) – a simple dish that's enough to soothe the biting cold. The hot rolls, unwrapped from their green banana leaves, reveal a soft, chewy filling of pork and wood ear mushrooms. Just one bite sends a warm sensation from your tongue down to your stomach.

Perhaps that's why the steamed rice cake stalls in Dong Xuan Market and Thuy Khue Street are always crowded, especially in the early morning or late afternoon when the cold wind blows through the streets.

Pork rib porridge with fried breadsticks

While in summer people seek out Trang Tien ice cream to cool off, winter is the time for pork rib porridge. A bowl of hot, smooth porridge, sprinkled with shredded pork floss and a few crispy fried dough sticks, is enough to warm you up for an entire afternoon.

Pork rib porridge at Ly Quoc Su or Hang Bo is always crowded, because nothing soothes the cold better than a bowl of rich, fragrant porridge, wafting from a small kitchen in the heart of the old town.

Ginger tea, hot cocoa

Hanoi's winter isn't just about the food; it's also about the comforting warmth of a hot drink. Spicy ginger tea, rich cocoa, or a fragrant cup of ginger milk are all familiar choices for Hanoians on windy evenings.

Sitting in a small cafe in the old town, watching the people go by and sipping a hot drink, anyone can feel the characteristic peace of winter here.

Roasted corn and potatoes

Amidst the bustling crowds, it's not difficult to spot golden corn or purple sweet potatoes being roasted over glowing charcoal. The sweet aroma, mingled with the smoke carried on the cold wind, warms the hearts of anyone passing by.

Sitting by the charcoal stove, waiting for each layer of the outer shell to char, revealing the soft, sweet interior, one is transported back to old memories. Simple and inexpensive, roasted sweet potatoes and corn are quintessential Hanoi snacks, especially during the winter months.

Banh troi tau

Sticky rice balls (Bánh trôi tàu) are an indispensable snack when talking about Hanoi's cold season treats. These round, white balls, filled with black sesame or mung bean paste, are soft and chewy, floating in a bowl of hot sugar syrup flavored with fragrant ginger.

Hanoians often flock to Hang Can Street, Hang Dieu Street, or small street food stalls along Hoan Kiem Lake to enjoy hot, steaming glutinous rice balls in sweet syrup. The feeling of blowing on them to cool them down before eating, letting the soft rice balls melt on your tongue amidst the crisp cold of winter, is an unforgettable experience for anyone who has tried it.

Hot snails

Street food stalls selling snails become packed with people whenever the monsoon season arrives. A plate of hot boiled snails, dipped in spicy ginger-chili fish sauce, is the perfect combination to awaken your taste buds.

From snail restaurants on Hang Da and Dinh Liet streets to small eateries on Tran Huy Lieu street, all have become familiar meeting places for Hanoi residents on chilly evenings.

The warmth held people back.

Winter in Hanoi is like a symphony of flavors. Not overly vibrant or ostentatious, yet the street food has a strange allure. It makes you want to slow down, to enjoy every moment, every warm wisp of smoke rising from the street vendors' stalls.

During the long winter days, it's easy to find happiness in the little things: a warm, crispy baked potato, a bowl of rich, fragrant pork rib porridge, or a warm cup of cocoa. And it is these simple things that define Hanoi – a city that always knows how to make people fall in love, even with the simplest things.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/nhung-mon-qua-vat-dac-trung-cua-ha-noi-khi-mua-dong-toi-post1082063.vnp