Top 6 summer specialties of Hanoi you must try

Hanoi - an ideal summer destination not only because of its ancient beauty, but also because of its unique cuisine that captivates visitors. Not only famous for landmarks such as Hoan Kiem Lake, Temple of Literature or the Old Quarter, Hanoi also leaves its mark with refreshing dishes that suit the taste in the hot weather. If you are planning to explore the capital this summer, do not miss the opportunity to enjoy Hanoi's summer specialties - flavors that not everyone knows if they have never lived here. In this article, let's take a look at 6 Hanoi summer specialties that are both delicious and effective in cooling down, favored by locals every time the heat lasts!

1. Trang Tien Ice Cream

Trang Tien Ice Cream (Photo source: Collected)

In the scorching heat of the capital’s summer, there is nothing more refreshing than a cool ice cream bar. When it comes to Hanoi’s summer specialties, Trang Tien ice cream is always the first name that comes to mind for many locals and tourists. After more than 60 years of association with Hanoians, this ice cream brand has become a symbol associated with summer memories.
Trang Tien ice cream stands out with its traditional flavors, handcrafted and keeping the same recipe from the early days of its establishment. The familiar address at 35 Trang Tien near the Opera House is not only a place to sell ice cream but also a part of the cultural memories of many generations of people in the capital. In addition to familiar ice cream flavors such as coconut milk ice cream, green bean ice cream, today the store also creates many new types such as mochi ice cream, fresh ice cream or sticky rice ice cream to keep up with modern enjoyment trends.
With its own unique features, Trang Tien ice cream is not only a refreshing dish but also an indispensable part of Hanoi summer cuisine . This is the ideal choice for those who want to explore traditional Hanoi ice cream - one of the specialties of Hanoi hot season that cannot be missed.

2. Tofu

Tofu (Image source: Collected)

When mentioning the hot and humid weather of Hanoi in the summer, we cannot help but mention tofu pudding – a summer specialty of Hanoi that has been loved by the people of the capital for generations. This refreshing dish often carries the gentle scent of jasmine or grapefruit flowers, depending on the season, making people feel cool in the harsh sunlight of the city.
Traditional tofu pudding with smooth, soft layers of tofu mixed in sweet syrup with a few ice cubes is an ideal choice to cool down. Over time, Hanoians have also created many attractive toppings such as pearls, black jelly, lotus seeds, longan... to help diversify the dish while still retaining the old flavor.
If you are exploring Hanoi's summer cuisine or looking for Hanoi street food to cool off, then definitely don't miss out on tofu - a familiar, authentic Hanoi flavor.

3. Pickled plums

Sugar-soaked crocodile water (Photo source: Collected)

Sugar-soaked apricot juice - a cool drink, associated with the summer memories of the capital's people, is one of the specialties of Hanoi that you should try. Green apricots when soaked in sugar will create a mildly sour, sweet taste, typical of Hanoi. On hot days, just a glass of cool apricot juice is enough to dispel the intense heat. Not only is it an effective cooling drink, sugar-soaked apricots also make visitors remember forever because of the harmonious combination of taste and emotion. When visiting Hanoi in the summer, you can easily come across street vendors selling apricot juice on the sidewalk or buy fresh apricots to make it yourself. In addition to being used as a drink, apricots are also used to cook sour soup, make dried apricots - attractive snacks that everyone wants to bring back as gifts after the trip.

4. Cold Snail Noodle Soup

Cold snail noodle soup (Photo source: Collected)

Cold vermicelli with snails is not only unique but also bears the culinary mark of Hanoi. The bowl of vermicelli includes crunchy, fatty snails served with a dipping sauce of sour - spicy - salty - sweet flavors, making diners "fall in love" at first taste. Some famous addresses for you to explore this dish are Ba Lan cold vermicelli with snails, Phu Dong Thien Vuong vermicelli with snails or Hue vermicelli with snails - all are long-standing restaurants favored by locals and tourists. If you want to find a dish to cool down in the summer, don't miss the experience of cold vermicelli with snails when visiting Hanoi.

5. Candied Apricots

One of the summer specialties of Hanoi associated with childhood memories and sunny afternoons is dried apricot. The sour apricot is processed into many attractive dishes such as ginger-marinated apricot, sweet and salty spicy apricot or traditional dried apricot. The mild sour taste combined with a bit of spicy ginger and a light sweetness creates an addictive snack. If you want to buy a gift with the bold flavor of Hanoi, you can visit Hang Duong street - the famous apricot paradise, or choose Hong Lam apricot - a brand trusted by many Hanoians. Not only a favorite snack, dried apricot is also a part of the capital's summer culinary culture.

6. Pho rolls

Pho rolls (Image source: Collected)

Pho cuon is one of the summer specialties of Hanoi that diners cannot forget from the first time they enjoy it. This dish impresses with the harmonious combination of thin, soft pho noodles and a full filling of stir-fried beef, pork roll, omelette, carrots, and herbs. All are rolled up neatly and dipped in a sweet and sour fish sauce mixed with rich garlic and chili. With a light, easy-to-eat flavor that does not create a feeling of fullness, pho cuon is the ideal choice on hot summer days. If you are looking for a delicious and cool summer specialty of Hanoi, do not miss pho cuon - a simple but attractive dish.
The above are Hanoi summer specialties that are both delicious and help you dispel the typical hot and humid weather of the North. Each dish has a strong traditional flavor, contributing to the unique culinary culture of the capital. If you have the opportunity to visit Hanoi in the summer, do not forget to enjoy these dishes to fully experience the culinary quintessence here. Hanoi summer specialties are not only a taste experience, but also a way for you to understand more about the pace of life and people of the capital.

Source: https://www.vietravel.com/vn/am-thuc-kham-pha/mon-dac-san-mua-he-ha-noi-v17060.aspx