Banh Mi Hang Gai is a bakery in Old Quarter, Hanoi.
Banh Mi Hang Gai in Hanoi has been a pavement banh mi stall on Hang Gai since 1979, baking baguettes in a custom oven for the dawn breakfast queue.
Must order: The classic banh mi with pate, pork floss and pickled vegetables; the bread is reheated to order.
Tip: Breakfast only, 05:15-10:15 daily. Run by Linh since her mother-in-law passed in 2014; the family started the stall in 1979.
Address: 46 Hang Gai, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Bao An Vegan in Hanoi is a small vegan counter on Tran Hung Dao plating egg-free banh mi, spring rolls and pho for the plant-based Old Quarter crowd.
Order: The vegan banh mi with house mock pate and a side of vegan spring rolls.
Tip: Counter only; takeaway is standard. Listed on HappyCow as one of the top-rated vegan spots in central Hanoi.
Worth the queue: Vegan banh mi with mock pate
Banh Mi 25 in Hanoi has been the Old Quarter's busiest banh mi counter since 2014, with two pork, three chicken, two beef and four vegetarian options.
Order: The classic banh mi xa xiu with pate, pickled vegetables and chilli; vegetarian comes loaded with mushrooms.
Tip: Three counters on the same block (25, 30 and 32 Hang Ca); the largest seating is at 30 across the road.
Worth the queue: Banh mi xa xiu Chinese-style pork with pate
Bao An Vegan in Hanoi is a small vegan counter on Tran Hung Dao plating egg-free banh mi, spring rolls and pho for the plant-based Old Quarter crowd.
Order: The vegan banh mi with house mock pate and a side of vegan spring rolls.
Tip: Counter only; takeaway is standard. Listed on HappyCow as one of the top-rated vegan spots in central Hanoi.
Worth the queue: Vegan banh mi with mock pate
Banh Mi 25 in Hanoi has been the Old Quarter's busiest banh mi counter since 2014, with two pork, three chicken, two beef and four vegetarian options.
Order: The classic banh mi xa xiu with pate, pickled vegetables and chilli; vegetarian comes loaded with mushrooms.
Tip: Three counters on the same block (25, 30 and 32 Hang Ca); the largest seating is at 30 across the road.
Worth the queue: Banh mi xa xiu Chinese-style pork with pate
Saint Honoré on Xuan Dieu is Tay Ho's flagship French bakery, opened in 2010 to bring laminated viennoiserie and classic patisserie to Hanoi's expat lakeside.
Order: A morning croissant and the tarte au citron; the canele Bordelais is the best-kept secret on the counter.
Tip: Catering and dine-in available; the upstairs seating overlooks the bakery's open kitchen. Multi-location chain, Xuan Dieu is the original.
Worth the queue: Pain au chocolat and tarte au citron
Joma Bakery Café on To Ngoc Van is Tay Ho's organic-leaning bakery and cafe, baking sourdough, bagels and pastries for the expat morning crowd.
Order: A bagel breakfast sandwich with Vietnamese filter coffee; seasonal sourdough loaves sell by 10:00.
Tip: Three Hanoi branches; To Ngoc Van is the busiest for breakfast. Strong Wi-Fi and laptop seating upstairs.
Worth the queue: Bagels and breakfast sandwiches
La Studio in Hanoi is a vegan bakery on Xuan Dieu, baking egg-and-dairy-free bagels and toasts for the Tay Ho lakeside vegan and gluten-free crowd.
Order: The avocado-and-tofu bagel sandwich and the cinnamon roll, both plant-based and made daily.
Tip: Small studio, limited seating; takeaway is normal. Cash and card; closed Mondays.
Worth the queue: Plant-based bagels and toasts
Maison Marou's Hanoi flagship is a chocolate bakery as much as a cafe, plating laminated croissants and pastries built around bean-to-bar Vietnamese.
Order: The chocolate-and-almond croissant and a single-origin hot chocolate from the kitchen window.
Tip: The viewing windows on the chocolate workshop are at the back; ask staff to point them out. Bars to take home at the counter.
Worth the queue: Chocolate-and-almond croissant
