Vietnamese$ba-dinhDaily 09:00-23:00
Pho Cuon Huong Mai on Ngu Xa runs the rolled-pho strip near Truc Bach Lake for 60,000-100,000 VND a plate, with fresh sheets wrapped around beef.
Try: Pho cuon
Order: Pho cuon rolled rice noodles with herbs and beef; add pho chien phong puffed pho on the side.
Tip: Whole Ngu Xa block runs the same dish; if Huong Mai is full, the next counter does it for the same price.
Vietnamese$old-quarterDaily 10:00-22:00
Bun Dau Mam Tom Co Tuyen serves the Old Quarter's most-recommended bun dau plate for 60,000-90,000 VND, with fried tofu, rice noodles and pork on Khay.
Try: Bun dau mam tom
Order: Bun dau combo with tofu, rice noodles, boiled pork, fried pork roll and mam tom shrimp paste.
Tip: Cash only. The mam tom shrimp paste is assertive; ask staff to balance with lime and sugar.
Vietnamese$hai-ba-trungDaily 07:00-23:30
Cong Cà Phê serves Vietnam's most-copied coconut coffee for under 60,000 VND across nearly 100 stores; the Trieu Viet Vuong original opened in 2007.
Try: Coconut coffee
Order: Coconut coffee: condensed-milk coffee blended with shaved coconut ice.
Tip: Trieu Viet Vuong is the origin store and historic cafe street. Whole bean retail to take home.
Vietnamese$old-quarterDaily 16:00-23:00
Hanoi's Bia Hoi Corner at Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen is one of Asia's cheapest beer junctions, with fresh draft at 10,000-15,000 VND on plastic stools.
Try: Fresh draft bia hoi and grilled snacks
Order: A bia hoi at the cheapest corner stall plus dried squid with chilli salt from passing snack carts.
Tip: Bring small notes. The corner closes at 23:00 when police clear the pavement; the bia hoi crowd then walks to bun dau or pho.
Vietnamese$old-quarterDaily 05:00-01:00
Xoi Yen in Hanoi sells turmeric sticky rice with savoury toppings for under 50,000 VND on Nguyen Huu Huan, open from dawn to 01:00 the next morning.
Try: Xoi xeo sticky rice
Order: Xoi xeo with mung bean, caramel pork and crispy shallots; under 35,000 VND.
Tip: Cash only and small bills work best. Takeaway parcels wrapped in banana leaves.
Vietnamese$old-quarterDaily 07:00-21:00
Banh Mi 25 in Hanoi serves the Old Quarter's most-photographed banh mi at 30,000-40,000 VND, with two pork, three chicken, two beef and four vegetarian.
Try: Banh mi sandwich
Order: Banh mi xa xiu with Chinese-style pork and pate; add 5,000 VND for extras.
Tip: Three counters at 25, 30 and 32 Hang Ca. Card accepted; eat on the pavement benches.