The rooms worth a reservation in Hanoi, from neighbourhood bistros to the new classics.
The restaurants worth the trip in Hanoi. bistros, neo-classics, neighbourhood favourites, and the rooms locals book first.
Tam Vi in Hanoi holds one Michelin star for Northern Vietnamese home cooking, served in a vintage Yen The villa near the Temple of Literature in Dong Da.
Signature: Pickled eggplant with shrimp paste, Caramelised river fish, Crab and water-spinach soup
Order: The set menu rotates Northern home-cooking classics: caramelised fish.
Tip: Book a week ahead online; the room only seats around 40 and the vintage-furnished upstairs is the preferred section.
Vien Dining in Hanoi is Chef Van Tin's Michelin Selected modern Vietnamese tasting room in Hai Ba Trung, pairing local herbs with seasonal river fish.
Signature: The Hundred Crafts tasting, Junbucha, Seasonal river-fish course
Order: The Hundred Crafts seasonal tasting; pre-book and ask for the open-kitchen ground floor.
Tip: Closed Mondays. Pre-booking is required for the tasting menu; the upstairs private rooms are quieter for groups.
Cau Go in Hanoi is a sixth-and-seventh-floor Vietnamese kitchen above Hoan Kiem Lake's north-east corner, with Michelin Guide listings three years running.
Signature: Deep-fried Vietnamese spring rolls, Grilled river prawns, Central Vietnamese set
Order: The traditional fried spring rolls and any of the Central Vietnamese set courses; ask for a window seat.
Tip: Two entrances: 73 Cau Go through a narrow lift, or 9 Dinh Tien Hoang. The 7th-floor terrace is the sunset seat.
Ha Thanh Mansion in Hanoi is a Michelin Bib Gourmand kitchen on Ngo Van So, serving traditional Hanoi banquet dishes in a French colonial house.
Signature: Bun thang, Cha ca, Cha rom
Order: The bun thang and cha rom rice-paper spring rolls; the set menus are a good intro to Hanoi banquet cooking.
Tip: The garden tables fill first; book ahead for groups. Cash and card both accepted.
Quan An Ngon in Hanoi is a French colonial villa in the French Quarter serving Vietnamese street-food classics around a courtyard of live cooking stations.
Signature: Bun cha, Cha ca, Banh xeo, Nem ran
Order: Order across regions: a bowl of bun cha, a plate of cha ca.
Tip: Loud and crowded after 19:00; lunch is calmer and the courtyard tables are the best seats.
Don Duck Old Quarter in Hanoi is a Michelin Selected duck specialist on Hang Tre, with roast and table-grilled duck across multiple shophouse floors.
Signature: Roast duck, Grilled duck at the table, Duck steak
Order: The roast duck with house pancakes and the table-grilled duck breast cooked on a clay grill.
Tip: The basement floor is the quietest; the rooftop has the best Old Quarter view. Reservations recommended for groups.
Cha Ca Thang Long in Hanoi is a Michelin Bib Gourmand single-dish kitchen on Duong Thanh: turmeric-marinated catfish finished tableside with dill.
Signature: Cha ca turmeric fish, Bun rice noodles with cha ca, Mam tom dipping sauce
Order: The cha ca for two: turmeric catfish, dill, spring onions, peanuts and the house mam tom shrimp-paste dip.
Tip: There is only one dish; price per person is fixed. Multiple branches exist on the same street, all run by the same family.
Cha Ca La Vong in Hanoi has cooked one turmeric-grilled fish dish at 14 Cha Ca street since 1871, and the street itself takes its name from the dish.
Signature: Cha ca turmeric fish, Galangal dill broth, Mam tom dipping sauce
Order: Cha ca La Vong: turmeric fish finished tableside on a charcoal brazier, with dill, spring onions and peanuts.
Tip: The 19th-century upstairs room is the original. Service is brusque, queues are common, but the dish is the point.
Mau Dich So 37 in Hanoi is a Bib Gourmand kitchen near Truc Bach Lake, recreating Hanoi's 1975-1986 subsidy-era canteen with food vouchers and post-war decor.
Signature: Hanoi spring rolls, Caramelised river fish, Cơm cháy bò cay scorched-rice beef stew
Order: Spring rolls, caramelised river fish and the scorched-rice beef stew; buy vouchers at the counter first.
Tip: The voucher system is real and part of the show. Old radios and sewing machines fill the walls; arrive before 19:00.
Pho Cuon Huong Mai in Hanoi runs the Ngu Xa pho cuon street, wrapping fresh rice-noodle sheets around beef and herbs, with fish-sauce dip on the side.
Signature: Pho cuon rolled rice noodles, Pho chien phong puffed pho, Pho xao stir-fried pho
Order: Pho cuon rolled rice noodles with beef and the deep-fried pho chien phong with stir-fried beef sauce.
Tip: Ngu Xa is the rolled-pho hub; if Huong Mai is full, the same dish runs at half a dozen counters on the same block.
Pho Cuon Chinh Thang in Hanoi is a Michelin Selected pho cuon counter in Truc Bach, plating fresh rice-noodle sheets stuffed with stir-fried beef.
Signature: Pho cuon, Pho chien phong puffed pho, Pho xao bo
Order: Pho cuon with seared beef and a side of pho chien phong, the deep-fried puffed pho squares.
Tip: Tiny seating; busiest at lunch. Stand-up counters fill first on Mac Dinh Chi, sit-down at number 7.
Mien Luon Chan Cam in Hanoi holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for one dish: glass noodles with crisp-fried river eel, served wet or dry on Chan Cam street.
Signature: Mien luon eel glass-noodle soup, Mien luon kho dry eel noodles, Crispy fried eel
Order: Mien luon kho, the dry version with crispy eel, fried shallots and a small bowl of broth on the side.
Tip: Counter seats only and the kitchen sets up on the pavement. Closes when the eel runs out; arrive by 13:00 for lunch.
Hieu Luc Canh Ca Ro is a Michelin Selected single-dish kitchen on Hai Ba Trung, serving Hung Yen's countryside climbing-perch broth with rice noodles.
Signature: Canh ca ro fish soup, Bun ca ro Hung Yen-style, Crispy fried climbing perch
Order: Bun ca ro, the climbing-perch soup with rice noodles, dill and crispy fried fish skin on the side.
Tip: Lunch only crowd; arrive 11:30-13:30. Air-con on the upper floor if Hanoi heat is unbearable.
Uu Dam in Hanoi holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for vegetarian Vietnamese cooking on Nguyen Du, with Buddhist-influenced set menus and a serene tea-house space.
Signature: Vegetarian pho, Buddhist banquet set, Vegetarian che sweet soup
Order: The vegetarian banquet set; the che chay sweet soup and vegetarian flan are local favourites.
Tip: Plant-based throughout, no fish or shrimp paste. Bookings recommended on weekends; the meditation-style room books up.