What is the must-try food in Hoi An?

Cao lau (thick chewy noodles with braised pork and rice crackers, ₫35,000–55,000), white rose dumplings made by a single family (₫50,000–80,000), and banh mi at Banh Mi Phuong (₫30,000–50,000) - called 'the best sandwich in the world' by Anthony Bourdain.

What is cao lau and why is it unique to Hoi An?

Cao lau is Hoi An's signature noodle dish. The noodles are traditionally made with water from the town's ancient wells and ash lye from the Cham Islands, giving them a dense, slightly charred texture found nowhere else in Vietnam. Topped with braised pork, rice crackers, and star anise broth.

Is it worth queuing at Banh Mi Phuong in Hoi An?

Banh Mi Phuong at 2B Phan Chu Trinh is the most famous banh mi in Vietnam. The banh mi is larger and more loaded than anywhere else. Arrive before 08:00 for the shortest queue. Alternatively, Banh Mi Ba Lan on Tran Cao Van Street is preferred by some for lower queues and consistent quality.

Where is the best morning street food in Hoi An?

The covered market on Tran Phu Street opens at 05:00 with the best cheap morning food - bun ba duc (pork rice noodles), pho, and banh cuon (steamed rice rolls). The market stalls are excellent value and popular with locals.

Best Restaurants in Hoi An | The Vietnam Guides

Hoi An is widely considered to have the best street food concentration in Vietnam relative to its size. The town’s trading port history produced a food culture that absorbed Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese influences.

Cao Lau (Hoi An noodle dish)

The signature Hoi An dish. Thick, chewy noodles (traditionally made with water from the town’s ancient wells and ash lye from the Cham Islands) topped with sliced braised pork, crispy rice crackers, bean sprouts, mint, and star anise-flavoured broth poured sparingly. The texture of the noodle - dense and slightly charred at the edges - is specific to this dish.

Cao Lau Ba Mui (Nguyen Duy Hieu): One of the better-regarded cao lau spots, served by the same family for decades. ₫35,000–55,000 ($1.40–2.20).

Trung Bac Restaurant: Long-established restaurant serving cao lau alongside other Hoi An specialities. ₫40,000–60,000 ($1.60–2.40).

White Rose Dumplings (Banh Bao Vac)

Translucent steamed rice flour dumplings shaped like open roses, filled with shrimp or pork and topped with fried shallots. The recipe is controlled by a single family who supply all the town’s restaurants. You can eat them everywhere in Hoi An but they’re made by one source.

White Rose Restaurant (533 Hai Ba Trung): The family that makes and supplies the dumplings to the whole town. The most authentic source. ₫50,000–80,000 ($2–3.20).

Banh Mi Phuong

Arguably the most famous banh mi in Vietnam. Anthony Bourdain called it “the best sandwich in the world” in 2009, and it hasn’t really recovered from the attention - there is often a queue. The banh mi here is larger and more loaded than anywhere else, with pate, Vietnamese sausage, grilled pork, and an extensive herb and sauce layer.

Banh Mi Phuong (2B Phan Chu Trinh): Open from morning until sold out. Arrive before 08:00 for the shortest queue. ₫30,000–50,000 ($1.20–2).

Com Ga Hoi An (Hoi An chicken rice)

Hoi An’s version of chicken rice - shredded poached chicken over a turmeric-flavoured rice with a clear chicken broth, fresh herbs, and chilli. Different from the Singaporean or Hainanese versions in its use of fresh turmeric. Several specialist restaurants on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street.

₫35,000–55,000 ($1.40–2.20).

Banh Mi Ba Lan

A second banh mi option, sometimes preferred over the more famous Phuong for its lower queue and consistent quality. On Tran Cao Van Street.

Riverside restaurants (evening)

The Thu Bon River restaurant strip from Bach Dang Street southward has tables facing the water with the lantern lights on the river at night. The food at these restaurants is mid-range Vietnamese - not the cheapest, not the best, but the setting compensates.

Mango Mango: Good quality Vietnamese and fusion. Riverside terrace. ₫100,000–250,000 ($4–10) per person.

Morning Market

The covered market on Tran Phu Street operates from 05:00–10:00 as a fresh food market (fish, meat, produce, and herbs) and a street food zone. The breakfast stalls inside the market - bun ba duc (pork rice noodles), pho, and banh cuon - are cheap and excellent.

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Food tours in Hoi An

More in Hoi An

For a deeper look at the local dishes that make Hoi An unique — Cao Lau, White Rose dumplings, and Banh Vac — see our Hoi An food guide.

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