Food · Hoi An · Vietnam
What to eat in Hoi An
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Hoi An, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Start with Cao lầu, Hoi An bánh mì and Hoi An chicken rice. Classes start at the central market or Tra Que village, sometimes with a basket-boat ride, and teach cao lầu, bánh xèo and fresh spring rolls. Old-town restaurants are pricier than places a few streets back; walk a little for better value.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Cao lầu
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 1
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected at street stalls, but in sit-down restaurants for visitors a…
- Food experiences
- 3
9 foods to try
Dish
1.Cao lầu
Thick, chewy noodles with slices of char siu-style pork, crispy pork crackling, fresh greens and herbs in a little dark broth. The noodles are traditionally made only in Hoi An using local well water and wood ash.
Where: The central market food hall and small restaurants across the old town.
Street food
2.Hoi An bánh mì (Bánh mì)
Light, crisp baguettes stuffed with pâté, roast pork, cold cuts, herbs, pickles and chilli sauce; Hoi An's versions are famous across Vietnam.
Where: Long-running stalls such as Bánh Mì Phượng on Phan Chau Trinh Street and carts around the old town.
Dish
3.Hoi An chicken rice (Cơm gà)
Rice cooked in chicken stock with turmeric, topped with shredded chicken mixed with onion, herbs and lime, served with a small bowl of broth and pickles.
Where: Specialist cơm gà shops on Phan Chau Trinh Street and around the old town.
Dish
4.White rose dumplings (Bánh bao bánh vạc)
Delicate translucent rice dumplings filled with shrimp and shaped to resemble roses, topped with fried shallots and served with a sweet-sour dipping sauce. Most of the town's supply is made by one family workshop.
Where: Restaurants across the old town, and at the family workshop that supplies them on Hai Ba Trung Street.
Snack
5.Fried wontons (Hoành thánh chiên)
Crisp fried wonton sheets topped with a sweet-sour sauce of tomato, shrimp and vegetables; a Hoi An take on a Chinese snack.
Where: Old-town restaurants and the night market.
Dish
6.Mì Quảng
The region's yellow turmeric noodles with a little rich broth, pork, shrimp, peanuts, herbs and a sesame cracker.
Where: Market stalls and family restaurants, especially at breakfast.
Street food
7.Bánh xèo
Small crispy rice pancakes with shrimp, pork and bean sprouts, wrapped with herbs in rice paper and dipped in sauce.
Where: Street stalls and night-market vendors; vegetarian versions are easy to find.
Dessert · Vegetarian
8.Corn sweet soup (Chè bắp)
Sweet young corn simmered with sugar and tapioca, topped with coconut cream; a speciality of the corn-growing Cam Nam island across the river.
Where: Dessert stalls in the old town and on Cam Nam island.
Street food
9.Baby clams with rice crackers (Hến xúc bánh tráng)
Tiny river clams stir-fried with lemongrass, herbs and peanuts, scooped up with a crunchy grilled rice cracker; a local evening snack.
Where: Street stalls on Cam Nam island, just south of the old town across the bridge.
Food experiences
Market-to-table cooking class
Classes start at the central market or Tra Que village, sometimes with a basket-boat ride, and teach cao lầu, bánh xèo and fresh spring rolls.
Street-food walk
Evening food walks through the old town and Cam Nam island cover bánh mì, cơm gà, white rose dumplings and clams with rice crackers.
Beach seafood lunch
An Bang's beachfront restaurants grill fresh fish, squid and clams to eat under the casuarina trees.
Quick bites and street food
- Hoi An bánh mì — Long-running stalls such as Bánh Mì Phượng on Phan Chau Trinh Street and carts around the old town.
- Fried wontons — Old-town restaurants and the night market.
- Bánh xèo — Street stalls and night-market vendors; vegetarian versions are easy to find.
- Baby clams with rice crackers — Street stalls on Cam Nam island, just south of the old town across the bridge.
Vegetarian options
Of the 9 foods in this guide, 1 are usually vegetarian: Corn sweet soup. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Old-town restaurants are pricier than places a few streets back; walk a little for better value.
- Many famous bánh mì and cơm gà stalls have queues at lunchtime; go mid-morning or mid-afternoon.
- Vegetarian versions of most local dishes are common in Hoi An.
- Ice in restaurants is usually factory-made; avoid tap water.
- Agree seafood prices by weight before it is cooked.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected at street stalls, but in sit-down restaurants for visitors a small tip or rounding up is appreciated. Guides, cooking-class teachers and boat rowers welcome a modest tip.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Xin chào | Hello |
| Cảm ơn | Thank you |
| Bao nhiêu? | How much? |
| Không, cảm ơn | No, thank you |
| Ngon quá | Very tasty |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Hoi An famous for?
Cao lầu, Hoi An bánh mì, Hoi An chicken rice and White rose dumplings. Thick, chewy noodles with slices of char siu-style pork, crispy pork crackling, fresh greens and herbs in a little dark broth.
+Is Hoi An good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Corn sweet soup.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Hoi An?
Tipping is not expected at street stalls, but in sit-down restaurants for visitors a small tip or rounding up is appreciated. Guides, cooking-class teachers and boat rowers welcome a modest tip.