Top 8 Hanoi Soups and Famous Hanoi Soup Shops You Must Try

A famous Hanoi soup shop is a gateway to the heart and soul of Vietnamese culture. The city's streets buzz with the energy of vendors serving up steaming bowls of noodle soup, each with its own unique history and flavor profile. From the world-renowned Pho Bo to lesser-known local treasures like Mien Luon, Hanoi’s soup scene is a delicious labyrinth waiting to be explored. This GTrip guide is your ultimate companion, created to give you everything you need to navigate this culinary landscape with confidence. We've pinpointed the best spots, decoded the different types of soup, and provided all the essential details like addresses and prices.

1. Beef noodle soup Hanoi (pho bo)

Pho bo is the quintessential Vietnamese noodle soup, an iconic dish that has earned global fame. It features a deeply savory and aromatic broth, simmered for hours with beef bones and a secret blend of spices, such as star anise, cinnamon, and cloves. This flavorful liquid is poured over soft rice noodles and thinly sliced beef, which can range from tender rare steak (tai) to well-done brisket (chin). Topped with fresh herbs, the quest for the best Pho in Hanoi is a must-do for any visitor wanting to experience authentic soup in Hanoi.

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Beef noodle soup (pho bo) is a must-try food in Hanoi

2. Red wine beef stew pho (pho sot vang)

For those seeking a heartier, more robust flavor, pho sot vang is an unmissable Hanoi soup experience. This dish is essentially a rich, wine-infused beef stew served with classic pho noodles. The beef is slowly braised until it's incredibly tender, absorbing the complex flavors of the red wine, tomatoes, and warming spices like cinnamon and star anise. The result is a thicker, more decadent broth than traditional pho, making it the perfect comfort food for a cooler day in Hanoi.

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Red wine beef stew pho (pho sot vang) is another recommended option for you to try

3. Pho soup with chicken Hanoi (pho ga)

Pho ga is the lighter, yet equally beloved, sibling to pho bo in the Hanoi soup family. This version swaps beef for chicken, resulting in a lighter, yet deeply flavorful, chicken-based broth that is clear and delicate. The soup is typically served with shredded or chopped boiled chicken, providing a tender and succulent protein to accompany the soft rice noodles. It’s garnished with classic fresh herbs and a squeeze of lime, offering a clean, fragrant, and immensely satisfying meal that is popular for breakfast, lunch, and dinner across Hanoi.

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Pho ga with a lighter broth than pho bo is also a must-try dish

4. Hanoi chicken combo noodle soup (bun thang)

Bun thang in Hanoi is a visual and culinary masterpiece, considered one of the most intricate and refined noodle soups in the city. A typical bowl features thinly sliced fried egg, shredded chicken, Vietnamese ham (cha lua), and dried shrimp over vermicelli noodles. The clear, subtle broth, simmered from chicken bones, ties all these delicate flavors together into a harmonious and sophisticated dish.

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Bun thang is Hanoi’s most refined noodle soup, featuring shredded chicken, fried egg, Vietnamese ham, and dried shrimp in a clear, delicately simmered broth

5. Snail noodle soup Hanoi (bun oc)

A true taste of Northern Vietnam, Bun oc is a beloved local specialty that stands out for its unique, tangy, and savory broth. The soup's distinctive flavor comes from a base of pork or chicken broth that is infused with tomatoes, vinegar, or tamarind, and the star ingredient: freshwater snails. These snails are cooked to a perfect chewy texture and add a subtle brininess to the dish. Served with rice vermicelli noodles and fresh herbs, Bun Oc offers a refreshing and zesty flavor profile that is completely different from other Hanoi soups.

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Bun oc features chewy freshwater snails in a tangy tomato and tamarind broth, served with vermicelli noodles and fresh herbs

6. Hanoi crab noodle soup (bun rieu)

The best bun rieu in Hanoi is a visually striking and incredibly flavorful soup, characterized by a vibrant red broth made from tomato and crab paste. This Northern Vietnamese specialty gets its rich umami depth from freshwater paddy crabs, which are pounded and strained to create savory crab cakes that float in the soup. The tangy broth is balanced with other ingredients such as fried tofu, pork, and fresh herbs. Often served with a side of shrimp paste for an extra pungent kick, bun rieu offers a complex and satisfying taste of authentic Hanoi street food.

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Bun rieu is a Hanoi street food classic, with a vibrant tomato-crab broth, savory crab cakes, tofu, pork, and herbs for a rich, tangy flavor

7. Hanoi mi ga tan

Mi ga tan is a unique and restorative dish, often sought out for its health benefits. It is a nourishing herbal Hanoi soup that features a whole black chicken (ga ac) slow-cooked until the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender. The dark, fragrant broth is infused with a medley of traditional medicinal herbs, including ingredients like goji berries and jujubes, which give it a slightly sweet and earthy flavor. Served with instant egg noodles (mi), this hearty soup is cherished not just for its taste but also for its revitalizing properties.

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Mi ga tan is a nourishing Hanoi soup of black chicken simmered with medicinal herbs, goji berries, and jujubes, served with comforting egg noodles

8. Hanoi soup with cellophane noodles and eel (mien luon)

Mien luon is a fantastic dish for adventurous eaters, showcasing the slippery glass noodles and savory eel. Among the many varieties of noodles in Hanoi, this soup stands out for using cellophane noodles (mien), which have a delightful springy and slightly chewy texture. The eel itself can be prepared in two main ways: either deep-fried until crispy or simmered in the broth for a softer texture. The clear broth is typically made from eel bones and pork, seasoned with ginger and fish sauce, creating a light yet deeply savory base for the other components to shine.

Where you try:

Mien luon is a Hanoi specialty of glass noodles with savory eel, served in a light ginger-infused broth with either crispy fried or tender simmered eel

Read more:

• Top 30 Famous Foods in Hanoi You Must Try For Your Unforgettable Trip
• Top 20 Restaurants in Hanoi Old Quarter for Unforgettable Trip
• Top 10+ Restaurants for Fine Dining in Hanoi You Shouldn’t Miss

The famous Hanoi soup shop culture is a rich tapestry of flavors, textures, and traditions. This guide has walked you through eight of the most famous and delicious options the city has to offer, from the internationally recognized Pho Bo to the uniquely local Bun Oc and Mien Luon. Each bowl tells a story, offering a different perspective on the sophisticated culinary arts of Vietnam. With this list of trusted shops, their operating hours, and prices, you are now fully equipped to dive into your own food adventure. Let GTrip be your guide as you pull up a tiny plastic stool, order a steaming bowl of noodles, and experience the authentic, vibrant taste of Hanoi.