Pocket 10 Hanoi specialties to buy as gifts typical of the Capital

1. O mai – A lovely gift that tastes like Hanoi 

Nhắc đến Hà Nội sao có thể bỏ qua món quà Ô mai thân thương – gói trọn những tinh túy của ẩm thực Hà Thành. Quả ô mai mang đầy đủ hương vị chua, ngọt, mặn, cay dịu của gừng hòa quyện tạo thành thức quà ăn vặt quyến rũ từ những người con Hà Nội cho đến du khách thập phương. 

When talking about O Mai, you cannot ignore O Mai Hong Lam – a reputable brand that has been on the market for nearly 30 years with a nationwide store system. Hong Lam apricot fruit is a perfect combination of traditional flavor and modern technology at the hands of new-age artisans, creating boxes of apricot fruit with traditional flavors, uniform in quality but still ensuring food hygiene and safety. 

2. Com – A gift from young rice

When talking about autumn gifts in Hanoi, we cannot help but mention green rice. Talking about green rice, people will easily think of young green rice grains, carefully wrapped inside a layer of old lotus leaves with a fragrant scent, especially the chewy, sticky flavor that gets sweeter the more you eat, making the eater admire and linger forever. When you come to Hanoi in the fall, don’t forget to buy a package of green rice from the lady selling along the road as a gift! 

>>>> Reference address: 

• 11 Hang Duong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
• Com Moc Le Gia – No. 2, Alley 59 Me Tri, Me Tri Ward, Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi
• Com Thu Hue – No. 16 Me Tri Thuong, Me Tri Ward, Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi
• Com village Vong Ba Can – No. 19, lane 85, Xuan Thuy street, Cau Giay district, Hanoi

3. Hanoi crocodile – Capital’s summer specialty

Crocodile season is also one of Hanoi’s seasons. Around the beginning of June, young crocodiles begin to eat many dishes and young crocodiles have the opportunity to “make waves”. Only around the end of the month, the crocodile begins to age, then ripen… so from the beginning to the end of the season, many delicious dishes from crocodile are born. 

Besides fresh alligator, you can also choose baby apricot, baby alligator, or young alligator as gifts, which are both convenient to preserve and easy to give as gifts to relatives and friends. 

Hanoi crocodile – Capital’s summer specialty

4. Lam tea cake – A rustic hometown gift

Lam sweet soup is a long-standing specialty made from an attractive traditional recipe of the people of Hanoi. Although this countryside gift is rustic, it has a delicate flavor with the aroma of molasses, the scent of yellow sticky rice, the warmth of ginger, and the sweetness mixed with a bit of peanuts.

>>>> Reference address: 

• Thach Xa Village, Thach That, Hanoi
• Duong Lam ancient village, Son Tay, Hanoi

5. Tay Ho lotus tea – An elegant gift 

Tay Ho lotus tea is an elegant and noble gift created by the people of the capital. The tea used to marinate the lotus is the best green tea in the Xinjiang region, the lotus is the hundred-petalled Bach Diep lotus variety grown in West Lake. After marinating, the scent of lotus blends into each tea bud. When brewed, lotus tea has a sweet, refreshing scent. 

Tay Ho lotus tea – An elegant gift

>>>> Reference address: 

• 98 To Ngoc Van – Tay Ho
• 135P. Nguyen Ngoc Nai, Khuong Thuong, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi

6. Banh Cha Hanoi – Reminiscent of childhood flavors

Banh cha with a very special flavor has long been a familiar, rustic gift associated with the childhood of many Northerners. The cake is made from familiar ingredients but the processing is extremely delicate. Eating banh cha, it is easy to recognize the characteristic fatty taste of fatty meat, the delicate taste of lemon leaves combined with the crispy crust. A special gift not to be missed when coming to Hanoi. 

Hanoi Banh Cha – Reminiscent of childhood flavors

>>>> Reference address: 

• 11 Hang Duong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
• Bao Phuong Banh Cha – 183 Thuy Khue, Tay Ho District, Hanoi
• Ninh Huong Banh Cha – 22 Hang Dieu, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

7. Roasted peanuts with basil – Unique snack

These delicious, crunchy roasted peanuts with basil are a snack that can be found in many places, but only in Hanoi are they delicious. Peanuts are carefully selected from raw materials combined with top peanut roasting techniques to create a unique flavor that cannot be confused with any other dish. If you are looking for a delicious, unique snack as a gift, choose roasted peanuts with basil!

Roasted peanuts with basil – Unique snack

>>>> Reference address: 

• 11 Hang Duong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
• No. 176 Ba Trieu, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

8. Gio Cha Uoc Le – A dish with the soul of Vietnamese countryside

When mentioning sausage, it is impossible not to mention the specialty of Uoc Le village, the profession of making sausage here has been present for a long time. Tasting the flavor of Uoc Le sausage even just once is hard to forget. The greasy taste of meat mixed with the characteristic acrid smell of banana leaves leaves a special, indescribable flavor on the tongue. If you want a traditional, typical Hanoi gift, try choosing Gio Cha Uoc Le! 

Gio Cha Uoc Le – A dish with the soul of Vietnamese countryside

>>>> Reference address: 

• 166 Tay Son, Quang Trung, Dong Da
• 52 Ngo Sy Lien, Dong Da, Hanoi 

9. Banh Xuxe (husband and wife) – Hanoi specialty

Banh phu wife is also known by other names: banh su se, banh xu xue. This is a traditional cake that has existed for a long time in Dinh Bang village, Bac Ninh. This type of cake is characterized by a chewy, crunchy crust mixed with a chewy green bean filling. To add more deliciousness, people often add shredded coconut and roasted sesame seeds on top of the cake. 

Banh Xuxe (husband and wife) – Hanoi specialty

>>>> Reference address: 

• No. 1 Doc Hang Than, Ba Dinh, Hanoi 
• Alley 63 Xuan Thuy, Dich Vong, Cau Giay, Hanoi

10. Quan Ganh day cake – Famously delicious

The white, smooth and fragrant cake makes anyone who tastes it once never forget its unique flavor. At first, Banh Giay in Quan Ganh was just a street vendor selling it on Highway 1. Gradually, with its fragrant flavor, Banh Giay here became known to people and tourists from near and far.  

Quan Ganh Day Cake – Famously delicious

>>>> Reference address: 

•  Thuong Dinh village, Nhi Khe commune, Thuong Tin town

Above are 10 Hanoi specialties to buy as gifts imbued with the capital’s identity, suitable for giving to friends and relatives after a trip to Hanoi.

Thu Hang