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Updated by Joanna James on Mar 16, 2024
Headline for 5 Must-Eat Food and Where to Eat in Hoi An - Savour the mouth-watering tastes of Vietnam’s old-world city
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5 Must-Eat Food and Where to Eat in Hoi An - Savour the mouth-watering tastes of Vietnam’s old-world city

Renowned for its old-world charm, a trip to Hoi An on Vietnam's central coast will bring you to a paradisiacal world stuck in the glorious past of the Southeast Asian nation. Adding to the charming appeal are the delectable local dishes that are just as incredible as the city's treasures of history.

1

Cao Lau - pork mixed rice noodles

If there was one dish that Hoi An is known for, that would undoubtedly be a steaming bowl of cao lau. The signature dish uses locally grown rice noodles as the primary ingredient, which is mixed with thinly sliced roasted pork and a few other sub-ingredients such as green sprouts, croutons, peanuts, rice crackers, scallions, lime, chilli jam and local herbs and fresh greens. While some claim the dish has its roots embedded in Chinese cuisine, the origin of the dish is not quite clear. However, if you are craving a steaming bowl of cao lau, you'll have to hop on a plane to Hoi An, as it is the only place on earth where you'll find cao lau.

2

Banh Mi - Vietnamese submarine sandwich

Bánh mì or banh mi is Vietnam's version of a submarine, or rather a baguette, filled with the same savoury ingredients that of a submarine sandwich but split lengthwise. The bread of banh mi may be a legacy of the French, but everything that goes in between the cut bread — cilantro, chilli, pickles, garlic, cucumber, and coriander leaves — are all authentic local Vietnamese ingredients. Soft, crisp-crusted, and airy textured, banh mi is one of the most flavourful delicacies one could indulge in Hoi An.

3

Mi Quang - Quang-style noodles

A striking combination of flat rice noodles and yellow egg noodles, mi quang has its roots deeply embedded in Quảng Nam Province in central Vietnam — the home to the charming city of Hoi An — but is one of the most popular and recognised food items country-wide. Adding to the two variations of noodles is a small amount of meat — pork belly on most occasions but chicken is also a rare choice — and a few other ingredients such as shrimp, fish, boiled eggs, roasted peanuts, fish crackers and fresh vegetables and herbs such as banana blossoms, lettuce, cilantro, scallions, and coriander.

4

Banh Xeo - crispy Vietnamese pancake

Unlike westerners who like their pancake sugary with some syrup, Vietnamese people like it crispy and crunchy with a savoury filling. The stuffed rice pancake gets its aptly named moniker from the sound the rice batter makes when it is poured into the hot skillet — Banh Xeo. The classic Vietnamese delicacy can be seen throughout the country, not just in Hoi An, with some authentic regional touches to the dish.

5

Banh Bao Banh Vac - white rose dumplings

No Vietnamese experience would be complete without some Bánh nậm — classic Vietnamese dumplings — and Hoi An is definitely no exception. White rose dumplings — or Banh Bao Banh Vac, as they are known locally — are the most popular kind of dumplings out of the bunch that could be found being served at any restaurant in Hoi An, including the likes offered by Anantara Hoi An Resort.