Eating out in Vietnam, literally

Street food is hugely popular in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city, but follow the locals’ choice, says Sarah Harte.

STOP, take a deep breath, Go! Traversing the streets of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, which buzz with motorbikes and scooters going every direction, is not unlike approaching the city’s street-food stands, which are on every corner and spare inch of pathway.

You need to use your intuition and take it slowly. Arriving at the other side of the street, or at the end of a delicious bowl of pho, is extremely satisfying. A Vietnamese street-food favourite, pho is a noodle soup served with beef or chicken in a clear broth. Spoons are provided with chopsticks for drinking the broth, and every spoonful feels restorative, warming and refreshing. A real tonic.