So to put it simply, we are massive foodies; If we are not eating, we are talking about what we’re going to eat. And it’s always the hardest decision of any day – I’m sure all the couples out there can relate when I say this! Vietnamese cuisine is one of our favourites throughout SE Asia. It’s tasty, it’s nutritious and it’s cheap! And, I know you’re thinking it’s impossible to combine all 3 of those things, but it’s just about knowing where to go; And that’s where we come in! Here we have listed our favourite cheap eats & cafes in Hanoi. Or for more inspiration, check out these charming cafes, they are little pricier than above but maybe still worth checking out!
CHEAP EATS & CAFES IN HANOI, VIETNAM
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WHERE TO STAY IN HANOI
First of all, cheap accommodation is very easy to find in Hanoi, and 99% of the time includes a simple, yet generous breakfast. Accommidation offering really good FREE BREAKFAST, tried and tested:
- Central Backpackers Hostel (Also Free BEER!)
- Hanoi Light Hostel
- Hanoi Old Town Palace
For more places to stay in Hanoi, check the latest prices here.
TOP 7 CHEAP EATS IN HANOI
Here are some of our healthy (& naughty) favourites!!
1. LITTLE VIETNAM
DELICIOUS LOCAL & VEGETARIAN – We discovered this restaurant towards the end of our time in Hanoi, which was lucky as we would have probably ended up eating there every night! The food was delicious, the portions were generous and the prices were cheap. They have an extensive menu, including a large selection of vegetarian options.
Price Range: Between 40,000 – 60,000 VND.
LITTLE VIETNAM MAP LOCATION
2. PHO HUNG
THE BEST PHO – We have had Pho countless times throughout our travels in Vietnam, and this was by far the tastiest. The delicious broth, combined with all the extra condiments they supply, creates an explosi0n of flavours in your mouth. PHO-KING delicious! We highly recommend trying the special.
Price Range – 45,000 – 55,000 VND.
PHO HUNG MAP LOCATION
3. CELA HEALTHY FAST FOOD
HEALTHY FAST FOOD – They serve up incredible wraps, salads, and baguettes with your choice of meats, veggies & sauces. Fast Food never tasted so good.
Price range: Between 50,000 – 70,000 VND.
CELA HEALTHY FAST FOOD
4. 4P’s PIZZA
INCREDIBLE ITALIAN – OK, so this place isn’t exactly budget friendly, however, it’s that good that we would be doing you guys a disservice by not mentioning it. Plus we all deserve a little treat occasionally. From the cocktails to the appetisers, and the starters to the main event – everything was simply divine!
Price Range: It’s an extensive menu and prices range dramatically, however a 2 course meal for 2 including cocktails was around 1,000,000 VND.
4P’s PIZZA
5. KEBAB & CO
TASTY KEBABS – Yes, we are guilty of enjoying the odd greasy kebab occasionally, and not just when stumbling home drunk at 3am! This place serves up a mountain of salad over a generous portion of meat, all packed into a delicious toasted flatbread.
Price Range: Enjoy a kebab, a portion of fries and a drink for 70,000 VND.
KEBAB & CO
6. FRUITY FACT
NUTRICIOUS SMOOTHIES – Smoothies are a great way to get in your daily intake of fruit & veggies, as well as satisfying the craving if you have a sweet tooth. These guys combine several different ingredients resulting in a delicious refreshment, full of nutrients & vitamins.
Price range: from 40,000-60,000 VND.
FRUITY FACT
7. STREET FOOD
SHOESTRING BUDGET – Street food is everywhere in Hanoi & the majority of the time is very good. Always look for the places that are busy and you will know you are onto a winner.
Price Range: Our favourites were the stalls making Bahn Mi for as little as 30,000 VND.
TOP 3 CHEAP CAFES IN HANOI
It is no secret that the Vietnamese love their coffee, so we were not surprised to find their capital city littered with coffee shops. We planned to make Hanoi our ‘hub’ for a little while as we got the blog into a suitable position to launch, and we spent most of our time in coffee shops where the WIFI was good & there was an endless supply of caffeine – both of which were imperative for our survival during this sleepless night period!
So after searching far and wide for Hanoi’s best egg coffee, coconut coffee, frappe & latte, we managed to whittle our favourite coffee spots down to just 3; based on their creativity, tasty beverages & impeccable service. Save time and money with these recommendations:
1. ALWAYS CAFE
HARRY POTTER fans rejoice – This coffee shop is all things HP! As huge fans ourselves, this quirky cafe was always one of the top things we wanted to do in Hanoi. And as soon as we arrived outside we knew we weren’t going to be disappointed. The famous deathly hallows symbol makes up the shop logo, and the chalkboards outside are advertising wizardry beverages such as Butterbeer & Polyjuice Lotion.
Upon walking into the cafe you are greeted with all themed decor, including large wall backdrops divided into each of the 4 houses – Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin & Gryffindor. We take our seat in Gryffindor and are served by a young Vietnamese lad who looks uncannily like Harry himself – we suspect it was no accident, but thought it was best not to mention it, just in case!
As we are waiting for our Butterbeer, we spot a section in the corner sporting all kinds of merchandise & costumes. After enquiring with the friendly Harry lookalike, he tells us that the merchandise is in-fact for sale, however, customers are welcome to dress up while they enjoy their drinks! So there we are, finally where we belong, immersed in the world of Harry Potter. We were also pleasantly surprised to find that the cafe was relatively quiet – so either people haven’t heard about it yet, or they just aren’t as obsessed with Harry & clan, as we are!!
MUST TRY – Admittedly we returned a couple of times while in Hanoi and our favourite refreshments were the Butterbeer & DELICIOUS Coconut Coffee. Average price 55-65,000 VND.
ALWAYS CAFE MAP LOCATION
2. THE NOTE COFFEE
We fell in love with the creative concept of this coffee shop after discovering it on Instagram, so knew we had to check it out while we were in the city. (Are you following us on Instagram? Follow us here!)
As we arrived, we were greeted by the super sweet & friendly owner, who led us to order drinks at the counter situated on the ground floor. Immediately you note-ice something different about this coffee shop – There are hundreds & thousands of colourful sticky notes stuck to all of the walls, furniture and windows!
Once we had ordered, we were asked to take a seat on the 1st or 2nd floor while they prepared our drinks. As you climb the steep, low ceiling staircase, you kind of get the feeling you are in a dolls house, but this only adds to the incredibly cute charm of the place.
Once seated, the sticky notes suddenly come alive, and you realise that they are in fact written by travellers from all over the world. Thousands of messages, in hundreds of languages, all with their own personalised message. It was a really nice experience reading the funny, inspiring and interesting messages that people wished to share with the world. The beverages are also DELICIOUS so make sure you do not miss this place when visiting Hanoi!
MUST TRY – The Caramel Frappes – Naughty, but delicious! Average price 55-65,000 VND.
THE NOTE COFFEE MAP LOCATION
3. HAKA COFFEE
We stumbled across this coffee shop when searching to try the famous Vietnamese egg coffee. Upon entering, we were really impressed by the clean, rustic decor of the place and the friendly staff who seated us & handed our menus. The coffee & cake selection was delicious, and we returned to this cafe many times, sometimes spending hours typing away at our laptops. We soon become really friendly with the staff, and they even invited us to join a birthday dinner for one of the baristas one evening! Located conveniently by Hoan Kiem Lake, this is the perfect place to stop for refreshments while out exploring the city.
MUST TRY – Egg Coffee, Latte, Banana Muffin… P.S the latte comes with a mini cookie! Average price 55-65,000 VND.
HAKA COFFEE MAP LOCATION
More on Vietnam
Planning a trip to Vietnam? Check out our other articles to help plan your trip.
- THE ABANDONED WATER PARK IN HUE
- BUDGET TRAVEL GUIDE TO HOI AN, VIETNAM
- NOIR REVIEW – DINING IN THE DARK IN HO CHI MINH, VIETNAM
- HA GIANG MOTORBIKE LOOP – TRAVEL GUIDE
- TOP 15 INSTAGRAM SPOTS OF VIETNAM – ULTIMATE GUIDE
Did you enjoy our list of cheap eats & cafes in Hanoi, Vietnam?
Well, that concludes our list of cheap eats & cafes in Hanoi, Vietnam. We hope you enjoy your time in this magical country. If you have any questions or feel we have missed anything, please reach out to us in the comment section below, through our contact us page. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram here where we share further travel advice & inspiration.
Stay adventurous and Happy travels.
Charlotte & Natalie x
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