Hue Food Tour Eat Like A Local

Welcome to Hue - Vietnam's ancient capital! Inbound Vietnam proudly presents the Hue Food Tour, a unique culinary journey. Hue cuisine, with its centuries-old sophistication and diversity, isn't just about food; it's a story of culture and people. This tour will help you discover the essence of flavors, from street vendors to local restaurants, immersing yourself in the culinary beauty of the imperial city.

A food tour in Hue aims to give you the most comprehensive and authentic experience of the ancient capital's cuisine, specifically:

• Awaken Your Taste Buds: Enjoy a diverse range of signature dishes, from popular everyday delights to the essence of royal cuisine.

• Deepen Cultural Understanding: Explore the history, ingredients, and elaborate preparation processes hidden behind each dish.

• Connect Locally: Interact with vendors and listen to genuine stories about Hue's food and daily life.

Whether you're a domestic or international traveler, a true food enthusiast, or simply someone who wants to understand culture through flavors, the Hue Food Tour will undoubtedly be a memorable journey.

Must-Try Dishes on Hue Food Tour

Certainly, the most exciting part of any food tour is the food itself. Here's a list of specialties you absolutely must try when in Hue:

Signature Cakes & Dumplings

Visiting Hue without trying its signature cakes and dumplings would be a major oversight. The refined way rice flour is prepared creates unique flavors:

• Banh Beo, Banh Nam, Banh Loc: These are three famous Hue cakes. Banh Beo are thin, soft, topped with dried shrimp and crispy pork skin. Banh Nam are rectangular, soft with a shrimp and pork filling. Banh Loc are chewy, transparent, with a shrimp and pork filling wrapped in banana leaves. All are served with a characteristic sweet and sour dipping sauce.

• Banh Khoai: Hue's version of Banh Xeo but smaller, crispy with a golden crust, filled with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts. The special feature is the rich, smooth dipping sauce made from pork, pork liver, peanuts, and spices.

• Banh Uot Thit Nuong: A perfect combination of soft, smooth steamed rice paper and fragrant, richly seasoned grilled pork. This dish is often served with Hue's special fermented fish sauce.

• Banh Ram It: An attractive snack, combining crispy fried Banh Ram with soft, sticky Banh It filled with shrimp and pork, creating an interesting contrast in both texture and flavor.

Noodles & Vermicelli

When talking about Hue cuisine, you cannot ignore the appealing noodle and vermicelli dishes:

• Bun Bo Hue: Hue's iconic dish, famous for its rich broth flavored with lemongrass, fermented shrimp paste, simmered bones, sliced beef, pork hock, and sometimes crab paste. This dish is usually served with fresh herbs like banana blossom, shredded water spinach, bean sprouts, and a little spicy chili oil.

• Bun Thit Nuong: Delicious fresh vermicelli mixed with fragrant grilled pork, fried spring rolls, fresh herbs, cucumber, roasted peanuts, and generously topped with a special sweet and sour dipping sauce.

• Mi Van Than: Although originating from China, Mi Van Than in Hue has been adapted to suit local tastes, with a clear, sweet broth, chewy noodles, and appealing wontons filled with shrimp and pork.

Che (Sweet Soups/Puddings) & Desserts

Hue is famous for the diversity and sophistication of its "che" (sweet soups/puddings), which locals often call "che hem" (alley sweet soups) or "che cung dinh" (royal sweet soups):

• Che Hem: Known for dozens of different types of che such as filter tapioca pudding, green bean sweet soup, taro sweet soup, corn sweet soup, lotus seed sweet soup, royal bean sweet soup... Each type of che has its own unique, delicately sweet flavor and is prepared very meticulously.

• Banh Phu The, Banh It Den: These traditional cakes are often served during festivals, Tet (Lunar New Year), or weddings, offering a gentle sweetness and fragrant aroma.

Other Snacks & Street Food

Besides the dishes above, Hue also offers countless other attractive snacks:

• Nem Lui: Pork paste wrapped around a lemongrass stalk, grilled over charcoal until golden and fragrant. Nem Lui is served with fresh herbs, rice paper, and especially a thick, rich dipping sauce meticulously prepared.

• Com Hen/Bun Hen: A rustic but extremely unique dish. Clams are stir-fried until fragrant, mixed with cold rice or fresh vermicelli, topped with crispy pork cracklings, crispy pork skin, fresh herbs, banana blossom, and clear clam broth. The spicy flavor of chili creates an irresistible allure for this dish.

• Va Tron: A typical Hue salad made from boiled young figs, mixed with shrimp, pork, peanuts, and aromatic herbs, offering a refreshing, sweet, and sour taste.

• Bun Mam Nem: A flavorful mixed vermicelli dish with the distinctive taste of fermented anchovy sauce, served with boiled pork, sour fermented pork, fried spring rolls, and fresh herbs.

Beverages Don't forget to enjoy Hue's characteristic beverages like Royal Tea (a blend of various health-benefiting herbs), vối leaf tea, or refreshing lemongrass water.

Inbound Vietnam's Guide to Planning Your Hue Food Tour

To have an effective culinary discovery journey in Hue, you need a detailed plan. Here are some guidelines from Inbound Vietnam:

Choose Your Time:

• Morning: Ideal for starting your day with hot Bun Bo Hue, rustic Bun Hen, or various Banh Beo, Nam, Loc at local eateries.

• Lunch: You can find budget-friendly rice restaurants or enjoy Bun Thit Nuong.

• Afternoon/Evening: A great time to enjoy various snack cakes, fragrant Nem Lui, street food, and end with a sweet glass of Che Hem.

​Suggested Eating Spots:

To make your Hue Food Tour even more complete, here are some prominent suggested locations to enjoy Hue's signature dishes:

• Bun Bo Hue: Me Keo (20 Bach Dang, Group 19, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue Province), O Phuong (24 Nguyen Khuyen. Phu Nhuan Street).

• Signature Cakes & Dumplings (Banh Beo, Banh Nam, Banh Loc): Dong Ba Market area (02 Tran Hung Dao, Phu Hoa Ward), Quan Ba Do (08 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Phu Cat Ward).

• Banh Khoai: Hong Mai (110 Dinh Tien Hoang, Hue City), Hanh (11 Pho Duc Chinh, Phu Hoi Street).

• Nem Lui: Hong Mai (110 Dinh Tien Hoang), Ba Ty (81 Dao Duy Tu, Group 1, Hue City).

• Com Hen/Bun Hen: Quan Nho (07 Pham Hong Thai, Vinh Ninh Ward), Com Hen Ty (38 Ngo Gia Tu, Vinh Ninh Ward), Quan Hoa Dong (64 Kiet 7 Ung Binh, Vy Da Ward).

• Che: Mo Ton Dich (20 Dinh Tien Hoang, Phu Hoa Ward), Che Hem (27 Hung Vuong, Phu Noi Ward).

Important Notes:

• Budget: Estimate the cost for each dish (often very affordable) and transportation.

• Food Safety & Hygiene: Always prioritize clean, busy eateries to ensure hygiene.

• Tip: Ask locals where they like to eat to find the best spots.

• All-Inclusive Tour: For a complete and professionally guided food tour experience, you can contact Inbound Vietnam for consultation and to arrange the most suitable tour.

The Hue Food Tour is not merely a journey to savor delicious dishes but also an exploration into the cultural and historical depth of Hue. From roadside vendors to long-standing traditional eateries, every dish tells a unique story about the people, the lifestyle, and the very soul of this imperial city.

So, don't hesitate any longer! Plan your own Hue Food Tour to fully experience the beauty, sophistication, and warmth of Hue cuisine. If you need assistance, contact Inbound Vietnam immediately via WhatsApp (+84) 965.87.88.77 for free consultation and custom tour programs.