Hoi An Cuisine: Cao Lau, Chicken Rice, and Local Specialties
Da Nang Travel Blog

Hoi An Cuisine: Cao Lau, Chicken Rice, and Local Specialties

8 min 17802

Hoi An is a culinary paradise with dishes found nowhere else. Centuries of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and French cultural exchange created a unique cuisine — each dish carries history and unmistakable flavor.

3 Signature Dishes Exclusive to Hoi An

Cao Lau — springy yellow noodles made with ash water from Cham Islands and Ba Le well water, served with char siu pork and crispy croutons. This dish is EXCLUSIVE to Hoi An. Hoi An Chicken Rice — turmeric-scented rice with shredded chicken and special soy sauce. Banh Mi Phuong — praised by Anthony Bourdain as "best banh mi in the world."

Hoi An cuisine — flavors found nowhere else on earth
Hoi An cuisine — flavors found nowhere else on earth

Other Must-Try Dishes

Crispy fried wontons, White Rose dumplings (unique to Hoi An), sweet corn che, and the Hoi An version of Mi Quang. The local market and Tran Phu street have the best eateries at 25,000-80,000 VND per dish.

Which Food Tour Style Suits You?

Bicycle food tours (70,000-100,000 VND bike rental/day) are popular — pedal through alleys discovering roadside gems. For exploring from the old town to Tra Que herb village, a car with driver is more comfortable, especially in 35-40°C heat.

Dining in the ancient town — every alley hides a gem
Dining in the ancient town — every alley hides a gem
💡 Mẹo: Eat Cao Lau in the morning (before 11 AM) for the freshest taste. Afternoon for chicken rice, evening for Banh Mi Phuong.

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