Dinning out in Hanoi is one of the great delights in visiting the capital. The northern staple is noodles, as is evinced by the huge numbers of pho shops and stalls all over town. Pho is a noodle soup usually augmented with either chicken (ga) or beef (bo). It is served from dawn until well after midnight and is indulged in by young and old, rich and poor. A visit to a good pho shop is recommended for any visitor to Hanoi.

Foreign restaurants abound in Hanoi, ranging from French fine-dining to fast-food joints serving up fried chicken or pizza. There are several more upmarket establishments catering to visiting businessmen and tourists as well as foreign and local residents. All the major hotels have at least one restaurant, often many more. Some of these offer very good value buffet lunches and dinners - check out the Sofitel Metropole's Met Pub for a great lunch-time feast.