Walking through Hanoi’s craft and culinary heritage

THE HANOI TIMES — Walking along the pedestrian streets, visitors are immersed in Hanoi’s craft and culinary heritage, where the scents of traditional dishes lead them from one village story to another.

At the Hanoi Traditional Craft Village, Street Food and Tourism Festival, Australian visitor Bill Noland stopped at a stall showcasing Uoc Le Village’s famed pork sausage, lingering to savor the rich flavors wrapped in banana leaves before joining a hands-on workshop and learning the careful, time-honored techniques from local artisans.

This was only the start of his journey, as with countless stalls still to discover, Noland was drawn deeper into a showcase of Hanoi’s culinary icons, including Lang Vong young sticky rice, Phu Thuong steamed sticky rice, Tay Ho lotus tea and egg coffee. Each offers a new taste of the capital’s gastronomic heritage.

Visitors can experience Hanoi’s cuisine and traditional crafts in one place at the Hanoi Traditional Craft Village, Street Food and Culinary Festival, held in an open and breezy space along West Lake.

From December 11 to 14, Trinh Cong Son Pedestrian Street in Tay Ho turns into a vibrant cultural hub where Hanoi’s year-end tourism highlights bring together food, crafts and heritage in a lively, immersive experience. Join The Hanoi Times to explore the lively setting where food and craftsmanship come together in a memorable experience.

A creative cultural space rooted in heritage

Spanning nearly 5,000 square meters with about 100 booths styled after Hanoi’s old houses and streets, the festival is divided into three zones that showcase the capital’s tangible and intangible heritage while connecting artisans, businesses and visitors from Vietnam and abroad.

The first zone “Craft Villages Telling Stories of the Past and Present,” draws visitors into the world of Hanoi’s time-honored handicrafts, including Bat Trang pottery, Van Phuc silk, Ha Thai lacquerware, Phu Vinh rattan and bamboo weaving, Quat Dong embroidery, Chuyen My nacre inlay and Thuy Ung horn combs.

A dedicated craft village tourism area showcases products that blend tradition with modern design, reflecting how these villages preserve their roots while renewing their vitality. Nearby, the craft street space recreates the festive bustle of Hang Ma Street during Tet, with seasonal decorations, Mid-Autumn toys and colorful to he (figurines).

Visitors can also take part in hands-on activities such as pottery shaping, silk weaving, conical hat making, rattan crafting and paper fan creation. Completing the experience is a Hanoi gift area featuring bamboo dragonflies, fabric paintings, Chang Son paper fans and Chuong conical hats.

Enduring flavors of the past

Moving naturally from craftsmanship to cuisine, the second zone “Enduring flavors of the past” captures the soul of Hanoi’s food culture, with inviting aromas drawing local and foreign visitors and each dish telling a story of tradition.

Beyond renowned staples such as pho and bun cha, the festival highlights the “Bat Trang Feast Making Knowledge,” recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. Meticulously prepared feast trays reflect the elegance of traditional Hanoi cuisine in both presentation and taste.

Culinary gems on display include Thanh Tri steamed rice rolls, Thach Xa sticky rice candy bars and Hoang Mai cudweed sticky rice cakes, alongside modern favorites like egg coffee and shrimp cakes.

Artisans from Xuan Huong establishment in Uoc Le village worked tirelessly at their booth, offering cinnamon sausage, grilled sausage, rice flake sausage and fresh rice rolls. They said they prepared the most authentic and freshest dishes from the village to serve visitors and sold dozens of kilograms of products on the opening night alone (December 12).

For many visitors, the experience goes beyond simply tasting the food. “I’ve tried Vietnamese traditional pork bologna before, but it tastes much better here, with the dishes prepared by cooks from Uoc Le Village,” said Marie Lefèvre, a French expat living in Hanoi.

She added that she found it especially fascinating to learn where Hanoi’s specialties come from, who makes them and why they matter. “It feels authentic, warm and deeply connected to the city.”

Exploring the essence of Hanoi in one place

The journey continues in the third zone, “Strolling in Hanoi,” where tourism promotion takes center stage. Miniature models of iconic landmarks such as the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda, Long Bien Bridge and Turtle Tower invite visitors to rediscover Hanoi through a charming and condensed lens.

This zone also introduces travel routes, tour packages, promotional activities and discount vouchers from travel agencies and accommodation providers. A tourism photo exhibition and a check-in corner themed “A Corner of Hanoi”, featuring traditional costumes, offer engaging experiences, particularly appealing to young travelers. 

Celebrating heritage, inspiring the future

According to Nguyen Tran Quang, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, the festival’s activities, such as product displays, craft demonstrations, destination promotion and business exchanges, are designed to strongly promote Hanoi’s image and develop tourism products rooted in craft villages and traditional streets.

It serves as a vital platform for artisans and businesses to connect, expand regional and international linkages and continue innovating while honoring heritage values.

Held under the theme “A Hundred Quintessential Crafts, A Thousand Spreading Flavors,” the festival, a highlight of Hanoi’s year-end tourism promotion, strengthens the capital’s image as a safe, friendly, high-quality and appealing destination that leaves visitors eager to return.