Spices of Hanoi
Vietnam's capital, whose Old Quarter markets sell herbs and spices for pho, bun cha and northern Vietnamese food.
Traded and grown here
Best time: October to December, and March to April.
Hanoi's Old Quarter is a grid of streets originally named after the goods sold there. Spice and herb stalls sit in Dong Xuan Market and in neighbourhood markets, and northern cooking is known for restraint with chilli and a focus on herbs.
Spices and trade
Pho is flavoured with star anise, cinnamon, clove, black cardamom, coriander seed and charred ginger and onion. Market stalls also sell Sichuan-type pepper from the mountains, mac khen, a local wild pepper, and dried chilli.
The place and its people
The northern mountain provinces grow cinnamon, star anise and black cardamom, which flow to markets in the capital. Street food is central to daily life.
Visiting
Dong Xuan Market and the Old Quarter are the places to see dried goods. A pho breakfast is the best start.
A trail idea for Hanoi
- Dong Xuan Market See stalls of dried goods and spice.
- A pho stall Taste the broth.
- Hang Bac street Browse the old lanes.
- A bun cha lunch Eat grilled pork with herbs.
Written by the EveryMasala desk with AI assistance. Background: "Hanoi" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets and tours change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.
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