What to Eat in Hoi An: Cao Lau, White Rose and the Town’s Must-Try Dishes

Hoi An is one of Vietnam’s great food towns, and figuring out what to eat in Hoi An is half the fun — each specialty has its own little stall, family recipe and best time of day. From springy cao lau to delicate white rose dumplings, here are the must-try dishes and where they shine.

Cao Lau

The signature dish of Hoi An: thick, chewy noodles topped with sliced pork, fresh greens and crunchy croutons in a small pool of rich sauce. Tradition says the real thing uses water drawn from the ancient Ba Le Well and lye from Cham Island wood ash — which is why true cao lau is found only here. Eat it at lunch, freshly made, as stalls often sell out by mid-afternoon.

White Rose Dumplings (Banh Bao Banh Vac)

One of Hoi An’s prettiest dishes: translucent rice-paper dumplings shaped like blooming roses, filled with seasoned shrimp and topped with crispy shallots. Madame Khanh’s family is the most famous source — arrive early, as they often sell out by noon.

Banh Mi

Hoi An’s banh mi is world-famous, with crisp baguettes packed with pate, pork, herbs and house sauces. The town’s most celebrated stall shot to fame after featuring on international TV, and the queues are part of the experience.

Com Ga and Mi Quang

Com ga — Hoi An chicken rice — is tender, fragrant and served with pickled vegetables. Mi Quang, a turmeric-yellow noodle dish with shrimp, pork, peanuts and herbs in a shallow broth, is the soul-food of Quang Nam province. Don’t miss banh xeo, crispy pancakes you wrap in lettuce with herbs.

Make it a food tour on two wheels

The best bites are scattered across town and out into the neighbourhoods — so the tastiest way to eat through Hoi An is to roam. With a motorbike rental in Hoi An you can chase cao lau in the morning, banh mi for lunch and a riverside dinner without backtracking. Pair it with a ride out to Tra Que Vegetable Village to see where many of those fresh herbs are grown.

Prefer to graze gently around the centre? An electric scooter or bicycle from hoianit.com is perfect for a relaxed, stop-anywhere food crawl.

What to eat in Hoi An beyond the classics

Once you have ticked off the icons, the question of what to eat in Hoi An only gets more fun. Look for banh xeo (crispy rice pancakes), che (sweet dessert soups), fresh seafood near An Bang Beach, and the white rose dumplings served straight from family kitchens that have made them for generations. The street-food carts near the market and along the river are often where the best, cheapest bites hide. For a deeper dive into Vietnamese cuisine, Vietnam Travel is a handy reference.

The tastiest spots are spread across town and out into the villages, so it helps to be mobile. Plenty of visitors rent a scooter and turn the day into a self-guided food crawl, hopping from a cao lau stall to a riverside che cart at their own pace.

FAQ

What is the most famous food in Hoi An?

Cao lau — thick noodles with pork, greens and croutons — is the town’s signature dish, alongside white rose dumplings and Hoi An banh mi.

What is the best way to do a Hoi An food tour?

By bike. The specialties are spread across town, so a motorbike, scooter or bicycle lets you taste more in a day without long walks between stops.

Explore Hoi An your way

Ready to explore Hoi An on your own terms? Rent a motorbike, electric scooter, electric bike or bicycle at hoianit.com — free delivery to your hotel and 24/7 support!

Part of our complete guide: Motorbike Rental in Hoi An — The Complete 2026 Guide.

Explore Each Hoi An Dish in Detail

Dive deeper into each local specialty with our dedicated guides: Mi Quang, Cao Lau, Cao Lau & the Central Coast, Hoi An street food, White Rose dumplings. Then rent a motorbike with Anh Khoa Hoi An to taste them all across the old town.