Cuc Gach Restaurant

Obama exits Cuc Gach Restaurant after an hour-long dinner. Photo acquired by VnExpress.

Cuc Gach, a countryside-inspired Vietnamese restaurant in Saigon, welcomed former U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle for dinner on Tuesday.

The two ate stir-fried Tonkin jasmine flowers with garlic, stewed pork, spring rolls, and Vietnamese sour soup – typical local delicacies.

Cuc Gach Restaurant. Photo acquired by VnExpress.

Cuc Gach boasts a décor that reflects the country’s tranquility while the furniture is characteristic of a traditional Vietnamese home.

Starting at VND85,000 ($3.7) a dish, the restaurant on Dang Tat Street in central District 1 has also been graced by A-list Hollywood stars like Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and Backstreet Boys.

10 Ly Quoc Su Restaurant 

President Moon Jae-in, his wife Kim Jung-sook (left) and staff members enjoy beef pho breakfast, priced at VND150,000 ($6.5). Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook started their last day in Hanoi last year with the hands-down iconic pho at 10 Ly Quoc Su Restaurant in Hoang Minh Giam Street, Cau Giay District. The two ordered two bowls of beef noodle soup they spiced up with a sprinkle of lime.

Pho has earned its place in the Oxford English Dictionary for its unmistakable taste and legacy.

Bill Clinton’s historic visit to Vietnam in 2000 also included a bowl of delicious pho at Pho Co Restaurant near the Temple of Literature in Ba Dinh District, Hanoi. In Saigon, the couple ate at a pho shop near Ben Thanh Market in District 1.

Banh Mi

Turnbull ate the banh mi sitting on a sidewalk stool. Photo by VnExpress/Dac Thanh.

When Vietnam hosted the APEC summit in Da Nang in November 2017, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull grabbed himself a VND10,000 ($0.43) banh mi from a street vendor.

Banh mi, Vietnam’s iconic street food, is a baguette stuffed with anything from grilled pork, chicken, cold cuts, and cucumber slices, to cilantro, pickled carrots, liver pâté, and a swipe of mayonnaise and chili sauce.

Turnbull and chef Luke Nguyen, an Australian of Vietnamese origin, bought the sandwich while on a stroll, savoring the taste from the comfort of the sidewalk.

Vegetarian Tib Restaurant

Former U.S. President George W. Bush, Laura Bush and former Australian Prime Minister John Howard and partner Janette Howard dine at Tib during November 2006. Photo courtesy of Tib Restaurant.

In November 2006, former U.S. President George W. Bush and wife Laura Bush dined at Tib Restaurant with then-Australian Prime Minister John Howard and partner Janette Howard.

The visitors feasted on pincers, jackfruit salad, lotus seed soup in coconut, shrimp cakes, and lotus seed tea. The restaurant has since placed these dishes onto a separate menu named after Bush.

Tib, located on Hai Ba Trung Street in central District 1, mainly serves vegetarian dishes that originate from the former imperial capital of Hue. The ambience is cozy and suitable for receptions and gatherings.

Prices range from VND20,000 to 180,000 ($0.87- 7.8) per item. A Bush menu come in at about VND300,000 ($13) a head.

Hanoians have a predilection for a late bite, and eateries and restaurants are glad to oblige by remaining open. There are those that take the concept of ‘late’ to its logical extreme and open only at 1-3 a.m. and close around dawn.

Pho stall on Hang Bac Street

A serving of a bowl of pho, some breads and iced tea costs VND50,000 ($2). Photo by VnExpress/Lan Huong.

When the corner of Hang Ngang and Hang Bac streets in Hanoi’s Old Quarter becomes deserted is also when the stall begins to buzz. It has been around for decades with just two large broth pots and a row of plastic tables and chairs. The sign says it is only open from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. every day, but the owners often close early after selling out quickly.

The stall only serves two kinds of beef: red wine stew and stirred half-done beef. Both are soft but have their own distinct taste and are served with pho noodles, green onions and breads. There is a trick to making the flavor of the pho stronger: add a few spoons of garlic vinegar and chili sauce.

The excellent service scores extra points for the eatery. It also serves free iced tea with the pho. Many enjoy having a chat at the stall even after they are done with the food because the atmosphere is so friendly.

Banh mi stall on Cao Thang Street

A banh mi without the tea costs VND20,000 ($0.86). Photo by VnExpress/Lan Huong.

It is not unusual to pass by the corner of Tran Nhat Duat and Cao Thang streets at 3 in the morning and see a line of people outside a stall waiting to get their banh mi. A banh mi is a baguette with various savory ingredients.

The stall, open from 3-6 a.m, is the go-to banh mi place at this hour for young people.

After waiting for around 20 minutes a crunchy, aromatic banh mi is guaranteed. The ingredients are the star of the dish: Vietnamese pork sausage, pork cake and pate stirred with butter before being stuffed inside. The seller also adds some herbs and cucumbers. Additional chili sauce is also a favorite for many.

‘Must-wait’ pho on Hang Chieu Street

A glimpse of the street stall. Photo by VnExpress/Lan Huong.

Another pho stall not too far from the banh mi haven is dubbed ‘must-wait’ phobecause one almost always has to wait to get a bowl. It was opened 20 years ago to serve mostly shoppers at the market and early risers who finish their morning exercise. Now, it attracts all kinds of Hanoian night crawlers.

The stall is at the corner of Hang Chieu and Hang Duong streets in the Old Quarter and very easy to find with its bright white lights and two rows of plastic chairs and tables.

It is rarely uncrowded, and so it takes 30-45 minutes for your order to be served.

The two main dishes are well-cooked beef pho and red wine beef stew which cost VND45,000 to 50,000 ($2.2).