Food that you can expect on the Ha Giang Loop

When it comes to food on the tour, we’ve got it all figured out! We have found the perfect balance between introducing travellers to new, local foods while ranging within the bounds of food that you will actually eat! So no stress – there won’t be any unidentified meat or sketchy sauce!

What does breakfast look like?

Whether you’re with us for 2 days or 7 days, we want to make sure that you’re not eating the same options over and over! Breakfasts are served by the local homestay and typical consist of eggs and bread, pancakes, pho noodle soup and instant noodle soup. Looking for a different option? Let us know ahead of time and we would be happy to accommodate it!

What do lunch and dinner look like?

Lunch and dinner are served family style at one of the local restaurants in the beautiful province. Each restaurant has been intentionally chosen to select the best quality and support the local community. These meals are served family style and consist of:

• Seasonal vegetables – carrots, loufa, morning glory, zucchini, squash, cucumber and others
• Meat – stir-fried chicken, pork or beef
• Starch – fried noodles, spring rolls, buns, etc.

Are there vegetarian options available?

Absolutely! Not only are the options available, but our vegetarian staff members have personally tried each dish and given their stamp of approval! Did you know that being vegetarian is not uncommon in Vietnam? Of the dietary restrictions, this is one most easily accommodated due to the large number of people practicing Buddhism within the country.

Tip: If you’re struggling to find restaurants that serve vegetarian food, simply tell the restaurant owner that you are vegetarian and they can often tailor the dishes to remove the meat components.

Are there any special foods in Cao Bang?

Cao Bang is famous for banh cuon – a simple but delectable dish. Banh cuon is made to order by starting with rice milk spread thinly over a canvas on a boiling pot of water. This creates a thin steam cake which is then filled with mushrooms and pork (or crispy onions if you’re vegetarian). It is then rolled to create a soft, floppy steam cake roll. Paired with a broth soup, you can dip the steam rolls into the broth soup and enjoy the melt-in-your-mouth texture. Costing between 15,000 – 30,000 VND, this is a great breakfast option before hitting the road!

Other local breakfast options

Pho, a traditional noodle soup, is readily available throughout Ha Giang and Cao Bang. This noodle soup is served with soft rice noodles, beef or chicken, and green onions in a beef or chicken broth. If you would prefer to eat it without the meat, simply request this from the shop owner and they would be happy to do so! You can even substitute an egg instead of meat if you would like to get your fill of protein.

As throughout the rest of Vietnam, the easiest breakfast options is always banh mi. Banh mi is a traditional Vietnamese sandwich made of meat, pate, sauce and vegetables in a warm, soft baguette. Want to skip the meat? No worries – ask for egg instead!

In summary, food options along the Cao Bang – Ha Giang loop are plentiful ranging from familiar to unknown delicious meals waiting to be explored! Tour options