Hoi An Night Market Best Food: Top 10 Must Eat Dishes

The Hoi An Night Market is a food paradise in Hoi An Vietnam, so visitors can see lots of things to try here. In this article, HoiAn Day Trip Company will reveal top 10 best dishes.

You may also like: Hoi An Night Market Vegetarian, Hoi An Night Market Gluten Free

• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD

• Designed by Giang Cong Minh, co-founder of LS E&C LTD and his team

• Photo by Dang Cong Loi, Dao Xuan Son, Tam Le & others

Must Knows about Hoi An Night Market

– Location/address: Nguyen Hoang Street, Minh An ward, Hoi An city, Quang Nam province, Vietnam

– Other name(s): Nguyen Hoang Night Market, Hoi An Ancient Town Market, An Hoi Night Market

– Opening year: 2000

– Opening hours: sunset to 9:30-10 pm

– Ticket price: free

– Number of stalls: around 150

– Reason(s) to visit: the largest night market in Hoi An, numerous foods to eat and souvenirs to buy, sparkling lantern shops to photograph, lively atmosphere

– Best time(s) to visit: anytime

– Time to spend: at least 30 mins

– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/hoi-an-night-market

– Food and drink: yes available

– Shopping: yes available

– Fact:

Top 10 Best Foods in Hoi An Night Market

Hoi An Grilled Pork (Banh Uot Thit Nuong)

Hoi An grilled pork skewers are the quintessential smoky street food of Hoi An. Thinly sliced pork, often with a mix of lean and fat, is marinated overnight in a fragrant blend that typically includes lemongrass, garlic, honey/sugar, fish sauce, and five-spice powder.

The meat is skewered and grilled over hot charcoal, giving it a signature char and irresistible aroma that drifts through the ancient town. Served straight off the grill, these juicy, sweet-and-savory skewers are best enjoyed by rolling them in soft rice paper with fresh herbs and dipping them into a rich, salty-sweet peanut sauce.

– Main ingredients: grilled pork, wet & dried rice papers, raw vegetables, herbs, savory dipping sauce

– Origin: central Vietnam provinces

– Time: 3:00 to 10:00 PM daily (often sold out at famous places before 8:00 PM)

– Price: 10,000-15,000 VND/skewer (full ingredients will be served for a dish of 10+ skewers)

– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/hoi-an-grilled-pork

– Fact:

BBQ Seafood

The grilled seafood at the Hoi An Night Market is a quintessential street food experience, highly recommended for its freshness and lively atmosphere.

What to expect:

Vibrant display: Stalls showcase a colorful array of fresh seafood on ice, including squid, prawns, scallops, and sometimes whole fish, ready for the grill.
Sizzling flavor: The seafood is brushed with a fragrant mix of oil, garlic, chili, and local spices, then grilled over hot charcoal, resulting in a smoky, savory, and slightly sweet-spicy flavor.
Popular choices: Octopus and prawn skewers are local favorites, perfect for a quick snack.
Price and experience: Prices are generally affordable and clearly marked (often starting around 30,000–50,000 VND per skewer/small plate). The experience of eating hot, flavorful seafood on small plastic stools amidst the glowing lanterns is part of the charm.

Hoi An Pork Skewers (Nem Lui)

Nem Lụi are fragrant and succulent Vietnamese grilled pork skewers, a specialty of Central Vietnam. Minced pork, seasoned with spices like garlic, shallots, and black pepper, is molded around a stalk of lemongrass, which imparts a subtle citrus aroma as it cooks.

The skewers are grilled over charcoal until beautifully charred and golden-brown. The proper way to enjoy them is to remove the meat from the skewer, roll it up in a moistened rice paper with fresh herbs, lettuce, cucumber, and sometimes vermicelli, then dip the entire roll into a rich, savory peanut-sesame sauce (known as nước lèo). The result is a perfect balance of smoky, sweet, savory, and fresh flavors.

– Other name(s):

– Origin: Hue city, central Vietnam

– Similar dish: nem nuong (grilled pork sausage)

– Where to find: local markets and restaurants in Hoi An, Da Nang and Hue cities

– Ingredients: lean pork, lemongrass, fish sauce, ground black pepper, spices, raw vegetables and herbs, dipping sauce

– Time: afternoon to evening

– Price: 100,000 VND/plate

– Calories:

– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/hoi-an-pork-skewers

– Fact:

Rice Paper Pizza (Banh Trang Nuong)

Banh trang nuong, often called “Vietnamese Pizza,” is a popular, savory street food. It’s a sheet of thin rice paper is grilled over charcoal, forming a delightfully crispy base. A quail or chicken egg is quickly cracked and spread across the paper, followed by toppings like chopped scallions and savory additions such as dried shrimp, sausage, or pork floss.

It’s cooked until the egg is set and the rice paper is golden and brittle. Finally, it’s drizzled with sweet chili sauce and mayonnaise before being folded or cut into wedges and served hot. The result is a perfect balance of crispy, savory, and rich flavors.

– Other name(s): ‘Vietnamese pizza’

– Origin: central Vietnam

– Ingredients: rice paper, butter, quail egg, pork sausage, spring onion, fried shallots, tomato/chilli sauces

– Where to find: night markets, street vendors, beaches

– Served in: late afternoon, evening

– Price: 30,000-40,000 VND/cake

– Calories:

– Gluten free: yes

– Vegetarian: available

– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/grilled-rice-paper-hoi-an-da-nang

Hoi An Style Banh Mi

The Hội An Banh mi is often hailed as Vietnam’s best, distinguished by its thin, perfectly crispy baguette and generous, complex fillings. It typically features a rich combination of meats, such as char siu pork, savory pâté, and cold cuts, with a distinctive, homemade secret sauce that moistens the bread.

The sandwich is layered with fresh herbs like coriander and mint, and crunchy pickled vegetables for an essential balance of texture and flavor—delivering a symphony of creamy, sweet, savory, tangy, and spicy notes in every bite.

– Other name(s): Hoi An sandwich, Hoi An bread, Hoi An baguette

– Meaning: banh mi means ‘wheat cake’ or ‘bread’

– Main ingredient(s): bread or baguette, pork liver pate, mayo, meats, raw vegetables, herbs, sauces

– How to pronounce: /ban mee/

– Origin: Hoi An Ancient Town, Quang Nam province, Vietnam

– Where to find it: street vendors, eateries, markets

– Served for: breakfast, lunch, dinner, late night

– Price: from 15,000-20,000 VND/banh mi

– Foodie guide: https://hoiandaytrip.com/hoi-an-style-banh-mi

– Facts: Hoi An style banh mi is believed to be the best banh mi in Vietnam, Vietnamese banh mi is ranked first in top 100 most delicious sandwiches of the world by Taste Atlas in 2024

– Similar dishes: num pang (Cambodia), khao jee pate (Laos)

Ice Cream Roll (Kem Cuon)

Rolled ice cream, also known as Thai rolled or stir-fried ice cream, is a popular frozen dessert originating from Thailand. It’s a visually spectacular treat, made to order on a super-chilled metal pan (an ice pan).

A liquid base of milk and cream is poured onto the pan, combined with mix-ins like fruit or cookies, and then chopped and manipulated with spatulas until it freezes. The vendor then scrapes the thin, solid sheet of ice cream into tight, delicate rolls or scrolls. These dense rolls are served upright in a cup and finished with toppings, offering a fresh, customizable, and highly photogenic dessert experience.

– Other name(s): Thai ice cream roll, rolled ice cream, stir-fried ice cream, ice pan ice cream, kem cuon or kem xao in Vietnamese

– Origin: Thailand

– Ingredients: (see below)

– Where to find: (see below)

– Served for: dessert

– Price: 40,000-50,000 VND per cup

– Vegetarian:

– Foodie guide: https://hoiandaytrip.com/ice-cream-roll-hoi-an

– Fact: Ice cream roll is one of the most liked sweet street food in Hoi An by visitors

Hoi An Banana Pancake

Hoi An’s banana pancake is a favorite street-side dessert. It’s a sweet, golden, square-folded treat cooked quickly on a flat griddle by market vendors.

A thin crepe-like wheat flour batter is spread out, topped with slices of ripe banana, then carefully folded to create a crispy exterior encasing the soft, caramelized fruit. The final touch is a generous drizzle of sweetened condensed milk or chocolate sauce, making it a perfect, messy, and satisfying snack to enjoy while exploring the ancient town.

– Vietnamese name(s): Banh chuoi

– Origin: southern Vietnam

– Ingredients: wheat flour, ripe banana, cocoa spread, chocolate sauce, condensed milk

– Where to find: night markets, streets in tourist areas

– Served for: late afternoon to midnight

– Price: 40,000-60,000 VND/cake

– Calories:

– Gluten free:

– Vegetarian: yes

– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/hoi-an-banana-pancake

– Fact:

Banana Sticky Rice (Chuoi Nep Nuong)

$\textit{Chuối Nếp Nướng}$ is a beloved Vietnamese dessert featuring sweet banana encased in glutinous rice. Ripe banana is wrapped in a layer of sticky rice, then bundled in a banana leaf and grilled over charcoal. The grilling process toasts the rice until the outer layer is golden and slightly crispy, while the banana inside becomes soft and caramelized. It is traditionally served sliced and drenched in a rich, warm, and creamy coconut milk sauce, often topped with crushed peanuts or sesame seeds for a final layer of texture and nutty flavor.

– Name meaning:

– Other name(s):

– Origin: south Vietnam

– Ingredients: ripe banana, steamed sticky rice, coconut milk

– Where to find: night markets

– Pronunciation:

– Served for:

– Price: 20,000-50,000 VND/bowl

– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/grilled-banana-sticky-rice-hoi-an

– Calories:

– Gluten free: yes

– Vegetarian: 100% vegetarian

– Fact:

Tofu Pudding (Dau Hu, Tao Pho)

Hoi An’s tofu pudding, known locally as $\textit{Tào Phớ}$ or $\textit{Đậu Hủ}$ , is a delicate and refreshing street food. The silky, snow-white soybean curd is freshly scooped into a bowl.

Unlike some variations, the Hoi An style often features a light, fragrant ginger-infused sugar syrup. It is commonly served warm in cooler weather or over crushed ice for a cooling treat on a hot day. Toppings can include chewy tapioca pearls, longan, or a drizzle of rich coconut milk, creating a subtle blend of fresh, sweet, and comforting flavors perfect for a stop in the ancient town.

– Other name(s):

– Origin:

– Ingredients: (see below)

– Where to find: (see below)

– Served for: dessert

– Price: 30,000-50,000 VND per bowl

– Vegetarian:

– Foodie guide: https://hoiandaytrip.com/tofu-pudding-hoi-an

– Fact:

Che (Sweet Soup)

$\textit{Chè}$ is a versatile and beloved Vietnamese sweet soup or pudding, representing a vast category of desserts. It features diverse ingredients like beans (mung, red, black), grains, seeds (lotus), tapioca, and various fruits (banana, lychee, jackfruit).

The base is typically a sweetened liquid, often water or rich coconut milk, sometimes flavored with pandan or ginger. Served in a glass or bowl, che can be enjoyed either warm or cold with crushed ice. The joy lies in the harmonious blend of varied textures, colors, and comforting sweetness, making it a ubiquitous and iconic street food treat.

– Other name(s):

– Origin: Vietnam

– Ingredients: a variety of beans, fruits, and puddings

– Where to find: local fresh markets and night markets, local eateries and street stalls

– Pronunciation:

– Served for: anytime

– Price:

– Callories:

– Vegetarian: already vegetarian

– Fact: Che sweet soup is the most popular traditional dessert in Vietnam

– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/che-sweet-soup-hoi-an-da-nang/

Best Food Tours in Hoi An Vietnam

Here are the best food tours with local guide in Hoi An Vietnam:

– Hoi An Old Town Food Tour with Lantern Boat Ride & Night Market

– Hoi An Private Food Tour

– Hoi An Night Walking Food Tour (Best Food Tour in Hoi An)

– Hoi An Night Market Food Tour with Lantern Boat Ride

– Hoi An Morning Walking Food Tour with Local Market

– Hoi An Street Food Walking Tour

– Hoi An Vegetarian Food Tour

– Hoi An Vegan Food Tour

– Hoi An History & Food Tour – Famous Landmarks & Specialty Dishes

– Hoi An Food Tour by Bike

– Hoi An Food Tour by Motorbike

Other Foods to Try in Hoi An

Besides tofu pudding, visitors will see these dishes in Hoi An: Mi Quang noodles, White rose dumplings, Hoi An style Banh Mi sandwich, Hoi An style chicken rice, Cao Lau noodles, Fried wonton, Hoi An style Pho (beef noodle soup), Banh xeo (crispy rice pancake), Banh xoai (mango cake), Banh uot thit nuong (Hoi An grilled pork), Nem lui (Hoi An pork skewers), Banh dap (smashing rice paper), Stir-fried baby clams with rice cracker, Banh beo (steamed rice cake), Banh trang nuong (grilled rice paper or rice paper pizza), Chuoi nep nuong (grilled banana sticky rice), Hoi An banana pancake, Che (sweet soup), Black sesame soup, Kem cuon (ice cream rolls), Dau hu (tofu pudding), Bo la lot (grilled beef wrapped in betel leaf), Bun thit nuong (grilled pork noodle), Bun mam nem (fermented anchovy rice noodle), Banh canh (thick noodle soup), Chao ngheu (clam porridge), Banh trang cuon thit heo (rice paper rolls), Banh bot loc (tapioca cake), Banh da lon (pig skin cake), Banh it la gai (Ramie leaf rice cake), Banh to (ancestor cake), Green/Mung bean cake, Banh can (mini pancake), Banh cam (fried sesame balls), Banh tieu (hollow donut), Banh phu the (husband and wife cake), Banh bo (cow cake), Banh u tro (Lye water rice dumpling), Mot herbal tea, Da tron (pig skin salad), Banh khoai mon (taro cake), Com tam (broken rice), Bun dau mam tom (rice noodle, shrimp paste and fried tofu), Bun cha ca (fish cake noodle), Trung lon (fetal duck egg or balut),…

Better to Know about Eating Local in Hoi An

– Local family-run restaurants always serve better local foods than tourist restaurants. Places inside small alleyways potentially are hidden gems. The price is even more affordable at these lesser known spots.

– Restaurants where you can see a queue or crowds, food or drinks there are absolutely better or safer than others. Vietnamese people also avoid places without people eating, such as roadside eateries.

– Hot foods are often safe to eat for non-Vietnamese people. Refuse cold food (especially ones sold on the street, markets) or things you don’t see people cooking.

– Make sure that you learn some basic Vietnamese words or sentences to order foods, such as xin chao (hello, hi), cho toi mot (something) (I want one…), toi an chay (I am vegetarian), khong cay (no spicy), cam on (thank you), tam biet (goodbye) or numbers (mot/one, hai/two, ba/three, bon/four, nam/five, sau/six, bay/seven, tam/eight, chin/nine, and muoi/ten).

– Ask any local people you know (tour guide, driver, hotel receptionists, bellmen, etc) to receive their recommendation for good places to eat local.

– Raw vegetables are popularly used in local dishes, such as noodles or noodle soup or sandwich. They are often washed by tap water or unwashed. If can not drink tap water, remove or refuse them. Likewise, in most iced drinks (such as coffee or herbal tea), people add ice made by tap water also.

– On the 1st day and 14th-15th days of each lunar month, Hoi An citizens eat vegetarians. Many local restaurants and street businesses will be closed by that.

– If you don’t eat pork or beef, due to diet or religious restrictions, be careful when want to try local food here, if don’t see the ingredient description. Pork and beef are very popular meats, so they will be in numerous dishes. Street vendors may say ‘no pork’ or ‘no beef’ for better business, but please check before buying!

– Consider joining a food tour guided by locals who know much better about dishes in the city, including things never mentioned in guidebooks or on the internet.

– If have an allergy (milk, egg, peanut, wheat,…), ask anybody you know before trying or search for ingredients on the internet. By the way, fish sauce is popularly used to marinate Vietnamese foods, so make sure that you know this information if you’re fish allergic.

– Food portion (or size) here is often not really big (locals prefer eating with their family at home). You may try double or some different dishes for main meals.

– If don’t see the price on the menu, please ask in advance to avoid overcharging, especially when you are not a local. In Vietnamese, how much is bao nhieu.

– Most popular cutleries are chopsticks and spoons. To know how to use it, browse here