Banh mi, the original egg coffee, a walk round the lake, Obama's bun cha, a bike across town, beer on a plastic stool and a coconut chè to finish. Here are the exact spots, in order, with what each one costs.
Prices follow the reel's budget at about 270₫ to ₹1 (September 2026). Street prices move a little, so treat them as a guide.
Breakfast
A crispy baguette stuffed with pâté, grilled pork, pickles and herbs. Street carts sell it from about 25,000₫; Banh Mi 25, the famous shop, charges a little more.
Tip: there's usually a queue at Banh Mi 25, but it moves fast. Vegetarian and egg versions are on the menu.
Coffee
The café said to have invented egg coffee in 1946: egg yolk and sugar whipped into a thick foam and poured over strong Vietnamese coffee.
Tip: the cup comes sitting in a bowl of hot water to keep it warm. Stir the foam in slowly, or eat it with the spoon first.
Late morning
Walk the loop round the lake and through the Old Quarter. The red Thê Húc bridge, the Turtle Tower in the water and the old streets are all free to see.
Tip: skip the temple ticket to stay on budget. The bridge photo works just as well from the shore.
Lunch
Where Obama and Anthony Bourdain ate in 2016. Order the "Obama combo": grilled pork bun cha, a seafood spring roll and a Hanoi beer. The photo of their dinner still hangs on the wall.
Tip: go around 10:30 am or after 2 pm to skip the lunch rush, and carry some cash.
Afternoon
Hop on the back of a Grab motorbike to head back to the Old Quarter. The rider brings a helmet for you.
Tip: pay in cash or add a card in the app. Hold on to the grab rail, not the rider.
Evening
Sit on a tiny plastic stool at the corner of Tạ Hiện and Lương Ngọc Quyến with a glass of bia hơi, fresh draught beer brewed daily.
Tip: check the price on the board before you sit, and stick to the bia hơi sellers for the real budget glass.
Dessert
Vietnam's sweet dessert soup. The coconut one comes with coconut milk, jellies and fruit over crushed ice. Chè Bốn Mùa on Hàng Cân has been serving it for decades.
Tip: it's a 10-minute walk from beer street, so finish your day here.
Sort these before you fly.
October to April is the most comfortable.
December to February can drop to around 15°C, so pack a light jacket. May to September is hot and humid, with heavy rain.
The 20,000₫ and 500,000₫ notes are both blue. Check which one you're handing over.
Doing this day? Tell us what your ₹1,000 bought.
Follow @thecurryandpho on Instagram for more of India and Southeast Asia, curry and pho.
Follow on InstagramPrices, hours and the exchange rate are approximate and were checked in November 2026. Street prices change, so check menus on the day. Map is a simplified sketch, not to scale.
Cover photo: Thê Húc bridge with flags by josh jackson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
