What was once a handful of porridge and dessert stalls serving parents and young children from the kindergarten across the street has now expanded into a vibrant food scene with over 20 eateries.
Offering a diverse range of cuisines from the three regions of Vietnam, the dining area at Thanh Cong Market has something for everyone. Indulge in the unique specialties of Hue, such as snail porridge, steamed rice cakes, and beef noodle soup, or explore the bold flavors of the South with dishes like Southern-style beef noodles, hủ tíu, and bánh xèo. For those craving something more exotic, there’s also snakehead fish vermicelli, mixed vermicelli, and various types of chè (sweet soups) from Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. With such a wide array of options, the Thanh Cong dining area has become a must-visit destination for food enthusiasts.
Banh Gio Co Lien (Co Lien’s Stuffed Sticky Rice Cake)
For those who appreciate traditional Vietnamese cuisine, Banh Gio Co Lien at Thanh Cong Market is a must-try. Their delicate sticky rice cakes are soft and thin-skinned, wrapped in fragrant banana leaves. The filling, a delicate blend of minced meat, wood ear mushrooms, and spices, creates an explosion of flavors that will leave you wanting more. Enjoy these delicious treats at a reasonable price, perfectly packaged in a takeout box for your breakfast or afternoon snack.
Oc (Snail Dishes)
Indulge in a variety of snail dishes, including steamed and sour snail options. Choose from a range of snail types, such as snail meat and snail shells. The generous portions are packed with juicy, tender snails, infused with the refreshing aromas of kaffir lime leaves and lemongrass. The unique dipping sauce, a blend of fish sauce, kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, chili, and ginger, adds a distinct flavor to each bite. All of this can be yours for just 40,000 VND per bowl—a true culinary bargain.
The restaurant also offers a variety of other delicious snacks, such as clams, fermented pork sausage with betel leaf, and quail eggs cooked in a simple boiled or sour and sweet coconut sauce. Each dish is carefully crafted to satisfy your cravings.
Che Co Hue (Hue-style Sweet Soup)
For those with a sweet tooth, Che Co Hue offers a delightful selection of traditional Vietnamese sweet soups. Among their famous treats are the Hue royal sweet soup, chè xuka, Thai sweet soup, and grapefruit sweet soup. Each sweet soup is a specialty in its own right and represents the unique cultural heritage of different regions of Vietnam.
Located in Thanh Cong Market, Che Co Hue has been a beloved fixture for many years. The small stall, with its surrounding plastic chairs, has remained unchanged over time. Here, you’ll find around ten types of sweet soups, mostly traditional varieties such as mixed sweet soup, mung bean sweet soup, and corn sweet soup. The prices are affordable, catering to a wide range of incomes.
Their most popular dish, the mixed sweet soup, is a masterpiece in itself. The mung beans are perfectly cooked to a soft, buttery texture, while the corn adds a touch of sweetness and the sago pearls are infused with the warmth of ginger. The sweet soup is balanced, never too sugary, ensuring you’ll never get tired of it. With its convenient location in Thanh Cong Market, Che Co Hue is the perfect spot to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Nom – Banh Bot Loc (Vietnamese Herb Salad and Cassava Dumplings)
The signature dish of this culinary paradise is Nom, a Vietnamese herb salad. Out of the ten eateries here, more than half serve this delicious dish. Accompanying the Nom is a diverse menu that includes cassava dumplings, betel leaf-wrapped fermented pork sausage, fried chicken feet with chili and lemongrass, fried chicken neck, fried fermented sausage, boiled snails, steamed clams, and a variety of other mouthwatering snacks. If you’re unsure where to start, the Nom is a safe and satisfying choice.
The Nom comes in several varieties, including beef jerky Nom, betel leaf Nom, cassava dumpling Nom, jellyfish Nom, and mixed Nom. The flavors rival those of famous Nom dishes from Ham Long and Hoan Kiem. Accompany your Nom with a side of quail eggs in a sour and sweet sauce, boiled snails, steamed clams, and fried fermented sausage, and you’ll have a feast fit for a king—all at a very reasonable price.
Cha Ruoi (Snail Porridge)
When visiting Thanh Cong, don’t miss out on the famous Cha Ruoi, a specialty snail porridge from Hue. This porridge has a distinct flavor and texture compared to its Northern counterpart. Made from finely ground rice, it has a thick consistency and a brownish hue instead of the white color typical of Northern snail porridge.
As you take your first bite, you’ll notice the porridge clinging to the fried dough sticks, releasing the aromatic fragrance of rice and the natural sweetness of the snails. Renowned among food connoisseurs, the snail porridge at Thanh Cong dining area is considered one of the best in Hanoi. Each bowl costs only 15,000 VND. Be sure to arrive before 5:30 PM, as the stall tends to sell out early, and you don’t want to miss this delicious treat!
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