1. Dong Ba market

Dong Ba market is the most famous market in Hue city and one of the most well-known markets in Vietnam. The market was established hundreds of years ago under the rule of King Gia Long. In 1899, King Thanh Thai moved Dong Ba market to the location where it still is until today. Dong Ba is a big market, having an area of almost 47.614 square meters. Located beside the Perfume river and Tran Hung Dao Street, one of the busiest roads in Hue, the market attracts thousands of customers coming in and out everyday. Dong Ba market is symbol of Hue city.

This is the place where tourists go whenever they visit Hue. There are many shops selling traditional Hue’s food and souvenirs: sesame candy (me xung), Hue royal tea, palm-leaf conical hat (non la), etc. In addition, you can find multiple types of delicious food at the market, for example: Hue’s dumplings (water fern cake: banh beo, tapioca dumpling: banh loc, flat rice dumpling: banh nam, steamed rice sheet: banh uot, sticky rice dumpling on the fried sticky rice pancake: banh ram it), mussel rice (com hen), beef rice vermicelli (bun bo), etc. The authentically delicious taste of these food cannot be found anywhere outside Hue.

Haggling skill is needed when you make any purchase. Some vendors unreasonably boost up the price when they know you are not a local. It is recommended that a local go with you to the market or you check the correct price before paying the money. Of course, this problem occurs everywhere in the world, not only in Hue or Vietnam. Being cautious will guarantee that you a more rewarding experience in Hue.

• Location: 2 Tran Hung Dao Street, Phu Hoa, Hue city

2. Ben Ngu market

Located beside the An Cuu river, Ben Ngu market is one of the most popular markets in Hue. Even though not many tourists pay a visit to the market, it is nonetheless a place worth taking a look at to have a better understanding of how local people’s way of life goes.

There are many things that can be found there, ranging from fresh food, flowers, clothes, fruits and even living animals (ducks, chicken,etc), etc. This is where many people who live, study or work in the vicinity make a trip daily to buy food. In case you want to find the freshest food to cook or fruit to eat, Ben Ngu market is arguably the best place. If you can’t stand the smell of fresh meat, bring along with you a mask. Most people from Hue, no matter how well-off or penurious, have no problem with that smell. This is an interesting thing about Hue’s people that makes many tourists stand in awe.

• Location: Phan Boi Chau Street, Vinh Ninh, Hue city

3. An Cuu market

The An Cuu market was first established beside An Cuu river, in the village of An Cuu, Huong Tra town during the period of King Minh Mang. Later, many Chinese came here and did business. An Cuu market has always been one of the busiest commercial areas of southern Hue due to its historical development and location. However, because the market was close to the French barracks, the French ordered the market to be moved to the current location. The previous location of the market is now Hue Central Cultural House.

You can find many things here ranging from fresh food to clothes. The market is also close to Big C supermarket and hundreds of different stores and restaurants.

• Location: 89 Hung Vuong Street, Hue city

4. Tay Loc market

Tay Loc is a busy market located in the district of Tay Loc, which is on the northern side of Hue. The market appeals to many customers because of its cheap price. There are products put on sale all year round that have a reasonable price. It is one of the most popular flea markets of Hue. The market is usually packed with people at the end of every year. Visitors are recommended to visit Tay Loc market to get a good deal of cheap souvenirs and food.

• Location: 209 Nguyen Trai Street, Tay Loc district, Hue city

5. Phu Hau market

Phu Hau market is a wholesale market, where you can find very cheap products to buy. The market was located close to Trang Tien bridge and later moved to Phu Hau district. The market usually starts its day from very early in the morning to distribute goods to different big and small markets in Hue and even the neighbouring province of Quang Tri. Many market vendors come here very early to pick up goods and start their delivery. You can find many things here like seafood, fruits, household appliances and accessories, etc with undoubtedly a fair price.

• Location: 45A Nguyen Gia Thieu Street, Phu Hau district, Hue city

These are the best five markets that we recommend you to visit when you are in Hue. There are of course hundreds of other small-scale markets that you might drop by if time permits: Phuong Duc market, Thuan Loc market, etc. Besides, you might also find vendors selling fruits, veggies or even seafood on the street, which isn’t surprising at all to many Hue’s people and Vietnamese. Markets are a significant part of Hue’s people which shapes the city, its culture and its way of life. Next time you visit Hue, don’t forget to drop by at least one of these five markets.

Discover Hue city!

Contact Us

• Address No.456 Lac Long Quan Street, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Vietnam
• Phone: (+84) 4 3927 4120
• Email: sales@luxtraveldmc.com
• Hotline: +84-336-276-996
• Website: https://luxtraveldmc.com

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<p>The post Top 5 Markets You Must Visit in Hue, Vietnam first appeared on Lux Travel DMC's Blog.</p>

I. Brief information

• Location: 39 Nguyen Huu Huan, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.
• Founded: 1946
• Opening hours: 7:00 – 22:30
• Average price: 25.000 – 50.000 VND

Require a tour at Giang cafe

II. History of the 70-year-old coffee

Giang cafe with its long story stood out as a Hanoi specialty. It was named after the founder of the coffee shop – Mr. Nguyen Van Giang. The traditional coffee came up with many different kinds of taste but the egg coffee (or “ca phe trung” in Vietnamese) is the star. Egg coffee at Giang cafe is told to be the finest of its kind and a must when you visit Hanoi.

In the past, Mr. Giang was working as a bartender at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel. Due to the shortage of needed ingredients in the 1930s, the egg coffee was an improvisation from cappuccino’s recipe. Mr. Giang has come up with the idea of using the egg to replace the pricey fresh milk at that time and that’s how the iconic drink was born. In 1946, Mr. Giang decided to quit his job at the hotel to launch his own brand which grew as a family business since then.

III. The recipe and serving

As 70 years go by in Hanoi history and Giang cafe itself was relocated twice but the taste is almost unchanged from its original recipe.

The drink can be served hot or cold, but the first one is highly recommended and more popular than all the other offers on the menu. The coffee is roasted, ground and carefully filtered before being brewed in a small cup. What makes the Vietnamese egg coffee Vietnam is the drip filter. The liquid then will be mixed with whipped and foamy egg yolk and other ingredients. Once the former step is done, the beverage will come up with a small spoon and be served in a bowl of hot water to retain the necessary heat. The size of the cup is intended to fit your hand. The texture is rich and bold so it is more suitable to sit and chat with friends while slowly stirring the cup, just like the slogan “Hà Nội không vội được đâu!”.

IV. The unique taste

The golden brown top layer of the drink – the thoroughly-whisked egg is surprisingly thick, soft and creamy. You can see the strong coffee at the bottom of the cup. The cold version is loaded with ice and it tastes more like a dessert than a regular milk coffee. It is different from all the bland, skinny latte and overheated coffee beans of the other international coffee brand. At first, one might doubt its taste but just one sip and it will blow your mind away. No one can imagine the weird combination of egg and coffee would form this perfection.

V. A culture, an icon

Although Giang cafe is quite humble in a small lane at the city’s old quarter, it’s always crowded with both the locals and the foreigners at different ages. The coffee shop is a vintage and cozy place colored with a thousand years of civilization of Hanoi.

Nowadays, coffee became a culture, an important part of the Vietnamese people’s life. They say, if you’ve never tried an egg coffee, you’ve never been to Hanoi.

Egg coffee is served everywhere with basic ingredients such as egg yolk, condensed milk, butter, Vietnamese coffee powder, and a little cheese. However, the secret lies in the techniques of the bartender that made Giang coffee the best destination for this kind of drink. Other coffee shops tried to initiate the drink but none of those can beat the delightful authentic version.

Mr. Nguyen Tri Hoa – son of Mr. Giang affirmed that the key is nothing but the quality. The process is not as easy as it sounds. The fresh chicken eggs are selectively prepared to avoid the fishiness. The coffee powder must be the pure premium one for the striking scent. The recipe might simple but it requires sophistication and skill. The measure of a fixed proportion of each ingredient is necessary to harmonize the bittersweetness.

The well-known egg coffee has been on CNN and The Guardian for its unique taste as one of the most stunning specialties of Hanoi. It was also selected to serve over 3,000 cups during the US – DPRK summit 2019 in Vietnam.

VI. Some tips

Since Mr. Giang’s son took on his father’s career, many different tastes were introduced such as egg chocolate, egg matcha, egg rum or even egg beer in addition to the original one. It offers you more options when you crave for something new.

The coffee shop is quite small so you must pay attention to the sign hanging above the alley. Once you saw the sign, you will meet the famous Giang cafe at the end of the lane.

You can book a taxi or drive yourself here. You have to park your vehicles at the opposite of Giang cafe, which is 10 meters away. It costs 10.000 VND per time.

The best time of the day to have for a cup of coffee is in the morning, right after your breakfast. Furthermore, you should avoid coming at the peak time for your favorite seats.

Still, it’s always a good time for a coffee. The store offers the visitors a warm-hearted atmosphere to talk, a place to drink and a coffee to remember. Whether it is a rainy summer day or a cold winter night, you could easily treat yourself with a proper drink at Giang cafe.

Contact Us

• Address: No.456 Lac Long Quan Street, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Vietnam
• Phone: (+84) 4 3927 4120
• Email: sales@luxtraveldmc.com
• Hotline: +84-336-276-996
• Website: https://luxtraveldmc.com

PLAN YOUR TRIP HERE!

<p>The post Giang cafe – A quick guide to the best egg coffee in Hanoi first appeared on Lux Travel DMC's Blog.</p>