Possibly my favourite travel food experience - Chef Duyen picked us up promptly at our hotel. We were then taken by private car to Long Bien market amongst the very busy fruit and vegetable wholesalers. Chef Duyen explained everything we saw whilst navigating through the market, with great enthusiasm and knowledge. We were able to try so much new produce that we still can’t remember it all. We later went through the rest of the market complex, including the market temple and the seafood and meat markets. The temple is very small and peaceful but well worth seeing. The vibrancy and energy of Long Bien market was quite incredible. I don’t think we saw any other tourists in our 3/4 hours there. Along the way, we were offered a huge array of things by Chef Duyen to smell and to taste from many different sellers, including bun cha, pho, fish cakes and sticky rice . The food was excellent. Chef Duyen very kindly took many excellent pictures and videos for us along the way. During the tour, Chef Duyen told us many things about Vietnam and about her life. We appreciated this a great deal and it was one of the unexpected highlights of the tour. The food you will taste is excellent, as you would expect, but for us, the real highlight was being able to experience a side of Vietnam that we likely otherwise could never have experienced on our own, whilst learning much more about Vietnam whilst doing so. I have been on quite a lot of food tours recently (LA, Buenos Aires, Seattle, Mexico City) and this was by some measure my favourite. I would highly recommend this unique experience.

Amazing! - Chef Duyen picked us up from our Airbnb at 0400. Prior to this we had excellent communication regarding pickup times. We were taken by car to the fruit and veg market and launched straight into the sights and smells of the very busy market. Chef Duyen gave us a running commentary of everything we saw along the way, with incredible vibrancy and energy. We went from fruit and veg market to fish and meat market, then later through some of the streets surrounding the immense market complex. Along the way we were offered a huge array of things to smell and taste from many different vendors, from smelling various herbs, to trying lychee and Jack fruit, omelette, squid cakes, freshbread, pho, banh mi, bun cha, egg coffee. It was a taste sensation from start to finish. Along the way Chef Duyen told us many stories about her very interesting life, giving such a unique perspective on life as a woman born in a village and making her way through the food scene in Hanoi. We were so appreciative of her willingness to tell us such incredible details about her life. Definitely recommend this unique experience!

Absolutely incredible experience. Recommend to anyone with an inkling of a desire to taste Hanoi - Chef Duyen was simply brilliant. So much energy, such a brilliant insight into the inner workings of the absolutely mammoth food industry in Hanoi and across Vietnam. We were very much looking forward to this unique experience and were blown away! Definitely recommend this to anyone who is interested in taking a deeper dive into the Hanoi food scene and willing to experience the smorgasbord of smells, sights, sounds, and tastes on offer. Big thanks to Chef Duyen, what a fantastic tour!!

Tourist-free tourism - I can't say I enjoyed the early start, but all that was forgotten once the tour got under way. The streets are fresh and full of life at 4am and you really do see a side tourists rarely see, in all it's dirty, sometimes smelly, bustley glory. All the people saying you'll be the only foreigners aren't exaggerating. And then you get to the food, which is fresh, delicious, plentiful and is accompanied by a wealth of information from your amazing guide. Try local versions of well-known favourites like pho, bahn mi and bun cha as well as less common dishes like balut and even try your hand at making your own squid cake. Go back to your hotel full, satisfied and ready to continue your day in Hanoi (which is very looong after starting so early).

THIS TOUR IS A MUST FOR ANY CULTURE / FOODIE LOVER! - One of the best food tours I've ever booked! Don't let the 4AM start time scare you away -- you will eat and learn A LOT! From understanding Vietnam’s most common import and exports, you’ll hear about the history of the market and how people come from far-off villages just to sell and buy here. Then, once you leave the market, you’ll get to eat at establishments that serve you food using the ingredients you just saw being sold! Chef Duyen told us a lot about how the regional cuisine came to be, but also about her life growing up and how she got to where she is today. Honestly, such an amazing and eye-opening tour. Some tips though -- wear comfortable shoes that you don't mind getting a little dirty (we're walking through an active marketplace after all). Also recommend against bringing a backpack since the marketplace is quite crowded. For the tour, you really just need a crossbody bag of some kind for your essentials since Chef Duyen handles all the purchasing of food during the tour.

Authentic Streetfoodtour - The street food tour with chef Duyen was an excellent experience. We set off early at around 4 a.m. to visit the local market. The market was an impressive experience, the total hustle and bustle and nothing you could experience on your own in this form. The real and pure Hanoi. The food that we were able to try was also absolutely delicious and you support small and authentic food stalls! Chef Duyen is a polite, lovely person who has absolute knowledge of local food and the market. In addition to the tour, she gave us lots of tips on what we could do and where we could find good food. If you are interested in authentic impressions of the street food and markets in Hanoi, then you should book this tour.

One of a kind food & market experience - Wow! What an experience. I almost misread my time and am happy to check my itinerary in order to get up in time :) But it was very worth it. Seeing the markets early in the morning is truly a one of a kind experience. Chef Duyen was a wonderful and funny guide who showed me so much, translated and explained. Some parts of the markets were definitely not for the faint-hearted (or vegetarians) but I truly enjoyed the experience. While walking amongst the vendors we would try various snacks, get some great coffee, and were lucky enough to meet the famous omelet lady. After Duyen took me to some wonderful restaurants for the best version of the Hanoi classics the city offers - something you would never find on your own as a tourist. Honestly getting up at 4am was never so worth it - if you are a foodie an absolute must-do in Hoi An!

Fab Hanoi Dawn Market Tour - We had a fab tour of the Hanoi market in the early morning. The market was buzzing with wholesalers and vendors moving their product and putting it in place for the day’s deliveries. Some to local vendors and outside vendors alike. It was a symphony of organized chaos. I loved every second of it. We sampled a number of items from food carts and market vendors. All items were both delicious and unique. The early morning perspective in the market is vacant of tourists and filled with local vendors moving produce, fish, meat freshly caught and picked for that day of sale. The food was so beautifully fresh! Thank you for a fab tour!

Not for the unadventurous! - A robust chaotic experience; strictly for foodies and professionals. Amazing time! Watch out for the older women pulling carts.

Amazing early morning market tour! - An amazing tour seeing a completely different side to Hanoi! Exploring the early morning market was incredible. Our guide was fantastic and full of local knowledge. We were able to sample some of Hanoi's most famous dishes!