5 Best Foods to Enjoy in Vietnam This Autumn

When autumn arrives in Vietnam, the cool air and gentle breezes make food taste even better. This is the season when Hanoi streets fill with fragrant specialties and seasonal treats that locals love. If you’re visiting Vietnam in autumn, here are five must-try foods.

1. Cốm – Young Green Rice

No food represents autumn in Hanoi more than cốm. These tender green rice flakes are harvested only once a year, usually in September and October. Eaten plain, with ripe bananas, or made into sweet treats like cốm cake (bánh cốm), it’s a true taste of autumn nostalgia.

2. Bánh Trung Thu – Mooncakes

The Mid-Autumn Festival brings the tradition of enjoying mooncakes. These pastries come in two main styles: baked (nướng) with golden crusts, and soft (dẻo) with glutinous rice skins. Filled with lotus seeds, salted egg yolks, or red bean paste, they symbolize reunion and festivity.

3. Bún Riêu 

Cooler autumn days are perfect for a steaming bowl of bún riêu. This Vietnamese noodle soup is made with a flavorful broth from freshwater crab, tomatoes, and a hint of fermented shrimp paste. Topped with tofu, crab meat, and fresh herbs, bún riêu is both tangy and comforting.

4. Ốc Nóng – Hot Snail Dishes

As the evenings turn cool, Hanoi’s snail stalls come alive. Steamed snails with lemongrass, fried snails with tamarind sauce, or snails in noodle soup — all are warming, flavorful, and perfect for autumn nights out with friends.

5. Bún Thang 

This elegant noodle soup is especially comforting in cool autumn weather. Made with shredded chicken, egg, pork, mushrooms, and clear broth, bún thang is a harmonious dish that reflects the refined culinary spirit of Hanoi.

Discover the best foods to try in Vietnam this autumn! From Hanoi’s iconic cốm (young green rice) and festive mooncakes to steaming bowls of bún riêu, bún thang, and flavorful hot snail dishes, each bite reflects the charm of fall in Vietnam. Perfect for travelers seeking authentic seasonal cuisine.