The group of French visitors stopped at a bun cha restaurant in Hanoi after touring the Temple of Literature.
Each guest ordered a special serving of bun cha featuring charcoal,grilled pork skewered on bamboo sticks and grilled pork wrapped in wild betel leaves.
The lunch unfolded in a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere, with some guests trying chopsticks for the first time and enthusiastically embracing the experience.
As they ate, the group animatedly discussed the dish, with many tasting Hanoi’s iconic bun cha for the first time.
After finishing the meal, one woman from the group walked to the kitchen and cashier area, bowed her head and thanked the restaurant owner and staff for the “excellent delicious food”.
“The food is delicious and beautifully presented,” the French visitor said, adding that it was one of the finest meals she had enjoyed during her trip to Vietnam.
Speaking to reporters from Dantri, the restaurant owner said the tourists were travelling as part of a guided tour group and appeared especially fond of the grilled pork skewers.
The dish is made from marinated pork grilled over charcoal until golden and smoky. It is typically served with rice noodles, herbs and a sweet and sour fish sauce dipping broth.
Located near several tourist attractions in Hanoi, the restaurant attracts a large number of foreign visitors. Prices start from VND 65,000 (approximately USD 2.50) per serving.
This is not the first time foreign diners have expressed strong emotions after enjoying Vietnamese cuisine.
In November last year, an American tourist bowed with folded hands to thank the owner of a restaurant on Pho Duc Chinh Street in Ba Dinh Ward after what he called “the best meal of my life”.
According to the restaurant owner, the guest ordered 11 dishes combining Asian and European culinary techniques and ingredients.
Several dishes stood out, including salt,cured salmon served with red radish and beef tenderloin paired with baby spinach and almonds.
According to the Michelin Guide, bun cha is one of Hanoi’s signature dishes.
Originating in the Vietnamese capital, the dish is celebrated for turning simple ingredients into a delicately balanced meal through careful preparation and seasoning.
Food historians believe bun cha first appeared in Hanoi in the late 19th or early 20th century and has since become one of the city’s best-known culinary specialities.
Many Hanoi bun cha restaurants recognised by Michelin Guide have been included in its Bib Gourmand list for offering high,quality food at affordable prices, particularly for their fragrant grilled pork and balanced dipping sauce.
The dish gained global attention in 2016 when former US president Barack Obama dined on bun cha in Hanoi with the late chef and television host Anthony Bourdain.