Late-night food vendors set for Hanoi expat area

The Ba Dinh District People's Committee said the after-hours street food hub would include vendors along seven streets in Truc Bach Ward open from 7 p.m. until midnight every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Ngu Xa and Nguyen Khac Hieu streets will be closed to vehicles to enable pedestrians to wander freely in the nighttime food market.

Covering 4.5 hectares, the Dao Ngoc-Ngu Xa neighborhood, also known as the Truc Bach peninsula, is on Truc Bach Lake where late U.S. Senator John McCain was shot down during a bombing run in northern Vietnam in 1967.

The neighborhood, with its charming old-style houses and small alleys, is home to a large expat community. The easily walkable lanes near the water are sprinkled with cafes and eateries favored by young and old alike. At night, locals and tourists typically flock there to enjoy grilled dishes, including the unique specialty invented on the peninsula: pho rolls.

In 2002, Hanoi opened its first food zone at Tong Duy Tan-Cam Chi area in Hoan Kiem District.