14 Culinary Adventures Only True Food Explorers Find in Asia

3. Hanoi’s Bun Cha Heaven, Vietnam

Bun cha is one of Hanoi’s defining dishes: a lively medley of charcoal-grilled pork belly, soft rice noodles, fresh herbs, and tangy dipping sauce. Strolling through the Old Quarter, you’re bound to spot shops billowing fragrant smoke at lunchtime, as locals pull up plastic stools for a hearty afternoon meal. Bun cha’s claim to global fame was helped by Anthony Bourdain and President Obama’s televised lunch, but its popularity at home goes back generations.