On our walking food tours, guests often ask us about a dish called “bún ngan” that they see on different streets of Hanoi. Also, we noticed the way locals translate their menu into English confuses many travelers. In this blog post, I would like to introduce some of our my favorite places to eat ngan (muscovy duck) dishes.
Before we start, muscovy duck (ngan) should not be confused with duck (vịt), as they’re two types of waterfowl widely farmed in Vietnam and they taste differently. Muscovy duck looks more muscular with red caruncles, hoarse voices, and its meat is redder (75% of red meat fibers). Meanwhile, duck has a slender body, loud voice, and its meat is slightly fattier.
Locals make a clear distinction between those two, old-school family-run eateres in Hanoi serves either muscovy duck (ngan in Vietnamese) or duck (vịt in Vietnamese) dishes, not both.
The best neighborhood to look for it is the Old Quarter of Hanoi, where the local boiled many muscovy ducks all together, making a supper tasty broth! Following are our favorite family-run eateries serving muscovry duck dishes, which you can try when visiting Hanoi:
1. Bún Miến Ngan Yến Phương
Bún miến ngan, muscovy duck with vermicelli noodle or glass noodle soups, is a Hanoi’s combination of boiled muscovy duck’s cuts, its broth, with the noodles and bamboo shoots and topped by spring onion. The meat is tender, broth is sweet, and the combination makes the noodle soup satisfying.
The dish is served as breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But it’s rarely found outside of Hanoi, so youwant to try it when visiting the city. Bún Miến Ngan Yến Phương has been one of my family’s favorite to eat muscovy duck’s dishes for about 15 years.
- 65 Lý Nam Đế Street
- 07:00-21:00
2. Bún Miến Ngan Lan Vinh
Bún miến Ngan Lan Vinh is also one of the best-known spots in the Old Quarter for bún ngan and miến ngan — muscovy duck noodle soup served with either rice vermicelli (bún) or glass noodles (miến). Located on Phùng Hưng Street (near the train street), the eatery has built a loyal local following thanks to its rich duck broth, tender meat, and classic northern-style flavors.
The menu includes: bún ngan nước (muscovy duck noodle soup), miến ngan nước (muscovy duck glass noodle soup), dry mixed noodles, chopped duck, and bamboo shoots. The atmosphere is very Hanoi street-food style: busy, fast-moving, and informal. The seating is low on plastic chairs around small tables. Peak hours at lunch can get crowded with mostly locals.
- 115 Phùng Hưng Street
- 7:00 AM – 22:00
3. Bún Miến Ngan Minh Thu
Bún Miến Ngan Minh Thu is another well-known musovy duck noodle soup eatery, run by a family located on the same street with the Cathedral. Known for its rich Hanoni flavors and casual local atmosphere, the eatery attracts both residents and visitors looking for tasty muscovy duck dishes.
Like other places, the family specializes in dishes made from ngan. The menu includes: rice vermicelli with muscovy duck broth, glass noodles served in soup or dry mixed, chopped meat with home-made dipping sauce (the eatery’s signature dish), and side dishes such as duck organs, bamboo shoots, and blood pudding.
- 31 Lý Quốc Sư Street
- 07:00 – 14:00, 17:00 20:00
Final Thoughts
Bánh mì, bún chả, or phở may be Hanoi’s global icon, but muscovy duck remains one of the city’s most beloved local obsessions. It’s one of Hanoi’s most underrated comfort foods, especially when paired with fresh herbs, bamboo shoots, or slippery glass noodles. If you’re looking for something off the tourist radar, then duck or muscovy duck dishes are recommended.
