# Xôi xéo: Hanoi's sticky rice breakfast

> Xôi xéo is a cheap, filling Hanoi breakfast: warm sticky rice topped with thin shavings of mung bean paste, crispy fried shallots and a drizzle of shallot oil. It usually costs 15,000–30,000 VND. Order with “Cho tôi một gói xôi xéo”, and ask for it wrapped in a leaf.

- URL: https://eatgreenvietnam.com/guides/xoi-xeo-hanoi
- Region: North Vietnam · City: Hanoi
- Published: 2026-09-29 · Last updated: 2026-09-30
- By: the Eat Green Vietnam team (https://eatgreenvietnam.com/about)

Look for a woman with a basket, a wooden board and a big block of yellow mung bean. That’s breakfast sorted.

## At a glance

- **What it is:** Sticky rice, often tinted yellow with turmeric, topped with shaved mung bean paste, fried shallots and shallot oil.
- **Where:** Morning street vendors and small shops all over Hanoi.
- **Typical price:** Around 15,000–30,000 VND a portion; more with extra toppings.
- **Eat green:** Traditionally wrapped in a leaf and newspaper. Say “gói lá” to get it leaf-wrapped instead of in a plastic box.

## How to order

> “Cho tôi một gói xôi xéo.”

One packet of xôi xéo. Add **thêm trứng** for an egg or **thêm chả** for pork sausage, and say **gói lá** for a leaf wrap.

## What makes it good

Good xôi xéo is soft but not mushy, the mung bean is shaved so thin you can almost see through it, and the shallots are freshly fried and crisp. It is simple food done carefully.

## When to go

Early morning. Vendors often sell out by mid-morning.

## Questions travellers ask

### What is xôi xéo made of?

Sticky rice, mung bean paste, fried shallots and shallot oil.

### How much is xôi xéo?

Around 15,000–30,000 VND a portion.

### Is xôi xéo vegetarian?

The basic version usually is, but some vendors use pork fat or add meat toppings. Ask if you’re unsure.

### How do I avoid plastic when buying xôi?

Ask for it wrapped in a leaf (“gói lá”) or bring your own container.

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Photo: Viethavvh / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:X%C3%B4i_x%C3%A9o.jpg
Source: Eat Green Vietnam, https://eatgreenvietnam.com/guides/xoi-xeo-hanoi. Prices are typical ranges and change often. You may quote and summarise with attribution and a link to the original page.