There are plenty chocolate boutiques in Hanoi alone to keep you occupied for an entire day, which is saying a lot when you consider all of the fantastic chocolates in Vietnam, in addition to the chocolates that are not very tasty. The success of this community will be determined by the high-quality chocolate (known as sôcôla in Vietnamese), which will be manufactured locally. To our good fortune, there is no shortage of it. In addition to a flourishing coffee sector, the country is home to a small number of wineries that specialize in chocolate production.
The city of Hanoi no longer just offers banh mi and bun cha as dining options; there are now many more options available. In recent years, there has been a rise in demand for sweets with a French influence as well as cuisine that combines South American and French influences.
Even while some of Hanoi’s domestically manufactured chocolate is consumed in its home nation, the great bulk of it is sent elsewhere, mostly to the countries of Russia, China, and Japan. Therefore, even if you don’t reside in the capital city of Hanoi, you should still be able to get brands such as Marou Chocolate (see below) in the handmade chocolate shop in your area. This is because Marou Chocolate is one of the most popular brands in Vietnam. Now that we’ve reached this point, let’s move on to the more intriguing bits.
During your stay in Vietnam, the means of transportation in Hanoi that will provide you with the most level of convenience is going to be either taking a taxi or traveling about the city on a motorbike (both of which you can call for using Grab, a popular transportation app in Southeast Asia). Use only taxis that are clearly identified with the emblem of either MaiLinh or Vinasun, and make it a point to insist that the driver use a meter.
Maison Marou Hanoi
If you do a search on Google for “chocolate in Vietnam,” you will almost certainly discover Marou’s name towards the top of the list of results. Samuel Maruta, who has since died away, and Vincent Mourou, two Frenchmen who are responsible for the brand, founded it in 2011 with the purpose of making chocolate solely in Vietnam. Samuel Maruta passed away since the inception of the business. At the moment, Marou is concentrating all of their efforts on making certain that all of their locations will continue to function normally after the epidemic. Here at this location, you will have the chance to experience all 6 sources of the company’s direct-trade chocolate that comes from Vietnam.
This chocolate manufacturer in Vietnam has a primary site in Saigon, but they also have a showroom in the north of the country that is far bigger than the one in Saigon. In addition to serving its famous chocolate bars, this shop, which is located smack dab in the midst of the commercial area, offers a wide selection of chocolate-based drinks, sweets, and baked products. The pastries in their Saigon branch are superior, but everything else about this site is the same: an attentive and friendly staff, a good layout with a range of seating choices, and an excellent assortment of food and drinks. In contrast to the vast majority of other chocolate stores in Hanoi, this one allows you the choice to unwind and take it easy with a cup of cocoa or coffee if that is what you like to do. In the event that you find yourself in the central business district, it is strongly suggested that you pay Marou a visit while you are there.
Address: 91a Thợ Nhuộm, Trần Hưng Đạo, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam
Hours & Prices: 9am-10pm, daily {open until 11pm Fri-Sat} (100,000VND per 80g bar)
Pheva Chocolatier
This Pheva store in Hanoi, like like its other sites strewn across the country, offers small chocolate squares flavored with Vietnamese ingredients. Other Pheva shops can be found all over Vietnam. They do not transform cocoa beans into chocolate bars as Marou does; rather, they are a retailer of a wide variety of chocolate bars with their own unique flavors. Their goal is to familiarize the rest of the world with the culinary traditions of Vietnam via the medium of chocolate, but I feel that their bars have an excessive quantity of sweetness and a taste that is missing in depth. Despite this, their objective is admirable.
It is very evident that they are committed to Vietnam, as seen not just by the tastes that they employ but also by the branding that they have decided to make use of. Peanuts and black pepper are two of the ingredients that contribute to the dish’s taste. Despite this, there does not seem to be all that should be included, and the price tag does not reflect this omission. The product comes in enticing packaging, as is common practice in Vietnam; but, the chocolate it contains did not thrill or pleasure me in any way. I was disappointed. It is essential to put anything through a trial run before making a purchase since everyone’s experience is different.
Address: 8B Phan Bội Châu, Cửa Nam, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Hours & Prices: 8am-7pm, daily (80,000VND per 96g box of mini bars)
Tù Anh Chocolate
This shop does the majority of its business through its online platform. They distribute their chocolate all across Hanoi and sell it in the shape of flowers and hearts that were made from Belgian compound chocolate. Belgium is where the chocolate was sourced from. We sampled some of their solid chocolates, and although the service was quite kind, the chocolates itself did not leave that much of an impression on us. I’m just posting these because you may stumble onto them when searching for chocolate shops in Hanoi, but I can promise you that these are not the droids you’re looking for. I’m just including them in case you do discover them. I’m only putting them in here section for your own convenience. In point of fact, I skipped drawing it on the map altogether so as not to worry with it.
Address: Số 11 Ngõ 100 Trần Duy Hưng, Trung Hoà, Cầu Giấy, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Hours & Prices: by appointment & see site above
Belcholat Chocolatier
The customers were treated with respect, and all of the staff members were quite kind, but that is about all I can praise about this place. Despite the fact that the decoration has a lovely look to it, it is obvious that the bonbons themselves are manufactured using fillings that are scooped from a bucket and then sealed into chocolate shells that have already been prepared. The tastes were quite lackluster, and the inside of each of the four truffles that we were given had the same hue, adding support to my bucket argument. The truffles were delivered to us by the same person.
Out of the group, the flavor of the passion fruit was the one that was the least offensive to my palate. Be aware that if you come here, they have a range of chocolate, including bars of compound chocolate, so if you do decide to come, keep that in mind. If you do decide to come, however, be aware that they have a variety of chocolate. You should make it a point to give the list of ingredients at this shop a thorough go through before making any purchases there. They are highlighted on the map because, well, it’s possible that you find information of that kind to be incredibly fascinating.
Address: 91A Triệu Việt Vương, Bùi Thị Xuân, Hai Bà Trưng, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam
Hours & Prices: 8am-10pm, daily (16,000VND per “bonbon”)
Also check out my podcast episode on chocolate & cacao culture in Vietnam.
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Which one of the many chocolate shops in Hanoi do you want to visit first?
