Eat · Ancient Town west (Covered Bridge end)
Cao lầu Thanh (Thái Phiên)Cao lầu Thanh
A small family shop that does little but cao lầu, Hội An's chewy pork noodle: go mid-morning to early afternoon, order one bowl each, and eat it the local way with a squeeze of lime and a spoon of chilli.
Key facts
- Price
- unknown
- Hours
- unknown
- Walk in
- 07:00–11:00
- easiest window
- Seating
- mixed
- booking: no
- 28″ bags
- No
- Ancient Town west (Covered Bridge end)
- Getting there
- 26 Thái Phiên, north-west edge of the old town (check address)
- 8 min walk
- One dish: cao lầu
- Family shop
- Mid-morning to early afternoon
- Order: Cao lầu
- Tables and stools
- Walk-in window: 07:00–11:00
- Queue risk: 11:00–13:00
- Bring cash
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Rules in force · 8Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…Order tailored clothes on your first day in town
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Vietnam ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal; lookalike sites charge extra.
- Vietnam ↗Crossing streets: walk slowly and steadily; motorbikes flow around you — do not stop or run.
- Vietnam ↗Carry Vietnamese đồng in small notes; many stalls and taxis are cash-only.
- Central Coast ↗September–December is typhoon and flood season on this coast: build a spare day into any plan and check the storm forecast before booking boats, passes or beach nights.
- Hoi An ↗Order tailored clothes on your first day in town: a good tailor needs 24–48 hours and at least one fitting before the final piece.
- Hoi An ↗October–November: the riverside streets flood most years; check the forecast and your hotel's street level before booking.
Map & directions
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Plan
When you can walk in, what to order, how to pay
Walk-in windows
A walk-in lunch is only planned as primary when your arrival lands outside the “impossible” window.
What to order
Cao lầu
Thick yellow noodles, sliced pork, crunchy fried squares, greens and a spoon of rich broth; ₫35,000–60,000 (≈ US$2–3) (2026 estimate).
Trà đá (iced tea)
Often free or a few thousand đồng.
Price and paying
- Typical spend
- ₫35,000–60,000 (≈ US$2–3) (2026 estimate)
- Payment
- Cash.
How ordering works
- 1Sit down and hold up fingers for the number of bowls; there is nothing else to choose.
- 2Mix everything from the bottom before the first bite; the broth is at the bottom of the bowl.
On the ground
Facts
- Reservations
- no — Walk-in.
- Capabilities
- food
- Diet
- vegetarian: none · gluten free: no · halal: no
- Getting there
- 26 Thái Phiên, north-west edge of the old town (check address) · ~8 min walk
Cons
- Plastic stools and a tiny room.
- One dish only; closes early when sold out.
Ordering helpDish glossary · Price check · Dietary phrases · Hygiene
Dish glossary
| On the menu | What it is | Order it how |
|---|---|---|
| Cao lầu | Hội An's noodle: firm, chewy and slightly smoky, served with pork and herbs in very little broth. | One bowl each. |
| Không rau | No herbs. | Say it if you want to skip the raw greens. |
Price check
- locals pay
- The price on the wall or the one the owner says.
- tourist price
- Same price for everyone in family noodle shops like this (check the wall).
- rule
- Pay at the end; small notes.
Dietary: what to say
| Need | Say or show | Reality here |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free | Tôi không ăn được bột mì. | Not safe: the noodles and croutons are made with wheat flour in many recipes. |
| Vegetarian | Tôi ăn chay. | Not possible here; vegetarian restaurants make a tofu cao lầu. |
Hygiene notes
- Herbs are washed in tap water: skip them on day one if your stomach is sensitive.
- High turnover at lunch keeps the pork fresh.
Deep dive
Questions, nearby food and sources
Questions and answers
What makes cao lầu different?
The noodles: by local tradition they are made by a few families with water from old wells and lye from wood ash, which makes them firm and chewy. There is little broth; it is a dry noodle dish.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Is it better here than at the market?
Both are good; a one-dish shop is calmer and you see the noodles come out of the basket. The market is quicker if you are already there.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
All places to eat in Hoi An, with filters →
Nearby
Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.
- ClusterAncient Town west (Covered Bridge end)nearest point: Convenience store on Trần Hưng Đạo (AC)30 m · 1 min walk
- EatBánh Mì Madam Khánh (Trần Cao Vân)80 m · 1 min walk
- PlaceJapanese Covered Bridge310 m · 5 min walk
- EatBale Well (Giếng Bá Lễ)380 m · 6 min walk
- EatMót Hội An (herbal drink stall)390 m · 6 min walk
- Sleep areaOld town edge400 m · 6 min walk
Used as a seated rest node in Hoi An in 4 days.
Sources
- secondaryWikivoyage — Hoi An